She offered to let me just take over her lease since she is moving in with some of the other interns, but I want my own place. Somewhere fresh and one that’s just mine. Unfortunately for me, I’ve unintentionally been putting off the apartmentsearch, and now that the season is about to start my free time will be even harder to come by.
Time to go apartment hunting.Today.
“Hey, Dem.” I stroll past her on the sideline as practice is getting started this morning.
We’ve been busy now that camp is officially underway. Meetings in the mornings, then practice, followed by film and playbook study. Although that last bit is mainly just me.
“Twelve,” she says sweetly, tipping her chin in my direction.
I fucking love when she calls me by my number. It does something to me. Sends a burst of electricity down to my damn bones.
Without thinking, I turn on my heel and walk back to her. I can tell that my sudden appearance in front of her is startling by the way she widens her eyes.
“You’re very close to me.” She crosses her arms over her chest as her eyebrows raise.
“I really want to say something in response to that, but I’m going to remain a gentleman.” I offer her a charming smile. “How are you today?”
“Well, apartments are astronomically priced and the book I was reading ended on a cliffhanger. But I love my job and my coffee tasted so good this morning, so who am I to complain?” She exhales, smiling.
“If you need a place to stay?—”
“No,” she cuts me off before I can finish, and I can’t help but laugh. “Don’t finish that sentence.”
I nod and raise my hands in front of my chest, taking a step back with a chuckle before glancing up at the sky, noticing bright blue for miles without a cloud in sight.
Fuck, it’s going to be a brutal one today.
“Well, it’s a beautiful day for football.”
“It is.”
“So, I’m thinking our ‘not a date’ date should be soon. We’re both going to be getting busier in a couple weeks, so why don’t we just pencil something in right now?”
She flips through the handful of papers between her fingers and thinks I don’t see her fighting back a smile, but I do. I wish she would quit pretending to be so annoyed with me, it’s becoming obvious she isn’t as annoyed as she wants to seem.
“Your new receivers are all waiting on you.” She dramatically wiggles her pointer finger toward the field.
I see the guys on the sidelines, but Coach isn’t out here yet. I’ve got a few minutes.
“I’m in the middle of a very important conversation, and I give my full, undivided attention to people I’m speaking with. They can wait.”
“Liam,” she says my name with a shake of her head. “You probably say that to all the girls.”
I step closer, just a hair. “Don’t you know by now that I only see you.”
Her throat bobs, and I sense a tiny bit of hesitancy in her body, but she remains still and doesn’t step back.
Her eyes narrow. They look slightly lighter when the sun hits them. “Okay.” She sighs. “You’ll probably be done with camp around three tomorrow afternoon, right? Why don’t we grab coffee then? Sips Coffee House.”
My eyes light up and my body wants to jump up and down, pumping my fist in the air. Every cell feels like it’s raging with electricity at this simple sentence.
“I see you know my schedule,” I reply, trying to play it cool.
“Part of my job description.”
“Fair.” I chuckle, grinning like a teen with a crush. “Tomorrow is perfect. Have a nice day, Dem.”
She playfully brushes the papers in her hand against my arm as I’m backing away. “You too.”
