“I noticed everything.”
The words hang between us like a confession of guilt at Sunday Mass. Except I wasn’t prepared to confess my sins.
She tucks her hair behind her ear and looks up at me. “Me too.”
I can’t help the grin that crosses my face. “Good to know.”
“And you’re still staring.” Her eyes flash with a mix of mischief and something hotter that makes my blood start to simmer.
“Yeah, and I don’t see anything in my way right now,” I say, leaning in just enough so she can hear me over the music.
She laughs like she’s been waiting for me to admit it.
Then we get pulled into conversations with the rest of the group.
It’s like no time has passed. Like she never dated my brother.Like I didn’t spend my last year of college pretending it didn’t wreck me every time I had to see her kissing my twin.
The music starts, and everyone hits the dance floor like they’ve been waiting for permission all night.
“Bar?” she asks.
I grin. “Now you’re speaking my language.”
We weave through the crowd, shoulder to shoulder, close enough that the back of her hand brushes mine twice before either of us pretends to notice.
We make our way to the bar, and the bartender comes over.
“Still vodka soda?” I ask.
She glances up and lifts a brow as I give our orders to the bartender.
“Just confirming things don’t change,” I say as I slide a twenty in the tip jar.
“Some things do.” Her eyes drag over me for a half second before she looks back at the bar. “You got broader.”
I huff out a laugh. “The league is no joke. I needed to bulk up.”
Her smile curves, and when the drinks arrive, she takes hers.
I lean an elbow on the bar. “What have you been up to, Evangeline?”
“Living the dream. Associate producer. Not as glamorous as it sounds. Emails. Schedules. Grown men arguing over call times.”
“Sounds terrible,” I deadpan.
“I once had to convince an anchor that showing up on time was not, in fact, creative limitation.”
I grin. “Football’s the same. We have our fair share of divas. Just more ice baths and fewer feelings.”
“You? Avoiding feelings? Shocking.”
“Careful. You act like you know me.”
“I know the entire female population at Walker had a crush on you and you were completely aloof to most of them.”
“Not the entire female population,” I say, looking at the one girl who didn’t want me.
Instead of agreeing, she stares directly in my eyes, and as her chest rises, she lets out a breathy confession. “All of them.”
