Page 79 of The Way We Collide

“Let’s get out of here.” She leans forward, speaking seductively into my ear. “I know what you need after a win like that. I’m wet just thinking about it.”

“Bradford!” The ABC reporter is finished with Tyler and comes to me. “Great game, man.”

Straining my eyes, I find Heather on the sidelines with Rusty. She’s holding his little girl, and he’s holding his baby son.

Heather’s eyes are on me, and she’s frowning like she’s annoyed. Raven and Haddy are nowhere to be seen.

The house isquiet when I finally get home. The lights are off, and it looks like they’ve all gone to bed. My chest falls. They were so cute in the box, and I’d been so anxious to see them since that first moment on the field.

I don’t know when Raven left, although I suspect it was as soon as Mikayla showed up climbing all over me. I’ve been grinding my jaw since it happened, and now it aches.

I’m still hyped up from the game, and I expect it’ll take a minute for me to come down. In the past, I’d leave the stadium with the guys and hit the clubs. Maybe I’d bring somebody home, a ball bunny or someone I didn’t have to worry about sticking around.

Now the thought turns my stomach.

Going to the kitchen, I figure I’ll grab something to eat and then crash out in the movie room watching football all night. I pull up short when I see Raven standing at the counter with a glass of water.

Her back is to me, so I speak softly. “Hey, I thought you’d gone to bed.”

She emits a little yelp, turning to face me with a hand on her chest. “I didn’t expect you back so soon.”

I walk closer to where she’s standing, my chest rising. “I wanted to see you guys.”

She’s dressed in soft white pants and a thin cotton T-shirt. Her hair is down, but her face is freshly washed. She looks ready for bed. She looks really good.

“Haddy was fussy, so I gave her a bottle. I thought we could get back ahead of traffic.”

“Did you?”

“No.” She’s acting cool, not like she’s upset or anything. “She fell asleep in her carseat, so I put her to bed when we got here.”

“I got here as quick as I could.” We’re standing, facing each other, and a charge is in the air. “What did you think?”

“You were really good!” Her eyes rise to mine. “I wasn’t sure what was happening most of the time, but you’re fun to watch. I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”

I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

“I liked having you there. Haddy was cute in my jersey.” I quietly add, “So were you.”

Her chin drops, and her ears light up. “Star said it’s what everyone does.”

“I really liked it.” I’d really like to reach out and pull her to me, but I wait.

“You must be excited. I know I am.” Her brow furrows, and she peeks up at me. “Didn’t you want to go out with your friends?”

“No.” My throat tightens, but I put it out there. “I wanted to find you.”

“But—”

“I’m sorry about Mikayla.” Reaching out, I take her hand. “I don’t know how she got onto the field.”

Raven’s shoulder rises, and she slides her hand out of mine. “She’s very pretty—a curvy, brunette, celebrity. She’s way more your type than I am.”

“She’s not my type at all.” I think of her proprietary behavior, running onto the field and grabbing me when we’ve been over for so long. “She’s the one I told you about.”

“Your one long-term relationship?” Her nose wrinkles.

“It wasn’t a relationship.” Frustration burns in my throat. “She only used me to blow up her socials. She’s an influencer. We never talked about anything like movies and shit.”

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