Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Dante’s home was fucking fantastic. When Diana had initially pulled up to the curb, Amil had his doubts. Not that he had an issue with a basic ranch home, but she’d made it sound like he was going to love the place, and that impression at the curb had not been an I love it vibe.
Which she’d damn well known, and why he hadn’t remarked on it. It was kind of fun keeping her on her toes.
They were playing this subtle game of I want you yet I am trying to deny it. Well, she was playing the game; he was just along for the ride. And hoping desperately that she would eventually give up denying her feelings.
But, yeah, this house was very much a hidden gem. He could see why Dante bought it in the first place. It was airy, open, with lots of windows. A big deck that wrapped around from the kitchen to the far end of the living room. Yet while it was so open and with lots of glass, it was also secluded.
He couldn’t see any neighbors. Just trees and greenery and downtown Portland in the distance against a mountainous backdrop.
“Allison works down in Willamette Valley,” Dante explained as he walked them through the house. “It’s an hour drive each way. She loves this house, so she tried to make it work. Plus, she likes that Jillian and Pedro are right around the corner.”
Diana had mentioned that a handful of other players lived out here. Amil wanted to ask where Jalen lived, but he didn’t really want to know. If the guy lived across the street, would that change his opinion of this house? Because as it stood, he was ready to sign on the dotted line.
“It’s just too much, though,” Dante continued, “and she finally decided she’s ready to look for something closer to work. Would have been nice if she’d come to that conclusion earlier in the summer, when I had a hell of a lot more time on my hands.”
Amil grimaced on his behalf. They were two weeks from the first game of the season, which meant practice and workouts and pre-season games and meetings every single day.
“She’s taken Labor Day weekend off, so our poor real estate agent is scheduling viewings basically for three straight days.”
“Sounds…not fun,” Amil noted.
Diana snorted. “Not at all for you and I, but I bet Allison will love it.” She eyed Dante. “And Dante will go along with it because Allison will love it.”
Dante chuffed. “I know which side my bread is buttered.”
Diana laughed. “What a ridiculous quote.”
“But true,” Dante said.
They ended up back in the kitchen. Looked like Dante was preparing steaks, sweet potatoes, and a salad. Perfect for a couple of footballers getting ready to start their season.
They followed him outside, where he placed the foil-wrapped sweet potatoes on the grill, and then the three of them sat in cushioned chairs on the deck.
Dante hadn’t pressured him after the tour, hadn’t yet asked if Amil liked the place. To be fair, it was pretty damn obvious by his comments as they’d wandered through the space.
He also liked that Dante seemed to welcome him with no chip on his shoulder, even though Amil had managed to sack him in that last playoff game that had ultimately kicked the 49ers out of the running.
Then again, that game was apparently the catalyst, the reason the Mountain Lions owners had decided to recruit Amil, so it made sense that Dante would have no regrets.
If only Jalen felt the same.
Diana insisted Jalen wasn’t the reason she was refusing to rekindle their one night together.
Which probably should keep him from wishing all those dirty thoughts running through his head on repeat could become reality. Again.
But Amil had always been bad about doing what was socially acceptable versus what he thought was right. And he thought he and Diana together were exactly right.
What a fucking conundrum. Because, yeah, he wanted a Super Bowl ring. But he also wanted Diana. And he wasn’t sure which he wanted more.
They talked football while they waited for Allison to get home from work.
Mostly about how they thought they could beat the teams they were up against this upcoming season.
Dante liked some of Amil’s ideas for the defense, which was cool.
And maybe a little flattering. While Amil’s previous team could boast that they’d won five Super Bowls—second most in the league—they weren’t nearly as cohesive as this team seemed to be.
And that counted for something. For quite a lot, in Amil’s book.
With him on Jalen’s team instead of standing across from him at the start of every play, getting under his skin so he made stupid mistakes, yeah, they had a serious chance at winning back-to-back Super Bowls.
“We gotta prep Jalen for our first game against the 49ers,” Amil said abruptly.
Dante arched his brows. Diana swore.
“What?” Amil asked.
She shook her head. “Nothing. It was just nice that we were avoiding the elephant in the room.”
Amil pointed at her with his nearly empty wineglass. “That elephant is going to destroy our chances of Super Bowl rings this year if it isn’t addressed.”
