Page 26 of Fumbled Beginning

“Not bad, huh?” He smirked while taking a bite of his own.

I patted his leg. “You did good. How did you discover this place?”

He finished chewing and took a sip from his water bottle. “The team participated in an event here for kids with physical disabilities. I was paired with a little kid named Mattie. He used to play hockey and wrestle, but one day during one of his matches, he landed wrong and ended up paralyzed from the waist down.”

“Ugh! Those stories always tear my heart open. How old is he?”

“Fifteen now, but thirteen when it happened.” He cleared his throat. “Anyway, I could tell he didn’t want to get pushed around the park in his wheelchair, so I rented a tricycle with a seat on the back. We spent the day riding around the lake and discussed everything except his disability. He appreciated the fact that I was treating him like a normal kid. Meeting people like Mattie inspires me and challenges my thinking. No matter how often they get knocked down, they get right back up and keep pushing through. So, that’s why it irritates me when people look up to me like I’m some type of hero. It’s kids like Mattie that should be admired. We could all learn a lot from them.”

“That’s got to be hard, but I know how much those kids love the attention. I went with Maverick to a children’s hospital once. It was an eye-opener.”

“Yeah, but it’s especially hard when you have to watch someone you love slowly fade away right before your eyes, without any control of the outcome.” He stared up at the night sky.

JP lost his brother when he was a teenager. He was known to have the biggest philanthropic heart in the league. Not only was he notorious for giving back, but his charity, the Justin Watson Foundation, was heavily backed by the NFL. There was also a youth sports complex in Atlanta with his name on the building.

“I’m sure it meant a lot to Mattie.” I met his eyes, not bringing up all the other charities he was involved in. I was getting the impression that he didn’t want to take credit for all the good work he did.

“It probably meant more to me than it did to him. Some guys just want to write a check and pose for the camera. They don’t know what they’re missing.”

“So, between the charitable work, the games, and practices, what do you like to do for fun?”

“I’ll tell you what,” he said with a glint in his eye that I was familiar with, “I’ll show you what I like to do for fun if you agree to one date with me.”

“JP, I’m not looking for a one-night stand,” I said, reminding myself who he really was. I might have gotten to know his softer side tonight, but we were at different places in our lives. I wanted commitment, and he wanted freedom—two complete opposites.

“I don’t think you’ll have to worry about that.”

“You don’t think so, huh?” My lips twisted together in an attempt to hide my smile. It would be so easy just to give in. God, did I want to give in. He was wearing me down, and I had a feeling he knew it too.

“Nope.” He shook his head. “Trust me, you’ll want more than one night with me.” He winked.

I poked him in the chest playfully. “You really want to take me on a date? Do you even date? I mean, I know you hook up, but when was the last time you actually tried to woo a woman?”

“Woo?” His shoulders shook with laughter. “Is that what I would be doing?”

“This is pointless.” I sighed, staring out at the water. His playfulness was making it difficult to say no.

“I agree, so Friday night? I’ll pick you up.” He poked me back. “I promise the flirting and the charm is included in the date. I’ll woo the hell out of you.”

I laughed at how ridiculous this was. For the life of me, I would never understand why he was pushing this. He didn’t need to beg, plead, or do any favors. All he had to do was smile and crook his finger.

“Come on.” He bumped my shoulder. “I’ll even bring you a donut.” He pointed to the empty bag. I shamelessly ate two.

“Oh, man, you really know how to tempt a girl.” I twisted my lips in an attempt to hold back my smile.

He lifted my chin. “One date.”

His eyes softened with emotion that I wasn’t prepared for. Turning him down was getting harder and harder. I convinced myself he wasn’t my type from the moment we met. I tried to keep him at bay, but with every interaction, my feelings for him just seemed to build and build. I didn’t know what was keeping me from giving in, but I was still hesitant. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

He tried to hide his disappointment, but I could still see it. “Why? Afraid you won’t be able to keep your hands off me?”

I held his gaze, looking for a weakness or a chink in his armor. I was grasping at straws, trying to find a reason to stick to my guns. He has implied many times that he wanted me. He might not check all my boxes, but maybe it was time I started thinking outside the box.

God, was I seriously considering this?

“How about this,” he said, breaking through my thoughts. “Let’s not call it a date. Think of it as a dinner. It’s the least you can do since I came to your rescue—again. Plus, I want to prove to you that I’m not just the player you think I am.”

“Okay,” I whispered, decision made. I could do this. I could guard myself, have a good time, and keep my emotions locked up.

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