Page 86 of Play to Win

My chest swells and tightens.I can’t breathe as I stare at the soft stuffed toy.I set his plate on the counter and reach for the penguin.“Thank you.”My mouth quivers as I stare down at it.It’s not Pete ...he’s right.But I almost can’t bear the emotion filling me because he brought me this.

I blink back tears, set the penguin on the counter, and pick up Théo’s plate.Like a happy housewife of the 1950s, I set the plate in front of him and fetch him a glass of water.“Here you go.”

He eyes me.“You don’t have to wait on me.”

I roll my eyes.“Please.I know that.”I sit and sigh.“I have nothing else to do.”

His lips twitch.“Bored?”

“A little.”

“I hear you had lunch with my mom today.”

I frown.“How did you ...oh.Everly?”

“Yeah.”He twirls pasta onto his fork.“The foundation offices are in the arena too.She stopped by to give me shit for working late.”

I blink.

His smile is crooked.“She said I shouldn’t ignore my new bride, especially since you don’t know anyone here and you seem a little at loose ends.”

“I’m fine.”I pause.“But I am happy you’re here.”

Our eyes meet.Heat fills my belly and my skin tingles.

His slow smile has my panties dampening.“What do you want to do after dinner?”

My mind goes straight to the gutter.Or rather, the bed.

“Maybe a walk on the beach?”he suggests, eyes gleaming.

I smile back.“I never turn down a walk on the beach.”

“You’re obsessed with the ocean.”

“Yeah, I kind of am.”I stab a piece of asparagus with my fork.

“This is really good.”

“Thanks.Um.Your mom wants to give us a wedding.”

He freezes.“She wants what now?”

One corner of my mouth lifts.“She wants us to have another wedding.She took me to Shores for lunch and told me what beautiful weddings they do there and that she’s been waiting and waiting for a family wedding and missed out on ours.”

“Jesus Christ.”

“I know.”I poke at my food.“I didn’t say yes or no.She asked me to think about it.I didn’t want to hurt her feelings.”

He scrubs a hand over his face.“Yeah.”Then he shakes his head.“I’ll deal with it.”

“Whew.Okay.”I blow out a quick breath of relief.“How was your work today?”

“Well, I’m learning a lot.”

“About the team?”

“Yeah.I’ve been watching tons of video and crunching numbers.”

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