Page 14 of Forbid It

She sends me a half smile, her pink lips glistening in the sun and all I want to do is kiss her until it smudges across her mouth.

“Can I get you a drink?” Santi asks her.

“A beer would be great, actually.”

“King?” he asks me.

I nod. “I’ll go⁠—”

“I’m on it man, don’t worry.” He waves me off. “You stay and mingle.”

I wonder if Santi has in fact developed the ability to read my mind but has instead decided to use his powers for meddling.

“Water, huh?” Cassie asks, taking Santi’s place by my side.

“I’m practicing abstinence. Last time I drank I…” I trail off. Why did I say that? Why, why, why?

Of course, she doesn’t let me off the hook that easily. “Last time you drank you…” Cassie asks with false curiosity. She pulls her sunglasses to the top of her head, getting them trapped in her red curls.

“Made bad choices.” I finish for her, shoving my hand in my pockets so I don’t do something stupid like free the strand of hair trapped in the arm of her glasses.

“I don’t think you can blame champagne for your bad choices, Bert.”

“Don’t call me that.” I glance around to see if anyone’s spotted us, but Cassie just rolls her eyes.

“Are you going to be like this the whole season?” She blinks up at me. “Because this is going to get so old.”

I narrow my eyes at her. I’m never normally this rude, but there’s something about Cassie saying these things purposefully, trying to get a rise out of me, that causes panic to tighten my throat and impertinence to spill out.

“So we hooked up, it’s not a big deal⁠—”

I glance around frantically, but no one is looking in our direction.

I step closer to her. “Cassie⁠—”

“There you two are! I see you’re already chatting. Good, good,” Hamilton says as he approaches, flinging an arm around us both before gesturing to the camera crew.

“Dad,” Cassie mutters, shrugging the arm off her shoulder. “Do you have to have them here?”

“Obviously, honey,” Hamilton tells her. “They’re here for you.”

Even though this whole situation makes me uncomfortable, and I’d rather stick a knife in a toaster than entertain this, I turn to Hamilton with a smile. “Where do you want me?”

Cassie blinks up at me, but I keep my attention on her father.

“Attaboy.” Hamilton beams. “There’s a couple of the admin team’s kids around the back playing with some of the guys. Go let them get some shots of that.”

I nod my head. “Sure thing.” Relieved for the opportunity to play ball, I attempt to walk away.

“Before you do,” Hamilton grabs my shoulder with his iron grip. “This weekend, there’s going to be a little gathering after the first game. I expect both of you to be there.”

“I can’t this weekend Dad,” Cassie says. “I’m in England for Rosie’s baby shower.”

His brow creases. “Who?”

“Rosie, my friend in London.”

Her father blinks at her again before she explains further. “Jackson Harper’s girlfriend.”