Page 40 of Second Down Darling

Until I open the door to hisapartment.

It’s late, and I’m guessing Asher is already in bed, but I don’t want to make any unnecessary noise, so I quietly turn thekey.

I find Jake and Matilda sitting side by side on the couch, looking cozy. She’s touching his arm and gazing up at him like she’s hoping he rips off her underwear with histeeth.

Jake’s sporting a backwards baseball cap and looking so freaking sexy, I almost can’t blame Matilda fordrooling.

She jumps back when she sees me, a guilty expression on herface.

But Jake gives me a wide smile. “Hey, Charlie. How was yourday?”

“Sorry, am I interrupting something? I canleave.”

“Don’t be silly. Matilda was just looking at my wrist. Took a hard tackle today, and I was icing it.” He points to the ice pack in the bowl in front ofhim.

“Isn’t that nice of you, Matilda? Good of you to take such good care of Jake.” I’m being a snarky bitch, but it goes over Jake’s head, because he just reaches for that bag ofice.

Matilda, though? She gets what I’m saying. Eyes narrowed at me, voice syrupy sweet, she says, “We just ordereddinner.”

Jake scoots over to make room between him and Matilda and pats the seat, his attention on ESPN. “Join us. I ordered pizza. Pepperoni and black olives. That’s still your favorite,right?”

I smile victoriously at her before I plop down between them. “That’s really sweet of you to remember, Jake. Thanks. I’d love to joinyou.”

She rolls her eyes and grabs her purse. “I probably need to getgoing.”

Don’t let the door hit you on the ass,lady.

After the pizza arrives, I nibble on a slice before I turn to him. “You know she’s hoping to be the next Mrs. Ramirez,right?”

His expression is incredulous. “What are you talkingabout?”

“Jake, I might be terrible at flirting, but you’ve always been clueless about the women lusting overyou.”

“Matilda? She was just being nice.” Sure. Nice. I’d agree if she didn’t look like she was minutes away from doing a naughty nurse striptease. “And even if she was flirting, I have no intentions of dating anyone this year, much less one of the babysitters. I have to focus on football or I can kiss my dream of the NFLgoodbye.”

I should be happy to hear this, but some small part of me iscrushed.

He never said much about my big declaration that I left NTU because I had feelings forhim.

What, Charlotte? Did you think him letting you move in here was some ploy to make his move on you? He had three years to try something with you before he met Dakota. He never did. There’s your answer about how he feels about you. Hestillsees you like a little sister. His pal. His partner to playchess.

Jake shovels away his food, unaware of my innerturmoil.

When I return my plate to the sink, I catch sight of the babysitting schedule this week. Miss Louisa is a sweetheart, but Yvette, Buffy, and Matilda? I’ll go crazy if I have to come home every day and find one of them seconds from scalingJake.

And just because he gave me that politically correct response about not dating doesn’t mean he won’t hook up with anyone. Jake’s friends have always been horndogs. I’d be an idiot to think he’s anydifferent.

I definitely need to find somewhere else to live as soon aspossible.

“You okay?” he asks as he throws away histrash.

“Great.” The new Charlotte, the one who wants to take charge of her life, is tempted to share how I’m sick with jealousy and see his reaction, but that will make living hereawkward.

I’m not sure what else to say, but my tumultuous thoughts are interrupted when the sports announcer says Jake’s name. He and I rush back to theTV.

“Here’s another look at that daring rescue made by Lone Star State’s wide receiver Jake Ramirez.” Seeing him storm into the burning building and carry me out makes meemotional.

“You made national news.” I sniffle and try to swallow past the knot in my throat. This is a new video, closer to the building. This one shows the flames on the first floor. Shows him emerging sweaty and covered in soot, his face a mask of concentration. “You could’ve beenkilled.”

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