Page 103 of First Down Promise

“What?” Josh asks.

I pull my phone out of the pocket of my joggers and open social media. I have a ton of notifications—none I intend to view—but open the bookmarked video from last night. I slide my phone across the counter toward them, and Josh catches it. Abby moves behind him to watch.

“Oh my God,” Abby gasps.

“Yep, the world knows.”

“No, this is such a sweet moment. I can’t believe someone got it on video,” Abby replies.

My eyebrows push upward. “Wait, you’re okay with the world knowing?”

Abby and Josh look at each other and smile. “Yeah, I’m locked in,” Josh says, holding Abby’s eyes with his.

“Quick ground rule—only I fuck under this roof,” I state over my coffee. Josh glances at me with a stupid smirk on his face, and I can tell he’s holding back a chuckle. “And use protection. We need you focused next season if we’re going to make the playoffs, old man.” Abby rolls her eyes in true Wilson form, but Josh lets the chuckle go.

“Yes, Chef.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

Josh

“She’s been in there a while,” Coop says, leaning against the wall next to me. He nods towards Mark’s office where Abby was summoned. “Is she getting into trouble?”

I shake my head. “No, we got our scolding, if you can call it that. I’m still shocked they didn’t slap me with a big ass fine,” I reply.

“Because you’re a vet. Proven you’re unproblematic.”

“I guess,” I start. “Still broke a rule.” I hold out my fist to him. “Glad we’re good, though.”

Coop grins and bumps my fist. “Me too.”

“Why did you like her?”

“She’s the girl next door, you know?” Coop says and rubs the back of his neck.

I laugh under my breath as I watch her talk to Mark through the glass windows. “She is.”

“You don’t have to answer this if you don’t want to, but did you get your midnight kiss for New Year’s?”

My lips twitch, thinking about our night in that was far from boring. “Would you believe me if I said she was my first ever New Year’s kiss?” We didn’t watch the ball drop, but there’s always next year.

Coop’s eyebrows lift. “Dude, no. That’s crazy.”

“Yeah, it was nice. What’d you do?” I ask.

“I had family visiting from Bama.”

“Oh, that’s right. Sorry, it’s been a heavy couple of weeks.”

“It’s okay. We’re all worried about Pete. Anyway, ol’ Blue stole the marshmallows we were going to roast at the firepit.” Coop chuckles. “That damn dog.”

“Damn dog,” I repeat with a smirk and nudge Coop with my elbow. “He’s a good boy.”

“Did I ever tell you my folks have one just like him at home?”

I shake my head. “No, Mama Carter has a bloodhound?” I ask.

He grins again. “Yeah, they’re good watchdogs.”