Focus.Marketing project. “What part, exactly?”
“How the public doesn’t care about nursing homes. You’re so right! They don’t have the cute photos or social media that animal shelters do. Some have a Facebook page, and that’s about it, but that’s old now. Like, my grandma has one, but she’s not gonna donate unless she’s going there, you know? I want to focus on this facility and do a marketing plan as a way to help them spread the word.”
“Wait.” My mind raced. It was tunnel vision most of the time, either on football or working out or a quick release with a willing female. But then she walked in, and I couldn’t stop thinking about her skin and the gleam of moisture I wanted to lick up. She was talking about my grandma, assisting her, the facility. Hope shotgunned through my body, the same exhilarating feeling I got when I ran through the tunnel and onto the field. “You’ll help?”
“Yes. Luca, yes. See, I’d been struggling with what to pick as my final project. My professor is big on real world, not jumping-through-the-hoops types of assignments, and I wanted to focus on soccer at first, but since I’m on the team, it was a no-go. This is perfect, right? I can put all my attention on it, build out a plan for them, and track the data and results.” She scrunched her nose and batted her eyelashes. “Please? Can I do this?”
I wanted to fucking kiss her, and I didn’t trust my voice. Instead of speaking the absolute firework of joy exploding through my head, I nodded.
“Yes!” She fisted the air and wiggled around in a circle. “This feels good. Better than good. Plus, it’ll help you and your grandma out. Do you think she’d be okay being on camera? I’d love to focus on a handful of residents and tell their story.”
I shrugged, working my jaw back and forth to do something with the adrenaline. Why hadn’t I thought of something like this? I could’ve posted or gotten social media… instead, I blamed it as a distraction and refused to get a single profile.
Her smile faltered. “I won’t do anything without your permission, I promise. You have my freaking word. I would… no, I’ll even type a contract? Maybe get it notarized? Okay, I have no idea how to do that, but I’ll do whatever you need.”
“I want to get it notarized,” I teased, my lips curving up.
She sighed, closing her eyes and nodding. “Alright, I will look it up and have something done… today. Well, you’re busy all day. Tomorrow? No, they are closed. I can—”
“Lo, it’s fine.”Shit.I called herLo.“Lorelei, I was teasing you. I love this idea. I can’t believe I never thought of it.”
“Well, champ.” She hit my shoulder softly with her free hand. “You’ve been a little busy bulking up and taking care of her. This is my jam. Social media, marketing, and soccer are my three pillars of life. I think this will be fantastic and fun! Totally out of my element. Plus! Oh!” She jumped in the air. “What if I… yes! Let me write this down.”
She sat on my bed, pulling the paper up to her chest where she took the cap of her pen off with her teeth. She clicked her tongue against the little orange piece as she scribbled on the paper. I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect picture—her sitting there, next to my pillow, her scent filling up my room as the sunlight hit her skin.
My body tightened with need. What if—
“Game day, brooooo!” Callum walked into the room, hitting the top of the door frame. “Oh, shit. Lolo, you sleeping with this guy?”
The thoughts of her spread on my pillow assaulted my mind, the absolute ravaging need to touch her making me fist my hands.She’s Dean’s sister.
“What? No. Never,” I barked out a little too loudly. My tongue swelled, and moisture dripped down my back. Callum couldn’t possibly know my deepest, darkest fantasies about her. He’d kill me. So would Dean. “She barged in here on her own. I didn’t ask her to.”
“Message received, Monroe,” she said, her tone slightly colder than what it had been before. She stood, her cheeks bright red, and she gave us a tight smile. “I’ll work on this plan, and we can chat Monday.”
She ducked her head and walked by me, avoiding my gaze and making me feel two inches tall. I’d offended her.Idiot.
“You heading to the breakfast?” Callum plopped on my desk chair and had his phone in his hands.
“Right. The team.” I pulled the ends of my hair, staring at Lorelei’s door. Her blush and quick departure had been because of my mouth. A rock formed in my gut, but I couldn’t do a damn thing about it. Not until tomorrow, maybe, but usually Saturdays were for post-game. I couldn’t afford to let her sneak in there, especially after how much she’d been appearing in my thoughts lately.
“Wanna leave?”
“Sure, yeah.” I forced myself to let Lorelei go for now. Football would always and forever come first, and even though I rarely upset women, I seemed to offend her the most. It wasn’t her fault either, and that didn’t sit right with me. If my grandma had any idea, she’d smack me in the head.
Lorelei wants to help me.
The ball of anxiety in my stomach lingered, even as Callum and I headed to a team breakfast. It put me on edge. Callum didn’t mention her at all, and I wasn’t sure if it was intentional or not, but it made me think even more about the look on her face. Like, my words had upset her?
Why would she be upset? Unless shewantedme to be into her? No?
Fuck. Focus, Monroe.
We arrived at the stadium about an hour after the other players. All one hundred and five guys dressed, but the starters arrived later. I loved how the younger players looked at us as we walked in, the hunger in their eyes to be where we were at. The equipment mangers washed and placed everything we needed in our locker, and seeing the photo of my grandma grounded me.
I played for her.
Lorelei wants to help her.
