Page 64 of Trapped and Tackled

“Stop it!” I laugh, loving this side of Talon. The amused, playful guy with more personal insights than he usually offers. It’s like peeking behind a curtain I’ve been wondering about for ages.

And I am thrilled by everything he shares with me.

“What else is on your bucket list?” I wonder.

He shakes his head and takes a bite of bacon. “It’s not as elaborate as yours. But maybe it should be. Spending time with you, Leni, has got me thinking.”

“About what?”

“Just, life. I’ve never really traveled, you know? I’ve never thought about places to see or things to experience. For so long, it was all about football. Get a scholarship, keep the scholarship, then get drafted. Earn a good deal. Keep my position on the roster. I don’t know anything but hustling to stay in the game. The only time I ever really took off was when my mom passed and to be honest, if it wasn’t for your dad stepping in, I don’t know if I would have had as much time with her as I did.”

“My dad really helped you with all that?”

“He did,” Talon confirms.

“I’m not surprised,” I offer. “It’s just that, he’s never said anything.”

“He’s a stand-up guy.”

“Yeah,” I agree. “It’s funny, you know, for years, I never really thought of my parents as having big identities, relationships and lives, outside of being Lincoln’s and my mom and dad.”

Talon eyes me curiously. “I don’t know about that.” His response is honest, his tone thoughtful. “But I imagine you and Lincoln don’t share everything with your parents either. And I’m sure they know your lives are fuller than only being their children.”

“Yeah,” I say softly, wondering again if I should have confided in them sooner. What would I say? What would they do?

“You’re lucky, Leni. I don’t know many men who love their kids the way your dad loves you and Lincoln.” He eyes me again, this time more seriously. As if he’s trying to relay more than he’s letting on.

I frown and Talon clears this throat.

“You know,” he continues, gesturing for me to keep eating. I manage another two bites. “When my mom was in the hospital, Coach came and sat with me a lot of nights. That’s when he talked about your family, shared stories about you and your sister.” He grins wickedly and I groan.

“What did he say?”

Talon snorts. “I’m not gonna betray the man’s trust, Len.”

“Oh, God. Embarrassing stories, weren’t they?”

“Adorable,” Talon replies. “I loved hearing everything he shared about you. It was during that time—one of the darkest of my life—that I started to think of you as pure sunshine.”

His admission pulls me up short and I place down my fork. “You mean…?”

“Meeting you was a long time coming,” he says by way of explanation. “But you helped me through a rough time in my life. And you don’t even know it.” He sighs, wiping his mouth with a napkin. Then, he fixes me with a steely gaze. “If there’s anything I can ever help you with…” A raised eyebrow. “I’m here, Len.”

Another cryptic message. Is this about last night? About Toby and Marlowe?

Or, my heart begins to race, did he see Craig’s text messages? Does Talon know?

I mumble my thanks, and he resumes eating as if he hasn’t just made me question things.

Am I reading into things?

Shaking my head, I take a sip of coffee.

“Tell me more about the debutante ball. When’s the big day?” Talon asks. His expression is open and eager, throwing me for another loop.

I must be reading into things. That’s it. My nerves haven’t fully settled after the past twenty-four hours.

“Well, it’s the twenty-first of September. It’s usually held in June but the regular head organizer, Mrs. Tipton, is pregnant. Due to the complications she faced and the need to reshuffle the committee to various tasks, the committee decided to delay the ball. But it’s coming along. I’m excited about it and to be involved in it. Marlowe’s sister Adi is one of the participants.”

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