Page 26 of The Heartbreak Blitz

“Let’s see… How to be late for work every day. I could win trivia night on that.”

“And how to lose a precious school emblem and ruin the football team’s winning season?”

“Yep, that too.”

I’m gonna add sense of humor to the reasons why I like this girl. “But really, what do you like?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know.”

“You can’t help but be evasive, can you?”

She fans her lashes at me. “I know about being evasive.”

I watch the game for a little while longer, but then out of nowhere, I say, “I never thought you’d ask. I like cooking, playing football, talking with my friends, and saving beautiful women from being fired.”

“You don’t have to say that.”

When I glance over, she’s picking at something on her jeans. “Say what?”

“You know what. I’m impervious to your fake compliments, so we can either sit here and be friendly, or you can try to talk yourself out of your pants in your own room.”

“I wasn’t—” She glares over at me, and I snap my mouth shut. “I’m sorry my compliments offend you.”

She shrugs and looks away, staring at the screen with a scowl.

Damn, we’d gotten so far, too.

For the next twenty minutes, we watch the game in silence, even after I offer to change it again. A quick knock breaks the tension, and she jumps up. “Shit. Hide.”

I just stare at her and get up from the bed, moving toward the door.

“What are you doing? Hide.” She runs over and tries to push me into the bathroom, but I wrangle the hotel door open. We’re jostling for position when the delivery driver shoves the box forward. “Your large pizza.”

Charley’s face reddens and she turns, walking away. I slip a five out of my wallet even though I already tipped him in the appand spin to find her hand covering her mouth. “Oh my God, I thought it was Coach! You should’ve checked the peephole!”

Realization hits me, and I grimace. “Yeah, that would’ve been unfortunate. Pretty sure that driver thought you were a nutcase, though.”

“Me? You’re the one opening the door all willy-nilly!”

“You’re the one trying to shove a football player who’s several sizes bigger than you into a bathroom.”

She sighs, her shoulders heaving as she levels me with a look. “Just shut up and give me a piece of pizza.”

I beam, taking the box to the desk and popping the lid open. The delicious smell of tomato sauce mixed with meat and baked veggies fills the room. The obvious growl of a stomach sounds. “I knew you were hungry.”

“Starving, and it smells delicious.”

I gesture toward the pizza to allow her to go first, and she grabs a slice with her bare hands and takes a big bite. The cheese stretches. Her eyes go wide as she continues to take it in and in until it finally lets go. Sauce drips down her chin, and I hand her a napkin.

“That was refreshing. Girls usually want a plate and a fork.”

“I’ve never eaten with a football player before. I didn’t know there were standards to uphold.”

“None whatsoever. You’ve already exceeded my expectations. I once watched Briar house an entire footlong in a few bites.”

She finishes chewing, wiping her chin with the napkin. “Briar is?”

“Oh.” I shake my head. “She’s my buddy’s girlfriend. And, um, the sister of my friend who died.”

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