Page 80 of Spring Tide

“I noticed you staring at me all morning.”

My mouth drops open, cheeks warming. “I wasn’t staring ...”

“Sure.”

I playfully kick at the sand. “I wasn’t.”

“Okay.” He trails one hand up and down my exposed back. “If you weren’t staring at me, then I haven’t been thinking about you all week.”

“Fine, I admit it.” I duck my chin, hiding a smile. “But it’s only because it’s hard to see you from here. I had to squint to make out your features, and that takes time.”

His hand moves from my back to my shoulder before brushing across my collarbone. “Valid excuse.”

“So you’ve been thinking about me, huh?”

“Only a lot.”

“I’ve been thinking about you, too.”

And I have been, every day we’ve spent apart. When I first wake up, I think about the sound of his voice. When I step out into the morning light, I think about his smile. And when I go to bed at night, I think about the way his body feels, arms wrapped around me tightly.

It’s an endless cycle, a dream I wish was reality.

He hooks a finger under the thin strap of my one-piece uniform, tugging me closer. “Can you come over tonight?”

“Don’t you have a game?”

“It’s a home game. Come after? Not to help me recuperate or anything,” he rushes to clarify. “I just want to spend time with you.”

“I could come to the game, too. If you wanted?”

“Yeah, I want that.” He smooths his hands down the sides of my hips, gaze dragging across my frame. “Do you ... I mean, I have a jersey you could wear.”

A giddy smile lights up my face. “Okay.”

“I can drop it off on my way to the field, then.”

“Perfect.”

He leans down, pressing one last kiss to the top of my hair. With a few small steps backward, he grins as he says, “I should get back to the pier, but I’ll see you tonight.”

* * *

It’s nearingten o’clock by the time I make it over to Luca’s place. The game finished up a few hours ago, but he needed time to field interviews, debrief with the team, and take a quick shower. I’m feeling antsy after all this waiting, especially since I spent the night wearing his name across my back.

When he finally pulls open the door, I’m bouncing on the balls of my feet. “You were so amazing tonight.”

The Ospreys wiped the field with the Penn Valley Pirates. Luca led his team for the second game in a row with nine tackles, including two for a loss. I don’t know much about football, honestly, but I had Fletcher run me the stats after the game. According to him, Luca played like a champ.

“Thank you,” he says, sweeping me through the front door. His hands come to rest against my hips as he gives me a quick once-over. “You should wear this all the time.”

I tug at the sleeves of his oversized jersey. “You like?”

“Love,” he says gruffly.

I twirl in place, the excess fabric billowing around my thighs. “It’s just a little bit big on me, no?”

“I think it’s a perfect fit.”

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