Page 24 of Tiger Lilies and Tight Ends

Knowing that someone is supporting you after the fact is a weird feeling. I had no idea she watched that game. My parents and Lance were there, but it didn’t even occur to me that others would be rooting for me outside of my old teammates. Especially her.

“So do you want to play?” I ask, tilting my head toward the indoor lanes. There just happens to be an open one that is calling our name.

“I think I do.”

“Gentlemen?” I ask our three companions. We need another team of two to play against.

“Bet your ass we’re in,” Gus says as he and Rick stand.

We follow, and even though I shouldn’t, I watch from behind as Lily grabs her hat with one hand and pulls her shorts down a little with the other. Her legs are killer, and it really isn’t fair that I have to keep reminding myself that she’s Lance’s sister.

Together, the five of us, Mack following, drop our drinks on the high-top table at the end of the lane. I point toward the large chalkboard on the wall with the how-to-play instructions, so she can read it and follow along.

“The rules are really simple, the first team to get to seventy-five wins. You get points by landing on the seven, eight, or ten. If you land on a line, the points don’t count, and if you land in that first section, the kitchen, then we lose points. Now, if one of us lands on the line, the other can try to knock it in, or if our opponent has a great spot, we can try to knock them out. Make sense?”

“Yeah, actually. Sounds fun.”

“She says that until I wipe the floor with both of you,” Gus says.

“And here I thought you were the nice one.” Lily raises a brow at him, while I grab four cues.

“He thinks he’s a tiger, but a kitten is more accurate,” Mack says.

“That’s not what your wife said,” he flings back.

“Ohhh,” Rick and I both let out. “Shots fired.”

“The only shots around here are the ones which will be kicking your ass,” he tells me.

I lean into Lily, her smile is so big, it’s infectious. “Don’t worry.” I wink. I have us covered.

“Oh, I’m not worried. I may be new at this, but a girl always has tricks up her sleeve.”

And damn if I’m not wondering what those are.

“Who goes first?” she asks the group of us as she grabs a disc and lines it up like she’s a professional.

“Ladies always go first with us,” Gus winks.

All of us catch his euphemism, and I just shake my head. Lily looks at me. “Looks like Gus might have a few tricks up his sleeves, too.”

I laugh, and damn, it feels good to laugh with her too.

Chapter 9

Lily

Tonight is the last night before Tyler begins the new season. Yes, he’s been ramping up over the past two weeks in preparation for it, but there’s almost a buzz of excitement in the house. I get it, I do. Dean was this way, too, as I imagine most of the players are, but this is somehow different.

Dean always wanted the night to himself. Some years he’d spend it with me, but most of them, he just wanted a night alone. I understood it at the time, as there’s a lot of pressure on his shoulders, but as Tyler and I park in front of his friend Jonah’s house, I’m not so sure. Dean had football friends. He kept most at arm’s length, treated them like super familiar acquaintances, and he didn’t really bond with very many. Sure, he was nice to everyone, had to keep that persona of the golden boy, but being with Tyler and hearing about how he is with his teammates, they seem more like a family than coworkers.

Jonah and his girlfriend, Sophie, are hosting a cookout. He’s promised me that only a small handful of the players are going to be here, and that no one will do or say anything to make me feel uncomfortable. I figured I had two options: go meet people, considering I’ve now been in hiding for over two and a half months, or continue to let my past relationship with Dean rule my life.

I chose the former.

I’ve tried to think about how to reenter the world. It won’t be long before I’m spotted, and the world knows exactly where I am, but this is my opportunity to write my own narrative. Who I am now. Where I’m living. Who my friends are. How I’m managing life without the great Dean Davis, cue the eye roll, et cetera. I’ve done a lot of research on Tampa since I’ve been here, and based on what Tyler showed me the other day on the boat as we drove all around downtown, I love what I’ve seen. My plan is starting to form and this city is as good as any to start over. It’s large enough, but also small enough. It has character and charm, a great food scene from what Tyler tells me, and it’s so close to the beach. Also, I know that should something happen, I will have Tyler nearby if I need him, whereas in other cities I’ll have no one.

“Are you ready?” he asks, one arm slung over his steering wheel as he’s pivoted a little to face me. His dark eyes are assessing, and even though he doesn’t realize it, butterflies swarm in my stomach at his attention and nearness.