Page 16 of The Break Down

“He stares at you like he’s trying to decode the meaning of life.”

“More like trying to remember if he left the stove on. I’m background noise to him.”

I try to keep my tone light, but there’s a knot in my chest.

Especially after today’s flirting.

Was it even that? Am I overthinking this?

“He’s all power and discipline and intensity. I’m chaos in lipstick.”

“Finley, when is the last time you looked in a mirror?”

“You’re sweet, Carolina. But jocks don’t like fat girls with big mouths.”

“First of all, I beg to differ. Cause my man is very into me. Second, We are notfat. We areplus sizeand that just means more to love. Third, Fin, you’re brilliant,” Carolina says softly. “Plus, you’re gorgeous. And if he doesn’t see that, it’s his loss.”

I smile, but it wobbles a little.

Because the truth is, I have been watching.

Not just through my lens, but with something sharper. Quieter.

Every time he growls at a teammate or grits his teeth in frustration or scrubs his hands over his stupidly perfect jaw, I feel it.

That pull. That thing I try not to name.

And watching Carolina now, seeing her glow over a man who worships the ground she walks on, I can’t help but feel the ache of it.

Not jealousy.

Just longing.

I want someone to look at me like Dane looks at her.

Like I’m it.

The one.

The prize.

The gravity pulling them in.

Maybe I’m foolish, but I want someone who chooses me like that.

Even if that someone is the last person who should.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” she asks.

“I am perfect. And so are you, now get out of here and go find your man!” I tell her with forced gaiety.

CHAPTER SIX-FINLEY

Hours later,I’m lying on my tiny bunk in the RV, legs kicked up against the wall, phone tossed somewhere near my pillow, trying very hard not to replay today’s events over and over again in my head like a horny teenager.

“That ball really showed you who’s boss,” I say aloud to no one at all, and I slap my hands right over my face.

“Really, Finley? That’s what you came up with? Why not just tattoo‘I’m into you but too repressed to do anything about it’on your forehead?”

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