AllFreeNovel
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“Baby?” I ask as I shut the door behind us. “That’s a new one.”
“What?” He tilts his head to the side and grins. “Not a fan of pet names?”
“I don’t have a lot of experience with them, I guess.” I shrug and sit on the couch, patting the spot next to me. “It’ll take some getting used to.”
“How do you feel about sweet cheeks? Probably a no, right?” Shawn asks, and he sits down beside me. “Muffin?”
“Please stop.” I giggle. “Both horrific.”
“Fine. If you say so.” He hands over a paper bag and the cup of coffee. “Here you go, bumblebee.”
I swat at his arm and pull out a muffin. “Careful, Shawn. I might rely on you to make sure I’m caffeinated and fed.” I grin and take a bite of the pastry. “Why are you really here?”
“It’s been a few days, and you’ve survived your first game as a WAG. I wanted to check on you and make sure everything is okay,” he says.
“WAG?” I wrinkle my eyebrows and brush some crumbs away from my mouth. “What does that mean?”
“Wife and girlfriend. Sports world slang.”
“Does that imply athletes have wivesandgirlfriends?”
“Some do, but those are the shady assholes.”
“And you’re the good guy who’s never cheated on his girlfriend, right?”
“No, I haven’t. I never understood the point of cheating. Why be with someone if you don’t want to be withjustthem?” Shawn asks.
“Ah. There’s a modern-day Romeo. A Casanova.”
He waves off my teasing and leans back, his long arms stretching over the back of the couch. “Seriously. Everything’s good?”
“We were with each other until midnight on Thanksgiving. I texted you on Friday and Saturday. We watched football with Maggie and Aiden on Sunday. Why are you stopping by today?”
Shawn shrugs. “Guess I just wanted an excuse to see you, daffodil.”
I roll my eyes, but I smile. “You don’t need an excuse to see me, but I’ll take it. Everything is fine. I’m glad you confirmed our relationship to the press. My social media comments have turned quiet the last couple of days. No complaints from me.”
“I’m glad. Making sure you’re okay is my number one priority, but I’ll admit I’m also here under somewhat false pretenses. I’m taking a page out of your book. Cornering you like you cornered me at my place and suggested we pretend to date.”
“I did notcorneryou.” I set down the drink and food on the small glass table in front of us. I wipe my hands on my scrubs. "What’s going on?”
“Nothing bad,” he says. “It’s my mom. I’ve been dodging calls from her since all of this,” he gestures between us, “started. We have a weekly family video call scheduled for tonight, and I was hoping you could be there, too, to make it a little easier?”
His voice hitches at the end, and he doesn’t have his usual confidence. He seems hesitant and unsure. Nervous, almost, like he’s afraid to hear my answer. His broad shoulders curl in and his smile wavers. His eyes flick to mine then look away, suddenly interested in the stack of medical books I have on the floor against the far wall, and his leg bounces up and down.
I reach out and put my hand on his arm. I run my thumb up his forearm and over the intricate artwork on his body. I wonder if the tattoos span across his chest. Over the curve of his shoulder and onto his back, too. I wonder what kind of designs he has over his heart, and I wonder if I’ll ever get to see them.
The tattoo on his hand might be my favorite. It covers the whole back of his palm, and it’s unfairly hot.
“Of course I’ll be there,” I say gently. “What time were you thinking?”
“Seven? I can make dinner or we could order in. I’d invite Maggie and Aiden, too, but it’s their date night,” Shawn says. “Are you okay with it being just the two of us?”
“Totally fine. We’ve hung out alone together before. It’s not like I’m going to jump your bones just because you put a plate of meatloaf in front of me,” I say, and Shawn laughs.
“Is that your way of telling me you want meatloaf for dinner?” he asks, and I shrug, nonchalant, as my lips curl into a smile.
“I wouldn’t hate it. Wouldn’t hate mashed potatoes, either.”
