Page 50 of Huge Games

For the first time since I had my hair dyed brown, I feel a wisp of regret. Having family similarities has always made me feel securely rooted. Now, I could be mistaken for Lonie's nanny instead of her auntie.

"I got her this." Elias bends down and hands Lonie a fluffy bear wearing the team's jersey. Lonie quickly looks up at me, seeking permission to take the gift. When I nod, she hands me Mimi, then uses two dimpled hands to grab the bear. "I think she likes it."

Elias watches as Lonie presses three vigorous kisses onto the bear, which includes some ice cream residue.

"Have you seriously been watching her all day?"

"Yes." I swat his shoulder with Mimi, insulted that he has so little faith in me.

"Hey, Dornan." A man in his forties, with blonde hair like Dornan's, lumbers over.

"Dad."

I do a double take as Dornan and his father embrace, slapping each other enthusiastically on the back. He passes his son a bag filled with bags of chips, candy, and other snacks. "For you and the team." His smile is the same as Dornan's, except his front teeth cross over a little.

"Thanks, Dad." Dornan opens the bag wide, whistling at its contents. "That's awesome."

"You played well."

"You think?"

"You won, didn't you?"

"Elias got the winning touchdown."

Dornan's father's attention drifts to Elias. "That was a great play, son. Your family must be very proud."

Elias, who should be puffing his chest out with pride, instead looks like he could crush steel with his teeth. His masculine jaw pulses at the side, and his dark eyes flash. "You wanna get out of here?" He tips his head in the direction of the exit.

Dornan frowns at the snub of his father's kind comment, but I step in to answer Elias quickly before anything can be said. "I have to get Lonie home. Her mom should be back by now."

"I'm going to get pizza if you want to come?"

"I could eat pizza. Luizos?" Dornan rests his hand on his dad's shoulder and steers him away from us, leaving Elias staring after him, annoyed.

"Jeez, Elias. He was only trying to be nice. What's with you?" I hiss.

He focuses somewhere over my shoulder. "Do you want pizza or not?"

I should say no. I don't like how he's talking, but then Eddie walks past, fixing me with scary wild eyes that prompt me to twist so Lonie's out of his way. "Pizza would be great." My voice is artificially loud, and Elias seems confused until he spots Eddie's retreating form.

"More games, Celine?"

Lonie drops the bear, and Gab, who has remained silent until now, bends to scoop it up and hand it to Lonie again. "I'm going to head off, okay?"

"Yeah. Sure. Say hi to your men from me."

Straightening, she leans in to kiss me on my cheek and whispers. "Don't settle for another red flag, Celine," in my ear as a parting thought.

Is Elias a red flag? Sometimes, he acts that way, but then I remember all the effort and care he put intocoaching me and the sweet aftercare he provides after we've had sex. When he thought I needed help to get revenge on Eddie, he didn't even think before volunteering. That doesn't fit with the traditional toxic archetype in any way.

I watch her leave, but Elias's attention never drifts from me.

"I'll see you at Luizos, then. In thirty minutes."

"See you there."

Elias drifts away while I hoist the tote onto my shoulder and pray that Lonie will walk.

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