Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Diana saw the scuffle. She’d been hovering behind the Mountain Lions’ bench, trying to work up the nerve to talk to Amil. She couldn’t decide whether talking to him before the game would help or if she should wait until it was over.
Even though she still had no idea what she intended to say.
But what if their parting last night affected his game? She needed to say something.
Just in case.
But then he got into that fight with the guy from the 49ers and yep, she definitely needed to talk to him.
Much to her own frustration, it was halfway through the third quarter before she could slip away.
Game or no game, they needed to have a conversation.
She showed her credentials to the security guy stationed outside the visitors’ locker room. He nodded and let her pass.
She found Amil sitting on a bench, staring at the floor, his hands loosely clasped between his knees.
“Hey.”
He glanced up sharply and then leaped to his feet. “Diana. What are you doing in here?”
“Coming to talk to you.”
He opened and closed his mouth several times before saying, “I was going to come find you after the game.”
“No need. I’m here. We should talk.” She fiddled with the all-access pass hanging around her neck. “I should probably tell you that I did not run away last night because of what you said. Well, technically, I guess I did. But really, I didn’t want you to see me cry.”
“Why not?”
She rolled her eyes. “I don’t cry in front of other people.”
“Why not?”
She resisted another eye roll. “We’re getting off track here.”
“Fine. I’m sorry I made you cry. That wasn’t my intent. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have let you leave. I would have tried harder to figure out the right thing to say. I don’t—”
She lifted a hand, palm facing out. “I think I get it now. But I did not last night.”
“What were you thinking last night when you left my room?”
She sighed. “That you were ending things between us. I wasn’t ready for it to end.” She drew a circle around her face with her finger. “Hence the tears.”
He stared at her. “I wasn’t ending things. I was telling you how I feel. Which, apparently, I should be doing more of, even if it does scare people away. But it’s better than getting ejected from the game for fighting.”
“Definitely better than getting ejected for fighting.” She paused. “So you weren’t ending things?”
“I was literally telling you I wanted more, Diana.”
“I know, but when I asked you to slow down, you basically said take it or leave it.”
He swiped his hand over his face. “I didn’t mean it that way. I just wanted you to know how I feel. I want…”
“More. From me.”
She sat on the bench. Patted the space next to her and waited for him to join her.
“I’m starting to think I have more control over this curse than I originally thought,” she said.
“Oh yeah?”
She nodded. Didn’t look at him. Was afraid to, if she were being honest.
Which she ought to start doing more often.
Being honest.
With herself.
“You can stay in my condo as long as you’d like.”
“In your bed?”
She cleared her throat. “That’s actually part of the agreement. You can stay only if you share my bed.”
She didn’t need to glance over to know the man was grinning. That his eyes were dancing.
“Can we also take baths together on the regular? Because I gotta say, it’s freaking hot.”
She snorted out a laugh. “It really is.”
He slid his hand across the bench. Flipped it over. Waited.
She dropped her hand into his. Squeezed.
He tugged, and she climbed into his lap, straddled him, crossed her ankles behind his back.
“I can’t believe I turned you down last night,” he said, staring into her eyes.
“Me neither,” she admitted. “But it was for the best. I could have gone on forever in limbo if you’d let me.”
“Hmm. I was hoping you’d say that I need to make it up to you.”
She arched her brows. “I mean, you do. I expect you to make it up to me. Tonight.”
“Excellent.” He grinned.
She kissed him. Gently, at first. But as was usual when she was with Amil, she quickly lost control, deepening the kiss, curling herself around him as tightly as she could get, until they finally broke apart, both panting.
“I think it would be frowned upon if we had sex in here,” he said, sounding hugely disappointed.
She pressed a kiss to his nose and climbed off his lap. “I have to get back to work anyway.” She paused, studied his features. “You going to be okay in here alone?”
He nodded and pointed at the nearest speaker. “It sounds like we’re making a comeback.”
She smiled and gave him one more lingering kiss.
And then she returned to the stadium, tending to her PR tasks while keeping an eye on the score.
Jalen caught three passes. Had zero fumbles.
Scored two touchdowns.
The defense kept the 49ers from scoring again.
And the Mountain Lions won.
Diana didn’t see Amil after the game. But she did see Jalen. And while it was not the right place or time, she stopped him anyway. Took a deep breath.
“Amil and I are seeing each other,” she said. “It’s…pretty serious.”
“I know,” he responded. He didn’t sound angry or even disappointed. She nearly heaved a sigh of relief.
“How did you figure it out?”
“Well, it was pretty obvious by the googly eyes you both are constantly giving each other. And then you showed up that morning together and both looked like you’d won the lottery. But mostly, it was seeing you crying last night. I’m pretty sure no man has ever made you cry.”
Her cheeks grew hot. “This is true. Well, it was true.”
“If you’re crying, it means you care.” He touched her sleeve. “I’m glad you finally found someone to care about.”
Wow. “Thanks, Jalen. What about you and Amil?”
He rolled his eyes. “Your boy needs to quit hiding shit from me if he wants to be my bro.”
She laughed again. “Oh, trust me, I think you are about to get your wish. I think he has a whole lot to say. He’s been bottling it up for a very long time.”
Jalen blew out a breath. “Listen, I’m sorry for, you know…”
“What?” She knew, but she also knew he needed to say it.
“For not letting it go after you explained your one-and-one rule. There’s no excuse for my behavior. I’m sorry I’ve subjected you to it for so long.”
She touched his sleeve. “I’m sorry that I’m not the one for you, Jalen.”
He shook his head. “To tell you the truth, I’ve known that for a long time.
I just…I don’t know. I saw something in you that resonated with me, and I wanted to hold onto that feeling.
But after Amil joined the team and I witnessed how you were around him, I realized what I thought I saw wasn’t there at all. ”
“I’m—”
“Don’t apologize. This is not on you at all. This is totally my issue. And I’m good. Really. So long as you are.”
She smiled. “I’m good.”
He thrust out his hand. She grabbed it and pulled him into a hug. He laughed, gave her a squeeze, and then released her so he could head to the locker room.
She pulled out her phone. Sent a text to Amil.
It was a cat gif.
And a promise.