Page 24 of Last Fall

She grinned and I really didn’t want to know what she and Wes did between the stadium and the party. “He said you were in rare Papa Bear form in the locker room today. What’s got you so riled up,Cassidy?”

Erik’s entire mood shifted, the temperature around him dropping. “Just watching out for the people I careabout.”

“Mmmhmmm. Why don’t you go get us cake?” Carrie waved her hands at him, waiting until he was out of earshot before she leaned into me and whispered, “You.He was caring and Papa Bearing aboutyou,Zoe.”

Every muscle in my body locked into place as my heart started pounding harder. “Excuseme?”

“Erik. You.” She pulled me toward the shade of a tree where we could talk privately. “According to Wes he was all protective of you. It made Wes really happy, not that he’ll let Erik know that any time soon. Anyway, I just thought you should know he’s really interested in you and Wes thinks it’sserious.”

Serious.

How had a frantic kiss in a parking lot turned my imaginary crush into something so...so...real?

“God, Zoe. He’s liked you forever. Is it mutual? I can never tell how you feel so I’m genuinely asking. Because Erik’s not the kind of guy you just date. He’s the kind of guy you marry. So if you’re not into him, let himknownow.”

The kind of guy youmarry.

Way to freak me out. I was just barely okay with acknowledging I had both sexualandemotional feelings for the guy, and here my friends were jumping us right to the permanent stuff. Maybe it was because they both got married so fast that they were able to talk about it like it was nobigdeal.

But any kind of a relationship was a big dealtome.

“Can we stop talkingaboutthis?”

“No,” she said bluntly. “But I will stop saying that word that so clearly scares you. Sorryaboutthat.”

I shuddered but not because I had anything against getting married. I loved the idea, just not for me. “YoulikeErik?”

I genuinely wanted her opinion. Carrie was a unique person. She was outgoing and smart, she was blunt and honest, and she was the most loyal person I knew. “I do,” she said slowly. “He’s too quiet for my taste but he loves his team and made Wes feel welcome before he was ever traded. He’s every bit of hisnickname.”

Bear.June’s description jumped back to my mind. “Tell me about that. June said he’s grizzlysometimes.”

Carrie’s eyes glittered. “Are you sure you want my opiniononthat?”

I had no idea what that meant, but knowing Carrie I was going to pay dearly for thisinformation. “Yes?”

“It’s not a bad thing. He’s...protective like a bear. Hurt him, hurt anyone he cares about, and you’re going to get it. It’s a goodthing.”

I would have thought that was the end of her explanation if it weren’t for the smile that she kept forcing offherlips.

“What?”

She finally stopped fighting it, letting her whole face light up. “I am willing to bet you a million dollars that it means he’s a bear in the bedroom too. You know, a gentleman in the street and freak in the bed? That’s him. I just know it.” Then she leaned closer and whispered. “He could be a lot offun,Zoe.”

My heart hammered in my chest just thinking about Erik naked. “You just said he was the kind of guy you marry, not the kind of guyyoubang.”

She shrugged. “You can seriously bang a guy. Damn, girl. Just because he’s thekind of guy you marrydoesn’t have to mean you’re ready for marriage before the first date. It’s a personality I was warning you about, not a destination.” Then she placed a reassuring hand on my arm. “I know it’s been a long time. Take it easy on yourself, okay? And talk to me aboutanything.”

She got all of that out just before Wes arrived with one plate of cake. “Here you go, babe. Erik said you were looking for aslice.”

“A slice of you.” She took the plate and kissed herhusband.

“You can have a slice of me anytime you want.” He grabbedherrear.

I had no choice but to look away. It was either that orgagging.

That was when Erik snuck up on the other side of the tree and stole me away from the party. I mean it. He grabbed my hand, put his finger to his lips in the universal sign ofshhhh, and pulled me away from the crowd to a quiet outdoor sitting area on the side of thehouse.

Vines crept up a trellis along the fence and colorful hibiscus bushes surrounded the luxurious lawn furniture. A large rectangular umbrella covered everything inshade.

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