Page 37 of The Game

His words fill me with joy. “Understood.” I grab his hand. “Let’s go. You get dressed, and I’ll clean up the room. I don’t want you to be late.”

“Dani, you’re perfect.” He places his arm around my shoulders and hugs me to his chest. “I’ve spent my entire life looking for someone who would support what the ‘real life’ of a football player is – not the glitz and glamour.”

“You’re lucky you found me then.” I push on the metal bar and depress the latch.

“Yes, I am.” He leans down and presses his lips over mine.

Damn, I’m falling ass over tits in love with him.

Chapter Twenty

Gunner

“Man, you’re loose today.” Tony jogs toward me with the football under his arm. “You’re usually keyed up the day before a game. What gives?”

I press my lips together and shake my head. “Nothing.” Loose lips sink ships around this place. If I breathe a word about mine and Dani’s relationship, I’ll never hear the end of it – especially from Tony. He’ll get a big fucking head and take all the credit. I’m not about to give him credit for Dani being in my life. That’s all me.

“Bullshit.” The lines around his eyes crinkle. “What did you do last night?”

“Went to my cousin’s wedding. Just a bunch of family.” I grab the ball out of the crook of his arm. “Run a slant pattern.”

“Humph.” He wrinkles his nose like he smells something nasty, and then takes off at a dead run down the field. When he reaches the twenty-yard line, he cuts to his left.

I launch the ball to the exact hashmark he’s going to be at when he lifts his right hand in the air. The sound of his glove and the ball colliding is audible even from thirty yards away.

Tony drags the ball into his chest, sprints down the field, and across the endzone. Once he breaks the plane, he spikes the ball and does a front flip in front of the goalpost.

“Boo. Hiss,” Jeremiah says as he jogs from the tunnel. “He’s such a showboat.”

“Absolutely.” I shake my head, and we wait for Tony to rejoin us.

“You guys want to come over tonight?” Tony tosses the football in my direction, and I catch it with one hand.

“Sure.” Jeremiah nods. “I’ve got nothing going on. Jenna cooking?”

“I can guarantee you I’m not, so we’ve got to hope she does. Or I can grab carryout.”

“Perfect.” Jeremiah slings his arm over my shoulders. “What time do you want me to pick you up?”

What should I say? I don’t want to appear like I’m being secretive. “I can’t.”

They both gawk at me. “Why?” Jeremiah asks.

“I’ve got something going on.” My face heats, and I fight the urge to groan. Why don’t I make it vaguer, which spells obvious to these two bloodhounds?

Jeremiah drops his arm to his side and tilts his chin out. “Are you getting laid?”

“No.” I roll my eyes. There’s still a slim chance I can get out of this alive.

Tony crosses his arms. “I don’t believe you. You never skip out on our before game dinner. Ever. Even when Veronica’s sick and you’re babysitting Joselyn. You bring her with you. You’re getting some. Somewhere. Who is she?”

“No one.” Fuck. I didn’t deny it.

“Oh, I think she’s someone,” Tony smirks. “I wonder what Dani was doing last night. Did she happen to go to a wedding?” He tips his head toward the tunnel. “Jeremiah, go inside and see if Dani’s in the gym. We’ll ask her.”

“I’m on it.” Jeremiah grins. “I can’t wait to hear what she has to say.”

“Assholes.” I glare at them. “Leave her alone.” When I tuck the ball under my arm, I’m slightly surprised it doesn’t explode as I envision Tony’s head in between my bicep and ribs.

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