Dante leaned forward in his chair, rested his forearms on his thighs. “You’re right.” He glanced over at Diana. “He gets way too up in his head over you, which is insane. Everybody knows you aren’t interested. Except him.”
“Including my ex-teammates,” Amil added.
Dante gave him a sharp look.
“When I figured out where Jalen’s head was at and how easy it was to rile him, I made sure every single guy on the defense knew,” Amil added. “And you best believe they are going to use that knowledge against us this year.”
Diana sighed dramatically. “I’ll talk to him.”
“No.” He shook his head. “This is between him and me. I’m the one who needs to talk to him.”
“It’s about me,” she said, her tone crisp.
Yeah, but if she talked to him, no matter what she said, all it would do was revive whatever obsessive crush Jalen had on her. Amil wanted her with a desperation that was vaguely alarming, but obsession was a whole different ballgame.
“Let’s try it my way first,” he suggested, trying to soothe her ruffled feathers.
The screen door slid open, and the woman he assumed was Dante’s fiancée stepped out onto the deck. “Well, hey, friends,” she said before Dante stood and swept her into his arms, kissing her as if he hadn’t seen her in months.
Yep, definitely the fiancée. Also, damn. Although, who was he kidding? He’d probably act exactly the same way every time the woman he loved returned after being away, no matter how long the timeframe.
His gaze slid to Diana. She glared back. Like she knew exactly where his thoughts were. He almost laughed but managed to keep it to a smirk.
Which only caused her to narrow her glare.
“Hi, I’m Allison.”
Amil stood and shook her hand. “Amil Halsted. Nice to meet you.”
“I’ve heard really good things,” Allison said, plucking Dante’s glass from his hand and finishing his wine.
“From him, not me,” Diana snapped, pointing at Dante.
Amil didn’t try to suppress the laugh this time.
“I’m going to go change clothes,” Allison announced, her lips twitching. “Want to join me, Diana?”
“Instead of me?” Dante teased.
“Later, big guy,” she promised, patting his chest, and damn, was it hot out here? Amil was pretty sure he’d never experienced such blatant flirting in his life.
He liked it. Well, he’d like it if he could participate. And by participate, he meant with Diana.
The two women disappeared into the house while Dante stepped up to the grill and moved the sweet potatoes to a platter.
“I’m going to grab the steaks,” he said. “More wine?”
“I’ll wait for dinner,” Amil replied. “But I won’t say no to water.”
When Dante returned, he carried a platter of steaks and two glasses of water. Amil hurried over to take the waters so the guy didn’t drop something.
Dante placed the steaks on the grill, closed the lid, and turned to Amil. “You need to tread lightly, my friend.”
“I know.”
“I’m not talking about Jalen.”
Ah. He shouldn’t be surprised that Dante was bringing this up. He and Diana hadn’t exactly been hiding their weird dynamic. Or, at least, he wasn’t.
“Pedro already warned me.”
“About Diana?” Dante asked.
“He told me she was too good for me. To stay away from her and focus on winning the Super Bowl.”
“Pedro’s a smart man.” Dante frowned. “It fucking sucks that your previous team has the ammunition to potentially mess with Jalen’s game.
He’s one of the best receivers in the NFL.
The talent on this team is top-notch. Even more so now that you’re with us.
And yet, look how close we came to losing it all. ”
He flipped the steaks, closed the lid again.
“But that’s not what I’m talking about, not directly, anyway,” Dante added with a swift glance over his shoulder.
Amil’s interest was officially piqued.
“Diana is an awesome person. Probably is too good for you. But Allison is too good for me, too, and look where we are.”
Interest was shifting to hope. Fast.
“Unfortunately, Diana has her own issues”—Dante lifted a hand in the classic stop motion—“and before you ask, no, I’m not going to go into detail.
I’m just going to tell you to be careful.
She’s a great person. She loves fiercely.
But she does not give that love easily. She has built up some major walls over the years.
And, frankly, I’d rather you focus on this season with your new team than on trying to break through those walls.
Whatever you think you feel for her, if it’s real, it will still be there in February. ”
Well, hell. Hope deflated. Fast.
This was the second teammate who felt the need to warn him away from Diana.
Was the woman cursed or something?