Page 46 of Fumbled Beginning

I simply stared; my heart ached for him with every word he spoke. “I don’t think I am going to be your father’s biggest fan anytime soon.”

“How about mine?”

“Definitely.” I bit back a grin and reached for his hand again. “What about your older brother? Is their relationship complicated too?”

“Nope, but Mike is a sheriff’s deputy, so he and my dad have more in common.” His eyes flickered across the restaurant. I could practically feel his thoughts churning in his head. “Speaking of brothers, I want to tell yours.”

“Tell him what, exactly?” I asked, trying to keep my tone even and giving my brain a minute to catch up.

He cleared his throat, looking slightly uncomfortable. “That we are seeing each other. He asked me to hang out yesterday and I blew him off. I don’t want to keep avoiding him.”

I frowned. “Do you really think that’s a good idea? Shouldn’t we wait?”

His eyes narrowed. “Wait for what? For him to find out from someone else?”

“We don’t even know what we are doing yet?”

His glare turned lethal. “As much as I hate hiding our relationship from Maverick, I hate that you think that more. While I still have no clue what we are doing, I know whatever it is, I want to keep doing it—with you. I don’t want to sneak around behind his back and worry about him catching us.”

“Okay.” I held my hand out. “I didn’t mean to get you so worked up, but have you given this enough thought? This could turn into a big deal. Are you sure you’re ready for that? There is a possibility that this type of news won’t be very well received, and I’m not just talking about with my brother.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I have no idea where you’re going with this.”

My face softened at how clueless he was. “People would know, your fans, your agent, your teammates. Are you really okay with everyone knowing about us?”

He ran a hand over the top of his head. “I don’t feel as though I have to announce it to the world, but if people see us holding hands, or kissing in public, they can draw their own conclusions.”

Now that thought scared me. He wasn’t just an average guy who had a normal profession. JP was a well-known athlete. He had fans and lived a life that could be challenging at best. I learned a lot while watching my brother go through everything in the public eye.

“What will you tell them if they ask?” My palms felt clammy all of a sudden.

He held my gaze and studied me very carefully. “What are you fishing for, Rylee?”

“I just want to make sure you know what you’re getting us into. You’ve been single for as long as I’ve known you. Now, all of a sudden, you want to date me? You don’t think we’re moving a little too fast?”

“I know what I want, Rylee, and that’s you—exclusively. This isn’t just sex for me, and what I feel for you is the furthest thing from casual. I want you all for myself and for you to know that I am all yours.”

He was making it sound way too easy. I’ve been hurt in the past, and while I think we would be great together, I was still concerned about how it would all work out.

“You just signed a two-year deal. Your career will make it hard. Sure, we’ll have the next few months, but once the season starts, we will barely see each other. Your focus will be on your team. I know the type of time and dedication it takes to play at your level. Do you really think this is the right time to start a relationship?”

“Will it be hard? Yes. Is it the right time? Hell, if I know. I wasn’t looking for you. I wasn’t planning on you, yet here we are.” He squeezed my hand. “I’ve got two years left, Rylee. I’m starting to think about a future beyond football. I look at my friends, your brother, and I see what they have. And I want that,” he said, surprising me. “If you sign up for this ride with me, it won’t be just during the off-season. I will give you all I am capable of giving you. I want you by my side. The rest will sort itself out.”

CHAPTER13

RYLEE

“I can’t believeI’m actually doing this,” JP said into my neck as we stood hand in hand outside my brother’s front door. “Tell me again how everything is going to be fine.”

“He has it coming,” I joked, trying to figure out a way to calm him down. This might have been his idea, but he was freaking out, like ready to lose his shit. They had been friends for years. Hell, he probably knew my brother better than I did. But if I was sure of anything, I knew Maverick would be okay with this. “Relax, he’s going to be more worried about you than me.”

JP laughed, kissed my cheek, and rang the doorbell. “I wish I could be as calm as you are right now.”

“The sooner we get this over with, the better it will be.”

JP wanted to talk to Maverick privately, but I insisted on being here, claiming it was payback for him showing up at my parents’ front door with my best friend. I wasn’t sure what Maverick’s reaction would be, but I wanted to participate in this conversation. Not that I thought my brother would give JP a hard time, but I wanted to play it safe.

The door swung open, and Maverick’s eyes immediately fell to our joined hands. His eyes bounced back and forth between us. “What’s going on? What are you guys doing here?”

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