Page 60 of Flirting With Fire
Meyer hoisted both bags onto the kitchen table. “I’ve got this, babe. There’s a couple more bags in the truck, but these have refrigerated items.”
He sidled over and planted a quick kiss on my mouth. Damn, but I could get used to this being my everyday norm. Meyer smiled and snaked an arm around my waist.
“You okay?“
I swallowed hard and nodded. “Yeah. Perfect. Just got off the phone with Kayla.”
“Oh, cool. Everything good with her?”
“Yeah. I was checking to make sure she hadn’t changed her plans and was coming to the fiesta.” I averted my gaze and plucked at one of the buttons on his shirt. “You know, so we didn’t waste our time making all this salsa. After all, she’s made it a zillion times. Probably doesn’t even need the recipe.”
My heart had sunk into my stomach again. After all the pep talk, I was right back where I started from.
“Hmm…” I glanced up and caught Meyer’s furrowed brow. He cupped my ass cheek and gave it a hearty squeeze. “Let me get the rest of the groceries then we can discuss this.”
He gave me another quick peck then headed out the door. I let my head fall back and stared up at the ceiling, silently yelling at myself. I rubbed my neck as I pondered what Meyer planned to say. Kayla was right about everything she’d said. Yet five minutes after hanging up, I’d let my insecurities take hold again.
I was a mess.
With a sigh, I started digging through the totes to find the perishables. I’d barely made it past the beer when Meyer reappeared with the rest of the groceries.
“I see you have your priorities straight,” he joked.
I had to grin. “Busted. I thought maybe the salsa might taste better if I prepared it with a carefree heart.”
Meyer barked out a laugh. “Carefree heart? I like that.” He winked. “I want that for you more than you know.”
His comment left a twinge in my chest. “Should I grab a beer for you, too?”
He cradled a couple of cheese blocks and a small carton of half-and-half in the crook of his arm. “That would be amazing. It’s pretty hot out there today.”
I gave him a half-smile. “There’s always ice water.”
“Blasphemy.” He passed off the pile of dairy products to me, and I traded them for two beers. “Thanks. We can share a drink and regroup before we get serious about making culinary magic.”
I grunted. “Kayla just talked me off the ledge. Now it’s your turn.”
His brow creased, and he laced our fingers together, tugging me toward the living room. “Hey, come on. You’ve been on edge all morning.”
“Sorry. I didn’t realize I was giving off a bummer vibe.”
Meyer jostled our joined hands. “Didn’t Coach Frederickson used to say ‘Bummer, man’ for absolutely everything? Like, it was the exact same reaction whether you spilled a drink or broke your leg.”
I laughed as I fell on the sofa next to him, our hips touching. “Oh my god, I forgot about that. Do you think maybe it’s because he was stoned twenty-four-seven?”
Meyer snorted. “I don’t think. Iknow. We all did.”
I took a sip of my beer then placed it on the coffee table. “I didn’t. I was completely out of the loop.”
“Oh.” Meyer set his beer next to mine. “We all kind of left you out, didn’t we?” Meyer frowned, dragging his fingers through his hair. “That’s my fault. How could you build camaraderie with the guys when I wouldn’t let you play?” He groaned. “I’m such an arrogant dick.”
I straightened, my jaw going slack. “What? No. That’s not what I was getting at.”
Meyer regarded me with a creased brow. “Come on, Dex. You were pissed off at me for ten years, and with good reason. I made a choice for you out of some misguided sense of…” He shrugged. “I was being arrogant. It wasn’t my place to decide whether you got to play with the team or not.”
“Hey, hold on.” I laid a hand on his wrist. “First off, I was angry because I assumed you hated me for being gay. Not because I was on the bench. Trust me, I was nervous as hell about getting on the field with all those guys. I might’ve been shit at reading people, but I was overly aware of how easy it would be for those bruisers to destroy my skinny ass.” I drew my eyebrows together. “Besides, it was the coach’s final decision on who was in the lineup. Not yours.”
Meyer chuckled. “I can be pretty convincing.”
