Fallon #2
I swallow and give myself a small pep talk before slowly walking toward him. He’s still looking down when I reach the table. “Lloyd?” I quietly ask.
The man looks up.
Oh my god. I was catfished. Not entirely on looks, but in age. This guy can’t be more than twenty-five.
He shakes his head. “I’m not Lloyd,” he smiles, “but I can be if you want, sweetheart. I’m happy to buy you a drink, gorgeous.” He points to the spot across from him in the booth. “Please. Have a seat.”
I wince. “I’m sorry. I’m meeting someone. I thought you were him. Have a good night.”
I scan down the only row I haven’t looked at, and that’s when I see the obviously blue cowboy hat.
As I get closer, I notice the green flannel shirt.
I can’t see anything else other than to know he’s extremely broad and appears to be in great shape from the waist up.
No dadbod on this guy. He’s built more like a linebacker, with muscular arms. I suppose he’s mentioned going to the gym, but this guy looks like he lives there.
When I approach, he lifts his head, and all the air leaves my lungs. Familiar green eyes meet mine. The same ones I still see when I close my eyes at night. He might have a little less facial hair, but it’s him.
“Jett? Wh…wh…” My mouth opens and closes a few times, but words otherwise escape me.
He gives me a sheepish smile as he stands. He’s got the shirt and hat, but this must be a coincidence. I quickly scan the room for someone else wearing a green shirt and a blue hat, but I don’t see anyone who fits the bill. I’m so confused.
He looks down at me. “Hi, Fallon.” He doesn’t look remotely surprised to see me. “I’m really sorry I approached things this way. It started innocently. I just wanted you to get to know me without any preconceived notions. I didn’t expect it to go on this long, but you’ve been kind of busy.”
“Wait. You’re Lloyd? You’ve been Lloyd this whole time?”
At least he has the dignity to look ashamed as he nods. “Yes.”
I quickly run through our night together.
God, it’s been nearly five months. It’s hard to remember every little thing.
He knew about my dating app. Of course I remember that.
I know we filled in some of the information together.
Did he use the information he learned that night to trick me?
Why would he do that? My shock quickly morphs into hurt and anger.
The air becomes stifling. I’m suddenly finding it hard to breathe. I need to get out of here and away from him.
I turn to leave, but he grabs my wrist. My traitorous body ignites from his touch. “Don’t go. Please,” he pleads with me. “Give me time to explain.”
Tears fill my eyes as I look up at him. “Why would you do this to me? Was this some big joke to you?”
His face immediately falls before he shakes his head.
“No, just the opposite. I…I understood why you wouldn’t go out with me.
I just wanted the chance to get to know you and for you to get to know me without all the other nonsense clouding things.
” He licks his lips nervously. “You know this kind of stuff,” he toggles his finger between us, “has been a struggle for me. I felt something for you the night we met. You said you felt it too. Don’t leave. Please.”
“Was that real? Was any of it real?”
“All of it was real,” he says with sincerity written all over his face. “Everything except my name.”
“And your job,” I bite back.
“We never discussed our jobs,” he reminds me before motioning his hand toward the booth. “Please sit so we can talk. I’ve been looking forward to tonight for such a long time.”
I study his face. He seems heartfelt. I’m so confused.
I wasn’t expecting this, but I’d be lying if I said I’m completely disappointed.
At least my worries over whether or not I’d be attracted to Lloyd have been assuaged, and it’s not like Jett Jeffries hasn’t been on my mind since that party.
I’ve watched every video of him in existence… over and over again.
My eyes move down his imposing frame as I take in his appearance. He’s wearing jeans that hug his body like a glove. I can practically see the muscles in his thick quads as they stretch the denim to its max. He’s so damn big. I nearly forgot how big he is. He towers over me.
His shirt is tucked into his jeans, showing his trim waist. My eyes move up to his broad chest and bulging biceps. I know what they look like under that shirt. The cowboy hat just adds to the damn fantasy.
Fuck. I’m screwed.
After a few moments of hesitation, I eventually sit, and he follows suit.
He looks so nervous. It’s hard to believe that a man who looks like Jett would ever be nervous around a woman, but given everything I’ve learned about him over the past few months, I suppose it makes sense. Assuming it’s all true.
