Page 70 of Can't Take My Eyes Off You

You knew this wouldn’t be easy, Will. She’s got a life that no longer includes you. This was your doing, ass-face. Reassure her that her moving on was alright.

‘No need to be sorry. I’m alright on my own. I need to look for a place to live, so I can do that.’

She nods, her gaze lingering.

‘Anyway, the bracelet thing – tap that charm and no matter what I’m doing, I’m yours. Anytime you need or want me, you get my full attention. Alright?’

She flashes me an unsure smile. ‘OK.’

25

BERKLEY

This morning, right when I’d planned to really let him have it (after remembering he was even there), he was playing the part of the perfect gentleman. A man I once knew. Being sweet and listening to me, not blaming contracts or his family for his past stupidity. I don’t know how to feel about him right now but hate isn’t on the list.

Gunner, Olivia and I are once again at Providence Park Stadium, just behind the barriers that separate the fans from the field. I’ve never been here when the place isn’t overflowing with soccer fans, exactly as it is now.

‘You OK?’ Liv asks as she and Gunner return from buying food and drinks for the three of us.

Gunner let it slip that Alex has something planned. Something for me. I’m worried. Please don’t let him publicly humiliate me on what feels like the most confusing day of my life.

‘Yeah, just keep the stadium wieners far away from me because if they plaster my face on the jumbotrons like I suspect they’re going to,witha wiener in my mouth, I will die,’ I say dramatically, earning a roll of Gunner’s eyes.

‘Do you know what he’s doing?’ I ask him again, even though he’s refusing to speak to me or even make eye contact.

He’s upset I let Will stay the night and most certainly doesn’t believe I didn’t sleep with him. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wake up at about four in the morning and momentarily consider seducing him. But he was so sweet, holding me with both his arms around me, one leg thrown over mine like he never wanted to let me go. I’ve never felt so in the right place.

‘Come on, Gun,’ I beg. ‘Give me a heads-up. I have enough to deal with right now. How embarrassed am I about to be?’

‘Very,’ he says, his mouth full. ‘For the record, before I get blamed for this, I tried to stop him because I know you’ll hate it, but after Willy’s sudden arrival last night, Alex feels like he needs to impress you and discourage him.’

Oh, God. He wants to discourage Will? Then last night is clearly at the forefront of his mind. This can only be one thing, an attempt to one-up Will. We’re in high school all over again.

‘He’s not proposing, is he?’ That would be insane, but Alex is competitive. I start to panic internally, my breathing speeding towards full-on get-me-a-brown-paper-bag-before-I-die levels. He can’t be. ‘Olivia.’ I turn to her. ‘Pleasetell me if that’s it?’

She lifts her shoulders while the crowd erupts in cheers as the team run onto the field.

‘HELLO, TIMBERS FANS!’ The announcer’s voice rumbles through the overhead speakers. ‘We’ve got a special announcement from one of the players tonight. Please, help me welcome Alex Donovan to the field!’

‘Oh, fuck,’ I say in a sing-song voice as I stand up from my seat to watch him walk to center field.

‘What’s up, Timbers fans?!’ Alex hollers into the mic, getting the crowd riled up with his energy, bouncing to their cheers. ‘I want to call down my lady, Berkley Kaine, who turned twenty-five yesterday. She’s officially a quarter of a century old! Where you at, baby?’

My heart stops in my chest when he calls me ‘baby’. No. I’m frozen in place. He wants me to godownthere? In front of everyone? Has he lost his ever-loving mind?

‘Berx.’ Liv pokes me. ‘He wants you to go out there. You heard that part, right?’

‘You guys – I can’t—’

‘GO,’ Gunner yells, now shoving me gently towards Olivia.

I stumble past her, making my way down the stairs towards the barrier, which security helps me over. Slowly and painfully, with security at my side, I walk towards Alex. People cheer me on even though they don’t know me. I feel like Drew Barrymore in that movieNever Been Kissed. Ihatethat movie. I suddenly wish I’d just seduced Will this morning and never showed up.

‘Isn’t she gorgeous?’ Alex asks the crowd, encouraging them to applaud. ‘Well done me,’ he says, high-fiving himself.

When I finally reach him, he grabs my hand.

‘I don’t say this lightly because I’m not usually a man of public declarations or romance. I prefer to keep it more in the bedroom and off the television.’

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