Page 11 of Playing for Keeps
“Hey,” I say again, softer this time. “I didn’t mean it like that. You deserve someone who actually sees you, Ivy.”
And hell, maybe it’s hitting me that I hadn’t. Not really. Not until tonight.
CHAPTER FOUR
Ivy
I’m relieved when the conversation drifts away from my love life, or lack of, and the rest of the evening passes in a blur of ridiculously expensive champagne and nonstop conversation. It’s funny; I’ve known Wyatt for most of my life, but we’ve nevertalked a lot. We’ve exchanged pleasantries at his parents’ house or when we’ve run into each other on nights out in Eden, but that’s as far as it’s gone.
Tonight feels different. He asks about my job and my family, genuinely interested, raising an eyebrow when I tell him I work in real estate. I guess Ash never brought it up, not that she would. There’s no reason I’d come up in conversation between them. Real estate wasn’t a lifelong dream or anything, more something I stumbled into. But I love it, and I’m good at it. I’ve just gone solo, and although that’s scary as hell, I’m confident I can make it work.
Wyatt asks more about me than I ask about him. I already know a lot through Ash, but the one part of his life I’m mostly clueless about is his football career. What I said to Ricky earlier was true. I’m not a fan, mainly because I’ve never taken the time to understand it. Still, the way Wyatt lights up when he talks about it pulls me in. I can tell how much it means to him, and that kind of passion is hard to ignore.
“You should come along with Ben and Ash when the season starts,” Wyatt says. “I promised them tickets when I found out Ben was a Cardinals fan. I know Taylor wants to come again. I can get you all a loft, like last time.”
I grin. “Okay, sure. I won’t have a clue what’s happening, but I’m in.”
“I’ve got just over a month before pre-season to fix that. We’ll watch some games together. I’ll teach you the basics.”
I smile at him, loving how his face lights up when he talks about football. It makes me wish I was that passionate about something. I like my job, but it’s not quite the same.
“What?” he asks, returning my smile.
I shake my head. “I like hearing you talk about football. I might have no idea what it all means, but you clearly live for it.”
He shrugs. “It’s been my whole world since high school. I know how lucky that makes me, to wake up every day and get paid a ridiculous amount of money to do what I enjoy. I try not to take that for granted.” He drags his hand through his hair. “I’ve seen some guys lose it all. It’s easy to spiral into addiction when you’re young and suddenly have more money than you know what to do with. It’s one of the reasons I come home as often as I can. Being there grounds me.”
I nod. “I get that. I’m guessing your brothers and Ash don’t roll out the red carpet when you’re back in Hope Creek,” I tease.
He laughs. “No, they definitely don’t! My parents either. Can you believe I have to make my own bed and do my own laundry when I come home?”
“Shocking,” I tell him with a grin.
His eyes sparkle with amusement. “I know, right. Don’t they know I’m a big deal?”
Just then, the server approaches the table. “Sir, the bar will be closing in ten minutes.”
He smiles at her. “Thanks. Can I grab the check, please?”
She nods and walks away.
“Wait, closing?” I fumble in my purse for my phone. When I see the time, my eyes widen. “It’s almost midnight. We’ve been here for nearly four hours.”
“Time flies when you’re having fun,” he says with a wink.
Before I can reply, the server appears with the check.
“Let’s split it,” I tell him, conscious of how much I’ve drunk.
He shakes his head. “Not a chance.”
He’s tapped his card on the payment machine before I can even object.
“Wyatt,” I chastise. “Drinks are on me next time, then, okay?”
He grins. “We’ll see.”
Once we’re on the sidewalk, the fresh air hits me, and I realize just how much I’ve had to drink. As nice as the champagne was, I’m definitely not used to drinking it, especially on an empty stomach.
