I couldn’t resist the urge to brush a hair out of her face.
She shivered slightly at my touch.
“I don’t think that.”
Her gaze met mine, her lips parted, and her breath hitched. I thought about easing closer and pressing my lips to hers, but we were in a crowd of people. It wasn’t the right time or place. The other thing that held me back was Jake. Her brother would always be between us.
The whistle blew, and the kicker punted the ball to the other team, drawing our attention to the field. But there was a tension that wasn’t there before, coiling tighter and tighter. I wasn’t sure how long I could resist touching her when she was so close to me.
I breathed a sigh of relief when the game was over. As much as I enjoyed spending time with Hailey, it was torture not being able to act on my instinct to touch her.
Corey’s team easily won, thirty-one to six. The boys were boisterous when they came out of the locker room with damp hair, large black duffle bags hanging from their hands.
We waited by the locker room for the team to come out. When the door opened, Corey’s teammate pounded his back before turning to his parents.
Corey’s gaze slid over us, pausing on Hailey, then bounced back to me. A soft smile spread over his lips. Approaching us, he said to Hailey, “You came.”
I wished I knew more about his interactions with his mother. Did Tiffany not attend his games and activities? Or did he just not participate in anything?
She smiled and tipped her head to the side. “You invited me.”
Her answer was so simple, but I knew it meant everything to Corey.
Corey cleared his throat and then asked me, “What did you think of my touchdown?”
“It was amazing. I’m so proud of you.” I touched his shoulder and squeezed, knowing a hug was out of the question, especially in front of his teammates.
“You were so great out there,” Hailey added.
I suspected she wasn’t sure enough of the terminology to add more details.
He swallowed and shifted his bag from one hand to the other. “It was cool.”
I dropped my hand. “Want to get out of here and grab some dinner?”
“I’m starving.” Corey threw the bag over his shoulder, falling in step with us. I wish I had Hailey to myself again, but I was looking forward to the three of us spending time together.
I knew Hailey wasn’t the one for me. Good girls didn’t date bad boys, even reformed ones, but some part of me wanted to see where this could go. Watching Corey climb in the back, leaving the front seat for Hailey, I almost wished this day was real. That Hailey was my girlfriend, and we were a family.
But Corey’s mom lived in Texas. It would be irresponsible to get involved with someone else. Even if Jake was on board with us dating, Corey was just getting his footing in a new place. He didn’t need or want the complication of a girlfriend hanging around.
As I drove toward Annapolis, tapping my fingers on the steering wheel, Corey told Hailey jokes. She remembered some from our childhood, but others stumped her. Their interaction was natural and sweet.
“How do you feel about pizza?” I asked Hailey when we got close to town, knowing Corey loved it.
She smiled at me. “I feel pretty good about pizza.”
Warmth slid through me like honey, covering every surface and filling every hole. I’d considered offering to drop her at her apartment before parking at Giovanni’s, but I selfishly wanted more time with her.
I wasn’t sure if we’d have this opportunity to spend time together again, and I was going to take advantage of every second we had.
ChapterSeven
HAILEY
Ryan wasn’t what I’d expected. In school, he’d been intense, getting into trouble, almost looking for it around every corner. But seeing him as a father—responsible and patient—he had all my synapses firing.
I initially thought Corey got into trouble to get Ryan’s attention. Now, I wasn’t so sure because it was something Ryan freely gave to him. He was so good with him.