Page 204 of Tangled with the Tight End

I don’t call Declan. What’s he going to do?

I step out of my car, walking quickly toward my porch.

A different man—one I didn’t see at first—follows me up the walkway and up the steps to our front door.

“Winona, is it true you started dating Declan while he was still your patient?”

I fish for my keys. My heart is racing. I’m avoiding looking at the man. I don’t answer him. That’s what Kate said to do.

I gasp out a “No comment,” and the door swings open. Cass looks like she’s ready to rip someone’s head clear off their body.

“It’s Christmas Day!” she shouts. “Do you people have no sense of decency?”

She steps in front of me, using her body both as a shield and a sort of bulldozer, pushing me over the threshold and slamming the door shut in the man’s face.

I pull my cell out of my purse without a second thought and dial Declan. My hands are shaking.

“I’m safe,” I say as soon as he answers.

“What do you mean, you’re safe? What happened?”

“Nothing much. I was followed home. There are a few paparazzi here. One got a bit ambitious and walked right up onto the porch with me, asking me questions and snapping pictures.”

Declan practically roars. “He what?”

“Don’t worry. I’m inside now. I wasn’t even going to call. You need to focus on resting and staying strong for Sunday.”

“I’m glad you called. Do you want me to come over?”

“No. I’m fine. Cass went all mama bear on steroids on them. She’s a force when someone messes with someone she loves.”

“Good. I’ve got all the respect in the world for your sister.”

“I’m definitely not telling her that. She’d probably have a T-shirt made that says Declan O’Connell Respects Me.”

“Ordering it now!” Cass shouts from the kitchen.

She comes out holding a mug of tea.

I take it from her and tell Declan I’m fine. After reassuring him twice, we hang up.

Three days later, Declan has his first game back on the field. He’s on a limited snap count which means he won’t play the whole game, but he’s finally back. We’re playing the Washington Commanders and I’m sitting in the stands, wearing the jersey I gave him for Christmas.

Cass and I find our seats. I scoot past people and settle into the folding chair, placing my soda by my feet.

When I sit up, the woman next to me says, “Hey, aren’t you Declan O’Connell’s girlfriend?”

I smile and say, “Yes.”

She turns to the woman next to her and says, “It’s her.”

“Who?” her friend asks.

“Plain Jane.”

“The gold digger?”

People around us start to whisper and take their phones out.