Page 42 of Let It Be Me
“I’m out.” I say to the guys after I roughly towel dry myhair. Tossing the towel into the hamper, I sling my duffel bag over my shoulder and make my way to the box seats.
Look, I’m nervous. I know I shouldn’t be. I’m just going to meet my fake girlfriend who’s been hanging out with my parents for the last few hours.Shit!I speed walk down the hall and head towards the elevator. I mash the button several times, even knowing that it won’t get here faster. As soon as the car lands and opens, I press the number ‘3’ and close the doors. My fingers tap in rapid succession against my thigh as the car swiftly takes me to the top floor.
I exit to the right and follow the murmur of animated conversation and muffled laughter until I reach the family box. I was hoping that most of the other WAGS would be gone, but it seems they’re all waiting around as well.
“Honey,” I hear a familiar voice callout. I see Momma waving her hand and make my way to them. My steps falter when I see Sarah donned in the shirt I purchased for her with thigh high black boots and a three-inch heel.
“Good game, Riley,” Pops says with a kiss to the top of my head.
“Thanks, Pops. Hi, Momma.” I say, and greet her with a kiss to her cheek.
“The team is looking great,” Momma tells me when she steps back. Sarah points to the chair behind her and I set my duffel next to her purse.
I nod in agreement. “We have some things to work on. But overall I think this is going to be a good season.” I turn to the spitfire next to me and focus on the twinkle in her eyes. “Hi, baby.”
A flush comes to her cheeks as she meets my gaze. “Hi.”
I snort and wrap my arm around her shoulders. My lips fall to her temple and my heart slows down with her back in my arms. I angle my head to speak low into her ear. “Youlook hot as hell. And the boots? God damn, baby. I almost had to walk back out into the hallway.”
I hear her breath hitch and she wraps an arm around my waist and slides her free hand into the front pocket of my hoodie. A throat clearing pulls us out of our small bubble.
“Sorry,” I say, facing my parents. “I see you three have already met.” I slide my hand into my hoodie pocket and hook a finger around one of Sarah’s.
“Mm hmm. Your Momma showed me all sorts of pictures of you as a kid.” Sarah speaks up and traces the palm of my hand with her fingers sending shivers down my spine.
I narrow my eyes at her and turn my attention to my parents who are wearing twin amused faces. “Did you two see Mischa and the kids?”
“Yes. We’re having them over for dinner tonight. So we should probably head out soon,” Momma looks at Pops and I know she’s silently warning him that they can’t stay for more than five minutes. Pops is a certified yapper once he gets warmed up.
He lets out a sigh. “Momma’s right. Sarah, it was so lovely meeting you,” he tells her.
She untangles herself from my embrace and moves to hug him. “It was so amazing to meet you, Dean.”
“Get this boy out of his shell, would you?”
“Oh, please. I can never get him to stop talking,” Sarah retorts.
Pops whispers something to her that has her looking at me in confusion. Her smile dims just slightly as she nods her head and Pops kisses her on the cheek.
Sarah steps over to Momma. “Cassie, you are an actual doll.”
“Come over to the house and we’ll bake one day.”
“You’ve got yourself a deal,” Sarah says, and moves in to hug Momma.
I’m a pool of emotion that I’m not sure which to pick out. Sarah and my parents bonding that fast during the game is not something I expected. Maybe I should have let my parents know that the relationship I’m in is fake. Because knowing them, even if I introduced her as a friend, they’d still play matchmaker. My parents finally say goodbye to me and after an extended goodbye to a few of the other parents in the box, they’re finally out of the door.
“I thought you were nervous to meet them?”
Sarah wraps her arms back around my waist like it’s the most natural thing in the world for her to do. And to the others still lingering in the family box, it is. “I was. First off, you should’ve shown me a picture of your parents so I knew what they looked like.”
“I thought about that as we were warming up. And by then it was too late,” I start and move a piece of hair out of her face and tuck it behind her ear. “But it seems they found you regardless.”
“They did and I like them a lot. Which scares me,” she admits and rests her chin on my chest.
“It will be fine.” I reassure her and kiss her on the tip of her nose. I look around the box and realize it’s mostly cleared out. “Let’s get out of here.”
I move around her and grab my duffel and hand Sarah her purse.
