Page 21 of Fielder's Choice

“I’m honored,” he smiles. Lane looks back at me, slowly raking his eyes over my body. I don’t miss the way his throat bobs when he sees my black sports bra and tight leggings under an open gray hoodie. I bite my lip and feel a fluttering in my stomach.

Did Lane just give me…butterflies?

I think he did, and I’m not sure what to make of that right now.

Sage is the one to pull me out of my thoughts. “You go dance, Owive?”

“We’re going to yoga, actually. But I’ll see you for ballet on Tuesday!”

She claps excitedly as Lane just grins at his daughter. It’s sweet but also gives me a pang of jealousy.

Because that’s something I’ll never get to have.

“It’s good to see you tonight, Liv.”

“Yeah, you too,” I reply, body heating all over from the penetration of his gaze. “We, uh, need to get going, though. Chelle and I will be late for class if we don’t go.”

“Before you do,” he says assuredly, “let me get your number.”

I hear Michelle snicker as Harvey gasps. “You… want my phone number?”

“Of course,” Lane shrugs. “I should be able to get in touch with you if Sage can’t make it to a lesson, shouldn’t I?” He flashes me that cocky side grin, confidence just seeping from every pore.

I can’t help but give in. “Alright, Hotshot. Hand me your phone.” He hands the phone over, and I pull up his contacts appand put my information in before shooting myself a text from his phone and handing it back. When I pull out my phone, I pull up the message and save his contact information. “There. I have yours now, too.”

“Perfect,” he smiles brightly. “It was nice to meet you, Harvey and Michelle. Sage and I will see you on Tuesday, Ballerina.”

Without another word, he carries on in the opposite direction to us, bouncing Sage on his hip as she giggles enthusiastically.

“I can’t believe you have Lane Brooks’ phone number,” Harvey says, shaking his head.

“Like he said,” I stammer, “he just needs to be able to reach me if they can’t make a lesson.”

Michelle tries to stifle a laugh. “Sure, that’s exactly the reason he wants your number,Ballerina.”

I bite down a smile because I know she’s right. He just found an excuse to ask for it.

And Lane proves me right as soon as a text comes through.

Lane

I have a confession

I lied

Olive

So, is there another reason you wanted my number, then?

Lane

Yeah

I just want to talk to you

Have fun at yoga, Ballerina

Olive

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