Page 151 of The Score

"She seems very cool," I say. "She was in the building and decided to join us, which seemed to surprise Stacy too. But she read through my proposal package. Asked several questions, and smiled as she said goodbye. I think it means she liked what I had to say."

"Did you feel comfortable during the chat?"

"I did. Both Stacy and Mariana made it easy. Stacy told Mariana I'm married to the team's starting center, and she took it in stride. Didn't seem to think it was good or bad, which is good news."

"That's great." He kisses my temple. "I assume she didn't mention Dom?"

I laugh. "No, she didn't. Why would she? But just knowing they have a past… I want to see them interact so badly."

"We will. Especially if you get the job."

"That's the hope for sure, but I won't know for a little while yet. Stacy is working hard on it, but the process will probably take several weeks. A couple months. Mariana is in town for only a couple of days, but said they'll reach out as soon as they have a chance to coordinate and figure out what spots need to be filled in the organization, et cetera."

"So for now, we wait."

I gaze at him. He stares at me with the remnants of what he felt while watching the show. That nostalgia for a love like the movies. The kind that he wants so much, he turns to fanfic for it when the story on TV isn't enough.

I don't know what to do, now that my body is trying to echo those feelings, and is determined to center him in every one of them.

I sigh. "Yes. We wait on that. We have plenty to keep us busy as is, right?"

Like trying to figure out where the lines we set have disappeared to. I need them back. It's an urgent matter.

"Yeah." He caresses my face and, in the same move, pulls a strand of hair behind my ear. "Everyone wants to go out on Wednesday night. We don't haveto stay too long, since you're flying the next day. Or you think you'll be too tired the next day?"

Thursday is the players' day off right now, and I'm not surprised they want to make the most of the previous night.

"No, I'd like the distraction," I say.

With surgery prep, trips, and all the feelings surging through me, it will do me good.

"Do you need a distraction?" He gives me the kind of knowing smile that's becoming common between us.

He pulls me to sit on his lap. I let myself be pulled, and surround his neck with my arms.

I lift an eyebrow. "Don't you want to finish your episode?"

"I could recite that episode in my sleep." He runs a hand up my thigh, only stopping once his fingers are an inch away from me. "You? I'm still learning everything I want to know."

"That makes me feel very special." I roll my hips to incite him to go further.

He does. I lick my lip, and welcome this distraction, too. His smile is the last thing I see, before his lips close around my earlobe.

"You are very special," he whispers.

And that's all I ever want to be to him.