Page 59 of Her Game Plan

“Oh, I know. I’m wondering if I need to go back down there and pee on you to make sure she understands that you’re mine.”

I chuckle. “Kinky, Princess. Let’s save that for the bedroom, though, huh?” I pause. “Or maybe the bathroom? I don’t think my cleaning staff will be too pleased if they have to clean pee-covered sheets.”

“I don’t think I’m into golden showers,” Charlotte contemplates.

I stare at the cute way her nose crinkles before finally asking, “But you don’t know?”

Her eyes grow large as she stares at me, and I have to almost drag her to keep us moving. “Do you?!” she hisses.

I shrug. “I’m typically willing to try whatever the woman I’m with is interested in, but for better or worse, that’s never been requested. That’s them.” I nod in the direction of Nan and her friends.

Charlotte squeezes my hand tighter, and my heart clenches a little at the thought that she’s nervous about meeting my grandma. As if her opinion is important, despite the fact that this is fake. “Nan is the one with the white shirt on?”

I nod. “Yep. Rose is the other woman. Billy is the one in the hat, and Jacob is across from him.”

Keeping hold of Charlotte’s hand, I stroll over to the table, leaning over to kiss Nan on the cheek. “Hello, Nan. Rose, Billy, Jacob, good to see you all.”

“Callan, you brought a girl,” Rose gushes, taking in Charlotte. “And she’s such a bright little thing. Look at that orange shirt and those pink pants! That’s my kind of fashion.” She looks down at her own brightly colored dress as if trying to decide whether she could pull off Charlotte’s slacks.

“This is Charlotte, my girlfriend.” The introduction slips from my lips naturally, and I force myself not to read too much into it.

Charlotte offers Rose a large smile. “I’m not sure I could pull off paisley quite like you can.”

Rose pats her dress. “It pisses my son off when I wear things he considers to be ‘gauche.’ He’s coming to visit tonight. I’m usually the height of fashion, just like you.”

Nan remains surprisingly quiet on the subject, usually willing to support Rose in whatever assertions she’s making about herself, true or not. Instead, she watches Charlotte. My mind freezes as her lips turn down slightly. That was not the reaction I was expecting.

“Pull up a few chairs, Callan,” Billy commands, forcing me into motion.

Charlotte helps me pull over the seats from the table next to theirs. Instead of resuming play like they normally do, everyone has their cards face down on the table and is shifting their chairs with a chorus of loud squeaks, so there is a wide enough gap for Charlotte and me to sit next to each other.

“Solid start to the season,” Jacob notes as Charlotte and I sit down.

Billy grunts. “You almost dropped that one last weekend.”

“But they didn’t,” Nan argues. “That drive with a minute twenty left was beautiful.”

Nan watches every single one of my games, though she tells the world she isn’t a football fan. She continues, her unimpressed gaze floating to take in Charlotte, “I saw you down on the field again, Charlotte. What an interesting decision for an owner to make.”

“I think it’s smart.” Rose offers Charlotte a consoling smile. “You’re a new owner. How else do you learn these things?”

Nan clucks her tongue. “It’s important for people to know where they do and don’t belong. And owners belong in the owners’ box, not down on the field, distracting the players and the coaches.”

“I’m—” Charlotte starts, but Billy cuts her off, “In my day, football was a man’s game. Not saying she can’t do it. I understand times have changed, but those boys aren’t going to start listening to her just because she signs their checks.”

“Guys,” I chastise, taking in the confusion on Charlotte’s face. “Charlotte’s doing an amazing job. And she can be wherever she wants. We’re professional athletes. We’re not distracted by a woman on the field. There are female staff and reporters down there all the time.”

This is not what I prepared her for. I told her they sit here and play bridge or hearts, sometimes gin rummy if not everyone wants to play. She was ready to listen to stories about Rose’s family.

She was not ready to be criticized for her work choices.

She gets enough of that from the media and fan comments these days. Apparently, it was cute during the preseason, but now that we’re in the regular season, Charlotte needs to step back and let the men who understand the game run the team. I want to throat punch footballlover214 for that specific comment.

Charlotte shakes her head. “It’s fine, Callan. I understand I’m doing things differently. It’s what I think is best for the team, but people have different perspectives.” Her smile is tight as she looks around the table.

Rose is glaring at both Nan and Billy, but Jacob is completely distracted, his glasses on his nose as he stares at his phone screen.

“Tell Callan about your granddaughter’s visit last week, Rose,” Nan prompts. Rose starts into a long story involving lots of questions about her new bed and whether there is anything else she needs to be more comfortable during her last few years.