Page 29 of With the Assist

I laugh. I’ve seen her cocky, ruthless, and laser-focused. I’ve even seen her flirty and unguarded, but I’ve never seen her this rattled.

“Maybe start over,” I nudge.

She drops onto the bench. I sit down, too, careful not to touch her. Even still, every inch of me is aware of how close she is. I’d only need to tilt my leg slightly for our knees to brush. It’s tempting, considering the heat radiating from underneath her dark purple Tempest jacket.

“My coach saw you here and assumed something was going on. Which it’s not.”

Her eyes flick to mine, daring me to argue. I raise my hands in surrender playfully.

She takes her hair down and redoes it up into a ponytail. I’ve noticed she does this when she’s nervous. “She says I need to show balance. Be an example of a captain who’s not all soccer, all the time.”

“You? Too focused?” I smirk. “Shocking.”

She rolls her eyes, but her lips twitch.

“She threatened my captaincy. And you had just left. Bam. Boyfriend created.”

I sip my coffee, letting the bitterness and warmth settle my nerves. I should be more annoyed. Should be. Instead, my skin tingles with excitement.

“It was harmless, until she said I have to bring you to the team party.”

My mind instantly flashes to the night we met. Wesley, all dressed up for a party, would be reason enough for me to say yes. “When is it?”

“Second week of January.” She bites her lip. “I know it’s kind of a long time away.”

I nudge her with my shoulder, unable to stop myself. “Are you asking me on a date?”

“A very fake date.”

“All I’m hearing is date.”

“You’re impossible.”

She swats me. I grin.

“Is that the condition?”

“You don’t think I’m crazy?”

“I think you’re dedicated and willing to do what it takes to succeed. Even if it’s embarrassing.”

We’re the same that way. We’re both leaning on each other to help prove something to the people doubting us.

She stands, kicking her ball between her feet.

“I don’t usually have girlfriends,” I say.

Her face softens, vulnerability peaking through. “If you don’t want to…”

“That’s not what I’m saying,” I start, her eyes lighting back up. “I’m saying that I’m not like Liam, who goes through women like candy, but I’m also not like Grayson, who is perpetually in a relationship. I date, but not seriously. It’s usually highly publicized. People aren’t going to believe that we’re in some multiple-month relationship if we’re only seen at your party.”

“Right.” She nods. “Unless maybe we have a couple of dates before the party.”

Yes.

Instant yes.

The idea of spending time with Wesley sends a spark racing through me. I manage to tone down my response out loud.