Page 50 of Just One of the Groomsmen
“Then I guess I’ll stop mindingmyown business,” Addie said, “and go over to the neighbors and tell them that you planted those flowers in their yard.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
Addie scooted her chair out like she meant to go this very moment.
“Don’t worry,” Tucker said, hooking his ankle around her chair and tugging it back to the table with a noisy drag. “I’ll block her—she’s not going anywhere.”
She stuck her tongue out at him. “Suck-up.”
“Troublemaker.”
Before she could think of another retort, he reached over the table to bump fists with her grandmother.
“This is what it’s come down to?” she asked. “You and my nonna ganging up on me?”
“Unless you’re ready to talk?”
“Like you’re ready to talk about your mysterious new job?”
He leaned in. “Are you trying to get out of our bet?”
She leaned right back. “Bring it.”
The air shifted, and then she was noticing things she shouldn’t be noticing all over again—that damn strong jawline, the way draping his arm over the back of her chair tightened his shirt and showed off his firm pecs, his lips and how they were only mere inches from hers.
Jeez, here she was, about to kiss her best friend in front of her family two seconds after they’d grilled her about her dating life.
At least it would give them something else to talk about.
If it wouldn’t mess everything up, she might do it just to prove they didn’t know her as well as they thought.
“Game time,” Dad said, tossing his napkin onto the table. Everyone pushed away, their plates mostly cleared save the mashed cauliflower—Addie had forced down as much as she could to make Mom happy.
Only when she went to round the table toward the living room, Tucker turned and blocked the archway. She opened her mouth, planning to trash-talk his team a bit more before the game officially started.
The words died on her tongue as he reached over her shoulder and gripped the end of her ponytail. He’d teasingly tugged on it several times through the years, but this time was different.
Slower. More eye contact.
It also sent tingles dancing across her scalp.
A few oxygen-free seconds passed as they remained frozen in place.
“You guys coming?” Dad called out, and Tucker dropped his arm, almost as if someone else had momentarily inhabited his body and he’d just woken up wondering where he was and how he’d gotten there.
He gave her a sheepish smile as he stepped aside and gestured her into the living room ahead of him.
And suddenly, she thought maybe she didn’t know anything at all.
Chapter Twelve
Who’d be calling her right now, during one of the biggest games of the season?
Lexi’s name flashed onscreen and Addie’s plan to log the call so she could ignore it until after the game instantly changed.
“Hello?” The commotion on TV snagged her attention. “No, no, no! Why’s he throwing it to him when Jones is wide open?”
“Interception,” Tucker yelled, jumping to his feet and doing an in-your-face-type dance she’d call immature if she hadn’t done a similar one a couple of plays ago when the Falcons scored.
