Page 105 of Forever Offsides

By the time we reach the end of practice, the players are spent. It was a long, grueling day, but I’m happy with our progress and feel relatively confident heading into Sunday. Right now, we’re number one in our regional division, and I’d like to keep it that way.

Russel drags a towel over his head, but he’s got eyes all over Quinn. I step in front of him. I wish I didn’t care, and I hate that I do, but I don’t want him looking at her.

“Hey,” I say to him. “I tried to call you yesterday.”

“Yeah,” he replies absently, his gaze skirting mine. “Sorry, I got hung up. What did you want?"

"Time.”

He twists his lips. “I give you time, Dad. I’m here working my ass off.”

“You don’t give me your time. You’re here in Boston, Russel. I’d like to see you outside of the field.”

“I’ve got a lot going on. Maybe next week we’ll grab dinner or something. Excuse me.” He pats my arm and jogs past me over to Quinn. I try to force myself not to turn around. I try not to watch him with her. But I can’t help it.

They’re talking, and he says something that makes her smile, and I feel like shit because my jaw inadvertently locks. I remind myself that she doesn’t want him. She wants me. Maybe they’ll be friends. Maybe he’s taking what she told him to heart and moving on, and all of this can work out.

As I walk to my car, I order the movie tickets. I have no clue what’s playing or what any of these are about, but the one I end up picking says it’s a romantic comedy, and I figure that’s the best one to act like teenagers in the back.

Quinn likes chocolate—she’s sweet over salty, as I learned in our texting—so I grab her a few different kinds of candy I think she’ll like and go into the theater. I keep the brim of my hat low and sit in the back. I must look like a creeper, but the theater is sparsely crowded, and no one so much as glances over at me.

Then I wait.

And wait.

The coming attractions begin, and I’m about to text her when I spot her emerge from the walkway that leads in. She glances around, and I hold up a hand so she’ll see me. She’s wearing cute jeans and a one-shoulder sweater. Her hair is down in auburn waves that bounce as she walks, and she has more makeup on than I’m used to seeing on her.

My chest pinches.

It doesn’t seem right to call this a real second date, and I’m not sure if I’d even categorize it as that given what our relationship has been, but I love that she got dressed up for me. I love that she didn’t blow this off as a nothing even though we’re sneaking around in a movie and I’m half-assing dinner.

She slinks into the seat beside me, and I don’t waste a second before I flip my hat around, cup her face, and kiss her. She smells so good, and I groan into her lips.

“Hi,” I whisper against her. “You look beautiful.”

“Thanks. You smell really good.”

I grin. “I’m wearing cologne. I don’t typically do that, and it took me a bit to find it, but I’m glad you like it.”

“What movie are we seeing?”

I chuckle lightly. “I don’t know. Something with Jennifer Lopez, I think.”

“You seem really invested in it.”

“Baby girl, I couldn’t care less. I just wanted to sit with you and hold your hand in the dark. Maybe kiss you a lot so we’re both worked up.”

“Is that candy for me?”

“It’s not for me. You already know I’m not a chocolate guy.”

I hand her the two boxes of candy. “Thank god. I’m starving.”

She cracks the box of peanut butter M&Ms and digs in. Her eyes are on the screen but mine are on her. She laughs and eats candy and when she puts the box away, I take her hand and hold it. And kiss her. I kiss her a lot and decide I like the way peanut butter M&Ms taste on her even though I’m not a huge peanut butter fan.

I couldn’t tell you what the movie is about. I couldn’t tell you anything other than Quinn. She’s all I know, and I’m in so much trouble. Because if this week with her has taught me anything, it’s that I lied to her on Monday night.

I’m not falling for her.