Page 10 of Unmasking Love
The doors open and we are greeted by a security guard who asks to check our IDs. We are cleared and told to just head "down that way a bit". Shouldn’t he have more specific directions? I don’t know where I’m going. Wes is chattering away, not at all concerned that we’re walking through the depths of a massive concrete structure without a clear destination. But we keep walking around the gently curved hallway and suddenly it opens upwith the player parking lot to my left and in front of me is a rope line of fans.
The players come out and sign a few things as they make their way to their cars. I spot Johnny and give him a wave. I got him the cutest little house last year.
Eventually Felix comes out with Aiden under his arm. Aiden looks like he's almost in pain from the contact. Felix is talking his ear off and grinning. I understand just by looking at this exchange how Felix labeled Aiden as a flight risk.
He looks ready to bolt.
Felix spots me and waves, a few girls give me dirty looks but I smile brightly and move towards the end of the roped off section. I watch the captain chat up the girls and the kids along the line, signing hats, jerseys, and posters. He takes selfies. I see Aiden slowly stepping back, clearly trying to just fade into the background when Felix turns to him and points at the ground next to him. Aiden hangs his head and walks back over to heel. He hasn’t seen me yet but in his suit I can see a tall, strong body. His hair looks wet and I wonder if he showered even if he didn’t play. Does it get sweaty under all that gear?
My mind travels further to what water dripping down his torso would look like and my imagination’s field trip to Smutville only ends because I bump into Wes’s back. He gives me a curious look over his shoulder and I step around him. I expect Felix to just introduce us quickly but instead he lifts the rope and gestures for me to duck under. Wes follows and we walk further away from the fan line and into the parking lot.
I catch Aiden looking at me, maybe recognizing me from the game, maybe not. Maybe he's just guilty over not responding to any of my texts. I have a feeling Felix is about to bring that up.
"Young Gun, this is Harper. This is the girl you've been ignoring for weeks while all she is trying to do is get you situated in a nice place."
Yep. Called it.
I smile at him and roll my eyes at Felix. "Hi Aiden, nice to meet you."
He takes my hand and it's warm. Large. Steady. This handshake is the perfect pressure. He's not crushing my bones but he's also not afraid to make contact. The exit sign for Smutville appears in my mind and I detour quickly off the professional highway to what his hands on me would feel like. I’m a tall woman, but he’s taller, he could pull me up to his lips by putting his hands on my ass and lifting. These hands could do the sexy hanging-off-the-back-of-my-neck when we’re at a party thing. These hands could claim me.
His grip is confident and reassuring.
My palm fits perfectly along his and I swear I feel his finger brush against my pulse point.
I’ve also been staring into his bright blue eyes since this handshake started and as I blink I realize it's lasting several beats too long.
At the same time Aiden pulls his hand away quickly. I look down and see that he's closed it in a fist.
"So, are you going to let this pretty lady show you some homes?"
"Uh, sure." Aiden says and I can see some pink in his cheeks.
"Good. She'll pick you up tomorrow afternoon." Felix turns to me. "Three work for you?"
"Yes it does. I'll get a few showings set up." I flash my winning realtor smile.
"Perfect. Now, Young Gun, I am going to watch you text Miss Harper your address. I don't trust you to follow through based on your past aversion to basic correspondence." Felix does have a flair for the dramatics but I love his personality. He knows how to read a person and he has Aiden locked in.
I watch as Aiden's cheeks blush further and I feel like a kid at a friend's house when they’re getting scolded by their mom.
"Felix, it's fine, I'm sure Aiden has been busy. We have plenty of options and time."
Felix mouths "flight risk" to me again as Aiden pulls out his phone and texts me his address. When my phone pings I pick it up and wave it. "Got it! See you tomorrow!"
"Yeah, okay, tomorrow." Aiden mumbles as Felix wraps me up in a bear hug. "Don't be afraid to apply some pressure to this one. He's going to need you to take control." Smutville straight ahead. No. I must keep it together, be professional, at least until the end of this conversation but it is a struggle.
"Got it," I whisper back. Felix leans back and grins. I don’t have to deal with his interference on a daily basis. I can't imagine his Mother Hen behavior as a team captain.
Wes and I head back up through the arena to the surface level lot where he parked. We make plans to get together for lunch on Saturday after getting drive-thru vanilla cones. As he rounds the corner to my street, I text Crispin.
I'm just getting back from the game but I can come over if you want.
I see him start typing his response immediately.
Nah, that's OK
With a sigh I drop my hands to my lap.
