Page 159 of The Rookie

Cassie’s eyes widen. “What?! You never told me that!”

“It’s not a big deal,” Brielle replies, waving her hand. “But yeah. He’s great. And single, I think?”

Cassie gasps, her eyes darting to me. “Avery, what do you think? Should Brielle shoot her shot?”

My mouth goes dry, my pulse pounding in my ears. “Uh…”

Before I can come up with an excuse, the crowd erupts, drawing everyone’s attention back to the field.

Griffin’s just made an incredible catch for a touchdown, and the entire stadium is on its feet, cheering.

“Hell yeah!” Cassie shouts, clapping.

I force a smile, clapping along, but my gaze stays locked on Griffin as he jogs toward the field goal post. He pulls something out—his phone.

I frown, watching as he types something quickly, then grins and winks toward the camera.

The announcers are laughing, speculating about what he’s doing, and the crowd’s buzzing with curiosity.

And then it happens.

The buzz of my phone in my lap pulls my attention like a magnet. My fingers tremble as I unlock the screen, praying Cassie doesn’t notice.

Griffin: Do you feel it too? Sitting there, pretending to focus on the game, but all you can think about is my hands on you. Bet you’re soaking wet already. Aren’t you?

My heart stutters, the heat in my cheeks spreading like wildfire. I quickly lock the screen, my hand tightening around the phone as if I can will the words away.

But they don’t go away.

They linger.

The worst part? He’s right.

Every time I glance at him on the field—his powerful legs flexing as he moves, the confident way he commands the game—it’s like he knows exactly what he’s doing to me.

I cross my legs, shifting in my seat, trying to block out the image of his hands, his mouth, his voice growling in my ear.

Cassie nudges me, pulling me out of my spiraling thoughts. “Are you okay? You’re all red.”

“Yeah,” I croak, forcing a smile. “Just… hot in here.”

She frowns, glancing around. “It’s freezing, actually. Are you coming down with something?”

“No!” I blurt, maybe a little too loudly.

Her eyes narrow, suspicious, but thankfully she gets distracted by Brielle, who’s gushing about Griffin’s latest play.

My heart pounds as my phone buzzes again in my lap, Griffin’s name flashing on the screen like a damn neon sign.

I glance at Cassie and Brielle—they’re deep in conversation about some celebrity gossip—and quickly unlock my phone, my hands trembling slightly.

Griffin: Avery. Don’t ignore me. Answer the question.

My cheeks flame, my thighs pressing together instinctively as I reread his words. The tension between my legs is unbearable, and I can still feel his touch like a ghost on my skin.

I hesitate, staring at the blank text box, my thumb hovering over the keyboard.

This is dangerous.

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