Page 13 of Fumbled Love

Chad followed my gaze as we swayed back and forth. “What do you mean?”

“None of these people know what it’s like to be homeless or hungry, yet they hold these fancy functions to flaunt their money around.” I grimaced once I realized how judgmental I sounded. “Sorry, that wasn’t very polite. I’m sure they’re nice people. It just seems like it would be easier to write a check instead of doing all this.”

He laughed. “I’ve always loved your honesty.” He twirled me around in a circle and pulled me back into his arms. A strand of hair came loose from my bobby pin and he tucked it back behind my ear. Maybe I was just being sensitive, but I could feel his thumb skimming along my neck. It was so brief I thought I imagined it.

“I’m glad someone does,” I said, trying to relax and push aside that uneasy feeling that kept creeping in. Either Taylor was right, or I was losing my mind because her comment from earlier popped up in my head for the hundredth time tonight.

“By the way, you look beautiful. Red is definitely your color.” He held me tight and moved us across the crowded dance floor. The tiny hairs on the back of my neck rose. It was an innocent compliment, but it didn’t feel that way.

I laughed nervously and took a step back. “You have to say that, because I’m your friend.”

“Friend.” He cleared his throat and looked away. “Right.”

My stomach somersaulted, hoping and praying that I was misreading things. I looked over at Brenna, who was watching us closely. Why couldn’t Chad would show an interest in her? Maybe he just needed a little nudge in the right direction.

“I’m going to make a phone call.” I patted his chest and started backing away. “Why don’t you mingle a bit? Maybe ask Brenna to dance.”

His smile fell, and he nodded his head. “Okay, sure.”

I left him on the dance floor and walked out of the room, trying to ignore the look of disappointment on his face.

Maybe Taylor was right after all. There was a slight chance my friend had feelings for me.

CHAPTER5

MAVERICK

I was goingthrough my laundry when my eyebrows shot up to my hairline. I’d been on the road, traveling with the team for the last two weeks, so this was the first chance I’d had to get settled. My mouth kicked up in a smile while staring at the scrap of lace at my fingertips. I forgot about stuffing these in my suitcase, but I sure as hell didn’t forget about the woman who left them behind in my hotel room.

I looked for her in every crowd and searched for her name on social media, which was pointless because I didn’t even know her last name. I gave every woman with blond hair a second glance that passed me by. It was official, I had completely lost my mind.

“Dude, what the fuck is that?” My buddy JP shot me a look like I was crazy. JP was my closest friend on the team and the best wide receiver in the NFL.

“None of your business.” I stuffed the panties in the bottom of the laundry basket, hoping he would just let it go. I looked down and willed my hard-on to disappear.

“Did you hook up with someone in Dallas or Chicago and I didn’t know about it?”

The two of us roomed together while we traveled with the team for the past two weeks. I might not have been on the active player roster, but I still needed to attend practices, meetings, and cheer my guys on from the sidelines.

“I didn’t hook up with anyone on the road,” I said, wincing as my knee stiffened. The weather was affecting my joints. Ever since they put my knee back together with pins and needles, my leg would flare up whenever it rained. Sitting on a plane for five hours with limited mobility didn’t help either.

Playing in the NFL, I learned how to push past the pain, but sometimes I wondered if I’d reached my limit.

“Mav,” he gave me a skeptical eyebrow, “we’ve been friends for a long time. Either you have a fetish with women’s underwear that I don’t know about, or you’re into drag and ashamed to admit it.”

“Fuck off.” I laughed. “They belong to the woman I met in New York.”

As one of my best friends, I shared a few details with him about that night. He knew me better than anybody and noticed I’d been acting a little strange. I’ve had my share of one-night stands back in the day, but this encounter with Ivy felt different.

He arched a brow. “The blonde you brought back to your hotel?”

I didn’t bother denying it. “That’s the one.”

“I know you said she wasn’t your usual type, but you wouldn’t be carrying around her underwear if you didn’t really like her.”

“Never said I didn’t like her.”

“You know what I mean.”

---