“You need to come to our next game. How about this weekend? We’re playing Denver.”
She looks down at her hands.
“What?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “I can’t.”
“What do you have going on?”
Her eyes flick to mine. She slowly leans in and whispers, “In case you haven’t noticed, I don’t get out much. I’m not allowed to go out.”
I look at her pink lips and lean in. “Then sneak out.”
She smiles, taking in my face. “I can’t.”
I smirk. “Come on, Tiger.”
She shakes her head.
I lean in again, and she pushes my shoulder playfully.
I grab her ribs, and her body jerks.
“Ticklish?” I smile, reaching for her again.
“Cal,” she laughs. “Please.”
I furrow my brow and say, “You don’t have to beg, Tiger.”
I start tickling her sides. Laughter rumbles from her chest as she jerks around. Then she falls onto the bed. Her hair splayed out behind her like a halo.
I lean over her, teasing my fingertips along her ribs.
She’s laughing. Breathless. Eyes bright.
I stop when my face hovers above hers.
Her laughter fades. She’s staring up at me now. Chest rising and falling.
I lean in closer.
Our noses brush.
Her breath hits my lips.
I close my eyes, feeling adrenaline surge through me.
This close to her, I can smell her shampoo, feel the heat coming off her skin, and see the way her pupils dilate when I shift closer.
She’s nothing like the girls I’ve been with before.
No games. No pretending. No performance.
Just her. Soft and real and looking at me like I’m the only person in the world.
This is how I know Sienna wasn’t the one. This moment with Tiger outweighs anything I had with Sienna.
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. I want to kiss her so badly, so I pull back. Just enough to look into her eyes.
