“You don’t need to apologise. I just want to make sure you’re safe. Riley has it out for the Missarali Storks right now, and I don’t want him taking his anger out on you.”
“I know, I know. It sounds like he’s fishing for information, but I think he understands he’s not getting anything out of me. He never stays for longer than one drink.”
“As long as he’s never said or done anything to make you uncomfortable.” Agitation rockets through me at the thought of him flirting with her. Eyeing her up while she bends down to grab a glass from the bottom shelf, her top riding up slightly, showing off her smooth, tanned skin.
“Nothing I can’t handle,” Mae says, face is determined.
“I like a woman who treats shitty men just as shitty.”
“It’s one of my many talents.”
“And what are your other talents?” I cock an eyebrow as we pull up outside the shelter.
Mae’s teeth pierce her bottom lip. “Making football players come in under ten minutes.”
I hum. “I better be the only one who made you realise you possess that gift.”
“And if you weren’t?” she asks as we head towards the doors.
I shake my head, glaring at her teasingly. “Then they’d leave the field with more than a few broken bones.”
“Careful, Nate,” she chirps. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that you’re jealous.”
“Oh, I am. Very much so.” I hold the door open for her, patting her ass. “Now come on, there’s a dog named after a vegetable that’s been missing you.”
26: Mae
“Ididn’t know you could cook.” I sit on Nathan’s kitchen counter, legs swinging over the side as I suck on an apple-flavoured lollipop I found at the bottom of my purse. I’m not much of a candy lover, but I’m jittery and need something to do with myself while Nathan cooks.
We haven’t spoken about what’s going to happen between the two of us when the season ends, but we both know that this isn’t something that looks like it can last.
I think we bothwantit to.
But it can't.
“My mom and I would cook together sometimes,” Nathan says. “After football practice. Not often, but I find it calming. It reminds me of her.”
I smile at him, tipping my head to the side.
A man that can cook?Swoon.
“What was she like?” I hope I’m not overstepping, and when Nathan doesn’t even falter, I know I’m not.
“Amazing. Incredible.” He smiles as he stirs the tomato sauce he’s just made from scratch. “When my Dad was working, she’d take me to the store and would let me pick whatever I wanted to make cupcakes with. We did it all. Chocolate. Cookies and cream. Banana. Cinnamon.” He shoots me a wink. “But then she started to drink. It was only on the weekends at first, but that quickly turned into weekdays as well. And soon, she couldn’t function without the stuff.”
I shuffle closer and cup his cheek. “I’m sure she was still an amazing mother. I know she loved you right until the very end.”
“I hope so. I hope… I’m making her proud.”
“You are.”
Nathan and I settle into silence, but it’s not awkward. Instead, we revel in it. We don’t need words to fill the space. The quiet between us is warm and familiar.
“It smells amazing.” I peer down at the half-cooked roasted vegetables he’s flipping over on the tray, sprinkling some extra salt and pepper onto them.
Nathan catches my eye after shoving the tray back into the oven. He steps closer, takes the lollipop from my mouth and places it into his. His nose skates over mine.
Does he have any idea how hard I’ve fallen for him?
