Page 104 of The Score

Chapter 33

Pen

After a couple of hours, the guys get a half-hour break and they come to spend time with us. I watch Leon approach, his eyes fixed on me.

Are you good?

I'm good.

You sure?

He doesn't stop until he's a breath away. I have to lift my face to gaze at him. He stares at me with a serious look.

"Say something?" I whisper.

"Are your parents having fun?" he asks.

I scoff. "Not that!"

But he chuckles and kisses my temple. "We're good, Pen. We'll talk tonight."

"For the first time ever, I wish we didn't plan to go to the club with everyone."

"We don't have to stay for long. We'll figure it out. Tell your parents not to wait for us. Just in case."

I nod. He kisses my cheek this time, before bringing me close in a side hug. Probably for pretense, seeing as my parents are right there, but I take it ascomfort regardless. His pheromones invade my brain, and remind me this is the same man I saw grow up. He won't get scared because my body has needs.

My dad is already chatting up the rest of the group.

"I don't really watch sports except for fútbol," he says. "You know, the real one. Not American Football. But this is making me change my mind!"

"Papá!" I complain. "Don't do that."

Damián laughs. "It's all good. This is real football, too, just not what the rest of the world thinks when it comes to it."

"Did you know she kicks the ball really well?" My dad grins at Damián. "The round ball, though. Not this one."

"Papá." My tone is more scolding now. "Damián is a professional kicker. All I did was punt the ball at a makeshift soccer goal."

"With me trying to stop it," Leon says.

"You played soccer?" Logan asks.

Bear shakes his head. "Not really. I played goalie for the Duartes for a few summers."

"It gave him his reflexes!" Mom says.

"Now he stops big men coming at me." Logan smirks. "I see the connection."

Eventually, the guys have to return to their packed minicamp schedule and Evie takes us back inside into the building. She shows us the rest of the facilities, before we all go out for dinner at a restaurant. Our significant others are too busy to join us for a meal, but it doesn't change our plans for the night. That's why I take my parents home, convince them to take it easy, and I hide in the secluded principal bedroom to change.

Dressing up for the club and feeling pretty will give me some of the confidence I need. I choose a tight, short, ruched black skirt, and a lacy, pastel pink, cropped tank top with a deep V. I add a long, thin necklace, and a burgundy pleather jacket. Between the clothes, the jewelry, and the beachy waves I do on my hair, I go into the club with a pep in my step.

Bear and I will figure things out tonight.

At this point, club staff recognize me and let me in with no issues. I climb the stairs to the VIP mezzanine, to find most of the group already there, at the end of the space. This time, when I lock eyes with Bear, I smile. His lips curl at the corners, too, as he makes room for me to sit next to him.

I greet everyone with little waves hello, but my attention is really on Leon. He wears what seems like faded, distressed gray jeans, a white Henley, and a deep blue overshirt. In other words, he looks amazing.