Page 27 of Scoring Truth
She looks different, but I’d recognize her anywhere. Summer, Francesca, and Mackenzie all steady Penelope, and I smirk to myself. She’s watching the floor as she takes baby steps, holding her dress. But when the guys crowd her and the girls, she comes to a stop and looks up.
And when our eyes connect, I know I’ll never want another woman like I want her.
“Stay where you are,” I mouth to her, and she smiles. Her glasses are gone, and her wild hair is in elegant curls. Her dress is hunter green and clings to every curve that I cannot wait to get my tongue on later.
I make quick steps to her, pulling her by the waist and into my space. Not caring who’s watching, I bend down and kiss her shoulder, her other shoulder, her forehead, then herlips. In a “this should be saved for later” moment, I cup her cheeks and capture her lips.
I’m completely lost to her, and I don’t think she realizes it.
“Hey! Hey! You’re gonna lose the QB next-door image if you don’t control yourself. No parent wants to see their kid’s idol tonguing down their date in the papers.”
“Mark! Jesus! Can you ever just tone it down?”
“Dash! Come on, bro. You’re not used to me yet?”
I pull away, ignoring Mark and my dad. “You are spectacular. Just absolutely perfect, Penelope.”
She blushes. “I’ve got contacts in. But not sure how long that’s going to last, and the girls insisted I leave my glasses, and if I have to take these out, I’m blind as a bat, and I won’t be able to see where I’m walking or who I’m talking to?—”
I place my hand on her lips. “I’ll guide you wherever we need to be. I won’t leave your side. That’s the truth.”
19
PENELOPE
I’ll admit I’m nervous about being here. I feel comfortable with the girls. They’ve made it easy for me to be here. They’ve accepted me into their little tribe, and I’m grateful.
“Girl, these curves? You need to wear clothes like this more often!” Francesca, or Chess, as I’ve been told to call her, is whistling and dancing around me.
Laughing, “I’ve always tried to cover them. People don’t see me for that. They see the glasses, the hair, and the nerd.” I shrug. “Plus, I’m a young professor at the college. I don’t need to be seen by the college frat boys!”
Chess falls into the chair next to me, and Mackenzie continues straightening my curly hair, then curling it back into soft waves.
“Okay, the PR agent in me is dying to protect my client, but the woman inside me is dying for the inside scoop. So, give it to me. All of it.”
“Yes, quickly! I only have a few moments, but I need to know!” Summer settles in on the arm of Chess’ chair, and all three are watching me expectantly.
“Quick story? My best friends think I’m a loser and can’t find a date on my own. Which I can’t. Every date I’ve had has bailed quickly on me once they see me. And if by chance we make it past the initial looksy, they take off within fifteen minutes of realizing they can’t keep up with my intellect.” I shrug.
“So, how did Jameson end up on that site?”
I look anywhere but at them. I don’t want to be the one who tells them that the pressure he received from them is what forced him to look for a date. “Um, I know he mentioned his team set him up on a bunch of blind dates in preparation of coming here with one.”
I take the safe route, but Chess sees right through it.
“You’re protecting him. Spill it.”
They giggle at her, but she’s watching me with an eyebrow raised.
“He didn’t want to disappoint you, or his dad, or Jackson by coming here alone,” I relent, cringing that I gave away his secrets.
“What! Why?”
“He knows you all worry about him being alone. I honestly have no idea how he getsanytime alone. Between the team, coaches, and practice. I mean, we couldn’t even go for a coffee without being surrounded.” I pause. “But I know that’s not thealoneyou’re concerned about.”
It falls quiet in the room. “I’m not after him for anything. I just want you to know, Francesca. I didn’t even know who he was when we met! Not even when everyone began asking forautographs. He told me he worked for the Warriors. I thought it was a gym.” I cover my face with my hands, and they chuckle. “I told him he looked like a bodybuilder.” Peeking through my fingers, I see them all passing looks with wide smiles.
“I was nervous when I first heard about this dating site. But hearing him talk about you, and seeing you two interact with each other, I’m at ease. But you have to know, this life is hard. Ridiculously hard. I could tell you some stories about Jackson and me, before and after NFL life. Can you handle all that comes with it?”
