Page 15 of Unmasking Love
I haven’t let a lot of girls get close enough to notice it either.
I suck in an inhale when my heart skips again imagining Harper’s reaction. After seeing her eyes up close, even in the dim lights of the player lot, I could see the various shades of amber that danced around her pupils. I could see their humor and inquisitiveness. Would they change shape as she takes in my ink? Would they hood if I explored that tempting shadow at the edge of her skirt hem?
As I peer out the window and see her pulling into the parking spot outside my apartment I realize being distracted all day was in fact a very bad thing. Now I am not prepared, whatsoever, to be in a confined space with her.
To have her undivided attention, on me.
Togive mine to her.
Shit. I feel like a teenager.
My phone rings, I pull it out of my pocket and see it's her.
"Hello?" She asks and I realize I swiped to answer the call and said nothing. I clear my throat.
"Hi, Harper."
"Oh good! You're there. I'm here? I think. I parked at the address but I'm not sure which unit is yours." I watch her lean forward over the steering wheel and look around.
"I'll be right there." I tell her before hanging up. I take a centering breath and wipe the sweat off my palms before grabbing my keys and heading down to meet her.
When I get closer she smiles broadly and waves at me. I climb into the front seat and she pivots to turn to me.
"Hi Aiden! I hate to do this but I think you'll understand."
"Hate what?" I ask as she pivots the other direction and pulls her phone out to take a selfie.
She looks down into her phone and types something before sending it off.
"Let me guess, Felix?" I ask.
"He wanted ‘proof of life’. And I have explicit instructions to tackle you if you try to run." Harper says this completely seriously but when she turns to me again she cracks. She laughs and my senses are overwhelmed. The sound is a symphony of colors and I can feel the joy and mirth like they’re physical things. "I seriously wish I was kidding. He sent me a YouTube video with instructions for how to execute a shoestring tackle."
"Harper, I'm so sorry," I start but she shakes her head and puts her hand on my forearm. My eyes laser in on it as my skin tingles under her touch. She lets out this sexy little puff of air but recovers more quickly than I do.
"For what? For Felix? Nah, he's entertaining. He's got a lot of energy to go around and I'm sure your team gets plenty of it already. I'm happy to help him re-home his teammates. Shall we?" She asks with another smile as she removes her hand. A one-two punch square in the chest.
"Sure, let's go."
She reverses out of the parking spot after putting in an address. "Okay, this first home is great. Actually, I think it's great but I have no idea what you're looking for so you might hate it."
"I don't really know what I'm looking for."
"No? Well, let's figure it out together. What do you do for fun?"
"Read the team group chat." I joke.
"There's a team group chat!" Harper sounds excited over this. "Oh gosh, I can't even begin to imagine."
"Yeah, it's pretty entertaining." I admit and watch the little crease at the corner of her eyes deepen with her amusement.
"I bet. But, you can read a text thread anywhere. Where do you shop for groceries?"
"The farmer's market as much as I can. Actually, it might be cool to grow my own vegetables." I admit without remembering to censor this side of me. I usually receive a lot of flack for being eco-conscious and plant based but, I'm strong and my heart has never been healthier.
We pull up to a stop sign and Harper turns to me.
"Aiden, I love that.” She is genuinely excited. Her eyes are sparkling and soft with happiness. I’m floored by her support and her interest in me and my heart does that fluttering thing again. I clench my abs to keep my stomach from dropping from the way she’s looking at me. “I can definitely find you a home with room in the yard for a kitchen garden."
