Page 16 of Catching Feelings

If Rowan agreed to go out with me, I’d treat her to Red, the steakhouse at the Four Aces Casino. Their steak is melt-in-your-mouth sin, as I imagine Rowan’s kisses are.

“Christ.” I run my fingers through my hair and pick up my phone, needing a distraction.

Nash, Walker, and Darius are no doubt home with their wives, but Declan’s gotta be getting ready to hit the town. I fire off a text asking what his plans are for tonight. He’s twenty-four and our star quarterback. Either he’s slutting himself through Boston or already in bed with a woman.

I’m not in the mood for clubbing tonight anyway, so I send Trenton and Brock a text. At twenty-eight, they’re closer to my age, even though they tease me about being over the hill.

Once you hit thirty in the NFL, you’re prime targeting for old man jokes. Trenton texts me back first.

TRENTON:Still in Nashville with the rents.

Shit. I forgot most of the guys are soaking up the last week of freedom before the season starts. Brock sends a similar message, but he’s in Cabo.

BROCK:Dude. The ladies down here are like mosquitos. Can’t keep them away and they like to bite.It’s spring break in college all over again *wink emoji* *eggplant emoji*

And here I thought I was reaching out to two of the more mature single guys. To be fair, if I hadn’t met Rowan, I’d be right there with Brock.

ME:Wrap up tight and don’t come back with any diseases.

TRENTON:You planning on snacking on Brock the Snake’s leftovers, Buck?

BROCK:I’m a nice guy and would share with you, Buck.

ME:As tempting as your diseased sloppy seconds sound, I’m gonna take a hard pass.

BROCK:Fair. Same advice to you, Buck who likes to Fuck. Don’t infest all of Boston with your smelly sperm.

ME:Thought you two were the more mature ones on the team.

TRENTON:You categorizing us with Bankes, Potato, and Dare? Fuck, those dudes were pussy whipped way before they put a ring on it.

Yeah, they were, and I couldn’t be happier for them. Walker Bankes came on to the team two years ago, taking a massive pay cut just to be near Riley. Shit, they weren’t even a real couple yet and he passed on millions for her.

Gets my eyes wet just thinking about their cuteness.

And Nash. Fucking Potato. The grumpy asshole who absolutely hated that he fell in love with Kendall. But the way she loves him and his kid is like nothing else. Honestly, I’m a little jealous she came up with the Nash Potato nickname before I did, when I’d been playing with him for three years, but the team quickly adopted it, much to his dismay.

Darius and Mindy are that high school couple that made it work through college and being drafted in the NFL. Super cute, those kids. And their kids.

Kinda sucks that the three guys I respect most on the team are all happily married with little mites of their own. Guess that comes with age.

I love being Dec’s wingman, and even Brock and Trenton’s, but the same old song and dance is getting old. I want what my mentors have.

No. Shit. I don’t want their wives. I want Rowan and everything she represents.

Now to figure out a way to convince her to take a chance on a man slut.

---