Page 54 of Thoroughly Innocent Intent

I push open the door and freeze, shocked by the opulence before me considering we’re in a sports stadium.

A massive buffet is piled high with everything from pasta to sandwiches to desserts, although it’s the smoky scent of barbeque that makes my stomach growl. There’s an actual bar with bartenders mixing drinks to one side, and a living room with couches and TVs on the other.

The whole front of the room is a wall of glass looking over the field below, with two rows of seats that are already half full. And while I was given to think spectators wore team gear, only a handful of people here are wearing shirts with numbers. The rest look like they should be on a billboard. At least I’m somewhere in the middle with jeans and a soft sweater.

“Go on.” Delaney nudges me, making me realize I’m still in the doorway. I take a few steps forward and stop again, unsure of what to do next since I’m usually not free to mingle or relax at events like these. I look to Delaney.

“I know you want food, but maybe we should find seats first.” I nod in agreement, but that’s the only movement I can make. Do we pick the couches or the movie style seats? Do our tickets tell us which? I start to reach for mine when Delaney grabs my arm and pulls me toward the giant wall of glass.

“How about these?” She selects two in the back row and slightly off center, right behind a pair of stunning women who are deep in conversation as they look at the field. The one with pretty mocha skin is wearing a shirt that matches what the men on the field are wearing, and the blonde one seems to have a similar top underneath a stylish wool blazer. They look slightly less intimidating than the rest of the guests, so I nod to Delaney and we take our seats. We’re barely situated when the women notice us.

“Hi,” the blonde says cheerfully. “I’m Elliot, this is Meghan.” She gestures to the woman next to her. “First time? I haven’t seen you here before.”

“Yes, first time.” I nod. “I’m Samantha. This is Delaney.”

“Well, you picked the right seats, there’s no better view in the stadium. But fair warning, this one gets loud.” She elbows her friend with a coy smile, “So sitting here will probably be harmful to your hearing.”

“I will not be shamed for cheering for my man.” Meghan crosses her arms.

“I’m not shaming,” Elliot says with false sweetness, “I just feel compelled to give them a heads up. The first time I sat next to you I couldn’t hear right for days, and the only reason I keep sitting next to you is because I have earplugs.”

“Girl, please.” Meghan shoots her a withering look. “You sit next to me because I commiserate when you scream at the refs. Everyone else pretends not to know the crazy chick.”

“I will not be shamed for defending my man.” Elliot steals Meghan’s line with a wicked grin.

“Ooh I like you two,” Delaney gushes. “This is gonna be fun! Who are your men?”

“This one is Shane’s better half, and I’m Dante’s.” Meghan points first to Elliot then herself.

“Receiver and quarterback,” Delaney whispers to me, though not so subtly that Meghan and Elliot can’t hear her.

“And you?” Meghan arches an eyebrow.

“We’re guests of Colt,” Delaney says when I don’t answer. I offer a weak smile.

The women shoot each other a stunned look. “Colt?” Elliot asks. “Did I hear you right?”

“You did.” Delaney crosses her arms and leans back in the chair, leaving no doubt she saw that look too, and she didn’t appreciate it.

Elliot’s eyes grow wide as she backtracks. “Sorry, that came out wrong. It’s just, Colt never has any guests. Ever.”

“His daughter was here a few weeks ago.” I find my voice.

“She was.” Elliot nods absently. “It was the first time we’ve seen her here and we’ve been coming to these games for years. Guests two games in a row for someone who’s never had one is…well, we’re just a little surprised, that’s all.” The flush in her cheeks tells me she’s being sincere.

“What about his mom, doesn’t she ever come?” I ask, thinking back to his story about his mom’s push for good grades.

“She passed a few years ago.” Meghan studies us critically, probably because I wince upon learning that. We’ve shared a lot in a few short months, but his family history hasn’t come up. Except for Sawyer.

“What about his dad?” Delaney asks.

“Ran off when he was a kid. Seems like something guests of his should know.” Meghan crosses her arms to match Delaney’s defensive posture. “How do you know him again?”

“We didn’t say,” Delaney fires back.

“Maybe you should,” Meghan arches a sculpted brow.

“Ladies, come on.” Elliot puts a hand on Meghan’s arm to calm her. “It’s not our business who Colt gives his tickets to.”

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