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“I guess I should be happy you said you were good.”
“It’s definitely a positive for you,” I agree with a smirk, hoping he doesn’t notice just how positive of a sign it is. How much I’m out of my comfort zone just by being here.
“Anyway, you were telling me a story,” I say, bringing the conversation back to where we left it. On safer topics.
“I was, yes. But it’s not important. I now feel like I’m running against a clock. You may have said you’re okaynow, but is another call coming? I don’t know.” He raises his hands in question and sucks his lips into his mouth, a grin trying to break free. Everything he does confirms that I made the right decision in meeting him today.
“That was the only one planned,” I say to reassure him and then laugh when he jokingly wipes at his brow. “Are you always this honest and forthright?” I ask.
“Honest, yes. Forthright, no. I try not to lie, but I’m usually not as open.” He tries to hide a nervous laugh as he runs a hand through his thick dark hair, and I find myself reaching forward to clasp his arm. Our eyes lock, and a moment passes between us. Wes sucks in a breath while my heart pounds in my chest.
“I appreciate the openness. It’s refreshing,” I say, pulling my hand back and breaking whatever strange trance we were in.
Wes smiles softly, as though he understands the significance of what just happened, before he straightens up. “Okay. Can I get you another drink?” he says, changing the subject.
Thankful for the shift, I offer him a grin, shaking my head. “I’m good. I’m not a big drinker.”
He nods before he heads to the bar, and as he walks away, the strangest feeling takes over me. I may barely know him, but there’s just something about the way he looks at me that makes me feel completely at ease, and that’s crazy, right? We’ve just met. Well, if you don’t count the fact that I jumped him at the beach that day.
When he returns with water and a beer, Wes slides the water across to me before taking a sip of his beer.
A laugh escapes me before I cover my mouth to stop it. “Sorry. Do I make you nervous?” I say, motioning to the beer.Did I do something to push him to drink?
Running a hand down his face, Wes laughs before blowing out a breath. “Like you wouldn’t believe.”
Why would I make him nervous? I’m the one that’s nervous.
“You’re right, I do find that a little hard to believe. You’re gorgeous, you’re an NFL star, and you’re wealthy. There’s no way you’ve never spoken to girls before.”There’s no way they don’t throw themselves at you.
“Oh, don’t worry, there’s been a…few women…here and there, but it’s always in the off-season and alwaysjustsex.” His nose crinkles as he says that and an uncomfortable feeling takes over me at that revelation, but I keep smiling as he continues. “Sorry, I’m not sure why I said that. It’s like I have no filter around you.” He shakes off his thoughts. “Anyway, it’s been a long time since I’ve tried to get to know someone. I’ve never really wanted to.” He shrugs like his words are no big deal, while they hit me square in the chest.
“But…you want to now?” I ask, my voice cracking a little.
“Like you wouldn’t believe,” he repeats, and we laugh, the nervousness clear in both our voices. Could that be why he makes me feel comfortable? Because, like me, this is all new to him, and we’re both just taking things as they come, but wanting to try? Whatever it is, it feels right.
“So, how come you avoid women during the season? That’s a long time to go without,” I ask, though I’m not sure why I want to talk about his sex life.
“I’m too focused to even think about it…normally. I live and breathe the game. I still spend time with close friends and my gran, but random women aren’t even on my radar.”
I want to ask about his gran, but the mention of friends sparks a memory for me. “That’s right; your friend Carter was traded too. They talked about you being a package deal.”
Wes’s face scrunches before he speaks and I cringe. I should know better than to trust the media. “Yeah, that’s not exactly what went down,” he says with a frown. “But it’s good to have him here. You seem to know a lot about me for someone who didn’t recognize me right away.”
I laugh because he’s right. “It’s actually football in general that I keep up with. I’m a huge fan. My brother plays for Denver.”
“No shit?”
“No shit.” I nod.
Wes grins before shaking his head in disbelief. “Who’s your brother?”
“If I told you that then you’d know my last name,” I say with a little bit of humor to hide the fact that I’m actually worried about that for some reason.
“Right, and you’re not ready for that?” he asks without judgment, giving me even less of a reason to be worried.
“Not quite,” I say honestly, twisting my hair between my fingers, offering him an apologetic smile.
Wes reaches forward and hesitantly pulls the hair from my grasp before tucking it behind my ear, sending my heart into an erratic beat.