“Start talking,” I demand with a heavy dose of edge in my tone.
He nods as he removes his cowboy hat and places it on the booth next to him.
He runs his fingers through his dark, slightly overgrown hair before saying, “We spent time together at that party. It was a special night for me. Something very unexpected happened. It flipped a switch in me I didn’t know still existed.
I wanted to spend time with you afterward, but you turned me down.
Knowing it was about my job and not me, per se, I came up with the idea that maybe if you got to know me without my job and other distractions, you might reconsider. ”
I shake my head. “Jett, this is silly. Why would you go to all this trouble? You can have any woman you want.”
He tilts his head to the side. “This isn’t about getting any woman.
I don’t want any woman, Fallon. I want you.
Since the second I saw you, the second your body squeezed in next to mine, the second I saw your smile, you’re all I can think about.
” He runs his fingers through his thick, dark hair, which is a little longer than when we met.
“I know I’m coming on strong, but I don’t see the sense in pussyfooting around this anymore.
It’s been long enough. My season is over.
It will be months before my next one kicks into gear.
Please, just allow me to spend time with you.
” He reaches over and cups my cheek. “Just one chance. I’ll happily leave my job at five every day if it means getting to be with you. ”
His thumb brushes over my lower lip, and I get the same thrill I felt when our bodies touched all those months ago. The attraction we share is palpable, like nothing I’ve ever experienced, even with Tanner.
“Your lips,” he continues as he stares at them, “were the first thing I noticed about you. They’re so full.
Naturally full. Then you smiled at me, and I had this overwhelming need to make you smile as much as possible.
” His eyes meet mine. “You are, without a single doubt, the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life.
” He shakes his head as the corners of his mouth curve up a little bit.
“I’ve been shamelessly googling you. There’s not a picture of you in existence that I haven’t seen. ”
He licks his lips. “While my initial attraction to you was physical, it’s grown to be so much more over the past few months.
You’re sweet, smart, and funny. And you’re such an amazing mom.
The best part of my day is getting into bed and talking to you.
Please.” He takes my hand, brings it to his lips, and kisses it.
“One chance. I don’t know if I’m capable of giving you everything you deserve, but I want to try.
There’s something between us. A connection. It’s special. You’re special.”
I’m quiet after his little speech. I have no words. No man has ever said anything like this to me before.
He swallows nervously. “Shower?”
My eyes widen. “What?”
“When you were in the shower getting ready for tonight, were you excited?”
I nod and answer truthfully. “I was.”
“Don’t you want that feeling? I had it tonight for the first time in my life.
It’s that hopeful feeling in the pit of your stomach.
It gets your heart racing, and no matter what you do, you can’t stop smiling.
I unnecessarily hurried through my shower because I was so damn excited to finally spend real time with you.
To dance with you.” He pauses briefly as he rubs circles on my hand with his thumb.
“To touch you. The possibility of kissing the lips I’ve been dreaming of.
I’ve played in Super Bowls, and I can say with complete honesty that I’ve never been more excited for anything in my life than finally getting my first real date with you. ”
I stare at him in shock. What am I supposed to say to all that? I’m obviously physically attracted to Jett. I’ve forged an emotional connection to Lloyd. I just didn’t realize they were the same man.
I look at him. “Is everything else true? I need to know our conversations were real. Honesty is important to me.”
He nods as he continues holding my hand.
I squeeze it in return. “Years? It’s been years for you?”
He nods again.
Tears fill my eyes. “I’m so sorry, Jett.”
His whole body deflates. He thinks I’m apologizing because I’m going to leave.
“I’m sorry you’ve been hurt so badly in the past. I’m sorry you’ve suffered so much. I’m sorry your personal life has been such a struggle. I…I’ll stay. Let’s see how things go tonight.”
The corners of his mouth raise slightly. “Really?” he asks excitedly. “You’ll stay?”
“Yes.”
His shoulders straighten, and his smile widens. Oh my god. With less facial hair, I can now see a dimple on the right side. As if he needed more sex appeal. I’m so screwed.
He reaches into his breast pocket and pulls out his reading glasses, placing them on his face. Why are his reading glasses so hot? Why is everything about him so hot?