Page 115 of How to Prevent a Fumble

I know she never expected to be at my home as long as she has been, but at some point someone is going to catch on. We should have realized that it was going to be Tony after he ransacked her home.

“You think I can’t take care of that?” I ask, going insane over what I’m hearing.

“What’s it all worth to you?” Tony asks. “I’ll buy you off.”

It’s my turn to laugh. “Youthink you can buymeoff? Yeah, no.” It’s at that moment that I decide that I’m done with him. He knows what I have on him, and I’m not entertaining him for a single second more.

“Don’t speak to her ever again, or I’ll end you, you got it?”

And I hang up.

34

BRIAR

November is one of my favorite months. The air turns cool, the leaves start changing, and it starts being more socially acceptable to eat soup for every meal.

Part of what makes November special is that the football season really heats up. Teams start to understand each other better, injuries start to change the trajectory of their season, and so much more.

It’s the second week of November and although Leo had a game on Sunday, Elara and I are getting ready to go to his Thursday Night home game.

All the girls are going to be there including Zara and although I’m excited to see them all, Leo and I have continued to interact like negative magnets. The second I walk into the kitchen to make breakfast in the morning, he runs for it. The second he comes home at night, I retreat into my room.

We’ve spoken in short texts just to let the other know if something important came up, but I know time is running out and we need to get back out there.

Is that really the issue though?

Because it’s come to a point where I don’t even totally understand why we’re avoiding each other. Sure, things have been awkward ever since that kiss the night of the charity event. But that didn’t ruin everything we were before that. We were starting to be friends.

He was my friend.

He was more than that.

I shake the thought out of my head. I know that the cost of us having feelings for each other—if such a thing ever happened—would be tremendously high, and it’s not a price I’m willing to pay.

But that doesn’t stop my heart from skipping a beat every single time I catch his eyes lingering on me for a beat too long.

Doesn’t stop a chill from making its way down my spine as I imagine his hands settling at my hips.

And it definitely doesn’t stop me from thinking about the way his arm was wrapped around me the day I woke up with his dick pressed against me. A feeling that’s seemingly permanently printed on my body.

Because the truth is…

I want Leo Warner. I want him more than I’d want water stranded in the desert. I want him more than I’ve ever wanted anything.

And that’s devastating.

“Are you almost ready mom?” Elara calls from outside my room. She’s been ready to go for the past half an hour at the promise of stadium chicken nuggets. Some would say that mass produced nuggets, especially overpriced ones sold at stadiums, would be one of the last fun things to eat. But they’re for some reason Elara’s favorite.

“Yeah, one minute,” I call to her. Champ is already curled up in her bed, happily snoozing.

With one last look in the mirror, I head out my bedroom door to find Elara sitting on the floor, her arms wrappedaround her jean-clad knees, her jersey about two sizes too big on her.

My brows furrow, taking her in. “What are you wearing?” I ask, annoyed.

She looks down at herself before shrugging, her large brown eyes staring back at me the picture of innocence. “I don’t know mom. A jersey I found in my closet.”

“Where’s Owen’s?”

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