Page 22 of Love at Second Down

I meet his eyes and straighten my shoulders. Taking a deep breath, I instantly decide to lay it all out there. “In a nutshell?” When he nods, I add, “I want him back.”

Several of them groan while Jace hisses, “Shit.”

“And before you say anything, it’s not because he’s on the NFL’s watchlist or one of the best quarterbacks in the Big Ten. I would say it has nothing to do with football at all, but then that wouldn’t be right either, because Damon loves football. He lives for it. Breathes it. It’s a part of who he is, and so, it’s a part of the man I love. But as long as he’s happy, he could never set foot on a field again, and I’d love him all the same.”

“I like her,” Chris hooks a thumb toward me.

“Dude, we can’t like her,” Brandon hisses as he leans past Jace’s arm to look at him.

“Why the fuck not?” Chris asks, scowling.

“Because . . .” Brandon pantomimes with his hands, like he’s sayingyou know why. “She’s the enemy,” he finally blurts.

Chris snorts. “Maybe. Or maybe she’s the solution.”

I glance between them, watching the exchange with wide eyes before they turn back to me, and I feel a wave of defensiveness rise inside me like a rolling tide. “I’ve been trying to talk to him, but for obvious reasons, he won’t have anything to do with me. But if he would just listen . . .” I trail off, my voice thick. “There are things he doesn’t know. Things about why I broke up with him and left like I did. They don’t make it right, but I at least need to explain. Maybe if I do?”

“He’ll forgive you and you can work your way back into his heart,” Chris finishes for me.

I shrug. “Something like that.”

Chris glances over at his teammates and they exchange a look I can’t read before he nods as if making a decision. Turning back to me, he rubs his hands together, blue eyes sparkling with mischief as he says, “I got this, gentleman. Just leave it to me.” A simultaneous groan runs through the boys. “Chris the Love Doctor is here.”

“That’s not a thing,” Jace points out.

“Oh, itisa thing.” Chris grins.

“Lord help us.” West places his face in his hands.

“Us?” Brandon turns to West, but when he does, he’s close enough to kiss him and recoils. “At least you’re not on his radar next!”

“You should be so lucky as to be on my radar next.” Chris points at him.

“Wh-what is this?” I ask, motioning between them. “What’s happening?”

Jace rolls his eyes and hooks a thumb toward Chris. “He thinks he’s some kind of love guru.”

“Iama love guru.” Chris’s eyes glitter. “The ultimate love guru.” He rubs his hands together like a man with a plan.

Unable to fight the smile curving my lips, I raise my hands, palms out. “Hey, I’ll take all the help I can get.”

“See?” Chris points. “Again, smart woman.”

“So, what do we do?” I ask, afraid to hope for anything.

“Time is of the essence. You may or may not know that we leave for Atlanta tomorrow morning. Are you free later?”

“I can be.” I swallow, heart pounding like I just ran sprints.

“Great. Give me your phone.” He holds his hand out, wiggling his fingers until I oblige and slide it from the back pocket of my jeans and place it in his palm. “I’m texting myself withyour number, then I’m going to send you the address of my apartment. When do you get off work?” he glances up at me, expectantly.

“In an hour.”

He nods, turning back to the screen as he finishes typing and hits send. “Meet us at this address at nine o’clock, and we’ll make sure Damon’s there. Just don’t be late, because he’s a moody bastard right now, and I’m not sure how long we can hold him.”

He hands my phone back to me and my lips quirk. “You make him sound like a wild animal.”

Jace snorts. “You haven’t seen avoidant, post-Avery Damon. He’s been a bear all week.”

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