Page 13 of Resisting the Running Back

Jesus Christ. Mary and Joseph. All the biblical names.

What in the holy hell is happening?

My mind goes absolutely blank for a moment as Sophie’s lips form to mine.

It’s brief. Too brief. Only a couple of seconds at most.

But holy fuck, is it filled with absolute fireworks. Intense, explosive fire.

Two seconds. Lip to lip.

Imagine sex. Jesus. I can’t. Ihaveimagined it, lots of times, and this one kiss for her mother’s benefit doesn’t do a damn bit of justice to my imagination.

She pulls back and settles down onto flat feet again, and I’m supposed to come out of it like it’s no big deal. Like it wasn’t my first kiss with the woman I have loved for years.

Oh, wait. Right. It’s not supposed to be a big deal if we’re at the point of moving in together. I clear my throat as I try to come up with something to say, but she speaks before I can. I’m supposed to be saving her, but I’m too caught up with that kiss to think straight at this moment in time.

“I quit my job, and we’re moving to San Diego because Miller and I are together now.” She turns to me. “Right, baby?” She slides her arm around my waist.

We’re together now?

Oh, right.Play along, Banks.

I finally pull myself together enough to say, “Right.” I sling a casual arm around her shoulders and lean down to press a kiss to the top of her head.

Her mom purses her lips. “Well, I can’t say I’m surprised. You two always seemed to have a little thing between you.”

We did? Wait a minute. What?

Sophie leans her head on my shoulder. “Definitely.”

“But Sophie, this isn’t like you.” Her mom is definitely judging us. “You’re in the middle of a school year. Just a couple more months until it’s over…and you’re just quitting and leaving? What about your students?”

She clears her throat, and then she blurts, “Miller and I are getting married.” She slaps a hand over her mouth after the words escape.

Her mom gasps.

Hell, I thinkIgasp, too.

Are we really doing this?

Whatever I say, just play along.

Her mom’s eyes dart to her ring finger, but she keeps talking, making the lie bigger and bigger with each word.

“We just want to get started on our future right away, and with him playing in San Diego now, it makes the most sense for me to move there.” She shrugs at the end, and she waves a hand in the air. “He asked me last night on his thirtieth birthday, and we’re going to pick out a ring soon.”

“Oh, honey,” her mom says, and she walks around the counter to hug Sophie. “I’m just—I don’t know what to say. I just want you to be happy.”

Her mom hugs me next, and my eyes meet Sophie’s over her mom’s shoulder.

“I am, Mom,” Sophie assures her as she widens her eyes at me as if to tell methanks for playing along. Did I have a choice? Her mom turns back to Sophie, who’s still babbling…and I’m a little worried if shekeepsbabbling, she’s going to blow this whole story. “I just wish Dad was here because I wanted to tell the two of you together. We need to get home. Miller’s got some things to do, and he flew in last night and we’re driving my car back.”

“Congratulations to you both. And happy birthday, Miller,” she says. “Oh, honey. We get to plan a wedding!”

“Don’t get too excited,” Sophie warns her. “We’ll probably keep it low-key. Besides, he’s got a new season coming up, and he’ll be busy with that.”

“Oh, of course,” she says. “Didn’t you two make a pact back when you were teenagers that you’d get married if you were both still single when you turned thirty?”

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