Page 20 of Scoring Truth
We enter my apartment, and I head to the counter to place the bags down. I notice she isn’t behind me. Instead, she’s still standing in the doorway, eyes darting all over. “What’s wrong?”
“So, this is how a big-time quarterback lives?” Her lips twitch, and I prepare myself for the sarcasm that’s about to roll. I fold my arms and lean against the counter. “I thought it’d be… bigger.”
“Ha!” I bark a laugh, and she dissolves into giggles. I walk over to her, pushing the door shut and reaching for her hand with mine, pulling her into me. I wrap my arms around her back, and she does the same. It’s like we were always meant to be. We just fit together so easily. I don’t have to think or question anything I do. She’s just fun and normal.
Natural.
We sway for a moment.
“How was your day? Did you have to play football today?” I grin. Everything she says makes me smile, and she pokes my ribs. “Don’t make fun of me!”
“I’m not!” I chortle out. I unlatch my arm from her back, brushing the hair from her shoulder. I track the pulse in herneck, speeding up, and brush my fingertip over it. She shivers, and goosebumps break out. “Yes, I had practice today. But just to watch game tapes.” I meet her eyes, then drop them to those full lips of hers. I absentmindedly trace her bottom lip. “We have an away game on Sunday, so today was an easy day before we leave tomorrow.” Her tongue darts out just as I pull my finger back, and the touch rockets straight to my cock. I pull my hips back and begin thinking of my sweaty teammates, plays, and anything I can to calm myself down.
“You’re leaving?” Her voice brings me back and cools me instantly.
“It’s just two days. We fly out tomorrow morning, and I’ll be home Sunday night.”
Her eyes drop, and she pulls away. “That’s fun. Where are you going?” I watch as she walks to the counter and begins unpacking the bags she brought. Pulling out a bottle of wine and then some desserts.
“New York. We have the early game on Sunday. So I should be home by nine at night, give or take a little.” I pause, and she looks up from unpacking. “You going to miss me?” I give a wink, and she smiles, her body instantly relaxing.
“Don’t get all hotshot quarterbacker on me. I’m sure my girls will force me to watch the game at RedZone.”
Laughing. “Quarterbacker?” Shaking my head, I take the wine and place it in the fridge, pulling out an already chilled one. Nodding to the table I set an hour ago, I tell her, “Go sit. I’ll pour.
“Do you like to travel? Sounds like you don’t get to stay long.”
“I don’t mind the flights, but no, we don’t stay long. We fly in for the game and fly back home. There’s no time for anything during the season, honestly. We play, practice, and repeat. All hoping it comes together for the big game.”
“I take it that’s the Super Bowl?”
Handing her a glass, I cheers her, and we clink them together. “I’m impressed with your lingo, Ms. Presley. And here I thought I was going to have to teach you the basics.”
I watch as she sips from the glass, licking her lips, chasing the last bit of the fruity wine. There’s something so natural about her that draws me in. She isn’t fake. She isn’t putting on a facade. She’s just her.
And I like it.
Too much.
13
PENELOPE
I have to keep reminding myself that I’m sitting in a penthouse apartment with a starting NFL player, because being with Jameson is easy. There’s nothing extra about him. And even when I embarrass myself, he doesn’t make me feel small or dumb. Hearing him call me Pip, giving me a nickname, makes me feel loved. Already.
“You’ll definitely need to teach me the basics. My besties make me watch games with them every Sunday, but really, I just go for the beer and wings.” I laugh as his eyes get wide and his smile shines. “I’ll never pass up food. They pay, and in turn, I just deal with them screaming at the television.”
“Do I want to know who their team is? I mean, being that you guys are locals, it’d be a death sentence if you didn’t cheer for the Warriors.”
“Oh, no, they’re definitely die-hards for the Warriors. Like everyone else in this town.”
“So, how did you dodge it?”
Shrugging. “If you haven’t noticed, I’m not very coordinated. So sports in high school were out. Gym was torture, and I wanted as far away from it as possible.” Pausing. “No offense.”
“None taken. I get it. It’s not for everyone.”
“So I dove headfirst into my studies and worked my way up to teaching collegiately. I love it.”
