Page 85 of Center Sneak

I lean into Lettie and whisper in her ear, “Did he make yummy noises at the dinner table when he was a kid too?”

Amusement dances in her eyes before she whispers back, “Only as an adult.”

I choke out a laugh at that, and our eyes collide together, heat dripping from her eyes, and probably mine too. I quickly turn away, though, even though it’s the last thing I want to do.

I don’t want to get punched in the face by Sebastian in front of the entire Boston Revolutionaries organization, and right before the playoff run begins.

We finish dinner, and the dance floor opens, but all the pro football players and their dates are standing around at the bar, drinking and socializing.

Lettie and I are still sitting in our seats, sipping our drinks, while others at our table have already disappeared to—

Lettie lets out a hearty laugh. “Wow, my brother is the first one on the dance floor.”

I whip my head around to the dance floor and let out a laugh to match.

“It’s official: Sebastian Goodick is smitten,” I say with a light whistle.

“I wasn’t sure I’d see the day, but I’m happy for him.”

“Me too,” I agree, but I definitely saw that guy settling down, especially as soon as I met Annie. They are a match made in competitive sports heaven.

Sebastian’s eyes are directly on Annie, lost in the dance, as he holds her close.

I tap my foot on the wooden planks, my heart beating fast.

Should I?

Can I?

Will I?

Fuck it.

I stand up, decision made. I reach my hand out to Lettie. “Care to dance?” I ask.

“Um…” She blinks once, and then turns her eyes to her brother and Annie on the dance floor. She nods and then adds, “Yeah, I would love to.”

She stands up, and I lead her to the almost-empty dance floor, hand on her lower back until we settle on a good spot far away from her brother. She places her hands on my upper body as my hands wrap around her tight.

She leans in, resting her head on my chest, as I catch a hint of coconut and whiskey, my new favorite scent. A soft melody plays in the background, but I have no idea what the words are. My attention is on Lettie and this stolen moment.

The music soon turns into an upbeat song, and we break apart. Couples are vacating the dance floor, and we follow, moving closer to the bar where more of my teammates are.

“Oh, they placed the dessert tables out,” Lettie says, and her eyes shoot over my shoulder. She lets out a light sigh, a tinge of both hope and sadness.

I lean in and whisper in her ear, “You should go over there and save those desserts. They need you.”

She shares a curious smile. “You think?”

“For sure. I can stay here so I’m not a witness, or I can escort you. Ladies’ choice.”

“You stay here.” She points to the ground, and I nod in agreement. “I’m just going to scope it out, you know, make sure they are all okay and such.”

“Smart idea,” I agree, and she disappears, but my eyes stay locked on her as she surveys the table, mulling over every single option. She then grabs a small plate, picks up a pair of tongs, and selects a few options, taking her time. Annie comes rushing over to her, interrupting her process, as they chat for a brief second. Scarlett selects one more dessert, places the utensils down, and surveys the table again before making her way back to me.

“Hey,” I greet her with a smile plastered on my face. “Stay safe over there?”

“Yes. You’ll be happy to know I got us a few different options.”