AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Our gazes meet, and there’s fire behind his eyes. A blaze burns in the flecks of gold in his irises. The longer he stares, the longer his attention doesn’t waver, the more I think I’d like the flames to engulf me. Make me one of theirs and never let me go.
He takes a deep breath, and his chest heaves with the guttural inhale. My mouth opens to say something,anything, but words don’t come out. What little train of thought I have left vanishes when the flash of a camera goes off in my face, and a thousand white spots pop up in my vision.
“Shawn, any comment on your relationship with this woman?” someone asks, and I reel back.
My eyes widen, and my hand trembles as it covers my mouth. I look to my right and see a photographer. Their camera is in their hands and their finger hovers over the shutter button, ready to snap another picture.
Reality rushes into me, a wave that knocks me off balance.
Football game.
Kiss cam.
National television.
My best friend kissing me in front of thousands of people.
Shit.
“Delete it,” Shawn says, and there’s not a lick of kindness behind the command as he holds out his hand.
The photographer cradles the Nikon to his chest. The lens is so long, it could probably spot every pore on my face. Capture the horror in my eyes and the fear wedging its way between my shoulder blades like a visitor overstaying their welcome.
“You can’t do that.” He lifts his chin defiantly in a challenge. There’s a badge hanging from his neck, and I see his name in big, bold letters.DARYL KENNEDY, ESPN. “It’s private property.”
“This stadium is also private property. Delete it and hand over the disk, or I’ll make sure you never step foot in here again,” Shawn says, and I canfeelhis threat between my breasts. At the base of my spine, a fierceness I’ve never heard from him before coming from his mouth.
“Asshole,” the photographer grumbles. He pops out the disk and drops it in Shawn’s hands.
“Thanks,” Shawn says, and he shoves the disk in his pocket to keep it safe. He turns his attention back to me and tucks a piece of hair that’s snuck free from my braids behind my ear. “Are you okay?”
“Me?” The word squeaks, and I clear my throat. “I’m—I’m fine. Why… why wouldn’t I be? Are you okay?”
“I’m okay, but I have to get back to the field,” he says without any urgency.
He’s still holding my hip with one hand, and his fingers are dangerously close to the small space of bare skin under the hem of my sweater. I’m still clutching his hair, and the dark brown waves are soft against my palm. Neither of us let go.
“Okay,” I answer.
“We’ll talk later?”
“Of course. Milkshakes, right?”
“Milkshakes,” Shawn repeats. “Right. Just like always.”
His mouth closes then opens. There’s something else he’s not saying, but silence hangs in the air between us. Aiden is the one to break it.
“Shawn,” he says, a gentle coaxing. “The guys are out of the locker room. The second half is about to start.”
Shawn’s hand falls from my side, and he scoots back. His fingers curl around the metal railing and his eyes turn less soft as he looks over his shoulder.
“I’ll see you all in the tunnel after,” he says gruffly. His gaze flicks back to my face, and there’s that dazzling smile again. My heart flutters in my chest, a hundred butterflies waiting to take flight when he runs his knuckles down my cheek and adds, “see ya, Lacey girl,” so softly I know it was only meant for me.
“Bye, Shawn,” I whisper.
I’m not sure if he can hear me over the surrounding noises; the round of applause, the whistles that pierce the late afternoon sky, the loud music pulsing through the speakers and an announcement from the public address system, but I hope he can. I want him to know we’re stillus.
He slides off the concrete blocks and jumps to the field, waving off assistance from two nearby security guards and someone from the medical staff. He runs toward his team as he talks into his headset and adjusts the bill of his hat, leaving footprints behind in the fresh dusting of snow. Accepting a jacket from someone on the sidelines, he shrugs the coat up over his shoulders and buries his hands in his pockets.
