Page 25 of Resisting the Running Back

“Banks?” she asks. She knows exactly who I mean when I sayMiller. For as much as I’ve kept my pen name a secret, I never kept my friendship with the pro football player a secret.

“Yes.”

“So have you gotten naked with him yet, or are you still waiting?”

“Oh my God, Brooke!” I yell.

She laughs. “Sorry. I have to keep things light. But really. Have you admitted you’re in love with him?”

I roll my eyes even though she can’t see me. We’re just friends, and it’s a conversation we’ve had a million times. “I need to go. I’m meeting Miller in a few minutes.”

She sighs. “Give that dreamy butt a squeeze for me. And really, babe, I’m going to miss having you next door. Maybe you can un-resign and come back when all this blows over?” she asks.

“I miss you already, too,” I say. “And we never know what the future holds. Maybe I’ll be back after all.”

“What’s this secret pen name?” she asks.

“Ask the students. I’m sure someone caught it before I took it down.”

She huffs out a breath. “Fine. Call me if you need anything, okay?”

“I will.” I hang up, feeling a bit of nostalgia as I think about how even though I just told her that maybe I’ll be back…something tells me I won’t be.

I fluff my hair, put on a little more lip gloss, and head down to the kitchen to meet my fiancé for this outing.

He’s standing in the kitchen wearing khaki shorts and a black shirt, and what is it about khaki and black that makes him look so hot?

No, Sophie. No. I need somebody to snap me out of this.

I blow out a breath, and his jaw slackens a little when he sees me. “You, uh…you look great, Soph. Really leaning into the part.”

My brows crinkle together. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He lifts a shoulder. “Nothing. Ready?”

“Let’s do this.”

He navigates us toward downtown San Diego, and it’s a tour of the town I wasn’t expecting. We drive near the water, and then he cuts up a side street and slides into a parking spot. We walk a block until we find ourselves in front of a jewelry store.

“My brother recommended this place,” he says, and I glance over at him.

“Your brother has a jeweler?”

“Didn’t I tell you? He just got engaged.”

My jaw drops. “What?”

He nods. “Yeah. He proposed the night of our birthday, actually.”

I touch my forehead in embarrassment. “Two nights ago? As in the night I called you and you came running for me?”

He slings his arm around my shoulders and squeezes me in a side hug. “Trust me, he didn’t need me there for whatever came after she said yes.”

“I can’t believe Tanner is engaged.” I guess I didn’t see him settling down first.

“Get this. She’s seven years older than him and has two kids.”

My eyes widen. Holy hell. Good for him. And her.

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