Page 76 of How He Got the Girl
Mallory looks up at me, impressed. “I’m surprised you know anything about your team’s rival.”
“I like following baseball. Tennessee fans go hard for their teams in all sports, and I like knowing what I’m talking about.”
“Wasn’t it at a Fireflies game last year where all the fans threw so much food on the field after they thought the ump made a bad call that they had to postpone the game?”
Yes, yes, it was. There’s no way I’m telling her I was at that game, even if I didn’t participate in littering on the field. “I said we go hard, not that we’re perfect.”
She laughs. “Why are they even called the Fireflies, anyway? Because they’re easy to squash?”
“Now you’re just trying to pick a fight.” I reach over and squeeze her side. “They named them the Knoxville Fireflies because of a synchronous firefly event that happens in Great Smoky Mountains National Park every year. It’s legit. There’s even a lottery to get a ticket to see it. I’ve only been once, but it was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. I’ll have to take you sometime.”
“I’d like that.” She leans her head on my arm. “How did we even get on this topic?”
I don’t care what we’re talking about. We could be talking about why the sky is blue, or she could be telling me all her Taylor Swift Easter egg theories, and I’d be happy just to be talking to her.
I hear the sound of an approaching car and turn my head to the left, spotting one coming quickly and driving too close to the curb for comfort. Out of pure instinct, I gently push Mallory to the side, closer to the snow-covered grass of people’s front yards.
I was more concerned about how close the car was to the curb—that if they hit any ice, they might jump the curb and hit us. But it seems I should’ve been more worried about the slush lining the road. Because while Mallory is out of the way, I’m directly in the splash zone.
The car drives past, spraying the muddy snow along the side of the road directly at me. I don’t have enough timeto react and jump out of the way myself, so I spread my arms wide, welcoming the gross spray of slush and doing my best to block any of it from hitting Mallory.
My coat and shirt are instantly soaked. A full-body shiver wracks through my body. The temperature didn’t feel that cold before, but it’s freezing now.
I turn to check on Mallory. Her eyes widen as they move up and down my body. Thankfully, she seems unscathed from the slushy spray. She steps toward me, her mouth agape and hands out in front of her like she wants to help me but doesn’t know what to do. “We should get you home so you can put on some dry clothes.”
I nod, unable to speak through my chattering teeth.
“Does it feel like it’s getting colder to you?” She shoves her hands in her pockets.
I swallow hard, trying to stop my shivering long enough to speak clearly. “Maybe, but I’m also freezing for obvious reasons.”
Mallory pulls her phone out and grimaces. “It’s only twenty degrees now.”
Snow begins to fall more steadily around us as we walk the remaining distance back to my rental. The short walk feels like miles in my state.
When we’re finally walking up the driveway, Mallory turns to me. “Where are your keys? I can get the door.”
I gesture to my coat pocket with a shaking finger. She uses her fingertips to pinch the edge of it, pull it open, and grab my key ring.
Mallory opens the door for me, and I immediately feel better stepping into the heated house. “Thanks,” I murmur, shedding the soaked coat and hat and wrinkling my nose. It needs serious dry-cleaning. I’d take off my wet shirt, too, but I’ll wait until I’m alone for that. I drop the jacket by thefront door; I can worry about mopping later, but I don’t want to drip the dirty water through the rental.
“I think a hot shower should help.” I don’t want Mallory to feel kicked out, but I’m not sure she wants to stay while I shower either. Leaving it up to her seems like the best option.
When she doesn’t answer, I glance over and find her eyes focused on my chest. I can feel my shirt clinging to every contour of my muscles, showing them off to her. I’d like to thank my personal trainer for pushing me so hard in our sessions.
The way her eyes devour my torso warms me right up. When she sees that I noticed her staring, her cheeks warm. “Shower. Right. I’ll let you get to that, then.” She laughs awkwardly. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
I nod. “The only casualty was that I looked like a wet rat in front of you.”
She steps closer, looking earnest. “I don’t think you looked like a wet rat.”
“A sad puppy?”
“More like a hot protector.”
My jaw drops at her calling mehot. My gaze lowers to her lips. I want to kiss her so badly. Just not when I smell like the muddy street.And not until she makes the first move, I remind myself. But it’s getting more difficult to keep that promise when she is looking at me likethat.
“I’ll remember that for later, beautiful.” I smile, and her cheeks turn light pink. “Do you want me to walk you out?” I gesture toward my couch. “Or we could eat some food and watch a movie once I no longer smell like dirt?”
