Page 19 of Forever Offsides

Me: You’re pushing it.

Rhett: With you? Definitely. You have no idea how serious I’m getting about you.

I read that and pause. Not knowing what to do with it. I’m serious about him too, liking him way more than I feel as though I should. How can I like him this much when it’s only been text since our first night?

I steer us back to safer waters.

Me: Since we’re talking cheese… Never eat a grilled cheese again or never eat mac and cheese again?

Rhett: I’m a Southern boy through and through. Never eating mac and cheese again would destroy my soul. My Nana used to make the best one ever. It had her homemade brisket and barbecue sauce in it. It was life-changing.

Me: Sounds yummy and same answer. Minus the family recipes and life-changing add-ons though, I’m jealous. I love BBQ.

Rhett: Then I’m your man. I’ll make you some of my family recipes.

Me: Next question. Your turn.

Rhett: Dining in or out?

Me: Is this your way of asking me out on a date?

My phone rings in my hand, but it’s not a regular call. It’s a freaking FaceTime. I’m in bed, sans makeup—sans clothes!—and the guy wants a face-to-face? I hit accept because I won’t be one of those women, but still, nerves hit me like a swarm of rabid bees. I haven’t seen him since that night or that morning or however you want to categorize it.

His stupidly handsome face comes into view, and those blue eyes… yeah, I didn’t exaggerate them.

“Why are you FaceTiming me?”

“Because the answer to your question is yes, and a man can’t ask a woman out on a date via text.”

I snort. “Um, yeah, they can. They do it all the time.”

“Not how I was raised, baby girl.”

“That’s because you’re old.”

He chuckles, and that smile and those dimples and damn. Freaking butterflies. He’s wearing his glasses, and I seriously love how he looks with them on.

“I am old. But I’m officially moving to Boston in two weeks.”

My heart hammers in my chest. I don’t reply. I’m not sure what I want to say to that.

“I’m going to take your silence and lip biting as overwhelming joy and excitement.”

“Go for it. But really? Two weeks?”

He grows reserved. “I closed on a place yesterday. I wasn’t sure how to tell you or if I wanted to wait and simply surprise you by being there.”

“Oh.”

He shakes his head and wipes his mouth with his fingers. “Listen, I’ll be starting a new job. A very demanding job. A job I’m desperate to excel in. It will require a ton of hours, and I know that’s something that’s important for you as well. All I’m asking for is dinner.”

“That’s it?”

“Well.” A smile twists into a devilish smirk. “I think we both know what I’m hoping happens after, but I’ll happily take dinner and build up to the other stuff as we go.”

“What if we’ve stopped talking by then?”

I get a dubious look. “We’ve been talking for months, Quinn. I haven’t been shy about my interest in you. You’re the one still holding back.”