Page 92 of How to Prevent a Fumble

“You go to all the games though,” he says, his voicedropping slightly, and it occurs to me that he’s sad. The great Leo Warner is sad at the prospect of me not going to his game.

“I’m kidding Leo, of course I’m going to be there,” I assure him, slipping my boots off.

He leans against the end of the kitchen island and lets out a breath. “Okay, uh,” swiping his hand through his hair, Leo chews on his bottom lip. “You’ll have my card. So don’t worry about budgeting.”

“I—”

He shakes his head, cutting me off. “This is technically a work event, Sunny. I got it.”

Looking at my feet, I count the tiles between us, and I’m not quite sure why. Am I trying to make this talk last longer? What do I even say to that?

“Okay,” is what I decide on before heading toward my room, my boots in hand. It’s late, and I peek in to find Elara in her bed. Heidi had told me she was being put to bed, and she was going to hunker down in the guest room like usual.

“Briar?” Leo’s voice booms down the hall as he awkwardly stands by the stairs up to his room.

“Yeah?” I ask, my door half open.

“I had a great time tonight. Thank you for opening up.”

Heat rises up my neck as I look down, hiding behind my hair. “Thank you for dinner, Leo.”

I don’t tell him that I’m more confused than ever.

“You ready to go?” Isla asks as she barges into Leo’s apartment, her purse slung over her shoulder. She wears a pair of paint covered bootcut jeans and a black t-shirt, which happens to be typical of her.

Knowing I was going to be trying on a lot of clothes, Ithrew on a pair of leggings and an oversized Def Leppard t-shirt that thankfully survived my old place.

Old place?I shake the thought out of my head. I still pay the rent there. I could go back anytime I want.

I just haven’t yet.

Not even to visit.

“Uh, yeah just a second,” I tell her, putting away Elara’s things she had sprawled throughout the family room that morning. Since Heidi was going to be with us today, Leo had asked Emmett for his typical babysitter’s number. They arrived a bit ago and are currently on a walk with Elara and Champ. We had talked extensively Friday during the day, and she seems sweet. And besides, Emmett doesn’t allow most people around his daughter, so I know if they were approved by him, they were good.

It's later in the afternoon, and Leo would be home in a couple of hours anyways, right before turning right back around and going to the hotel the guys are required to stay at before the game tomorrow.

Grabbing my purse from the couch, I meet Isla at the door, ready to go.

“What type of event is this?” I ask, sifting through the gowns on the rack in front of me. It occurred to me as we arrived that I hadn’t actually asked a lot of questions.

“It’s a fundraiser supporting schools in the city that Leo’s organization puts on every year.” Isla tells me, pulling a green dress out from the others for closer examination. “It wasn’t held last year because there were some complications with finding a venue, and I think he just donated out of his own pocket. But this year it’s going to be at the library.”

I pause, looking up at Isla. “The George Peabody Library?”

She hums a yes before putting the dress back. “Super fancy. Very fun.”

I wonder why he didn’t make a big deal about it. If he was the one hosting it.

“So I need something really fancy,” I state.

“Yeah.”

It’s then that I see Mila, Heidi, and Amara walk through the door, smiles on their faces, iced coffees in their hands. Isla waves them over, and I shoot them a friendly smile.

“Okay, there are some really great ones over there,” Isla points toward the right side of the store, ready to get going. “Heidi, there’s a really pretty green one toward the front that I could totally see you wearing.”

Heidi smiles, her eyes growing wide as she turns to go look for it, passing Zara on her way in.

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