Page 46 of Not that Impressed
I set the sparkling water down on the dining room table and turn to her. It’s not a surprise that Rob Bennet talks about his players. He’s one of the reasons that playing for the Pumas is on a lot of guys’ wish lists. He boasts about his players all the time, and maybe it’s just easier for people to hear his praise given that his TV show gives him a big audience, but it still feels good. My teammates love it when Mr. Bennet gives someone a shout out on the show.
“That’s my goal this year. Best of the best.”
“Easy peasy.” She shrugs. She takes in the wide-open space of the main rooms of my apartment. The living area is to the left, with big couches meant for comfort and a ninety-eight-inch flat screen that takes up most of the far wall. She whistles lowly.
I let out a low chuckle, kind of embarrassed. “I’m serious about watching film and getting the most out of it.”
She turns to me with a grin. “I bet. I know from Charlie that this screen is also used frequently for video games.”
“Back before he spent all his time with Janelle.”
Ellie walks toward the kitchen, which is on the small side considering the size of the space in general. I don’t need much. She opens the freezer and puts the sorbet inside.
“So far so good,” she says, eyeing me and biting her lip. Her expression is amused with a hint of nervousness.
I walk over to her and put both hands gently on her shoulders. “Don’t be worried.” She lets out a long breath. “I want you to have fun. Don’t be waiting for the worst-case scenario.”
She moves her hands to my waist, like she needs to steady herself. “We don’t have a great track record,” she points out.
“Bad assumptions.”
“What’s for dinner?” She turns around to face the counters and stove behind her, eyeing the pots and pans.
“Steak and fries,” I say. “I make one dish fit for company and that’s it. But the fries are homemade and Charlie loves them. I’m feeling confident.” She tilts her head at me. “What?” I ask.
“You made a joke.”
I let out a laugh. “I’ve been known to make the rare one.”
“Not around me.” She raises an eyebrow.
“Too busy defending myself.” I head for the fridge and grab the steaks. She scoffs behind me, which makes me smile. “I’m going to throw these on the grill while the fries finish up in the oven.” I head for my balcony, which spans the length of the apartment and was the biggest reason I wanted this unit. I have some outdoor exercise equipment on the far side, closer to the living room end, because I enjoy being outside when I can and using my exercise bike in the evenings after games sometimes helps clear my head enough to fall asleep. On this end, where we emerge from the kitchen, is my grill and a patio table and chairs, which are set for dinner tonight.
“You don’t mind eating outside?” I ask.
She settles in one of the chairs to watch me. “Nope,” she murmurs and shakes her head. The night has cooled slightly, though the heat of the early October day still lingers.
We’re quiet as I start up the grill and throw the steaks on, and I don’t interrupt the silence for a moment. It’s good for both of us not to try to fill the space, and I admit that I crave this heated stillness with her. I want to recapture the moments from the dance floor last week where we couldn’t resist each other for another second. I turn from the grill and watch her a moment asshe stares out at the lights from nearby buildings and the traffic below.
She sweeps her hair over one shoulder, exposing her neck and jawline in a way that makes me want to cross the short distance between us and scoop her into my arms. Kiss that jawline and run my lips down her skin.
“I don’t know why I reacted so badly that night at Charlie’s,” she says, surprising me from my admiration of her profile. “I feel like I set myself up for hating you.”
“You’ve already apologized,” I point out.
“I know.” She shrugs. “I was just thinking about how we really got off on the wrong foot.”
“Well, I shouldn’t have repeated something I read on the internet so flippantly. Believe me, I know better than that.”
“Yeah.” She gives me a rueful smile. “I should’ve taken a beat. People say that stuff about me all the time.”
“I don’t want to be those people. Ever. Thank you for reminding me.”
“Especially the part where I reminded you in front of all your friends about how everyone said you slept with Linda?” She bites her lips together, and I think I’m paying way too much attention to that part of her face for how I’m noticing everything about them.
I shrug, like it wasn’t a big deal. “It’s fine.”
“How about the time I believed a slimeball like Grayson Hollis over you?” She puts her elbows on the table and rests her head in her hands, leaning over the table toward me.
