Walking out of my room, I’m already dreading the fact that I’ve committed to going to Chase’s tonight. I’m even contemplating texting him that I can’t make it, but decide to suck it up and at least stop by. I text Nate to let him know that I’ll just meet him at Chase’s rather than stopping by his place first. My phone rings as soon as I put it down and glance over to see Nate’s name flash on the screen,
“Hey man,” I say as I’m looping my belt through my jeans.
“Hey, yeah that works out. Mia is coming over now anyway. She broke up with that guy Trent? Or maybe it was Brent? Who the fuck knows?” Mia is one of Nate’s friends from college and she quickly became one of mine too. She definitely dates her fair share ofinterestingmen though, as Nate likes to say every time she introduces a new one.
“No idea. Was he the guy who collected old coins? Fucking weird.” I try to recall the last guy we met with her, but I’m not able to remember.
Hanging up the phone, I grab my keys from the counter and head out the door myself.
While making my way up to Chase’s apartment, I’m running all of the game plans we talked about this week through my mind. I feel really good about this team and what we have to offer this season. We have every opportunity to make a real run at the Super Bowl this year as long as we all stay healthy and don’t have any off the field distractions. There are so many veterans on the team who know the game inside and out, but then a lot of new guys who bring killer talent. We’re all itching for that Lombardi trophy. It’s no secret that a few of the guys are sticking around for another year to make a run at it before their bodies tell them it’s time to hang it up for good.
Once I reach his apartment door, I knock once and it swings open. Chase has one of the nicest downtown apartments I’ve been in. It’s an open-plan concept in the common areas and then there’s a long hall towards the back, where the bedrooms are. I used to live in one similar to this, but he’s at the top of this building, just below the penthouse. The view up here is fucking unreal, it looks right out over the bay.
As I’m walking to the dining room I see Nate and a few other guys from the team sitting at the table with cards in their hands, no doubt they’ve already started a game of poker. To Nate’s left is Mia and she’s just a tiny thing. She’s holding a stack of cards, but I’m not sure she even knows how to play. She gives me a goofy smile and shrugs her shoulders as she fans herself with the cards in her hand, which causes me to let out a laugh. Grabbing a beer from the fridge, I walk past the table and make my way out to the balcony. The sun is just about to set so the sky has pink and orange hues to it. Fucking paradise here. I’m thankful my contract extension is keeping me here another four years at least.
“Anderson! You made it, man.” Chase claps me on the back and takes a sip of his drink. I can smell the whiskey on his breath, indicating he’s already had a couple.
“Yeah, I figured I’d grace you assholes with my presence just this once,” I say, reaching my hand out to shake his. He turns his attention back to Liam beside him and continues having whatever animated conversation they have going on.
From the corner of my eye, a girl sitting in a chair near the balcony catches my attention. She’s staring out over the water with her bare feet up and hugging her knees against her body. Fuck, she’s hot. I’ve never seen her before, and it makes me wonder if Chase is maybe seeing someone new.
Her long brown hair falls over her shoulder as she sits there. As if she feels my stare, her head turns in my direction and I instantly feel like I’ve just been thrown to the ground by a three-hundred pound lineman. She completely takes my breath away with the way her cheekbones sit high, giving her face this sultry look. And even though it’s hard to tell the color of her eyes from here, they sure are fucking captivating. Her lips are so full and pouty, I’m instantly imagining what they’d taste like. I notice the setting sun catches her eye and she turns her attention back to the water. I’m unable to tear my eyes from her though, the way her hair blows in the breeze and the way she closes her eyes and rests her chin on her knees, basking in the moments before the sun hits the horizon. When she finally stands up, I see her long toned legs and slender frame. She’s pretty tall compared to most girls, but I’d still tower over her at 6’4. When she starts walking over to Chase, I’m already moving my feet to meet her there. I need to know who she is.
They’re in the midst of talking, but when Chase sees me, he clears his throat, “Anderson, this is my little sister, Abby. She’s staying with me right now. Abby, this is Ford Anderson.” She eyes me up and down and a small smile lands on her lips.
“Hi, nice to meet you. I’ve seen you play. Well on TV, anyway. Admittedly, it’s been forever since I’ve been to a game.” She tucks a piece of hair behind her ear when she says that and looks almost embarrassed as she glances up at Chase.
“So, you’ve seen me play too, then?” Liam chimes in the conversation with a smile and a wink in Abby’s direction. This fucking guy. Chase turns his head towards him but before he can say anything, Liam starts shaking his head, “I’m just fucking with you, Hunt. Relax.” Liam jokes as he slaps Chase on the shoulder.
“Better be. It’ll be season ending if any of you assholes go near her,” Chase shouts just loud enough for all of us to hear. Abby places her face in her hands and tries to shrink herself down, probably out of embarrassment. I run my hand over my chin to try and mask the laugh as I’m looking in her direction, staring as she shakes her head slowly.
After a few moments, Chase goes back to the conversation with Liam and is no longer paying attention to me or Abby. Once she removes her hands from her face, I reach out to shake her hand for a proper introduction. As soon as our hands brush against one another, some wild electricity flies through me. One of those bullshit cliché “we touched and sparks went flying”moments I didn’t know actually existed until I just fucking experienced it with the beautiful brunette in front of me. She takes a sip of her beer and I’m already feeling my dick twitch in my pants at the thought of having her mouth on me. My heart starts to race and it instantly feels like I just had a thousand cotton balls shoved in my mouth, it’s so fucking dry. I desperately need to get it under control considering Chase just told me this is his little sister and she’s definitelyoff limits. Although the thought of that makes me even harder.
“So, you aren’t from here?”
She shakes her head, “Not this area, no. I’m from Florida, a few towns over originally, but I’ve lived in Miami for the last few years.” It’s rare that I care to know too much about women, if I’m being honest. I know how that sounds, but it’s what works for me. Getting invested in someone is a distraction, a waste of time, and nothing good has ever come from it.
For whatever reason though, unbeknownst to me, my mouth keeps spitting out questions.
“What brought you here then?”
She sighs, heavily. “It’s a long story, but ultimately, I needed a change. I’m a teacher so I just networked a little and found an opening here. Viola!” She gives me jazz hands as she grips the neck of her beer while saying that and I can’t help but smile when she does. I’m so completely mesmerized by her smile, that I can’t help but stare.
She’s wearing denim cut off shorts and a black tank top that rides up every time she runs her hand through her hair.
“A teacher,” I say, nodding my head.
“I know. Low paying. Little reward. Overworked. You probably think—”
This time I break her stride. “I think what you do is incredible.” Leaning down to speak closer to her ear. “Being a teacher is one of the most underappreciated jobs there is. You don’t get nearly the respect you deserve.” My hand loosely grips the crook of her elbow because the need to touch her again has taken over as we stand against the railing on the balcony. “I think making the decision to teach the next generation is fucking amazing.”
She swallows hard and I watch as her chest moves up and down. “I– uh, wow, thank you,” she whispers. “Excuse me.”
Watching her walk away, my chest starts pounding.Well, this is an unfamiliar fucking feeling. Shaking my head, I chug the rest of my beer before heading inside. Mia is standing at the kitchen island and I’m curious if she knew before tonight that Chase has a sister.
“So, Chase has a sister.” It comes out more bluntly than intended.
She doesn’t look up from her phone when she says, “Yep. I met her briefly the other day. She’s adorable, isn’t she?”
