Page 10 of Game Changer

“Nothing wrong with it at all,” Liam says as he holds out the box. “I caught it just like a football, see?”

Lily sniffs. “You gotta do the touchdown dance.”

He laughs. “You’re gonna have to teach me.”

And to that, she steps back and smiles. “Okay, look, Mr. Doctor, watch me, just like this.”

I smile so big as I watch them that my face hurts, and it’s impossible not to feel Lindsey’s eyes on me. It’s also been impossible not to notice that this whole time, Lindsey would rather be anywhere but here, and I hate that. I also hate that I can’t help but wonder if,Your man is the star of every filthy little fantasy I’ve had since I caught my ex-fiancé in bed with another woman and my life turned to shit,isn’t written all over my face, making her feel that way.

I break what could possibly turn into a middle school staring contest and head around the counter to grab a bag. “I should have put them in a bag to begin with.”

After placing the box in one of the pink and white striped bags, I hand it to her.

She smiles softly. “You truly are the sweetest.”

Feeling an invisible weight on my shoulders that is so heavy I pray—actually pray—to give a response that seems … needed. “I made it my brand as a reminder that life should be sweet.”

Her lips twist up, but just a touch. “Just throw sprinkles on to cover the things you wanna hide?”

“Once, maybe?” I smile back the same way. “Now, I don’t waste the time on it. I toss it in the trash and start over.”

She cocks her head to the side in question.

I lean in and whisper, “Dating apps.” I grimace. “It’s an experience.”

She laughs—actually laughs. “I’ve heard that.”

“Mommy, it’s getting dark, and you don’t like driving in the dark. We gots to roll, right?”

I turn to Lily and smile. “Well, you better scoot then, but you have to promise to bring your Mommy here more often, yeah?”

“She can be a girl bossesses, too?”

“Lily, I’m pretty sure she already is.”

Lily throws her hands in the air. “Touchdown!”

Chapter 2

Throw Pillows

Sydney

After saying goodbye to Mom, Dad, and Liam, I lock up the shop and head to my apartment above Sugar Rush. Being alone with my thoughts is always a dangerous place to be, but I’ve been getting better, until now, when I find myself replaying the day’s events. Specifically, the unexpected visit from Lindsey and Lily, the guilt I feel about my attraction to Beau, knowing he’s working on his relationship with Lindsey. Having been cheated on, I chastise myself for the fantasies I’ve been having about him, but I try to remind myself it’s not his charming smile, his dedication as a father, or the way he always brightens everyone’s day when he visits the shop. I try to push these thoughts aside, reminding myself that even though Beau has never been someone I dream about having a relationship with, he’s always been a fantasy. That officially ends now. He’s off-limits.

Giving myself forgiveness, I decided to focus forward, which is a damn good thing since I’m walkingupthe stairs. I smile as Ithink of Lily’s infectious energy and Lindsey’s quiet grace. What they have all gone through has been a place they certainly don’t want to go back to, and where I know they are heading is a place where they will one day be an incredibly happy family.

I remind myself that having known him first, not only seeing but feeling his joy when Lily was here, which is a fairly recent happening, I had somewhat villainized Lindsey due to a situation that I had no business judging. I mean, Beau never once made Lindsey out to be a bad person. Who am I, to? Now, I feel empathy for Lindsey. She’s different than I imagined. In my head, she was a southern belle with old money who was controlling and using her parents’ dominating nature to try to keep him away from Lily. But now my view has changed. I can honestly see her being part of the Knights family. In fact, I’m going to foster the heck out of that relationship. And yes, this means I must stop polishing the pearl to the image of #21.

I slide my shoes off outside the door, unlock it, and head straight to the fridge to grab a glass of cucumber water to rehydrate then straight to my computer. I open my email as I tuck one leg under the other and see I received the tracking numbers for the twelve cases sent to South Florida. I forward it to Dakota, who owns the Candy Emporium, and then I get up and look at the couch, trying to decide whether I just want to crash here or head to the bedroom. I decide not to start denying myself the pleasure of sleeping when it’s only night three here in my sweet little home.

I have the whole day tomorrow to stay in and try my hardest to do absolutely nothing without crawling out of my own skin. A day I have planned for months, to reflect on the here and now, and not the past year of my life. A day I had to fight for because it also happens to be the day the Knights are playing the Cowboys, and if—no,whenthey win—they’re one step closer to the playoffs. I should be there, but I also need to lean into theidea of giving myself a break now and then. It is bothersome that I lied through my teeth to everyone, saying I had my first second date, since I started this whole online dating nonsense and promised to tell them all how it went on Wednesday when we all got together at the Brewery to sample Riley and Lauren’s newest line of kind-of wine, which is part barley and part local grapes because they won’t serve just wine without a little brew at Brooks Brewery.

Standing at the counter, I add some cocoa and a pinch of sugar to my mug before pressing the button to start brewing my espresso into it. I decided to do it again because I have a major case of the yawns this morning. Once that’s finished, I stir it up, add some frothed milk to the mixture, and then head over to sit at the window and watch the snowfall. Or, at least that was the plan. Although it’s cold out, it is December 30th, the morning isn’t quiet. The streets are buzzing with traffic. Most of it is undoubtedly heading toward Legacy Field.

Blue Valley has always had a touristy draw—the winters with hunters and snowmobilers, the summer because we’re situated between two of the Finger Lakes and have an amazing State Park, but it was never like this. No one has truly complained—it’s boosted revenue and, of course, the increased tax revenue has been put to good use in the community. BV may never be posh like Skaneateles, but it’s giving it a run for its money. The town now sparkles and shines; grants have been given to residents to improve their homes and property, businesses to help them grow, and people with innovation and drive to start new ones. That being said, the people of the area who are die-hard football fans like us aren’t going to miss the game, even though they mayearn more in one day than they could in a month, especially this year.

The facility has two five-star restaurants, valet parking, and members-only areas, like all the other stadiums across the country. The New York Knights game day staff is typically over four thousand people. We’re lucky to be surrounded by dozens of colleges with students who line up to get a job at the stadium. All the concession stands, except for the alcohol booths, are run by not-for-profit groups, clubs, and local schools and churches to raise funds. Last I heard, there was a two-year waiting list.

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