Page 52 of Cross Check
“I care.” Grant’s eyelashes flutter open, and his gaze locks on mine. The right side of his mouth pulls up, a low laugh spilling out of him. “Oh my god. You have sauce all over your face.”
“I do not.” I sit up, checking my reflection in the rearview mirror before laughing out loud. “Holy shit. I do have sauce all over my face.”
“I should’ve grabbed a couple wipes. I didn’t think I’d be eating with a heathen. Come here.” He opens the water bottle in the cup holder and pours some on a napkin. “We’ll get you cleaned up.”
“I promise I know how to not make a mess.”
“Jury is out on that one.” Grant reaches over the center console, careful to not knock the french fries. He holds my chin between his thumb and pointer finger, turning my cheek so I’m looking away from him. “Such a messy eater.”
“Excited eater,” I counter, my breath seizing behind my ribs when he drags the napkin over my skin.
I keep my eyes on him; on the methodical way he scrubs away the mess. On the way the tip of his tongue sneaks out of his mouth when he concentrates extra hard. On how his eyebrows pull together and the delicateness behind his touch.
“Almost done,” he murmurs.
“Can’t take me anywhere.” I’m joking, trying to keep things light. The press of his fingers along the curve of my jaw is maddening. “So embarrassing.”
“Far from embarrassing. Endearing is more like it.” The grip on my chin tightens for half a beat when he turns my cheek to the other side. “There. You’re back in business.”
“I appreciate the help,” I say. “Going forward, I’ll be eating this sandwich in the privacy of my hotel room where no one can see the disastrous outcome of my enjoyment.”
“That’s for the best.” He finishes his sub with a sigh. “I’d eat one of those a day if I didn’t care about my cholesterol.”
“This will be my vice, and I’m okay with it.”
“There are worse things in life, Amelia.”
We spend too long talking. Before I know it, it’s creeping close to one in the afternoon. Grant drops me back at my hotel with my extra sandwich and a wave. Later that night when he scores a goal and sends the hometown crowd into a frenzy, I swear I can still feel the ghost of his fingers on my cheek.
NINETEEN
GE
1-0 to start the season against y’all. I’ll take it!
AG
Your bragging could use some work.
But your stick handling has gotten better.
GE
That’s what I like to hear! I’ve been working hard.
AG
Are you ambidextrous?
GE
Jeez, Green. Buy a guy a drink before you ask a question like that.
AG
*Attachment: 1 image*
Does a BodyArmor bottle count?
