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With the most adorable expression, she releases the lip she has trapped between her teeth, and straightens before raising her hand in a wave.
Walking toward her, I ignore the fact that she busted me checking her out and smile.
“How was practice?” she asks when I reach her side, not at all affected by my ogling.
“It was tiring, long, andslow,” I say honestly, unable to hold anything back around this girl.
Lucy laughs, and I add the sound to my memory bank, along with the others, before gesturing to the door. “Should we go in?”
She nods as I hold it open for her, signaling for her to go first.
“How’s the conference going?” I ask when we’re settled in a booth.
Lucy brushes a few loose strands of hair behind her ear, and eyes me with a sassy grin. “It’s tiring, long, andslow,” she repeats my previous answer, and I can’t stop my ridiculous belly laugh.
It’s hard not to notice that things between us already feel different than they did yesterday. In a good way. I mean, yesterday was great. Everything felt natural and comfortable. But today…today it feels like we know each other. Like we’ve known each other for a while. I don’t know how I got that feeling from the smallest of conversations, but it just feels right.God, when did I become such a sap?
Mentally shaking off my thoughts, I ask Lucy about her day and listen intently as she fills me in on all the “boring details” as she calls them, before filling her in on mine. We talk until our food arrives and only stop to take our first bite, then we’re back into it.
“So my brother was here last night, and I may have told him I met you.” She lifts her fork as she talks, laughing shyly.
I raise an eyebrow in question but smile to ease her nerves. “Oh, yeah?” I say, trying hard not to give away my own.What did she say? What did he say? Has he heard rumors about me that he filled her in on? God knows there are plenty out there.
“Yeah.” She laughs. “He reminded me that you play with his friend Luke.”What?!So they didn’t really talk about me?
Luke…Luke… Fuck. Am I supposed to know him? I’m slowly learning everyone’s names, but there are a lot of them.
“Luke?” I ask with a confused grimace.
“He’s a rookie this year. Hothead. Bit of a loose cannon but a great player.” Lucy laughs and then adds, “In more ways than one, I’ve heard.”
My brows crease while I decipher her meaning, and when it clicks into place, I laugh. “Ah, so he’s the opposite of me then?”
“Definitely. There’s no “off-season only” bullshit for him. In fact, I’d wager when it comes to that rule, you’re in the minority,” she sasses, and I like this new version of her.
Tapping my knuckles on the table, I bite back a smirk. “You think it’s bullshit? Are you saying Ishouldbe out having sex during the season?”
Lucy’s face scrunches before something seemingly comes to mind and she smiles wide, her eyes lighting up with mischief. “I don’t know. Maybe. Whatever.” She shrugs, and the cutest blush coats her skin.
I release a held breath and smile. I want to ask why she’s blushing, hopeful that it means she wants to explore something with me. Even if it doesn’t lead to sex. But whatever her meaning, I’m thankful I didn’t fuck it all up with the mention of sex on the second date.Date? Jesus. No wonder Carter didn’t believe me when I said it wasn’t serious.Idon’t even believe me.
I open my mouth to ask, but Lucy cuts me off, asking if my chicken is good, obviously wanting to change the subject. I burst out laughing and shake my head as she grins. “The pasta is delicious,” she adds with a giggle. “In case you were wondering.”
“I wasn’t,” I deadpan jokingly and smile when she laughs. “Believe it or not, I’ve actually had it before.”
We talk for another hour, right up until I have to leave to get back to the stadium. I’m already pushing it for time or I’d stay longer.
We walk together until we reach the conference rooms, and while the urge to hold her hand is strong, I ignore it, enjoying the comfortable silence instead.
“This is me,” she says, and I take note of the session name on the door—“Best practice and workplace relations.” Unfortunately, it gives me no indication as to where she’s come from, but I’ll happily suck up any information I can about her.Maybe next time I see her I should actually ask.
Knowing there will be a next time, my focus shifts back to Lucy, and I grin. “Enjoy the session and remember…no matter how boring it gets, you can’t sleep because peoplewillnotice,” I joke, referring to a story she was telling me about a colleague falling asleep this morning.
Lucy covers her face in her hands and laughs. “I felt so bad for him. The red mark on his head was huge. But at the same time, that’s what you get for falling asleep with your head in the palm of your hand…of course, it was going to drop.”
“Let’s hope he’s learned his lesson and you have an uneventful afternoon.”
“Fingers crossed.” Lucy smiles, crossing her fingers in front of her. “Now, I better go, orI’llbe late.”
