Grace, who sat on my left, smothered her laughter as I awkwardly fumbled to collect my phone from the space between our feet. Once my phone was in hand, I pushed back my hair and straightened in my seat, offering the man another hurried apology.
His expression softened into a flirty smirk. “I’ll forgive you if you put my number in your phone.”
Okay, I had to hand it to him—that was smooth.
Before I could respond, my dad’s palm shot out between me and the guy. “Not with my daughter, Ric.”
Ric’s gaze flew to Dad who had stretched past from his position on Grace’s left to intervene. We were currentlysitting in the stands of a local football ground near Grace and Dad’s house, watching Lockie play against a team from Glasgow in the under 16s league.
“Your daughter?” Ric gaped, glancing between me and Dad. “Never, mate.”
“Had her young. That still means you’re too old for her, so keep your eye on your son and off my kid.” Dad’s tone held more than a hint of warning.
“She’s engaged, anyway, so the point is moot,” Grace reminded us with a sweet smile, trying to deflect the tension.
“Aye, okay.” Ric seemed unbothered but then turned around while rubbing the back of his head.
I did feel guilty, but it didn’t stop me from holding my phone screen up to my face.
ItwasBaird.
Before we arrived at the game, I’d texted him.
I know you’re giving me space, but I’m checking in. I’m here if you need to talk.
I was so worried now he’d finally admitted he was messed up about the game after his injury.
He’d finally texted back.
All OK. Wth the lads at Blantyre 2day. U ok?
My fingers flew over the screen.
Watching Lockie’s match. As long as you’re really OK??
I’d barely lowered the phone when it beeped again.
My heart flipped atBaird’s response.
I’ll be fine. Next time u txt or call it’ll be cos ur ready 2 talk about us.
Muttering under my breath at his stubbornness, I tucked the phone back into my pocket.
“Yes, Lockie!” Dad suddenly roared, standing up and clapping with a bunch of other parents.
Damn it, I’d missed my brother score a goal. “Bloody men distracting me,” I huffed, watching my wee brother celebrate with his teammates.
Grace nudged me with her shoulder even as she clapped along with Dad. “You know the last time you acted like this over a boy was when you had a crush on Charlie!” she yelled over the cheering.
Charlie had been my high school boyfriend and my first big infatuation. I’d met him when I moved to Edinburgh to live with Dad, and we’d dated all through high school until I left for university in London. He went to Aberdeen, and I didn’t want to do the long-distance thing. Looking back on it, it was because I didn’t trust him not to fall for someone else. At the time I thought what we had was love, but if it was, it was puppy love. It wasn’t all-encompassing, passionate, can’t stop thinking about him, miss him when he wasn’t there love.
Neither was what I’d felt for Will.
I was starting to worry I was incapable of letting go long enough to feel that way about someone. If Baird was as deep in it with me as he proclaimed … well, he was the last person I wanted to hurt by not being able to fully commit.
Was that what was holding me back from going for it with him?
I leaned into Grace as the cheering died down and the game resumed. “After … can we talk? Just you and me?”
