“Yes, since Callum and Lorelei decided to become besties, I hear about them more than I care to.”
I snorted. “Luca loves their friendship,” I teased.
“Callum is a harmless goofball.” He pursed his lips and stared at me, a thoughtful, serious expression overtaking his face as he waited.
“I have to show progress every Tuesday.” My skin flushed. Talking about the list at the bar, with the music and a few drinks was easier. In the daylight, being so open about it was harder. More embarrassing. “Are you here to make fun of me?”
“No!” He held out his hands, waving them around. “The opposite, actually.”
“What is the opposite of making fun of me?” I asked, amused. Was Dean…flustered? He blinked a lot, and his hands were in the air like little surrender flags.
He shifted his weight back and forth. “I had fun with you yesterday and the night at the bar.”
“Fun withme?” I repeated, like a dummy. My stomach fluttered. Dean had fun withme? Alert the media!
“Yes. I’ve been in the same boat, working hard and grinding all the time. Your comment about senior year and life outside of soccer struck a chord, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it. Could I join you on some of the items?”
“You want to join me on my Summer Playbook challenges?”
He nodded. He pressed his lips together as he stared at me. Dean and I had talked, obviously sharing Lo as a big part of our lives, but he had never looked at me like this. Intense, like he wasactuallyseeing me. After all these years, I had his attention, and it was over this silly playbook. My mouth dried up, and that was rule number one—always stay hydrated. I broke eye contact and picked up a bottle of water, chugging half of it before glancing at him again.
Worry lines framed his eyes, and he seemed so…vulnerable. Dean Romano never looked anything less than badass, and my stomach twisted.
“Sure thing!” I smiled, forcing myself to be chill about this. He seemed sad, and that was just weird.
Think of Lo!She’d want me to make her twin not sad. Yes. She’d approve.
It had nothing to do with the fact I squealed inside every time he smiled and his dimple came out. None at all.
“Yeah?”
“I mean, Callum called dibs on some of them. But the others, well, not all of them. Most you can do. Yeah, some.”
Not going past first base in public.
Not skinny dipping.
Not streaking.
The more I thought about it, my friends were the worst. This was a horny list.
“You’re blushing hard.” He grinned, and just like that, he was back. The sexy, unflappable Dean Romano. The handsome quarterback who got whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted.
“It’s the sun. I burn easily. I’ll be a tomato after this week,” I said, my words coming out too fast.
“Right.” He smirked, his gaze dropping to my legs again. “Which ones does Callum have dibs on?”
“Dancing on a bar, body shots, and getting a makeover.”
Dean’s jaw tightened, his gaze burning. “You don’t need a makeover, and Callum shouldn’t be doing body shots with you.”
“Pretty sure Callum and I can do what we want, Dean,” I fired back. “Can’t imagine a better person to push myself with. I trust him. Now, I need to help these minions. If you choose to stay and help run drills with me, that could be fun. But no pressure. Head out if you want.”
He tilted his head. “You’re inviting me to stay?”
“Yeah.” I shrugged, embarrassment taking over that I asked him. “Never mind. You probably have plans. Football plans. Quarterback plans.”
“I don’t.” He pocketed his hands, rocking back on his heels. Now he looked cool and casual. “Need help? I’m a great drill sergeant.”
