“Am I going too fast?”
“I don’t know,” I reply honestly. “Maybe.”
“I just don’t like wasting time,” he says, raising the corner of his mouth in a grin. “I don’t want to miss out on anything else.”
My God.
“I know you don’t care much about rugby, but I’d be happy if you came.”
“Why is it so important to you?” I ask curiously.
“One time you made a comment that maybe, for the right player, you might change your mind about rugby. I think I could be your player.” He comes dangerously close to me. “I want to be your player.”
I swallow nervously. “I can’t believe you remember that stupid conversation.”
“It was the first time you came to visit the training centre a few nights after that infamous party. I remember a lot of things, Riley.” His voice drops a tone. “Maybe too many,” he goes on suggestively.
“That almost sounds like a challenge.”
“It is. I’m very competitive.”
“You might lose,” I provoke him.
“I have no intention of losing,” he says confidently. “I’m an O’Connor and the O’Connors never lose.”
“There’s a first time for everything.”
“I’ll risk it,” his voice lowers again and I feel my legs trembling.
“So…S-Sunday,” I say, trying to pull it together.
“Aviva Stadium at three.”
“I could drop by.”
“Seriously?” he asks, suddenly excited.
“I’d like to.”
He tries to mask a smile by touching his nose with his hand and I try to mask my embarrassment attempting to bury myself four feet under the ground.
“I hope Jamie won’t be upset, he’s been asking me to come for years, but he’s never convinced me.”
“I’m not Jamie,” he says, so certain.
No, nothing like him.
“So, see you there?”
“You’ll see me there, even if you’ll never even notice me with all those adoring fans,” I joke, but he doesn’t smile.
His face becomes serious and his eyes darken slightly. He closes the distance between us and slowly his hand drops to mine, brushing it slightly, giving me goosebumps.
His fingers intertwine with mine, perfectly, even though his hand is double the size of mine. His is hot and strong and mine is cold and weak. His is covered in calluses and mine is smooth and delicate. His squeezes mine from need and mine is squeezed in necessity.
There is no more perfect union, and my heart starts to regain its faith.
“I would be aware of your presence, Riley. I would always feel it, anywhere, even if I don’t see you. I’ll know.”
