Page 90 of Falling for Keeps

Emma nods. I watch her drive away to attend the game with another man and sigh. I absolutely don’t want her dating anyone else but me. If only I could know for sure that this would never go wrong.

Watching her leave to hang out with someone else feels wrong. Maybe the bigger risk isn’t loving Emma. Maybe it’s letting fear talk me out of being with her.

Emma

Demi runs up during the start of the third quarter, sliding onto the bench and pulling me into a hug.

“You’re home!” I squeeze her back. “I want to hear all about Maui.”

“We had these killer white chocolate macadamia nut pancakes that were bigger than my head, and a sea turtle bopped me on the butt while I was swimming.”

“Pretty sure that’s illegal.”

“It’s only illegal if you touch them.”

I laugh, pulling her in for another hug. “I missed you.”

Demi glances over my shoulder, noting Seth. “Sounds like you have much to update me on.”

“Hey, Demi,” Seth says. “Welcome home.”

Someone makes a sporty play that gets the general population excited, and I hear Carson’s signature train whistle from behind us.

“Dad!” Penny whines. “Too loud!”

It was crazy loud. I know because of how close he’s sitting. He was up at the top of the bleachers when he first arrived, but the Walkers invited his family to join them and now they’re right behind me.

Also, Seth doesn’t think this is anything but a full-fledged date, evidenced by the way he’s tried to hold my hand, buy me popcorn, and slide his arm over my shoulder. Carson’s gaze has been boring into my back since he got here.

I scoot a little closer to Demi. “Okay, Mrs. Rodriguez, tell me everything.”

“I need to talk to you first. Should we get popcorn?”

“Already have some.” I gesture to the bucket between our feet.

Demi rolls her eyes. “Bathroom break, then? Come on.”

I lean over to Seth. “We’ll be right back.”

“Cool.”

Demi drags me from the stands and around the back, where we get in line for the women’s restroom. She narrows her eyes at me. “What’s going on? You’re acting so weird.”

“I went on a few dates with Seth.”

“Counting my wedding?”

“Ish…yeah. I guess we only did dinner.”

“Is it supposed to be exclusive?”

Something heavy drops into the pit of my stomach. “No…we never said it was.”

Considering my extracurricular activities the last few days—behind the library and in my kitchen and in Carson’s office and briefly at my car before I came to this very game—we’d better not be exclusive.

“Good.” She relaxes.

“Why?”