Because I can’t resist her anymore.
Chapter 24 – Brianna
“…And so, I got my whole fist on one spike and saved it, and the second just grazed my knuckles. Then coach took me out,” Sawyer says, her words spilling out excitedly as she bounces in her seat like she’s running on pure adrenaline.?
Her cheeks are flushed, her eyes bright identical to her dad’s. She’s been like this since we sat down for dinner together replaying every second of her ten minutes on the court during her first away game in Boston.
And Seth is totally eating it up.
The way he’s looking at her… if love had a face, it would look exactly like Seth watching his daughter talk. He’s been locked in this whole meal, asking questions when she pauses, smiling warm as he listens. I don’t think he’s even blinked since she started talking.
I can see it written all over his face; he’s relieved she seems to have forgotten about yesterday.
“Keep it up, Spirit,” he says, his voice filled with support. “Sounds like you’re getting recognition for being a valuable asset.”
Sawyer beams at him.
Meanwhile I’m savoring the moment. I’ve barely touched my food because watching this interaction has been more nourishing than anything on my plate. Their bond is so palpable it makes my chest ache. I never had this with my dad and seeing it both hurts and heals me in ways I didn’t know were still broken. Even while Seth’s giving Sawyer his full attention, his gaze keeps flicking toward me for just seconds, catching me off guard every time. It’s not direct, not blatant, but the weight of it I feel.
We need to talk.
Those four words have been sitting in my chest since he said them, heat building low in my stomach every time our eyes meet. In the memory of that searing kiss he just gave me in his backyard.
No one has ever kissed me like Seth does.
He’s sitting at the head of the table, and I’m across from Sawyer, which should give us some distance, but physical distance doesn’t matter much when Seth’s gaze is on me.
Maybe I’m reading too much into these small moments that we’ve been sharing. Romanticizing them. Letting myself get swept away in something that’s just starting…no. I’m not imagining anything. Not when I remember the way he practically growled, telling me the only person he wants to spend time with is me. Acting as though my suggestion for babysitting so he could go out and date was ludicrous.
That was real.
His hand slips under the table and settles against the exposed skin on my knee. His thumb brushes gentle circles against my knee, heat flooding my core.
This is real too.
Sawyer’s still talking, now about the book she read on the flight to Boston, and Seth’s listening to her, but he’s touching me. It’s subtle. Not overly inappropriate but definitely not in a friendly manner. Like a silent reminder that I’m not just the neighbor and nanny who helps out for extra cash anymore. Or the woman he accidentally had a one-night stand with a year ago whose father is the owner of his professional hockey team.
I’m more.We’remore.
“When’s your next game?” Seth asks her, finally breaking the spell and removing his hand from my leg. I miss it immediately.
“Um…” Sawyer’s excitement dims for a second. Then her eyes shift to me. “Do you remember, Bri?”
Seth sighs softly. “Baby, you need to keep track of this stuff. Bri’s not always going to be here to memorize your schedule.”
Oh, ouch.
I don’t know why that stings a little. Maybe because Iwantto always be here. Maybe because I’m stupidly jumping ahead in my head with a guy who’s only a year out from his second marriage.
“It’s next Thursday,” I say softly, offering her a small smile. “Your first home game.”
Sawyer lights back up, her pout disappearing. “Will you be at it?” she asks her dad, her hopeful gaze locking onto him.
Seth mentally runs through his schedule, then nods. “Yes. I’ll make it work with practice. Can’t wait to see you play.”
“Will you come too?” Sawyer turns to me, her eyes wide and expectant.
“I’d love to.”
