Page 121 of Bluffed By the Offense

“You and Marcus. You haven’t had the luxury Declan and I had while he was injured. We had a whole period of incubation—stuck together without football competing for his time.”

“We’re good,” I say.

“But that’s the thing,” Winona says. “You don’t even know what you’re missing. And you two never see each other unless it’s at a game or a Porch Light event or some interview. That’s not normal, Cass. You need more time together—just the two of you, alone. Don’t you want more time with him?”

I do. That’s the problem. The more time I spend with Marcus, the more I want to spend with him. I’m setting myself up for a world of hurt.

“Why don’t you call him to see what he’s up to tonight? I’m going to Declan’s. You’ll be here alone otherwise. They played Thursday. They don’t have a game tomorrow.”

Her logic is impeccable. If Marcus were my boyfriend, we would be hanging out tonight and every spare minute we had—even in season.

“I’ll text him. He might have plans.”

“Which he’ll cancel. He’s your boyfriend, Cass.”

Ugh. I hate that she thinks he is actually my boyfriend. I’m about ten seconds away from spilling the beans when my phone pings. I pick it up off the side table to check who’s texting.

“It’s Marcus,” I tell my sister.

Winona smiles like she’s thrilled for me.

Marcus: I’m here with Declan and he’s asking me why I’m not having you over tonight. We don’t have a game tomorrow.

Cass: Are Winona and Declan in cahoots again? She just asked me the same thing.

Marcus: We’d better spend a night doing something—to quell their suspicions.

Cass: Why, Marcus Delaney, you romantic, you.

Marcus: Is it bad that I can hear your sarcasm through a text?

Cass: It was pretty loud.

Marcus: I’m making pasta and grilled chicken. Want to come for dinner?

Cass: Sounds good. What can I bring?

Marcus: Yourself. I’ve got the meal covered. How about six?

Cass: See you at six.

I set my phone down and report back to Winona. “I’m going to his condo for dinner.”

“Yay! You’ll thank me later.”

“So you and Declan set this up?”

“No. We just thought you needed a nudge.”

“Please, stop nudging us.”

“Why? It’s worked so far.” She smiles a satisfied smile and I can’t bring myself to argue with her.

Six hours later, I’m running around as if I’m going on a real date. And my nerves are buzzing. I’ve done my hair and makeup and changed outfits three times. I finally settled on a cream sweater, a brown leather skirt and brown boots.

“You look amazing,” Winona says when I come downstairs.

“Too amazing, right?” I turn to head upstairs to change into jeans. “It looks like I’m trying too hard.”