Page 28 of My Secret Bandit

Me: Ugh… shit. Okay. After dinner we went back to my house, we talked until like one in the morning and eventually, we wound up in bed.

Sierra: YOU SLEPT TOGETHER!!!

Me: As in ONLY slept. Well, slept and cuddled. He was still sleeping when I left, so I gave him one of my spares to lock the door when he left.

Sierra: And that’s why you were late this morning. I knew it was something. You sneaky little thing! I’m sorry this train got so derailed. What’s the problem?

Me: I don’t know what I’m doing! I have feelings for him, Sierra. Strong feelings. How is this possible after one date? It’s crazy, right? I’ve gone crazy. He wants me to be at his place when he gets home tonight. What do I do?

Sierra: Easy. Be there when he gets home. Sometimes your heart moves faster than your head can handle. That doesn’t make it wrong or any less real. It definitely doesn’t make you crazy. Don’t let fear keep you from enjoying yourself and even falling in love if it comes to that. Don’t let fear keep you from what you deserve and you, Jamie Flynn, deserve all the love.

Me: Thank you.

Sierra: Anytime, my love. Sierra Malone, therapist extraordinaire and all around greatest best friend ever, always has appointments available for you. Remember. Be brave. And send me all the details! Including nudes!

Me: Yeah… that’s not happening.

Sierra: Wait. The brave, the deets, or the nudes?

Me: No nudes, Sierra!! Ever!

Sierra: You’re really no fun, but I still love you.

I didn’t pay attention to practice. Too many thoughts ran wild through my head. Sierra said not to be afraid to love. Is that what this was? It couldn’t be, not this fast.

Not that I had much experience on the subject to know for sure. In my twenty-five years, I’d never had a real relationship. Never given anyone the chance to get too close. Always afraid of getting hurt or left behind. Always trying to shield my heart from further damage.

As usual, Sierra was right. I deserved to be loved. The correct way, and everything Mateo did or said so far showed he was more than capable of doing that. He had manners and morals; his five-date rule that told me he committed to getting to know someone before jumping into bed with them. He valued his career and the opportunities that came with it. He adored his family. And the weight of that shield I’ve carried forever felt basically nonexistent now.

“Jameson.” His voice brought me out of my daze. “You okay? You’ve been staring off into space all practice.”

Alone on the field, he stood at the bottom of the stairs. His helmet was tossed to the side and a hand rested on his hip, waiting for me to come back to reality.

“I’m all right. Just daydreaming, I guess.” I gave him a smile I hoped would calm the worry pinching his brows together.

“Daydreaming, huh? About what?” His brows bounced with his suggestive stare.

Even with the nervous flutter in my belly, I chuckled as I made my way down to him. “I’d never do anything that would have you breaking promises.” Once I reached him, I gave him a boop on his nose, causing him to stifle his own chuckle by poking out his lip in a pout.

He gave in with a slight shrug of his shoulders. Leaning in, the hum of his words set my skin on fire. “You’re right. The wait’ll make being inside you so much better.”

“Mateo.” I stepped away, blushing hard, and scanning the field to make sure we were alone.

“Speaking of, when do you want to have our second date?”

“I was thinking tonight.” I smiled, fanning my lashes at him. “Figured I’d make use of this key.”

“Sounds like you’ve decided to keep it.” He drug our hips together to grip the pocket still housing the key. “Since I accidentally stayed over last night, you wanna accidentally stay with me tonight?”

“If it’s planned, can it really be an accident?”

“Guess not. You wanna purposefully share my bed instead?” His lips found the sensitive spot beneath my ear and laid a gentle kiss there while I nodded against him.

“I hoped you would.” He grinned, “I need to go. We’re watching film today and if Coach notices I’m missing, I’ll run suicides ’til I can’t see straight. Then I’ll be no good to you later.” He placed a single, soft kiss on my lips before jogging off the field.

PullinguptoMateo’shouse for the first time left me breathless. The house matched its owner. Absolutely stunning. A dark gray roof topped white brick. French doors made almost entirely of textured glass welcomed me at the landing of wide set steps edged with manicured bushes.

Inside, the familiar sandalwood scent lingered. I took a deep breath, letting it fill me.

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