“I think we have the same problem, New York.”
His deep voice opened my eyes. Carter sat at the table next to mine. His back faced my right side, and he looked over his shoulder to address me. This close and relaxed, Carter was even more handsome, especially when he stood to straddle the chair to face me, resting his black and gray bearded chin on the top of the chair.
Like we were in high school in the cafeteria, and the popular jock wanted the quiet, nerdy girl’s attention.
Willing myself not to flee from the flirty intensity of his gaze, mustering my inner confidence, I replied, “What problem would that be? An annoying mother?”
He chuckled. “That, too.”
“Too?” I frowned slightly.
“I don’t have plans for Thanksgiving either.”
My head jerked slightly. “Really? That’s surprising.”
“Why?” Carter’s eyes twinkled, assessing me.
“I mean...you’re you.”
He wryly asked, “And who’s me?”
“Like you’re this NFL star with a family.”
“Former NFL star who has two families and neither wants me there,” He said ruefully. “Okay, maybe my children want me there. Their mothers, not so much.” Carter gestured behind him. “You saw Exhibit A.”
“So not together?” I hope the hopeful flutter in my stomach didn’t reflect on my face.
He sat up. “She only did that to fuck up whatever game she thinks I’m about to play. We haven’t been together in almost two years.”
Suddenly, our conversation seemed way too personal. “Sorry, I shouldn’t be all in your business.”
“Business, I willingly gave.” He lifted his cap to rub his forehead. I itched to touch the thick coils that needed a cut. “Wanted you to know I’m single before we spend Thanksgiving together.”
My heart.
Stopped.
Carter smiled before taking out his phone and shifting long enough to take a quick selfie of us. My lips curved right before he clicked. “Approve?”
In the photo, admittedly, we looked like a couple already. I nodded numbly.
He held his phone for me to see as he opened his IG and posted it without any comments or captions. “Now, you have no choice but to spend Thanksgiving with me. We’re official.”
Incredulously, I stared at him. “I can’t believe you just posted me. This isn’t the kind of 'I need a fake date' for dinner, is it, because I can’t imagine it would be hard for you to find a date?”
One brow raised. “No. Just Thanksgiving with me in my home. I posted it in case you’re worrying about waking up dead while you’re with me, and your peeps can look for me first.”
“Waking up dead?” I snickered. “As a medical doctor, I can say without a doubt, you can’t wake up dead.”
“Just saying.” He shrugged. “I am a stranger for now, and I want you to feel safe.”
“You’re really serious, aren’t you? You and me for Thanksgiving?”
“I want a real date with a real woman. Is that okay?” he asked, though nothing about him suggested that he was asking me. In his mind, it was a foregone conclusion that we were spending a holiday together after knowing each other for a second.
“So, you give me your address, and I just show up on Thanksgiving?”
He rested his chin on the back of the chair again and stared up at me, fully aware of his allure. “No, you’ll spend the night and wake up on Thanksgiving morning with me.”
