Page 134 of The Cheerleader

“What about getting home⁠—”

“My parents will be glad to see me whatever time I get home. I don’t care if I hit traffic. This is worth it.”

His smile doesn’t diminish, and I know there’s nothing I can say to dampen his pleasure or persuade him to leave. Shit. I hope he’s not disappointed with whatever my agent has to say. I don’t tell him that because he’ll only laugh at me and my so-called cynicism like he always does when I try to be realistic with him.

“What time is he calling? Maybe I should wake Mack and⁠—”

“No. Don’t. Let them sleep. You can tell them… whatever the news is when they wake up.”

“I’m going to be long gone by then, and you probably won’t tell them a fucking thing.”

He’s right. I’m no good at sharing, especially not about speculation and possibilities. If I don’t have a signed contract, it’s not news fit to share. “You can call them at home later.”

He shakes his head.

The phone rings. I stare at it a second as it rings again and when Eldy looks like he’s going to come after me and force me to answer it, I move, picking up the receiver on the third ring.

He mutters something about me being a bastard under his breath as I say hello.

“Bryan, hold onto your socks. I spoke with the recruiter from the San Francisco 49ers, and they confirmed that they’re interested in drafting you next month.” He pauses, and I let out a breath. He waits for my reaction, but I have none. Intentions are all well and good, but not real. He clears his throat. “You should be thrilled, young man.”

“I will be. When I have a signed contract.”

My agent chortles. “That’s what I like about you—no nonsense. I think the team will appreciate that too. They’d like to meet you, talk to you to make sure you’re not a crazy person, that you’ll fit in. Not that I haven’t assured them that you’re very mature for your age, but they want to see for themselves.”

“When?” That’s all I can think to say. I hadn’t anticipated an in-person meeting. That makes playing for them more real. Not real enough. A meeting gives them a chance to not like what they see, to back out.

Hell, I’m not sure I’m not a crazy person.

“They’ll be on the East Coast right after Christmas. I’ll phone you in the next few days when I get the details. Will this still be a good number?”

“Yes.”

“Well, that’s it. Your Christmas gift from me.” He laughs. “You and yours have a Merry Christmas, Bryan. Talk soon.”

I murmur Merry Christmas and hang up the phone.

Eldy is grinning at me like a circus clown and slaps me on the shoulder. “I heard every word. Congratulations, man. You’re going to the fucking 49ers. This is so fucking cool⁠—”

“Take it easy, Eldy. I might need my shoulder.”

He laughs like a kid, forcing me to smile. It’s damn difficult not to get caught up with him in the fantasy. But it’s still a fantasy. Not real. Not yet.

“I’ll believe it when I’m dressed in a uniform on the field for the kickoff of the first regular season game.” A lot of guys will get cut during training camp and preseason, so I can’t kid myself that I’m there, that this is a lock.

But I’ll do everything in my fucking power to make it.

“The 49ers,” Eldy says, shaking his head. “All the way on the West Coast. I don’t care—I’ll be at every single fucking game. You’re lucky I love California.”

“I’ve never been.” Never thought of going. San Francisco may as well be a fictional city from Tolkien’s Middle Earth.

My eye catches movement near the fridge, and I turn. Susie appears in the kitchen doorway, looking like a dream, her long hair slightly disheveled and sexy as hell. My mouth waters, and I swallow, willing myself not to pounce. Then, with a satisfied smile, she walks straight to me, into my arms like she belongs there.

When she tilts her head up, I let go of whatever restraint I have, forgetting why it’s there, and lower my head to find her mouth and kiss her thoroughly. All the warmth and sensations from last night replay in my head, infusing the kiss with all the desire I’m feeling, all the heat⁠—

A wolf whistle pierces the air, and Eldy laughs. “Wow, guys. I’m still here in the room with you.”

I give Eldy a dirty look that tells him if he wasn’t my best friend, I’d beat the shit out of him right now.