Page 99 of Their Greatest Strength

I smirk, abandoning my stuff in my cubby for now. I’ve got lunch plans that don’t involve my foul-smelling cleats.

“Nah. She’s got me house-trained already.”

“So, you’re only like this here? Lucky woman.”

“Oh, Chasey, are you jealous? You know that you’re welcome to come join us for dinner whenever you want to,” I coo.

“Only if you’re not the one cooking.”

“Blakely would kick me out of the kitchen before I got my hands on anything. She’s the chef in our house, and I guarantee if she made a meal for you, you’d be trying to come over every night,” I boast.

“Is that how you fell for her so quickly? Her food? Because I’ve got to say, Jamie, I’m still shocked you got married in the first place,” he says with a grunt, slinging his duffle bag over his shoulder.

The showers are busy behind us, and Jax took off before I’d managed to rinse the soap out of my hair. I haven’t bothered to keep track of anyone else. Not with Blakely on my mind.

“Shocked but proud, right?” I tease.

“Sure.”

I frown and yank open the door. “My wife had a meetingwith Clyde today to be his replacement. Don’t beat me up in front of her.”

“She’s here right now?”

“Yes, and as long as everything goes well today, she’ll be at every practice day.”

“You’re clingy, Jamie,” he deadpans.

I nearly shove him back into the locker room when we start toward the lounge. “Excuse me? That’s rude.”

“Zach was almost positive that you got married because you knocked Blakely up. But after seeing you at the wedding, I had a feeling that wasn’t the case. It was still fucking weird that Graham was there, so somethingisgoing on, but maybe you do actually like this girl.”

“She’s my wife. There was no knocking up happening.”

“You can marry someone without loving them,” he declares.

“Don’t tell that to Zach, or he’ll give you a whole speech on how you’re wrong.”

“You’re not going to do the same thing?”

“No. I don’t have to convince anyone of anything,” I say, playing it cool.

“For what it’s worth, even if you’re not trying, you’ve started winning over the fans. I was stopped twice on my way here this morning, and both occurrences were focused around you.”

I wince. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I don’t remember the last time I was stalked outside of the stadium. Let’s take it as a good sign. Maybe the stands will stop looking so goddamn empty soon.”

“We could go four and oh after Saturday. That will help.”

Chase opens the lounge door for me and shrugs when I pass him. “Yeah, maybe. Don’t get your hopes up, Bateman. Odds are the team will lose it first.”

“Now that you shat all over my hopes and dreams, I’ll be surprised if we do win,” I scold.

“Sorry, man.”

I ignore him the moment we step into the lounge and Blakelyappears at the buffet table. The white chef’s coat she’s wearing looks incredible on her. A perfect fit.

Chase drags a chair out from beneath one of the round tables as loudly as possible, and Blakely snaps her head our way. Curiosity blooms across her face before she finds my eyes and smiles.

---