Page 40 of Her Game Plan

I stare at the shut door for what feels like days before my brain finally sends the signal to my feet to move. I get undressed and ready for bed, my brain in a Callan-kiss-induced haze. And as I fall asleep that night, all I can think about is the way my whole body felt that kiss. And I’m not sure how I’m going to keep living with him without doing it again.

Chapter 16

Callan

“Callan!” Marlee screams when I walk into the picnic area of the park two weeks later. She has become my Langford-family-dinner buddy these last few weeks, and no way was I going to miss her birthday party. Unfortunately, I’m a little late, due to a quarterback meeting I couldn’t miss. Our first real game is on Sunday, and everything is starting to click with the team.

But we still have a way to go if we’re going to make it to the championship game this year.

I swing the birthday girl into my arms, tickling her ribs with one hand. “Happy birthday, Marlee!” The other kids running around don’t seem to mind that the person the party is for is no longer playing their game.

Steve and Winnie follow Marlee over to offer me a quick hello, and I almost ask Steve if the rumors that I might be traded are true, but I refrain. So much can happen in a season, it’d be unhelpful to worry about it now. And Charlotte would tell me if it was anything imminent. At least, I think she would. Though she probably shouldn’t.

I chat with Charlotte’s parents for a few minutes before they turn their attention to an older couple at the party who Marlee tells me are her grandma and grandpa. Parents of the other kids stand around in small groups, watching as their offspring run around as if they’ve eaten an entire bag of sugar. I’m surprised none of them have made their way over to say hello or ask for an autograph.

“What’d you get me?” Marlee reaches out and grabs the Stallions cap off my head before placing it on her own.

“Marlee!” her mom chides from a few feet away, where she’s corralling a gift bag that’s blowing away. “People don’t have to get you a present. You shouldn’t ask that.”

The sweet girl in my arms’ lower lip starts to quiver. “But it’s my birthday.”

I wink at Kim. “I know! Which is why I got you a present. I sent it with your aunt Charlotte. Do you know where she is?”

Kim sighs, her hands going to her lower back as she looks at a white trailer in the distance. “She’s over there, helping Chris with the petting zoo he insisted was a good idea. Spoiler alert, it’s a disaster.”

Marlee places a hand on either side of my jaw and yanks my face back to look at her. “What’d you get me?”

“It’s a surprise!” I declare. She’s going to love it. I got her a new pink princess dress complete with a wand, a tiara, and heeled slippers. My PA assured me it was from a special store online that prides itself on having the comfiest princess dresses. I wasn’t aware they weren’t comfortable, but Wally has three daughters, so I decided to take his word for it.

When Charlotte told me she’d put both of our names on her card, I gasped in outrage before assuring her my gift was already on the way. Then I wrapped the gift before she had the chance to see it, just to make her wonder. She hasn’t stopped asking me about it.

Unlike the kiss.

Which we haven’t talked about. Because what is there to say? I kissed her because she was spiraling.

And it was the best kiss of my life. Like her lips were literally made to fit with mine. Like, if I pulled her close, I’d find out what every love song ever written was about.

But also, a simple kiss between two people who are fake dating. And are becoming real friends. It’s all very normal.

“Shall we go see what your dad and aunt are up to?” I ask Marlee.

“Yes! Let’s pet the sugar glider again.”

“You got to pet a sugar glider?!” I try to think back to elementary school and how I happened to miss the lesson on what the fuck a sugar glider is, but I come up empty. Maybe a type of bird?

“Come on, Clarence!” Charlotte demands as we near the trailer with the words “World’s Best Petting Zoo” on the side.

“That doesn’t sound good,” I whisper into Marlee’s ear.

She giggles. “Aunt Charlotte is mad.”

We reach the back of the trailer and find Charlotte, in a pink sundress and silver heels, pulling a short white horse’s bridle, trying to get him to walk out of the trailer.

I bite my lips. “Hey there, Princess. Whatcha working on?”

“He. Won’t. Get. Out!” she huffs, continuing to tug.

Chris comes to stand next to us. “And Charlotte has made it her personal mission to make sure there are pony rides at this party.”