Abby tilts her head sweetly, smiling with her pretty green eyes. “Kids,” she says. “They’re with the kids and don’t usually go through the trouble of finding sitters for preseason.”
I nod. “Well, you’re welcome to come down here if you’d like.” I shrug, pointing to her pass. I’ve never actually hung out with her, but she’s always so kind whenever she sees me.
Within a few minutes Abby is tiptoeing toward me. Her slender frame is swallowed by one of Ford’s jersey’s that she’s wearing like a dress with a pair of Converse.
“You’re allowed to be here,” I say, giggling at her attempt to be stealth.
“I know. This handy thing grants me all kinds of access.” She points to her pass and smiles. “I’m just never down here during the game, but it’s kind of cool.” She wiggles her shoulders and then yells with the rest of the fans to make noise on a third down.
“How have you been?” I ask when things calm down.
“Good, you know, gearing up for Ford’s busy time of year, but I know this doesn’t last forever, so soaking it in. How about you?”
I nod. She’s so right. “Good too. Finally settled into the new place.”
“Oh, you moved?” She raises her voice to speak over her own clapping.
“Yeah…” My reply is hesitant, I’m a little surprised she doesn’t know. “I actually just moved into Liam’s building.” I sigh. “Right next door, to be exact.”
“Oh my god, you’re kidding.” There’s genuine surprise on her features and there’s no way she could be faking this reaction. “Bet he loves that.” She smiles. “But it’s a great place. I’ve always loved his apartment.”
“Kind of shocked he didn’t tell the guys, considering I’m pretty sure he’s pulling some strings to have me live there.” I know there’s a hint of sarcasm in my reply and I quickly adjust my face to make sure I don’t look as snappy as I just came off.
But Abby doesn’t seem to notice—or care if she does—and just grins at me as the two-minute warning for halftime stops the game.
“Liam’s not really in the business of sharing other people’s business…even if he probably wishes he could run through the halls screaming that you’re his neighbor.”
My head turns from our conversation over to the sidelines, but Liam is already walking toward us to head into the tunnel for halftime, and I need to do a quick interview with Coach Aarons before he heads into the locker room.
Every time I learn something new about who Liam truly is, it makes my soft spot for him grow, and I haven’t figured out if that’s a good thing yet or a bad one.
We’re seven minutes into the first preseason game, and I’ve already got the itch to hop on the field. And not because the backups are royally screwing up, it’s because I love this game so fucking much and all I want to do is play it.
“See that move by Daniels?” Nate elbows me as he steps to my side. “Looks like a little Evans 2.0 in the making.”
I smile to myself, nodding at the rookie getting a few snaps and making me proud.
The rest of the offense is playing well too. Preseason is a good time to be able to see how these guys bring what we’ve been doing in practice to a live game. Stakes are higher and hits are harder, but so far they seem to be taking it in stride.
During a quick game break, my eyes leave the field and scan the perimeter, looking for the pair of eyes I’ve missed this week.
“There she is,” I say to myself, smiling as my eyes land on Demi.
Is it possible for someone to get prettier every time you lay eyes on them? She’s standing near the tunnel, a stack of papers in one hand, and the other propped on her hip in true Demi fashion as she talks with Abby.
Her hair is up in a ponytail and her curls bounce every time she moves her head. She’s in a black skirt and sneakers with a blazer over a white shirt.
I sigh, my tongue darting between my lips as I inhale a deep breath.
Every time I see her, I just can’t believe there’s someonethisbeautiful alive at the same time as me and I get to even be in her presence, let alone be her friend.
Within seconds, my view is blocked as Chase steps in front of me, Ford and Nate join him a moment later, and we’ve now created a four-person square on the sidelines. We probably look like we’re gossiping with how close we’re all standing, but to be fair it’s loud in here.
“Have you guys watchedLove is Blind?”
Chase’s question throws me for a loop. Reality television, really?
Nate’s the first to ask what we’re all thinking. “Haveyou?”
