“Do you even have to ask that?” I smirk. “The Tennessee Titans.”
Suddenly, she places a hand on my arm and squeezes. “I’m so sorry.”
I don’t think I’ve smiled so much in my entire life. “Your commiserations are appreciated.”
“There’s always next season. Miracles can happen.”
I almost choke on my sip of beer. “I guess that’s true.”
“That is, if your team can refrain from injury like they did this past season, you were shit outta luck with Cam Ward, that was a huge loss for the team.”
I’ve never truly met a woman who likes to talk football before. It’s a first for me. “It was. Despite that, they’re improvin’, which is the best we could’ve hoped for with all our star players out.”
“Brandon Allen had a stellar season, and Simmons had something like eleven sacks. That’s a strong performance.”
I stare at her.
I think I’m in love.
No, seriously.
“You know a lot about football,” I say.
“Blame my dad. He wasn’t blessed with any sons, so he taught me how to pitch, kick a ball, swing a bat, you name it.” Her eyes light up at the memory and I smile to myself.
I miss my parents. A lot. And my little sister, Brianna. She texts me every day just to check in, and she’s the one person who accepts me for who I am. I’m not saying my parents don’t, they do, they’re good people, but my sister gets it. She’s always been there for me.
“Do they live here?” I ask.
“No, back in Colorado, but they visit all the time, and I go down whenever I can.”
“Do you have any siblings?”
“What is this, the Spanish Inquisition?” she shakes her head, but she’s smiling, kind of. “No siblings, just me. My best friend, Sadie, is like the sister I never had. We do everything together since she moved from New York.”
I’m glad she has good people in her life. I also don’t know why that thought comes to me, or why it matters, but her presence is not only warm, it’s humbling. I like her. She’s everything the girls I’m used to aren’t. When I say it’s a breath offresh air, I’m not kidding. And I’m not even trying to pick her up. Okay, the cherry pie comment was flirty, but she’s cute, sue me.
I’m good with vibes, and we’re clicking. She may be a little guarded and has a quick, dry wit, but when I do catch her smiling—holy fuck—the whole world lights up. She should smile more, but it makes me start thinking about why she doesn’t. That protective instinct in me rears its head, but I push it back down. I barely know this woman.
“Friends like that are the best kind,” I say. “My best friend Dale is like that, he’s a good guy.”
“Is he wallowy and broody like you?”
Man, she makes me laugh. “You think I’m wallowin’?”
“And broody. You’ve been holding that beer for the better part of the night.”
“I’m drivin’ as luck would have it,” I state, though I’ve never been a big drinker. “I promise, I’m neither, but you’re right, I do keep to myself, a personality trait.” I shrug.
Bailey’s drink arrives, interrupting us, then shortly after the pies are served up, and they look amazing.
Her suspicion of me isn’t comical, it’s sweet. I don’t blame her. I have a little sister; I get it.
Women have to be careful everywhere they fucking go. But I’m not some creep. I’m the guy who would make sure she got home safe, or walk her out to her car like a gentleman. It’s called southern manners.
“Well, you know what they say?” she says, taking a big scoop of pie onto her fork. “When in Alpine Falls?”
“Do as they do?” I finish on a hunch.
