Page 42 of Resisting the Running Back

She looks a bit awestruck as she says, “I’m such a huge fan of you and your brothers.” Her cheeks are flushed, and I strike that feeling of jealousy right out of my chest as I wonder how I can make her cheeks flush like that.

“This is my wife, Grace,” he says, and the women shake hands and exchange pleasantries while I greet Cassie.

“You doing okay?” Tanner murmurs only loud enough for me to hear him.

I nod. “Fine.”

“You two look good together,” he says, leaving a hint of suggestion in his tone. My eyes meet his, and I give him awhat-the-fuck-am-I-supposed-to-do-about-itkind of look.

“We’re just friends,” I insist.

“‘Just friends’ don’t look at each other the way you two do.”

I roll my eyes, and I’m about to pop off about how she got all embarrassed when she started talking to Spencer, but we lose the moment as she returns to my side.

I glance down at her, and she’s looking up at me, and is Tanner right?

Is she looking at me like that?

Because I know I’m certainly looking atherlike that.

“Drink?” I ask, and she nods.

“Just a glass of wine. Something sweet.”

“Oh, I know all about wine,” Grace says, and she links her arm through Sophie’s as she escorts her over to the bar. “I’ll take a whiskey,” I say after them, and Sophie turns and winks at me.

“She’s not looking at me like that,” I mutter to Tanner.

“You want to bet?” he challenges. “If only you could see it how I do.”

“We keep having these moments. A couple of kisses, always for someone else’s benefit. But it always seems like it’s just the feelings I’ve always had for her at play,” I admit.

“Have you ever thought that maybe she’s got those same feelings?”

I shake my head because the truth is no. Until the last few days, Ineveronce thought that.

“What’s the worst that could happen?” he asks.

“I could lose her forever.” I shrug, the motion minimizing the actual pain that slices through my chest at the merethought of it.

“Or you could have everything you’ve ever wanted forever.” He also shrugs at the end as he gives me a pointed look. He’s not wrong, I guess. It’s just two very extreme options, and right now, the middle, where I am, feels the most comfortable.

Because what if he’s right, and we try, and I get to hold onto what I’ve wanted for half my life…and then it doesn’t work out?

“Sophie’s a good one, Miller. Don’t you think she wouldn’t let this come between you either way? Take the leap, man. Get over those fears in your head.”

I glance at Cassie. “Like you did?” It’s my turn to raise a pointed brow.

“Hey, it all worked out in the end.” He sips his tequila, and then Sophie returns and presses a glass of whiskey into my palm.

I drink it faster than I should.

She walks with me as I introduce her to different teammates, and we take our seats for dinner. There’s one player at every table, and this is part of the VIP experience. Fans bid on the chance to sit at their favorite player’s table, and I’m thrilled that there are eight fans waiting for me as I pull out Sophie’s chair first, then take my own seat.

A hush falls over the table as we sit, and I break the silence with my announcement. “Hey everyone, I’m Miller, and this is my fiancée, Sophie. Thanks for choosing to sit with us.”

“Oh, congratulations!” one woman at the table says to us, and then we dive into a conversation about how Sophie and I met.

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