Page 57 of Out of Bounds

“What about him?” he finally asked, when he realized she wasn’t going to offer up any more details. “She, uh…interested…in him?”

“No, not at all,” Felicity laughed. “He’s a professional dancer—and before you ask, no, not as in a stripper. As in like, trained at Juilliard. He asked her if she would want to help with a special needs class he’s starting, and she’s worried because she’s apparently not a good dancer.”

“That guy is a dancer? He’s built like a rugby player,” Gunnar commented, looking at her like she was insane.

“He was a wide receiver, actually. A coach suggested he start taking dance classes in middle school to help with his agility on the field, and he fell in love with it.”

“Interesting. You know him well?”

“Link? Yeah, I’ve known him for years. That group I told you about, the one made up of all of us that Heather took under her wing? He’s one of us. Up until I told you the other night about my letters to my mom, he, Sax, and Heather were the only ones who have ever known that.”

“I like being in on the secret,” he said, giving her thigh a little squeeze. It sent a rush through her, and she wished she could move the armrest separating them and snuggle into his body. Simply being around him was comforting, and she was starting to crave his presence. “I have to admit, I was a bit nervous at first when Talia said you two were becoming friends, but now that I know that under those spikes of yours is a soft underbelly…” he trailed off as he nudged her with his shoulder, a sly knowing smile tugging his mouth.

“Did you just compare me to a porcupine?”

“It fits,” he answered with a shrug.

She rolled her eyes playfully, shaking her head at his analogy. She had to admit though, it was a pretty good one.

“We understand each other. Our situations are different, but the same idea is there. And it’s nice having people who get it. Who get you.”

“I get you, Effie. And I’m sorry that not everyone around you does.”

Her heart squeezed at his words, the same way it did every time he told her that. She turned awkwardly in her seat, glancing around her to see if anyone was even remotely paying attention to them. From what she could tell, everyone around them was fully engrossed in their own stuff, complete with headphones on. The only one who seemed to not be wearing headphones was Cowboy, who from the sounds of his snores was sleeping soundly enough that it would take an act of God to wake him.

“I like when you say that. That you understand me,” she told him, pushing down the vulnerable feeling that she was so used to hiding. “Because I really think you do.”

He leaned in, lightly pressing his lips to her temple. The movement was quick, yet soft, over before she barely realized it had happened. Butterflies flittered through her stomach, and she could feel a blush start to form on her cheeks, simultaneously wanting more and hoping that no one saw. Gunnar opened his mouth to respond, but the captain came over the loudspeaker, announcing that they were making their final descent into San Antonio, sending Felicity's racing heart into a nosedive, wanting to know what he was about to tell her. The moment was ruined now, though, with everyone around them starting to come back to life. Well, everyone but Cowboy.

“You might want to wake up Sleeping Beauty over there,” she said, nodding in his direction.

“I will, but I need you to say yes first.”

“Say yes? To what?”

“A date,” Gunnar answered.

“Come again?”

“Game is at three o’clock tomorrow, so we’ll be done by five, and out of the stadium by six. Let me take you to dinner.”

“What about Cowboy? Are we going to end up with a chaperone again?” she asked, feeling her pulse start to race. He wanted to take her on a date? A real date? She wanted that more than she could put into words, but the idea still made her nervous. Her mind raced with all the things that could go wrong, most notably getting caught.

“Nope. His parents are coming to the game, so he’s going out with them after. And before you come up with another excuse, don’t worry about anyone seeing us. All the players are going to be too concerned with their own night out, and if we do run into anyone, then we use the excuse that we’re talking about work,” he said. She loved that he already knew her objections and had thought out a plan to invalidate them. “Let me take you out. Let me show you just how the amazing woman only I know about should be treated.”

“Yes,” she said, not bothering to hide the smile that was taking over her face. How on earth could she object to that?

“Good. Now, to wake the dragon,” he said, a devious look in his eyes.

* * *

The rush that came with match day was a feeling that Gunnar relished. There was just something about the expectation of the battle ahead that got his blood pumping. Even though he wouldn’t be the one on the pitch, his love for the game never wavered. The only thing better than the feeling of waking up ready to take on this day though, was waking up with Felicity in his arms on match day.

That thrill hadn’t lasted long though, since both of them had their own responsibilities to handle before heading to San Antonio stadium for warmups. She’d made sure that the hotel had given them connecting rooms, helping them avoid having to use the hallway to see each other. They bustled around each other as they got ready, Gunnar feeling a slight twinge of disappointment when Felicity turned down showering with him in an effort to “save water.”

“And what about that will save water?” she asked, wiggling out of his arms. “Neither of us being able to keep our hands to ourselves, resulting in being even dirtier, would actually waste more water. And more time.”

“Oh, I’ll show you dirty, Effie,” he joked.