Page 44 of It Happened on a Sunday
It infuriates me, makes me want to stand in front of her next stage and make damn sure no one so much as breathes wrong in her direction.
Pissed off, heartsick, and more worried than I want to admit, I click another video. This one is titled Sloane Holds Sly’s Jersey <3 <3 <3.
I learned my lesson about how loud the audience could get at the concert here in Austin, so I have the volume turned down, which means I’m not distracted by the screams as she slides my jersey over her head and prances around the stage for a few seconds. She looks good in it. Not just sexy—though yeah, that, too—but strong. Fierce. Like she’s not afraid of being seen.
Despite all the chaos swirling around us, warmth blossoms in my chest and a fluttering kicks up in my stomach. I don’t care ifit’s corny, there’s something about seeing her holding my jersey that makes me feel…claimed. Not in a caveman—or in this case, cavewoman—sort of way. More like she picked me. And whether it was part of the act or not, I want to be someone who’s worthy of that choice.
Vivian called this morning to say Sloane agreed to go on one date with me. I should be thrilled, but it’s not a real date—it’s a one-and-done, in-front-of-the-paps kind of thing.
Not exactly what I’d imagined when I felt the connection between us at her concert.
Then again, she probably didn’t anticipate her concert getting hijacked by a bunch of “our” fans, either. So if this is the way she wants to handle it, I’ll play along. I owe her that much—and a hell of a lot more.
Still, I can’t help but think about how easy it would be to fall for her.
The way she teases me. The way she sniffs calla lilies like she’s trying to find a hidden meaning in their petals. The way she looked at me in her dressing room, like she felt the connection between us.
I really like this woman. More than I should. And I think we really could be good together…if the rest of the world would just butt the hell out.
But judging by the number of videos uploaded in the past twenty-four hours alone, that’s not going to happen anytime soon.
I start to click another, partly because I’m still furious she was almost hurt and partly because I just want to watch her. From every angle. In every moment.
It’s not rational, but she’s gotten under my skin in all the best ways.
Before I can click through, I get a text from Vivian. Sloane’s terms for the date are in. The list is long enough she forwarded itas an email.
What the ever-loving hell?
I already agreed to go out with her and put on a show for the paparazzi. What else can she want?
But I know the answer even as I ask the question. She wants control. Safety. Boundaries. And she deserves all that and more.
So I grit my teeth and open the email, scanning for anything I can’t live with. But before I get far, the team’s PR guy walks in. He’s in a suit with a blue tie, same as me. But unlike me, he looks like he actually belongs in the thing.
“You sure you’re ready for this?” he asks. He’s not talking about football.
“Born ready,” I reply.
“Really?” He gives me a look. “You just agreed to go on a date with one of the most talked-about pop stars in the world. What are you going to tell the press when they ask?”
“I was going to go with the ole ‘No comment.’” At least that way, I can’t do any more damage.
He laughs, then stops when he sees I’m not joking.
“Oh, wait. You’re serious.”
I shrug.
“Yeah, that’s not gonna fly,” he says. “Did you see her concert last night?”
“Clips.”
“She promised an arena full of people she’d take a bite out of you. Then tell them all about it.” The fact that he says it with a straight face makes my own lips twitch. “If you think any reporter you talk to between now and then is going to be asking about anything else, you’re more naive than I took you for.”
“I know they’re going to ask about it. That doesn’t mean I need to answer. I can keep personal things personal.”
“Personal?” The look he gives me now is just plain disbelieving. “After blasting your business on the jumbotron?”He’s got methere…“Even if you did get away with that answer, the follow-up question is going to be: ‘Does it bother you that Sloane obviously doesn’t have the same respect for you and your relationship?’”
