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“Good game, Number Eighteen.” She smiles up at me.
“You ready?” I offer her my arm.
“Ready? Where are we going?”
“Date number sixteen.”
She throws her head back and laughs. “What am I going to do with you, Barker?”
“Keep me?” I bat my eyelashes all innocently. She’s not buying it, which makes us both laugh.
“Where are you guys headed?” Aubrey asks.
Emma looks up at me to answer. She’s not fighting this, and that gives me hope. “Whatever you want, babe.” Her eyes widen at the endearment, but she looks to Aubrey and answers.
“Harvey’s. The burgers are amazing. You have to try them.” She looks back up at me. “I’ve been telling her about the burger we got there for weeks. Is that okay with you?”
“Yeah. Harvey’s sounds good.”
“We’ll meet you there,” Case says as he and Corey walk away. Not before Corey waves at Emma over his shoulder.
With Emma on my arm, we make our way out to my SUV. “Did you drive?” I ask her.
“No, Aubrey picked me up. She’s going to take me home.”
“I’ll take you.”
“I’m sure you’re tired after the game. It’s fine.”
I open the door for her and wait for her to get settled before closing the door and racing around to my side. On instinct, I place my hand on her thigh as soon as we’re out of the parking lot. “I’m never too tired for you, Em.” I’ve not really been this open with her. I’ve been reserved these past few weeks, just spending time with her. Showing her it’s not a different woman every night. Just her. No more keeping things in. I’m making my move. I don’t care how long it takes to convince her that I’m in this for her.
“Aw, Number Eighteen, you getting soft on me after the big win?” she teases.
“Nah.” I glance over at her. “I’ve always been soft on you.” She’s quiet, so another quick glance shows me she’s staring out the window and her reflection shows me a smile on her kissable lips.
Pulling into the back entrance of Harvey’s, I park next to Case, as Chance pulls in next to me. I rush to open Emma’s door, but she beats me to it. “I was going to get that.”
“I know you’re counting this as number sixteen, but it’s not a date, Landon.”
I stop and reach out, catching her arm, which causes her to stop as well. She turns to face me and I step closer. My hands cup her cheeks as I stare into her big green eyes. “Emma Deaton, will you have dinner with me?” I ask her.
She swallows hard, and the green in her eyes grows even more vibrant. She blinks and the connection is lost. “We’re already here, you goof.” Her tone is teasing, but I can see it. The insecurity. I don’t know how to show her that she’s all I see. I guess I’m going to have to try harder. “Come on.” She pulls away from my arm, and begins to move toward the door. I follow her because well, I’ll follow Emma anywhere. Punching in the code, I hold the door open for her, Chance, and Aubrey.
“The infamous Harvey’s,” Chance says, taking in the place.
“Remind me to give you the code,” I tell him. “Harv’s cool, and this is team only in this back area and entrance. No fans, no cleat chasers. Just a place for us to hang and feel normal after practice or a game, even the off-season.”
“That’s amazing,” Aubrey speaks up.
“I’ve never been inside, but the food we had a couple of weeks ago was so good,” Emma declares.
“Harv’s getting a couple of pitchers of beer going,” Case says as we reach the table he snagged us in the back.
Case sits on one end of the table, Corey sits next to him on the side. Emma takes the seat next to Corey, leaving the other end for me, and Chance and Aubrey take the seats across from Emma and Corey. I’m next to her, but so is he, and he’s sitting closer. I hate this feeling, the one that tells me I could lose her. I’ve spent so much time trying to show her who I am that I could have waited too long and lose her. The thought has fire coursing through my veins. Anger at myself, and although wrong, at Corey for moving in on her. Can’t he see she’s mine? Surely, Case has told him to back off. Harvey drops off the beer, and I pour a glass, draining half of it at once.
“You okay?” Emma leans in toward my end of the table.
“Yeah.” I give her a reassuring smile. “What are my chances of converting you to a Trojans fan?” I tease.
“I don’t know.” She pretends to ponder the question. “I feel like I’m a traitor as it is. What if A.J. hears that I’m wearing a Landon Barker jersey?”
