Page 34 of Jilted Jock
“It was?”
“We started dating when I was still in Sydney. The time difference was killer. We were lucky to talk on the phone most days.”
“How did you meet?”
With a goofy grin on his face, he said, “She messaged me.”
“Like slid into your DMs with some sort of flirty message or…” My eyes widened. “A sexy picture?”
“No.” He shook his head. “Nothing like that. She messaged me after a game. A brutal loss against New Zealand. She told me—” He paused and looked at me with a smile that had me hanging on his every word. “That I’d played too wide and then proceeded to give me tips on playing right midfield. God, she was ballsy.”
His smile fell slowly and then as if he’d caught himself reliving a happy memory, he straightened. “Anyway, I guess it should have been a sign to run away instead of to her, but I was just so damn fascinated. Usually after a loss, girls wanted to make me feel better by telling me how great I was or offering to make me forget about the game, and she was just… well she was nothing I expected.”
“What do you mean it should have been a sign?”
“I wasn’t good enough for her from the very start.”
“Finn, I—”
He winced. “Please don’t give me one of those bullshit lines about how I’m better off or that everything happens for a reason.”
“What I was going to say is that I get it – why you fell for her. She challenged you and you, Finn McCash, are not used to being challenged off the field. But also, those cheesy lines are right – you’re better off.”
“And everything happens for a reason?”
“I’m not sure I believe that one myself.”
“You’re different than I expected.” Finn stood and went to the stove to check on the food.
“Oh?”
“Yeah.” He shrugged one shoulder. “You wouldn’t do a guy a solid and watch his cat for a night or two, I assumed you were judgmental and uptight.”
“Kitty needed you.”
“Yes, yes, I know. You’re a fan of my cat. Tell me, are you a fan of mine yet?”
“You’re growing on me.”
The dimple in his cheek popped out.
After we ate dinner, I forced Finn to let me clean up to thank him for the delicious meal.
“Do you want to watch a movie or something?” I asked as I loaded the dishwasher.
“Oh, actually, I can’t.”
“Hot date?” I joked.
He smiled awkwardly. “Just drinks.”
I hadn’t realized how much fun I was having with him until I pictured myself sitting in front of the TV alone all night. Having someone at home to talk to in the evenings was nice.
“I should probably work a little anyway. I’m taking off Friday to go to New York for an interview and I need to make sure the office runs as smoothly as when I’m there. Or at least seventy-five percent as smooth. Don’t want them to have it too easy or they’ll forget how much they need me.”
“I doubt very much that they don’t already know that.”
“Thank you.” I appreciated the compliment even if there was no way he could know if it were true.
