Page 30 of Love on the Waiver Wire

Thirty minutes later, she turns to me again, spinning on the cloth that lines the floor, placing her paintbrush in a mug of water beside her.

“We can’t do this,” she says, and my heart sinks.

“Why not?”

“Leo will kill us both. I don’t think I can risk that.”

“Leo would forgive it.”

She shakes her head. “He’d hold it against you. He’s protective of me. A little overbearing. I just don’t want to do that to you. He would forgive me but I’m not sure I can say the same for you.”

I consider this, but I don’t think she’s right. “If you’re worried about the team, we’re professionals. All either of us want to do is win. He would never ever let any issues with us come between the game.”

She purses her lips, looking down at her hands. “I just don’t want to hurt him.”

“Sometimes you need to put yourself first.”

She nods.

We’re quiet for a couple of minutes while she thinks. “What is the punishment for this week?” she asks suddenly, changing the subject.

I smile.

14

ISLA

There was a shift on Tuesday. One I can’t completely explain.

I spent all of Wednesday thinking about it. Around dinnertime I asked him if he wanted to stay, but he said he had to go and take care of things before work Wednesday. I know from Leo that Wednesdays can be intense for teams, and they usually start early. So I got it.

He left, telling me that he liked watching me paint and would love to do it again.

I spent the night finishing off my peach rings, grabbing some real food, and sitting on my couch watching corny reality TV in order to shut my brain off. Sometimes that’s necessary.

I was able to get a lot done as he watched me, actually. I’m not sure what it is, but I’ve always been able to focus a little bit more when someone else is around. Not always, but a lot of the time.

Sometimes you just want to be alone, and that’s okay.

But his presence was nice. I didn’t feel embarrassed or annoyed and he didn’t bring attention to himself. He just let me be.

I’d be fine if he watched me all the time.

It’s Thursday now, the beginning of the second fantasy week. I started off the season strong, scoring the second most points in our league. Owen scored the most, so we’re sitting comfy at the very top. Leo lost, but from what I hear, Leo loses in this league a lot.

I went into this not really knowing what to expect, but after the first week, all I want is to win. It sparked my competitive edge, and there’s nothing I want more than to take it all.

Isla Warner winning her first year with the league against a ton of big scary football players? I’ll take it. Not that there’s anything to win other than bragging rights and a trophy…

Leo is a lot of things but he’s not stupid enough to get money involved.

Owen texted me earlier today to let me know that practice is ending around three P.M. He wants to come over again to hang out, but I’m not sure. I still don’t completely understand where this is going to go, and I’d rather take things easy.

But how much easier is him just hanging out here? We don’t have to do anything. We’ve barely touched each other.

We’re just friends enjoying each other’s company.

I’ve been working on a different piece for my showing, this one of a field of daisies, when I hear my phone ding.

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