Page 73 of On Her Team
“It’s okay, songbird. There’s not much to discuss about my life.”
Her nose wrinkles. “Were they bad? The foster homes? I’ve heard stories.”
“Once I started bulking up to play football, I didn’t have any troubles.”
Her light brown eyes fill with pain. “But you did before?”
“Hey now.” I squeeze her middle. “Don’t you go feeling sorry for me.”
“I don’t feel sorry for you, but I can sympathize with a little boy who didn’t grow up with a loving family.”
“Everything turned out all right for me in the end.”
“It sure did, Mr. Famous Football Player.”
“I don’t care about the fame. It’s my least favorite thing about my life. I hate having to post content on social media. I hate how women flock to me and my teammates at the bar because we play football.”
“But you love the game.”
“Football is life.”
She barks out a laugh. “You remind me of Otis.”
“He’s good, you know. He could get a sports scholarship to college.”
“You’re serious? He’s good enough to get a scholarship?”
“All we have to do is get a scout to come to one of his games.”
“We?”
I tweak her nose. “Yes, we. We’re a team. You and me.”
“We’re not a team. We’re friends.”
I lift an eyebrow. “Friends? After last night, we’re more.”
She blows out a breath. “I don’t know, Gage. You’re leaving at the end of the summer.”
“Which means we have the summer to explore whatever this is between us.”
She nibbles on her bottom lip. I want to be the one nibbling on her lip but I hold back to give her time to think.
“Come on.” Guess I’m not holding back after all. “Your family loves me.”
She narrows her eyes. “Did you cook and help clean up to get in their good graces?”
“I cooked because I was starving. And I helped clean up because I have manners.”
“How did you end up with manners after your childhood?”
“Not all of the families I lived with were bad. Some were nice enough. It’s not their fault they were too busy caring for several kids to pay me any special attention.”
“I’m sorry. I promise I’ll stop bringing up your past.”
“It’s okay. If you have questions, ask. I want to get to know you. It’s only fair you get to know me, too.”
Her eyes widen. “How are you single?”
