Page 54 of Scoring Chance

I wandered through the crowd, looking over the heads of those around me for her. I’d nearly given up when I spotted her near the food tables with her sister. I cut through, keeping a smile in place for those who greeted me and wrapped my arms around her from behind when I was close enough.

She squealed and twisted around to face me. “There you are!”

I chuckled and released her. “Yeah, I’m done for the night.”

Elena shot me a smile. “I’m going to find Nikolay. He should be done too.”

“I saw him back near the auction tables.” I pointed to the far corner of the room.

“Thanks,” she called over her shoulder as she hurried away.

“Have you been having fun?” I asked and picked up a glass of something bubbly off the table.

“Yeah, but I’m glad you’re free now.”

I downed the sparkling cider and took her hand. “Do you want to dance?”

Her eyes widened. “Sure.”

She followed me to the dance floor. I turned and placed my hands on her waist as she reached up to my shoulders.

“I missed you.”

She smiled. “What do you mean? You were only gone an hour.”

“I haven’t seen you much lately.”

She tilted her head to the side. “I was just at your house a few days ago.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “That was last week.”

“I’m sorry. Things with the Cougars have picked up. I’ve been working there more than the clinic.”

“Really? I thought you were just working home games.”

She pulled her bottom lip through her teeth. “It was at the beginning, but they have me coming to the team workouts too.”

“That’s a good thing, isn’t it?”

She nodded, but didn’t meet my eyes.

“What is it?”

Her shoulders sagged. “It’s just a lot. I know Madi and everyone at the clinic support me working with the team, but it feels like I’m betraying them.”

“This is what you want to do. They knew this was your end goal. You shouldn’t feel bad about working toward that.”

She finally peered up and smiled. “Thanks. I guess I just needed to hear someone else tell me that.”

I stared into her eyes, feeling the urge to kiss her, but something told me to hold back. She was looking at me with trust and appreciation. Was she still healing from her past? Was she ready for us to become more than friends? I wanted her, but I couldn’t lose her.

Everything around us disappeared. My eyes dropped to her lips and I swallowed. I wanted her. My heart begged me to tell her how I felt. How much she meant to me, but the echo of the guy’s comments came back to me. I wasn’t good enough for her. She deserved the very best, and I had too many issues. I was bitter and impulsive. I couldn’t risk hurting her.

Her eyes dropped as we swayed to the music, and I leaned down and kissed the top of her head. That would have to be enough for now.

18

Amelia