Page 98 of Bluffed By the Offense

Wouldn’t I rather ride alone?

For some reason, I want her in my car.

I can’t deny that something changed for me in that Seatrain. Seeing her so vulnerable cracked something inside me. I have a short list of people I go to the mat for at that level. I’ll help anyone. But the people who trigger my protective instinct to the depth that Cass did? That’s Treyvon, my siblings and my mom.

Trey can handle himself. But I’ve still always got my eye on how he’s doing. He had it rough growing up. His family is strong, but he faced prejudice and bullying. He rose above. But watching him endure what he did from close range changed me. And I’ve always had his back as a result—just like he has mine.

Of all the people on earth, why Cass Carter is now on that short list is beyond me.

But, she is.

“If you’re okay with Winona coming along, I accept your offer of a ride,” she says as if riding with me is a sacrifice. “And you’re telling the Cold Turkey story on the way.”

“We’ll see,” I say, only because I still like vying with her for the upper hand.

“I’m getting the story, QB.” She pauses. “And thanks for offering to drive us.”

“No problem,” I say.

“I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon, then,” she says.

“See you,” I say. “I’ll send details of when to expect me to pull up once I figure things out.”

“Yeah. You do that,” she says. “Figure things out, QB.”

There’s a tone of teasing, like she’s insinuating I don’t have a clue about my life and I need to go figure myself out. And I smile despite myself.

Women never challenge me.

Cass Carter doesn’t give me the easy road. She throws down a box of tacks and dares me to make my way forward. Why do I find that entertaining? There’s something wrong with me, that’s for sure.

I pocket my cell and walk back into the locker room.

“Top secret phone call?” Jaxon asks when I approach my locker.

“Probably his girl,” Trey says.

“We’ve got an interview on Good Day Nashville.”

Jaxon whistles like he’s impressed.

“Power couple!” Treyvon shouts.

I laugh it off, looking forward to the day when I can tell him Cass and I weren’t ever a couple. Only then I won’t have any excuses to see Cass. And that doesn’t make me as happy as it used to.

I pull up in front of Cass and Winona’s house, shut off the engine and stare at their front door as if it’s about to leap off the house and come for me.

I blow out a breath, wishing I had begged Kate to let me swear Trey to secrecy. At least then I could call him right now and unload my scrambled thoughts about Cass Carter. Sure, he’d mock me. But he’d also give me his brand of wisdom. Pierce would too. He’s always got his eye on the whole field of play. He’d tell me the hard truths—make me face things I’m keeping at arm’s length, like why it suddenly matters to me that Cass gets to Nashville safely and why I want to be the one to drive her when I know full well that she’s going to make the trip into a banterfest, testing me at every turn.

The door to their house pops open and Winona sticks her head out and sends me a wide smile.

“We’ll be right out!” she shouts.

I hop out of the car and walk up to the porch.

“Can I grab some bags for you?” I offer.

“Sure,” she says, just as Cass’s voice carries out with a, “No! We’ve got it.”