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The door opened, and Ares walked in, dropping his backpack near the door. “It smells amazing in here.”
I grinned. “I just finished putting everything away. I thought you guys wouldn’t be back for another thirty minutes.” I peered around him. “Where are the other two?” It was still light out and would be for another hour or so.
“It’s just me.” A mischievous grin curved his mouth. “I’m supposed to take you to Kylian.”
“Okay.” That was new.
I went with Ares to his car. We drove for a while, chatting about classes and if he was dating anyone. He was not, something that always shocked me. Liam went through women like crazy, never to be seen with the same one twice. Ares wasdifferent. His drive and focus rivaled Kylian’s. And something was going on with his home life that I hadn’t quite figured out, despite meeting his mom and nephew. He kept things close. Sometimes, he would get a phone call and disappear without a word. I hadn’t lived in the condo long. I suspected he would confide in me eventually. I hoped so. He and Liam were important to Kylian, which meant they mattered to me too.
“Are you guys ready for the game tomorrow?”
We had the home advantage against Michigan. I was surprised Kylian wanted to go on a date with me the night before a game. He wasn’t playing, but he was always there for the team, on the sidelines, helping coach the stand-in starting quarterback. Friday nights weren’t meant for staying out late, but I doubted we would be long anyway.
I’d become addicted to going to his games. It was so different from watching them on TV. I’d known he was extremely gifted, but seeing him in action, up close and personal before the accident—thanks to the fantastic seats I had—was on a whole new level. Even if I wasn’t watching him, I loved the game and planned to cheer for the Fall Lake Ballers, especially Ares and Liam.
“Yeah, I’m ready. We all are.” Ares drummed his fingers against the wheel while we stopped at a light. “There’ll be scouts for teams actively looking for immediate positions to fill.”
“Kylian told me. Not just for a quarterback, but one of the teams desperately needs a tight end. Or maybe it was the same team? I can’t remember.” It was a tough hit for Kylian, as he wouldn’t be in the game. But I admired that he never let on that it bothered him because he was excited for his friends and teammates to have the opportunity.
“Coach didn’t say. It would be amazing to be picked up at the same time as Kyl, but I’m still planning on doing the Combine.”He grimaced. “I think any scout would be a fool not to pick him up early, injured or not.”
The combine wasn’t until February. The invitation-only NFL scouting combine was something Kylian planned on attending as well. He felt he would be in great shape to do so by then. I had no doubt he would get an invite.
At one point, he’d wanted to go straight into the NFL due to his mom’s escalating medical bills. The new treatment—the one that had effectively put her cancer in remission—had been a constant source of stress for him.
We fell into a comfortable silence, each of us lost in our thoughts until we pulled into a parking lot, and I looked around, realizing he’d driven me to the harbor.
My heart rate kicked into overdrive. “What’s going on?” I hadn’t been back to the boat since Dayton’s arrest.
Ares’s topaz eyes widened when he noticed my utter panic.
“It’s good. I promise. I wouldn’t have brought you here if I didn’t know you would like what Kylian had planned.”
“He’s on the boat?” I squinted, trying to make out Kylian through the fading light. I couldn’t see him, but I spotted Liam approaching us.
“Yep. He’s there. And I’m Liam’s ride home.”
“Okay.” I flashed Ares a shaky smile. “I guess that’s my cue to get out?”
Ares laughed and pulled me in for a quick hug. “I swear it’s all good. I’ll see you at home later.”
My door opened, and Liam stood waiting with a similar grin.
“Hey, Liam.” I didn’t wait for them to say anything more. I took a deep breath, walked with purpose up the plank, then stopped short. Kylian stood on the deck, a table for two with dessert and candles set up.
He offered me a hand, and I put mine in his much larger, calloused one as he helped me step on board. His big bodycrowded mine, and I felt a tug on my finger, but I couldn’t look away from the intensity of his powerful presence. Then his hands were on my hips, and heat curled inside me at his touch. He looked slightly nervous, which only made me more so.
“Hi.” I grinned. “What’s going on?”
“I wanted a date with you tonight, and the guys agreed to help out.”
“This is a lovely surprise.” The setup was romantic, but he was acting strange. “Are you sure everything’s okay?”
“Yeah, better than okay. I was going to do this later, but I can’t wait. Our relationship?—”
“Fake relationship?” I cocked a brow, trying to inject a little humor into the seriousness of his expression making me anxious.What’s he getting at?
A grin curved his firm lips. “Yes, our fake relationship started on this boat, and I thought it would be fitting to take things to the next level here as well.”
