Page 36 of Can't Take My Eyes Off You

I sigh heavily – she’s the best best friend and that’s no exaggeration. I need to make her a mug.

‘Look at him,’ Olivia says, pointing to the field where Alex is. ‘Gunner’s already in love with him.’ She nods to Gun, whose eyes are steadily fixed on his idol. ‘Who wouldn’t be? He’s beautiful, talented, gainfully employed andnotan ass-face.’

‘I’mnotin love with Alex,’ Gunner says flatly, defending his man-crush.

‘Oh-kay.’ She laughs, dramatically rolling her eyes to the sky.

‘So, he’s cute,’ I say, my eyes now on Alex. ‘That’s not the only thing that matters.’

‘Yeah, Liv. Berkley prefers arrogant rich dudes with growing drinking problems who she refuses to tell how she really feels because every woman on the planet now wants him, and she’s afraid he won’t pick her in the end…’ He looks my way slowly, raising a single eyebrow like he just doesn’t understand me.

I’m a little offended he knows me this well. ‘I’mcomplicated.’

‘You’re pertinacious and too wrapped up in Prince Willy the moron,’ he says.

‘Words like “pertinacious” are why we don’t listen to you when you speak,’ I say, winking Gunner’s way.

‘He lied to you,’ Gunner reminds me. ‘And he just signed another contract without ever even speaking to you.Again. That to me says he’s choosing the show and moving on.’

‘I thought you were on team Gwen Stefani?’ I ask.

‘Stacy,’ he says. ‘GwenStacy. And after another thought on it, I figure Olivia’s probably right. Why the hell not do something that might piss him off? He hasn’t had a lot of concern about how he’s made you feel.’

‘Yes, he has.’ They don’t know him like I know him.

‘Nope!’ Liv yells. ‘Do not defend him. We’re moving on, remember. To that!’ She points at the field again.

‘Fine,’ I say, slouching back in my seat. ‘I’ll give Alex a chance.’

‘Woo!’ she hollers, high-fiving the stranger in front of her. ‘The rightful princess of Portland is about to bag another successful, handsome man, and I am the genius matchmaker.’

‘Don’t quit your job yet, Cupid,’ Gunner teases. ‘This could be a total disaster.’

14

BERKLEY

The game was long and I saw that stupidRoyalsad twice more. I’ve never been more thankful for an event to end. We’re now standing with a bunch of children, waiting for team members to come out and sign autographs. There must be fifty kids here – and Gunner.

‘Liv,’ he says excitedly, a tad buzzed from the three super-sized brewskis he threw back. He throws an arm around her neck. ‘I can’t believe you pulled through with something cool, and we get to meet Alex Donovan! You think he’ll sign my shirt?’

‘He’s signing my cleavage whether he wants to or not, so I don’t know why he’d refuse your jersey.’

‘You realize you’re fangirling over a footballer that Olivia has demanded I fall in love with?’

‘SLEEP,’ she corrects me, loudly. ‘I demanded yousleepwith him, but if love brews, one more point for matchmaker Liv,’ she says with a wide grin.

‘The more beer I knocked back the more I realized that I’ve got zero problem with you falling for my idol. My only request is that you put in a good word for me as best man at your wedding,’ he says drunkenly.

I snort with laughter. ‘Wedding? We haven’t even been on one date. I haven’t talked to the guy since high school and barely even then.’

People around us suddenly erupt into chatter as the players head our way. Gunner’s jumping up and down like a kid waiting to meet Santa. I back away from the crowd, standing behind them with the parents as the kids, Gunner and Olivia get their autographs.

Alex is kneeling in front of a little boy, chattering away as he signs the ball now in his hands. OK… so he’s not unpleasant to look at. Ruggedly handsome with an unshaven scruff on his pretty face. He glances at me several times, moving in my direction when the kid he was busy with runs off.

‘Berkley Kaine.’ He says my name slowly as he walks over, a coy grin on his face. ‘I haven’t seen you in years. Wow,’ he says with a chuckle. ‘You’re hot, girl.’

‘Hot?’ I repeat. Not exactly the romantic meet-cute I’d envisioned as a story to tell my grandkids one day. ‘Thank you?’

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