Page 122 of How to Score Off Field

She nods, grinning. “Too soon?”

I shake my head, settling back down, pulling a pillow to my head and fluffing it. “Nah. This is your story, not mine. You can joke all you want.”

She leans forward and presses a kiss to the underside of my jaw, and I want to touch the spot where her lips warmed my skin.

“Go to sleep.”

My fingers caress her hair, and she closes her eyes.

Gently, I stroke her long, silky strands until she’s softly snoring, breathing in and out.

CHAPTER42

TESS

I LOVE HIM. AND THAT WAS THE START OF EVERYTHING…

I just assumedno one knew he was here, but I was wrong.

Miranda: You’re on the news again.

Tess: WHAT? WHY????

Miranda: Calm down, it’s not bad. Photographers took photos of you and Drew on the swings at the park and holding hands walking to your car.

Tess: Why didn’t you lead with that? Jeez, give me a heart attack.

Miranda: I’m assuming they’ve been following you? And now they have dirt, but at least the two of you look cozy, and they can’t print anything salacious about you, right???

Tess: Sure. I guess?

We spent the day together in a spot we thought was quiet and private and out of the way.

A coffee shop.

The lakefront.

A park.

Talking, walking, holding hands, trying to figure out what we were going to do about…

Everything.

At one point on our walk, Drew pulled me into him and kissed me. I wonder if that photo will make it into the news.

Why does anyone even care what Drew does in his personal life? This is crazy to me. He’s not even on a professional team. He is literally a college student.

Nuts.

It’s invasive and a bit scary, to be honest, not knowing who’s watching and where.

I’m a nobody.

I do not need the paparazzi stalking me.

“Could you be any cuter?”Drew had asked me while we were swinging at the park, our sneakers hitting the wood chips beneath us as we idlely moved back and forth.

“You think I’m cute?”I teased, fishing for compliments.

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