Page 128 of Red Zone
I finally force myself to look up at him, my heart still hammering for a completely different reason now.
“They…they really asked about me?” I manage.
“They did.” His mouth curves into the faintest smile. “And if you keep your head on straight, they’ll keep asking.”
I let out a shaky breath, sinking into the chair across from his desk.
Because for the first time, it actually feels real.
“Now, what were you saying about not hurting her?”
The blood immediately leaves my face. “Oh, I thought you were talking about something else. Hey, I gotta go. I’ll see you at film on Monday.”
I’m out of the office before I can read his expression, but I can hear him grumble as I tear out of there.
“Fucking football players…”
Can’t argue with the sentiment. Especially when I’m falling for his daughter.
34
LYLA
Istare at my phone for a solid five minutes before I finally work up the nerve to call him.
It rings once. Twice.
“Hey.”
His voice is low and warm, and stupidly it already makes my chest feel lighter.
“Hi,” I say, trying to sound casual. “You busy?”
A beat of silence. Then a faint laugh. “For you? Never.”
I bite back a smile, fiddling with the hem of my sweatshirt.
“I was just wondering if you wanted to hang out for a little bit. Nothing big. Just…you know.”
His voice comes back, teasing now. “You asking me on a date, Harding?”
“Shut up,” I mumble, cheeks heating. “It’s just milkshakes or something.”
He laughs again, and I swear I can hear the smile in his voice when he says, “Be ready in five. I’m picking you up.”
Before I even hang up, my heart’s racing like I sprinted a mile.
Five minutes later, true to his word, his Jeep rumbles to a stop in front of my apartment.
I grab my jacket and slip outside, tugging the hood up against the night air.
When I slide into the passenger seat, he just glances at me with that lopsided grin of his and mutters, “Hey, Red.”
I roll my eyes. “Hey, Hayes.”
We don’t say much as he pulls onto the main road, his hand draped loosely over the gearshift, the faint hum of the radio filling the quiet.
It’s nice.
