Page 83 of Crazy Love

He slips the jersey over his head and smooths it out. “I think he still knows he’s my favorite, don’t you?”

I wrap my arm around his shoulder and nod. “I think he does. If he doesn’t, this should help tonight. That boy’s so vain, his head is gonna blow up when he sees us both wearing his jersey,” I tease.

“Penn says, ‘If you’ve got it, there’s no need to hide it…’” He tilts his head. “I’m not sure whatitis, but…I think Penn’s got whatever it is.”

I crack up and nuzzle his head for a second before I let go to tighten my ponytail. “You are so right, my man. And you know what? You’ve got it too.It,”I draw the word out, “is charisma and magnetism, and you have got it in spades.”

Sam’s posture straightens and he gets taller right before my eyes. “You think so?”

“I know so.”

“Well, Penn was right when he said you’re the prettiest woman on Earth. But I like that you’re nice too.”

I swear, I think this boy has made my eyes well up at least once a day, if not more, since I met him.

“Thank you, Mister Samson Cole. You sure know how to make a girl’s day.”

He sighs. “Tell that to Cassidy. She ignored me today. We passed in the hall and she acted like she didn’t even see me.”

“Ugh. What are we gonna do about that? Maybe shedidn’tsee you. I bet that’s it.”

He brightens. “Do you think she’ll be here tonight?”

“I’m not sure, but I’ll show you where she’ll probably be, if so. You can sit there if you want.”

His shoulders sag slightly. “You don’t want me to keep helping?”

“Well, I thought you’d probably want to see the game.”

“If I help you carry stuff out to the players during the game, I’ll be seeing the gameandhelping…” He waggles his eyebrows.

I put the lid on the massive pile of chicken breasts and laugh under my breath. “One day, I have no doubt you’ll be out on the sidelines if that’s what you want to do. For today, you’ll have to stay back here with me or sit in that area I’m talking about…”

“You don’t get to see the game?”

“I’ll watch some of it from the TV there,” I point at the TV on the wall, “and I’ll be running back and forth the rest of the time.”

I glance over at Toby, who’s deep into getting the post-game meal ready for the players.

“How are you doing over there, Toby?” I call.

He lifts both hands in the air, doing a little booty shake. “We are slaying,” he says. “Sam, can you come help every time?”

Sam beams proudly. “Absolutely.”

“Amazing,” Toby says. “Then we’ll be golden.”

The way Penn’s eyes glisten with lust when he sees me in his jersey.

One hundred percent worth the time it took me to find it.

While Sam is busy chatting with Cassidy and her sisters, Penn tugs me into the kitchen and then into the little closet off to the side.

“Great game. I knew you’d win.”

He grins and his eyes rake up and down me.

“What are we doing in here?” I ask, breathless.

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