Page 4 of End Game
“Yup. Think about it. Quarterbacks only release the ball. In the grand scheme of things, it’s telling about their make-up.”
“Oh, smart one, please tell me more.”
“Let’s backtrack,” she says, making a circle pattern in the air with her finger. “You dated a kicker before Callum, right?”
“Yes.”
“And you had to constantly bolster his confidence, right?”
“Yes.”
“That’s because kickers have all the pressure. Ever heard of ‘icing the kicker’?”
“How does this have to do with Callum?” I laugh.
“Quarterbacks don’t take hits well and if they don’t perform, they’re traded for something better.Plus,” she continues, “they pass the ball. They don’t hold on to it for long. It’s a clear sign of commitment issues. Once they’re in the pocket for too long, if you feel me, or feel too much pressure, they down the ball. Throw that thing at the ground if they have to.”
“You’re crazy,” I giggle.
“I’m a thinker,” she says, tapping her temple. “On that note, I don’t think you should date more football players.”
“You and Finn both.”
“Me and Finn. I like the sound of that,” she winks. Before I can reply, she hustles on. “If you’re allnotheartbroken, why are you hauling my city ass to the country for the weekend? You know I don’t do things like . . .this,” she says with a wave towards the cornfields lining both sides of the road.
“I’m not heartbroken, but that doesn’t mean I want to sit around and think about being traded for a model. That bruises the ol’ ego a little, you know?”
“Just tell Finn to put a bounty on him when they play Columbus.”
“I think that’s already done,” I laugh. “He had a moving company come get my stuff back to Chicago and the one guy told me my brother said he had their bail money plus a bonus if they could get a fist in Callum’s face.”
“I love your brother.”
I give her a look.
Poppy and my brother have definitely hooked up in the past. It’s usually for just a night, sometimes two, in the midst ofa celebration. They’re both fun, kind of goofy, and two of the biggest flirts I know. They’re also two of my favorite people in the world. I think they could be great for each other, with some work. While loyalty may be a strong trait of both, monogamy is not.
“I don’t like that face either,” she grins. “It’s judgey.”
“Weren’t you just telling me a minute ago how bad football players are for my health?”
“No, I was telling you how bad kickers and quarterbacks are. I didn’t say a word about tight ends, and I think Finn Miller has one hell of a tight end.”
“Ew,” I say, making a face. “That’s my brother.”
“That’s one heck of a fine specimen whether he’s your brother or not?—”
“There!” I spot the rusted blue gate that indicates the start of our property and almost jump up and down in my seat. “Ooh! This is it!”
“Don’t have a heart attack on me.”
The gravel cracks under the weight of the SUV as we slip through the gates and follow a narrow track up the hill.
“You’ll love it up here,” I gush, taking in the familiar surroundings. “The lake is beautiful, and there are no neighbors for a mile or so in any direction. There’s a little town not too far away where you can get the best lemon cake ice cream anywhere.”
“Sounds rad,” she mutters.
“Itisrad,” I sigh happily. “I haven’t been up here since Callum tossed me to the curb so he could move Carly in or whatever the hell he’s doing, so just pretend to love it so I can be happy.”
