Chapter 19
Kelsie
“So…you and Mac, huh?” Hendy asks me as we leave our team huddle and position ourselves at the line of scrimmage to wait for the snap. He’d seen us show up at the house earlier when Hayes carried me in over his shoulder, his hand on my ass.
I’d not always been a fan of public displays of affection from other couples, especially when they get to the point where they should get a room, but I kind of liked the way Hayes kept his hands on me and made it very obvious we were together. We hadn’t officially said anything to anyone about our relationship, but I certainly got the eyeballs from Grace and Lucy when they saw us.
I lift a shoulder noncommittally and play coy in response to his question. “Maybe.”
He bumps his shoulder against mine, a frown marring his normally perfect face. “I thought you said you’d never date a football player.”
I bend over at the waist and take my spot facing my opponent, Lucy, who is trying her best to look tough and ready to fight. Hendy readies himself next to me and I chuckle.
“That was just my way of telling you I didn’t want to date you.”
Hendy scoffs and glances at me, my statement catching him off-guard so when the ball is snapped from Killer, he fumbles the ball in his hands. It leaves just enough room for our opponents to get the upper hand.
EJ rushes over the makeshift line in the back yard of the house and moves in straight toward Hendy. Killer tries to block him, but is pushed off-balance when Grace tries to tackle him in a hug, which is comical because she’s maybe five foot two and barely 110 pounds and Killian is a giant. But her distraction does the trick and Emmett finds his target, leaping around me and grabbing for Hendy’s flag hanging from his track pants.
“Yaaas!” EJ shouts as he grabs the ball from Hendy’s hands and lifts it up in the air, doing a goofy, uncoordinated dance of victory. Lucy runs up to him and throws her arms around his waist.
“Killer!” Hendy grouses, shoving his buddy in the shoulder with his palm. “Do you call that protection? I can’t imagine what you would’ve done if Gracie had flashed you her boobs.”
Killer grins and then looks down at Grace smiling up at him. He waggles his eyebrows at the suggestion. “Not a bad idea, Soda Pop. Next time…”
Grace slaps him on the chest with a huff. “My boobs are only for you in private.”
“Timeout!” Killian announces, grabbing Grace’s wrist to pull her toward the house. “My girl just said she’d show me her boobs…gotta go!”
A chorus of chuckles and ‘boos’ go up as we watch Killer and Grace stride toward the back door of the house. When I turn my head, I see Hayes watching me, a dark look in his eyes. I know what that expression means. I cock an eyebrow and shake my head, mouthing the word, “Later.”
Our teams disperse at the call for timeout as Killer and Grace leave and I head to the deck chairs on the back patio where there’s a fire blazing in the pit. This winter has been a mild one with very little snow, but there is a chill in the late afternoon air.
I shiver and cross my arms, watching the flames as they fan out in the breeze, sparking and sizzling, when I feel an arm around my shoulder.
“You cold?” Hayes asks and I lean into the warmth of his body, turning my face to bury my nose in his sweatshirt. I inhale a deep breath, my body stirring from his musky and spicy scent.
I unfold my arms and wrap them around his waist. He feels so good. This feels so good between us.
Now that we’ve started to share a little bit more about each other’s lives and what led us here, I realize that a weight has been lifted from my heart. I guess Lucy and Grace know what they’re talking about when it comes to letting things go and learning to forgive. Maybe one or both of them should change majors and go into psychology because they nailed it.
I’m about to suggest to Hayes that we take off and follow in Killian and Grace’s footsteps when Emmett, Lucy, and Hendy join us around the fire.
Lucy gives me a look that clearly shows both her interest in this new development and her displeasure that I’ve kept this secret from her and hadn’t mentioned anything before now.
She wiggles her pointer finger at Hayes and my joined bodies. “Okay, spill the tea. What’s going on here? I thought you had a very strong dislike for him.”
I pull back from Hayes’s embrace, lifting my gaze to him before turning it back on Lucy.
“Maybe I did…but he’s grown on me. The short version is we’ve been fucking,” I say, waiting for Hayes to argue this point. Right on cue, he snorts and adds his commentary.
“We’re dating.” He squeezes my arm and tucks me in close again. I laugh at his expected response, but gaze up at him appreciatively. Hayes tips his head down and we lock eyes. His tell me he wants more, but I’m not sure if I’m ready for that just yet. Then Hayes turns back to Lucy. “It’s new. We’re picking up where we left off in Paris.”
Hendy coughs. “What happened to the hockey player, Kels?”
I know Hendy’s not being a dick by asking the question, but Hayes doesn’t know that. I feel him stiffen in my arms and I try to ease his jealousy by rubbing a hand down his back.
“Catch up, Henderson. That’s yesterday’s news. I’m not the one with a revolving door like some people I know.”
Hendy drops the subject with a grunt, knowing I’m referring to him and his conquests. We love to tease him about his girl du jour. Someday he’ll find the girl who will make him fall head over heels for her. Maybe.
Lucy rolls her hoodie sleeve up to look at her watch. “It’s been fifteen minutes. I think we should call it a game because I don’t think there’s a snowball’s chance in hell Killer and Grace are making another appearance tonight.”
“That’s my boy,” Emmett chuckles and then reaches for Lucy’s hand, sliding his fingers through hers. “We should get going too. I have to check on my grandma and make sure she’s okay.”
Lucy nods and then leans in toward me, giving me a side hug goodbye. “You better call me later.”
I hug her back. “I will. Promise.”
Hendy glances at Hayes and me, grimaces at what he sees. “Nah…you guys can’t ditch me too.”
Hayes shrugs. “Sorry, bro. But it was fun. Thanks for asking us to play.”
“Cheer up, Hendy,” I say, patting him on the shoulder. “I’m sure your contacts are filled with girls who will gladly come keep your lonely ass company. And I bet they won’t mind if you tackle them either.”
Hayes laughs and Hendy grumbles, fishing out his phone from his pocket and flipping through his contacts list. “Yeah, I guess. But I like hanging out with you guys. Are you sure you can’t stay for another beer? I’ll buy the pizza.”
Hayes shakes his head and thumps his team captain on the back. “Next time, man. I’ll see you tomorrow for our scrimmage.”
As we head out the side yard through the gate, hand in hand toward our own house, I nestle into Hayes’s arm, one hand clasped over his bicep.
“You passed up free pizza for me. Wow. I feel pretty special.” My tone is teasing, but Hayes stops us in the middle of the sidewalk, holding my chin in his fingers.
“You are special, Kelsie. And for the record, we are dating.”
He leans down and kisses my forehead, leaving me with a smile on my face the entire walk home.