Page 34 of Hello Quarterback

She smiled at me and climbed into her perfectly made bed, patting the place next to her. We sat back on the pillows like we did when we were teenagers listening to the latest CD that came out. “So what’s with the jacket?” she asked.

I laughed, taking it off so I could show her. “He gave me a jersey, but I said I couldn’t wear it because I had to dress business professional. And then this showed up at my place the next day.”

She grinned, taking the stylish Dallas Diamonds blazer from me to study the design. “I love it... So it’s going well?”

I bit my bottom lip and nodded.

For the next half hour or so, I told my best friend every moment I’d shared with Ford, how easy it was to talk to him. How he had flowers delivered to my office. How he started calling meSunflower.

And while we talked, I let myself pretend it was real.

20

FORD

After the game,my family came over to spend the night.

I loved having them in my home. In fact, they were a big reason I’d purchased such a large house. I wanted them to feel comfortable at my place so I could see them more often.

Even though my brothers were all so different, we were like the pieces of a puzzle. Interesting on our own, but more complete when we were together.

Fletcher was the smart, serious one in our family, now a successful doctor running a medical practice in Cottonwood Falls. Hayes had his own body shop and was the rebel of the group, with enough ink to fill a printer, piercings all over (even in places I didn’t want to think about), and had a revolving door of women to keep him company. Knox worked as a police officer, but he was also the mischievous one of all of us, always bringing the fun. And then my baby brother, Bryce, was the quiet, thoughtful one of the group, adding only words that really mattered. Together, we just... worked.

Tonight, the kids, my dad, and the wives were splashing around in the pool while four of us five brothers sat around my firepit. They drank beers and made fun of me for my choiceseltzer water. Proof that no matter how famous I got, they were sure to keep me humble.

“So,” Fletcher said. “What’s the deal with Mia, really? I thought you weren’t dating ‘til you had a ring.” He chuckled at his own joke. “Get it?”

“Stupid,” Knox laughed.

Hayes rolled his eyes, biting back a smile. And I shook my head at the lot of them. I didn’t want to talk about this. Not with my brothers. “That was my plan, but plans change.” I shrugged and took a drink of my seltzer.

Fletcher eyed me suspiciously.

Hayes leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. The fire caught his lip ring, making the silver look gold. “I could see why you broke your rule for her.”

All eyes were on him.

“What?” he said. Then he nudged my leg with his boot. “Come on, you know she’s hot.”

Jealousy flared up in my chest, so strong and unexpected, I couldn’t find the words. “Excuse me?”

“What?” Hayes taunted. “You saw her ass in that pencil skirt. Everyone did on the jumbotron.”

My vision was going red when Fletcher gave a pointed look at our brother Knox. “Don’t murder him, Ford. There’s an off-duty cop around.”

“Oh, shut it,” I said, flipping off Fletcher.

My brothers all chuckled at that, but my laugh came out as harsh and forced as it felt.

They were all watching me like they knew I was still seething.

“Shit,” Hayes said. “Sorry, I didn’t realize it was that serious with her yet.”

“It’s not,” I said.

They all gave me dubious looks.

“It’s not,” I repeated. But they were still disbelieving, so I got up and walked to the pool, shrugging off my shirt. The kids were more fun anyway—even if I could feel my brothers’ skeptical gazes on my back.

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