How did she feel about that?
“Ow.” She rubbed her shoulder, where Jeff had pinched her. “A ‘Hey, Marlie,’ would have sufficed.”
“Sufficed. Such an English teacher.” He tugged her chair closer to his. Around them, everyone kept chatting. He lowered his voice so only she could hear him. “What’s up with you and the stalker? You seem pretty cozy.”
“He brought me tonight. I apparently have to go with him everywhere while he’s in town. I owe him for helping coach the team.” She shrugged.
“Nice.”
“And after, he’s going to take me home, wring me out with manly lovemaking, then let me sleep the sleep of the dead.”
“Wow. I like how he thinks.”
“Right?” She grinned and toasted her glass against his. “I think I’ll miss him when he goes. I really like him.”
“Hard to admit?”
She stared at Damon, who found her gaze and winked before Will saw them looking at each other and stepped between them, forcing her to look at the back of her brother’s fat heat. Jerk.
“Marlie, you don’t have to let him go, you know.”
She turned back to Jeff. “What’s that?”
“You connect with this guy, and you really like him. Who’s the last person you ever felt like this about?”
“Um. Well, no one.” Sadly, the truth. “We just kind of click. It’s probably just a newness thing.”
“Or maybe it’s not. Enjoy, don’t think so hard, and stop putting limits on love.”
“You’re just saying that because you’re in love yourself.”
“Yeah, I am. But I didn’t want to be. It just happened. Sometimes that’s life.”
“So wise, Dr. Morrison.”
“Yes, my child. I am.”
“Hey, Jeff. Pass the nachos,” someone called from down the table.
Jeff stopped talking to Marlie and did his part to help feed the team. Then someone else engaged Marlie in conversation.
It took a good half an hour before Damon returned, physically scooted her over, and sat next to her.
“Your brothers are a huge pain,” he growled.
“You’re just learning that now?”
He shook his head. “They want me to take over coaching for Will. I was just planning to help for that one game.”
“Oh, but now you have to. Remember? Everyone loves you.”
“Of course they do. I’m Demon Sinclair. And I see you rolling your eyes.”
How was it his ego made her want to laugh? Probably because he didn’t sound as if he was so into himself. That he only acted like he was great, in on the joke.
“What’s the problem? You have time. You’re still helping your parents. You have PT, but not all the time.”
“But I need Marlie time. If I’m constantly coaching all of them, when will we be together?”
