Page 29 of Wish You Would

Me: Funny. It’s your better half and I got your number from Daisy. So, what do you say?

Briar: I’ve never said no to football. It’s a date.

Me: A fake date.

Briar: Whatever

I shake my head at my phone. This is such a bad idea.

Me: Oh, and it’s a team-building night for my work.

Briar: You should probably have mentioned that before you invited me.

Me: Too late. You said yes.

Briar: I’ve been bamboozled.

Briar and Istand at the top of our section overlooking the green and gold college football field. Our seats are in row 4 behind the Outlaws, but before we walk down to meet the group, I want to check in with her.

I reach for her hip, giving her side a pinch. “Nervous?”

“Not at all. I’m excited to meet your work friends.”

“Nerves of steel,” I say, smirking.

She shrugs. “One thing about me, Holden: I’m always up for meeting new people. Also, I’m never going to say no to free popcorn.” She pauses, eyebrows raised. “The popcornisfree, right?”

I laugh. “As much as you want.”

“Perfect! Plus, I plan on asking your co-workers for all the dirt on you.”

I roll my eyes. “Behave, wild one.”

She snorts. “I’ll behave if you throw in some free candy too. Is it a deal, fake boyfriend?”

“I think I can spring for that. Are you ready? Should we go?”

“Ready, but you should probably hold my hand, Holden, if we’re going to pretend we’re in love.”

I playfully roll my eyes at her again before looking her up and down, admiring her outfit. She’s wearing an Outlaws jersey, a pair of boyfriend jeans, and an Outlaws baseball cap, her lips painted the prettiest shade of pale pink.

Her cheeks flush when she catches me checking her out. I smile, happy with myself for being the one to make her blush. She is the perfect combination of cute and sexy. She’s out of my league, but I’m not going to be the one to point it out.

Briar and I are the last ones to arrive to our seats and right before we do, she tugs on the bill of my baseball cap. “We’re going to put on a show for your friends. You better act like you like me.”

I squeeze her hand, already used to the way it feels in mine. “The thing is, I do like you, Busy Bee. Don’t you forget it.”

With a smile, I flip my hat so it’s backwards then I kiss her on the cheek. She melts into my side, going all in with the public display of affection. For a moment, I wished I kissed her on the lips instead.

“Banks, what up?” Nick calls from the center of the row.

I pull Briar along to where the team is sitting, introducing her to the group. Most wave and call out a hello, butZoe immediately jumps to her feet and greets Briar with a tight hug.

“You can sit with me! Nick is too focused on the game, he never talks to me,” she says, motioning to the empty chair beside hers. I say hello to a couple of people one row up and then sit on the other side of Briar, who is already deep in conversation with Zoe about the game and the lineup.

“I love your commitment to the Outlaws.” Nick points at her jersey. “Do you come to a lot of games?”

Briar leans into my side, putting her hand on my inner thigh. She’s really playing this girlfriend thing up, so I raise my arm and wrap it around her back, so it rests on her shoulder.

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