Page 50 of Wicked Love

“Thank you,” I say weakly.

He nods and I jump when Penn blows the whistle. Bowie chuckles and I turn and jog away like I meant to do all of that.

Somehow, despite my sudden clumsiness playing around Bowie, we win the game. The other team wins the next, and on the third, I sit out to take pictures of everyone. I get some great ones—the kids all laughing after the game, one of Becca celebrating with Bowie that I love, and a funny one of Penn pretending to throw a penalty flag.

After the game, the guys sign autographs and once it clears out, I thank them again.

“And signing autographs at the end…you guys went above and beyond,” I say. I’m so touched by how great they were with the kids. “Can I take you out to thank you? Starlight Cafe? Serendipity?”

“I could use a burger from Starlight Cafe,” Rhodes says. “But you aren’t paying.” He smirks.

Elle nestles into his side. She showed up during the second game, cheering on the sidelines, and then played in the last game. “Mmm, that sounds so good.”

“We’re in,” Penn says.

Bowie nods.

“Great.” I think I’ve smiled nonstop today. “I’ll meet you over there!”

Rhodes, Elle, Penn, and Sam are at the table when I get there, and Bowie and Becca walk in right behind me. I end up between Bowie and Becca, and as we’re eating, various people from town come and talk to the guys.

“Is it always like this?” I ask Elle.

“It happens more during the offseason…and it’s more the tourists than locals around here,” she whispers.

I’m impressed with how gracious Bowie, Rhodes, and Penn are with each person. It must get exhausting to always beon.

When we finally have a moment to ourselves, we talk about how fun the day was.

“It’s obvious all the kids absolutely adore you, Poppy,” Elle says.

“Aw. Really? I mean, I adore all of them, so I’m glad if they love me back,” I say, laughing. My cheeks are warm from the praise.

“It’s great what you’re doing,” Bowie says quietly, and my cheeks get even hotter. “I regret not bringing Becca there sooner. We’ve gone to a lot of places over the years, some excellent, some not so much, but we hadn’t gotten to Briar Hill yet. We’ll be back, for sure.”

I couldn’t wipe the beam off my face if I tried.

As we say bye in the parking lot a little later, I put my hand on Bowie’s arm without meaning to.

“Sorry,” I say, dropping my hand. “I just…I have a little something for Becca in my car.”

“You don’t need to apologize,” he says.

“I just…I wasn’t trying to grab you.”

His lips pucker as he gives me an amused look. “Now or out on the field?” His voice remains even despite his teasing.

I groan. “You grabbed me out there!”

“So you wouldn’t hurt yourself.”

“It was a much better landing,” I say softly.

His eyes glitter with something, I wish I knew what. He’s so damn hard to read.

“Hold on one sec, Becca,” I say, holding up my hand. I turn to my car and get the bag out of the backseat.

When I hand it to her, she laughs.

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