Page 27 of Matched

“You think I’m hot,” he countered, relaxing as he tapped the ball with his foot, sending it rolling across the grass.

“Dude, anyone with eyes thinks you’re hot. You could give Jordan Emery a run for his money.”

“Yeah? That would be the life. An underwear model and Premier League footballer?”

“If architecture doesn’t work out, that could be your backup plan,” I told him as I removed my sunglasses, dropping them next to my T-shirt.

Nate jogged over to the ball and began dribbling it into the centre of the open space. “I’m too old to become a professional footballer now. Guess I’ll have to stick with my original plan.”

I watched his back muscles moving and flexing in the sunlight, a light sheen of sweat making his skin almost look as if it was glowing. Or sparkling, like those vampires my sister had been obsessed with at one point. Laughing to myself, I chased after Nate. I was pretty sure he wouldn’t want me comparing him to a sparkly vampire, so I kept that to myself. Some thoughts should remain in your head and never be spoken aloud.

I tackled Nate, our bare skin sliding together again as I managed to kick the ball away from him. It made me distracted, and he was easily able to regain possession of the ball. Okay.Focus, Charlie.

“Watch out, Glover,” I called, coming up behind him and ducking around his body. I swiped my foot out, the toe of mytrainer connecting with the ball for a second before Nate kicked it away from me.

“Call that a tackle? Try harder, Brooks. My grandma could move faster than that.”

“Ref! The opposition is heckling me. Yellow card!”

“That was not heckling,” Nate panted, throwing the words over his shoulder as he sped up, racing across the grass. Putting on my own burst of speed, I came at him at an angle, darting around his body and booting the ball away from us both.

“Fucker!” He grabbed me from behind, his fingers slipping for purchase on my bare skin. The sudden, unexpected shock of contact made me stumble, and then his arms came around me properly, steadying me. “Whoa. Careful.”

“Yeah.” We stood still, both breathing hard. Nate was still holding onto me.

Nate was still holding onto me.

A loud bark made us spring away from each other. A shout followed the bark, and something golden brown streaked past our feet, carrying?—

“My ball.” Nate sighed. “Looks like it’s been punctured now. Guess that’s the end of our game.”

“I’m so sorry!” The dog’s owner came jogging up to us, a lead dangling from their hand. “He’s a bit excitable. Here, let me give you some money for a new ball.”

Nate waved a hand in the air. “Don’t worry about it. These things happen. We probably shouldn’t have been playing football in this part of the park.”

“Even so?—”

“It’s fine.” He gave the dog’s owner a bright smile, and I could physically see them swoon.

“Ugh,” I grunted under my breath. Nate elbowed me, and I slammed my mouth shut.

As soon as the dog and owner had disappeared, Nate spun in my direction. Clasping the slowly deflating ball under his arm, he pulled off his sunglasses and shoved them in his pocket with his free hand. When his gaze was unobscured, he turned to me fully, his brows rising. “What was that all about?”

“You know. Just the effect you have on people. Oh, look, I’m swooning because Nate Glover smiled at me.” I placed my hand to my forehead and pretended to swoon. Nate snorted, shaking his head.

“There’s something seriously wrong with you.”

“Yeah? I’m not the one swooning because you smiled at me.”

He stepped closer. Reaching out, he placed the knuckle of his index finger under my chin, tilting my head up slightly. “Charlie,” he said softly, and then the fucking swoony asshole let his lips curve into a slow, sexy smile.

“Oh, fuck right off,” I managed to choke out, shoving his hand away from me.

“My date is immune to my charms.”

“My date is an annoying dickhead.”

“My date is a bastard who likes to insult me.”

---