Page 46 of Lucky Baller
“I’m sure you’re tired after the game. It’s fine.”
I open the door for her and wait for her to get settled before closing the door and racing around to my side. On instinct, I place my hand on her thigh as soon as we’re out of the parking lot. “I’m never too tired for you, Tess.” I’ve not really been this open with her. I’ve been reserved these past few weeks, just spending time with her. Showing her it’s not a different womanevery night. Just her. But no more keeping things in. I’m making my move. I don’t care how long it takes to convince her that I’m in this for her.
“Aw, Number Eighteen, you getting soft on me after the big win?” she teases.
“Nah.” I glance over at her. “I’ve always been soft on you.” She’s quiet, so another quick glance shows me she’s staring out the window, and her reflection shows me a smile on her kissable lips.
Pulling into the back entrance of Henry’s, I park next to Case, as Jeremy pulls in next to me. I rush to open Tessa’s door, but she beats me to it. “I was going to get that.”
“I know you’re counting this as number sixteen, but it’s not a date, Landon.”
I stop and reach out, catching her arm, which causes her to stop, as well. She turns to face me, and I step closer. My hands cup her cheeks as I stare into her big green eyes. “Tessa Deaton, will you have dinner with me?” I ask her.
She swallows hard, and the green in her eyes grows even more vibrant. She blinks, and the connection is lost. “We’re already here, you goof.” Her tone is teasing, but I can see it. The insecurity. I don’t know how to show her that she’s all I see. I guess I’m going to have to try harder. “Come on.” She pulls away from my arm and begins to move toward the door. I follow her because, well, I’ll follow Tessa anywhere. Punching in the code, I hold the door open for her, Jeremy, and Autumn.
“The infamous Henry’s,” Jeremy says, taking in the place.
“Remind me to give you the code,” I tell him. “Henry’s cool, and this is team only in this back area and entrance. No fans, no cleat chasers. Just a place for us to hang and feel normal after practice or a game, even during the off-season.”
“That’s amazing,” Autumn speaks up.
“I’ve never been inside, but the food we had a couple of weeks ago was so good,” Tessa declares.
“Henry’s getting a couple of pitchers of beer going,” Case says as we reach the table he snagged us in the back.
Case sits on one end of the table, and Corey sits next to him on the side. Tessa takes the seat next to Corey, leaving the other end for me, and Jeremy and Autumn take the seats across from Tessa and Corey. I’m next to her, but so is he, and he’s sitting closer. I hate this feeling, the one that tells me I could lose her. I’ve spent so much time trying to show her who I am that I could have waited too long and lost her. The thought has fire coursing through my veins. Anger at myself and, although wrong, at Corey for moving in on her. Can’t he see she’s mine? Surely, Case has told him to back off. Henry drops off the beer, and I pour a glass, draining half of it at once.
“You okay?” Tessa leans toward my end of the table.
“Yeah.” I give her a reassuring smile. “What are my chances of converting you to a Cougars fan?” I tease.
“I don’t know.” She pretends to ponder the question. “I feel like I’m a traitor as it is. What if A.J. hears that I’m wearing a Landon Barker jersey?”
“Fuck A.J.,” I say with absolutely no venom in my voice because it makes her smile.
“He’s been my leading man since he was drafted to the Mavs four years ago.”
“Ah, there’s the difference.”
“The difference in what?” she asks, confused.
“He’s just your leading man. I’m more than that.”
“Oh, yeah, and what exactly does ‘more’ stand for?” She’s joking. This is what we do, but things are about to get real.
I lean in close. Her eyes are dancing with humor, I’m sure ready to laugh at whatever it is she thinks I might be about to say. I put joking aside and give her the real. “I want to be morethan just your leading man, Tessa. I want to be your everything.” She sucks in a breath, her eyes locked on mine, so I keep going. “I want to be your leading man, your favorite quarterback, your shoulder to cry on, the first person you call when you’ve had a good or bad day. I want to be your cuddle buddy. I want to be the man to give you all of life’s pleasures.” Her eyes heat, and my cock twitches. “And I want to be there for all the pain, too. Everything, Tessa. I want everything.”
“You folks ready to order?” Henry asks from beside me.
“What are you getting, Tess?” Autumn asks from her spot across the table. She has no idea we just had a moment.
“Uh, Landon, whatever you got me last time is fine,” she says softly.
“This the girl you made stay in the car?” Henry jokes.
“I didn’t want you to steal my girl, Old Man,” I tease. “Henry, this is my Tessa. Tessa, this is Henry, the man who makes this place happen for us.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” Tessa smiles at him.
