Page 30 of Falling for the Quarterback
“Everything will be okay,” she finally whispers after a beat. Her eyes clear and full of hope.
I nod. Everything will be more than okay. I’ll do my best to make it so. I swear, hearing her say as much has removed a thousand-pound weight that’d been momentarily weighing down my shoulders. I feel like I can breathe normally again.
“Absolutely. Now, where should our next date night be, because my season is starting, and I refuse to leave before we have a cheat meal picked out.”
Her face lights up as she grins, and she shoves at my arm playfully. “Cheat meal, hm? Who says I’m letting you break the diet? I am a huge football fan, remember? I can’t have your fans blaming me for that upcoming dad bod.”
I bark out a laugh, unable to hold it back and not wanting to. “Pretty sure this dad bod picked you up without complaint earlier.”
“Oh, I’m not complaining, trust me. It’s very impressive, amongst other areas.”
I laugh and tug her from her spot, pulling her into my lap. I press a gentle kiss to her nose, her forehead, each cheek, then herlips. I want her to knowI’m falling for her, that I’m hopelessly in love with her.I meant it earlier when I said she’s it for me, I want her in my future, not only my present.
Chapter Fourteen
Kinsley
I’mwalkingJJtohis truck outside when I notice several vans parked up and down the street I live on. It’s not in the middle of town, so no one typically drives on this road, let alone parks along it, unless it’s my neighbors or a delivery driver.
“What is going on?” I quietly mutter to myself out loud, noticing several people across the street, standing around as if they’re waiting for something.
“Shit,” JJ hisses, dropping and pulling me with him. We use my car as a shield. My dogs instantly pick up on the unfamiliar noises on the other side of the gate and start barking like crazy.
“What is it? Who’s out there?”
“It’s the media. Run inside and grab your purse. I’ll hold the dogs, but try to stay low. And hurry.”
“What? Why?”
“Because some of them are crazily persistent and there’s no way I’m leaving you here to deal with it alone.”
“I can’t just leave my dogs.”
“They’re coming with us. Once you get your purse, you can hold them while I go jump in the truck and drive it closer. We can get the dogs inside, and then you, without the reporters and tabloids being able to badger you. They haven’t seen us yet.”
With a nod, I quickly run inside. I grab a clean T-shirt and a pair of cotton shorts, putting them on so fast my hair feels like it’s everywhere. I slip on some flip flops, my favorite trucker hat, and then snatch my phone and purse on the way out. I make sure to lock the door behind me, quickly ducking down. I’m panting by the time I make it back to JJ, which is ridiculous, and means I seriously need to do more than my customary five squats and stretches each day.
“Jesus. You have me acting like a ninja. I swear my heart’s beating almost as fast as it was when I orgasmed.”
He laughs, leaning forward to quickly kiss my lips. “Let me have the gate key, please. You stay here until the truck is right beside your car so I can help you and the dogs.”
I nod, handing him my set of keys. He runs off while I try to quietly soothe my puppies. “It’s okay, you guys. You’ll get to go for a truck ride while we wait for these people to leave, so be excited, but not too excited. Try not to scratch up his nice leather seats, okay?”
I watch with rapt attention as JJ works to get the lock open, momentarily pocketing it and my keys, while he opens the gate wide enough that he can drive his truck inside. The moment he’s by his truck and everyone sees him, they’re rushing across the street toward him. They’re too slow, thankfully, as he hops in the truck and pulls it forward. He stops his monster of a vehicle right next to my car and hops out, leaving the engine running, and opens his back door.
He jogs over to us with a grin. “It worked! Stay here, baby.”
In the next beat, he has my older Doberman, Jingle, in his arms. He hurries to the open door and sets him inside. He runs back for my female, Bells, and carries her back to the truck, easily holding her with one hand while he opens his truck door again and sets her inside.
Gah. His muscles are a thing ofbeauty, I swear.
He rounds the front of the truck, stopping by the passenger door. I’m still staring as JJ waves at me, and I take off in a jog. He opens the door as I skid to a stop and helps me safely, but quickly, climb inside. My dogs are looking all around in the back, barking and sniffing, tongues hanging out like they don’t have a care in the world.
JJ basically jumps in on his side a beat later, flashing me a wide smile. All this running around and trying to sneak us away, and I swear he looks excited over the prospect. “They probably got a few pictures, but I think for the most part they weren’t expecting any of that. The tint is too dark for them to see inside much.”
He carefully reverses the truck, honking a million times. In the next second, he’s back outside, closing and locking the gate. The press and tabloids attempt to bombard him, but he takes it in stride. He smiles and waves, telling them he has to get back to Dallas to prepare for the upcoming game. Questions are screamed his way, but he somehow manages to get inside the truck without knocking anyone with his door.
I think someone managed to get a picture of me when he opened his door, but I had my head ducked down, and I’m wearing a hat. I’m sure it’ll be a terrible photo. Hopefully, they can’t use it. I don’t mind being in the media, especially with JJ by my side, but not like this. They’re invading our privacy at my home. This is extremely not cool, so I hope they didn’t manage to get anything they can use.
