Page 16 of Hello Quarterback

“It seems so.” I chuckled and set down my fork. “But I definitely cannot spend enough time with Hayden to pull off a fake relationship. You’re right—I deserve better, even if it’s make-believe.”

So there it was. All my embarrassing truth out in the open. All except for the fact that I was excited to be here with Ford, to try something real. If I still had a chance after sharing all that.

But Ford didn’t look disappointed or put off at all. He looked... relieved.

“So you don’t think I’m crazy?” I finally asked. “Or pathetic?” I added.

He leaned forward, a genuine smile on his face. It lit up his eyes, making them almost sparkle like the sun catching the ocean. “Actually, the opposite,” he said.

My eyebrows drew together. “What’s the opposite of pathetic?” I asked.

“Admirable,” he said without pause. “Even more so than you were before.”

There was my heart picking up pace again, and I didn’t even bother hiding the way those words made me smile. He admired me?

He flattened his palms on the table like he was steadying himself. “You might not play football, but you know your game. You’re committed to it, to doing whatever it takes to win.”

I nodded, feeling more understood than I had in a long time. “Most people don’t get the sacrifices it takes to get to our level, much less respect them.”

He took a sip of his water, and the way his throat moved as he swallowed was tantalizing. “You’re right. I’ve been with women before who wanted me to take my foot off the pedal when Ineeded to be pushing it to the floor. It’s a big reason why I’ve been against dating.”

So Tallie and Farrah were right about Ford being against dating? My heart soared even further because he’d chosen me as a potential match. Me. He recognized me in a way that few men did. As an equal. It wasn’t poetry or a box of chocolates or even a boombox on his shoulder, but to me, it was even better.

“I would never ask you to play small,” I said. “Especially when I’m chasing goals of my own.”

He dipped his head in the most adorable way, clasping his hands on the table. “This couldn’t be more perfect,” he said.

I almost couldn’t believe those words had come out of his mouth. “You mean it?”

He nodded. “The owner of the Diamonds wants me to date his daughter... unless I’m already in a relationship. And you wanted a fake relationship as well. If it’s okay with you, we could date for the season. It would get Trent off my back and help you gain favor at your company. I know I’d be great at talking you up, and I’d be spending time with someone who doesn’t make me feel like I’m listening to nails on a chalkboard. What do you say?”

I blinked, taking in his words.

Any height my heart had soared to instantly vanished as it smashed on the ground and then got ran over by a garbage truck—a few times for good measure.

Ford wanted a fake relationship to get him out of a bad date.

That’s why he’d brought me over here.

Not because he liked me.

But because he needed me.

I thought I might be sick.

“Mia, are you okay?” he asked. “You look a little pale.”

I shook my head. “Where’s the restroom?”

“Let me show you.” He stood, taking my arm like he knew I needed steadying, and walked me to the powder room aroundthe corner from the kitchen. His touch was like fire on my icy cold skin. Could he sense through our touch how pathetic I felt? Because right now it seemed like each of my cells was screaming the word.

How was I in my late thirties and feeling like the girl picked last in gym class all over again?

I got inside and shut the door, locking myself safely inside.

Ford called, “Can I get you anything? Medicine?”

“No, I’m fine,” I managed. “I’ll just be a second.”

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