Page 26 of Crazy Love

“Right. Yeah. I do too.” I’m embarrassed that I thought he could ever want anything more.

You knew this was too complicated, I tell myself. But my heart hasn’t quite caught up with reason just yet.

“It was crazy for me too, Penn. It wasn’t just you.”

His eyes flicker over to me again, his full lips parting slightly. He takes a tiny step forward, and for a second, I think he may close the distance.

But then he puts his hands in his pockets and rocks back on his heels.

“There’s no way we could ever be anything more than friends anyway,” he adds, “because of your dad.”

I make a face. “My dad doesn’t get a say in who I go out with…I’m twenty-six years old, and I’ve lived away from home for years.” I laugh under my breath. “He mightthinkhe gets a say, but no, not happening.”

Penn winces. “He’d have a lot to say if he thought you were with me, trust me. I don’t think he’d even approve of us being friends.”

I frown. “Why do you think that?”

“He seems to think I only exist to party. I’m pretty sure that I shock him every time I come out on the field and play my ass off.”

“Your record speaks for itself.”

I want to argue that my dad would never treat someone poorly unless they deserve it, but the little Dad has said to me about Penn hasn’t been the most positive. I wonder what his deal is.

Penn shrugs and I’m surprised by the level of hurt I see on his face. I’ll definitely be asking my dad about this when I get a chance.

Rhodes’ voice rings out from the restaurant door. “Hey, lover boy, hope we aren’t interrupting a moment. The appetizers are out.”

I whip my head toward Rhodes, who’s grinning like a complete shit-stirrer. Behind him, Weston and Henley are standing in the doorway, equally entertained.

“Ohh,” Henley murmurs. “I think we did interrupt a moment.”

Penn groans. “Can younot?”

“I just wanted to apologize for our friend’s behavior…if he hasn’t already apologized himself,” Weston says.

“He started out with good intentions, I think, but then he almost blew it.” When I say the last few words, the guys laugh.

“He means well,” Henley says.

“Heis right here,” Penn says.

“Mm-hmm, and how’s that working out for you?” Rhodes says, throwing his arm around Penn. “How you like me now?” he sings.

I press my lips together to keep from laughing.

Rhodes gestures between us. “We’re just trying to figure out what’s going on here. Enemies? Lovers? Long-lost soulmates? What would Elle call these tropes?”

I nearly snort.

Weston smirks. “Right now, I’d say exes who never actually dated.”

I do laugh at that. “You guys are too much.”

Penn throws his head back, groaning. “Don’t you guys have wives to annoy right now?”

Henley smiles at me. “Sorry, Adeline. This one here has given us hell for years, so we’re just having a little fun at his expense.” He pounds Penn’s back. “I hope you don’t take us too seriously. We don’t want to scare you off. Penn is a good man…despite his earlier behavior.”

“It’s true,” Rhodes says. “The best guy.”

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