Page 74 of Forever Offsides

“Ugh. Fine. Two minutes.”

I get up, leaving my coffee behind because I won’t be long, and follow him outside to the street. The weather is still mild if not pleasant, and we step off to the side and lean against the building.

“What’s up? What made you stalk me down here?”

“I told you. I miss you.”

I huff, feeling my frustration with this rise. I’m a fool, me once, but never twice, girl, and I don’t like the idea of him worming his way back in. Because yeah, I loved him. I did. And he’s saying and doing all the right things. But that doesn’t mean I trust him, and that doesn’t mean I want to be that girl again.

“Russel, how can you miss me when I haven’t been part of your life for years? What are you doing with me? None of this makes sense.”

His soft brown eyes cling to me. “I always missed you, Quinn. The years apart and the distance never changed that. You’re the girl I should have always been with. You’re perfect and I fucked up. Sometimes life has to teach you about your mistakes but I’m working to fix them all and you’re part of that.”

I blink, unsure what that means, but he persists.

“You don’t return my messages, or you blow me off, so I have no choice but to show up.”

I fold my arms. Life can be so unfair. The wrong Jones is trying to get my attention.

“Dinner. One dinner,” he pleads. “We can make it easy and casual. I just want a chance to prove to you that I’ve changed.”

I shake my head, watching people as they go past us on the sidewalk.

“Think about it. Okay?” He tilts his head and peers at me through his lashes. “I want a second chance.”

I glare. “I thought you said friends.”

He gives me that insufferable cocky smirk. “Friends. With potential.”

“I’m not sure that’s what we are.”

“Listen, as you know, I’m leaving tomorrow⁠—”

“I’m traveling with you. The opposing team’s ortho surgeon has the flu.”

A smile curls up his lips until all his teeth are on display. “That’s great! We can talk more tomorrow or after the game on the plane. Maybe grab some dinner.”

“I don’t⁠—”

“You’re going to think about it. Remember?” He pulls me away from the wall and hugs me, holding me impossibly tight. Except it doesn’t feel the same as it does when Rhett touches me, and I fear I’ll continue to compare every guy to him for way longer than I should. After a few seconds, I push him back, and he leans in and kisses the corner of my lips. I glare and shove past him to head back inside.

I don’t want him kissing me like that.

I have no clue why he’s giving me the full court press. He hasn’t so much as reached out in four years, and before that, he walked away with a text. More than that, and I know this is crazy, but it almost makes me feel like I’m betraying Rhett.

The reality is, the Jones boys are bad for my heart and head. The sooner I’m done with this assignment and don’t have to see either again, the better.

I’m not looking forward to this weekend.

23

QUINN

“Hey, you must be Dr. Quinn Reyes. Thanks for filling in for our guy.” A man walks across the field toward me with his hand outstretched. I shake it reflexively. “I’m Dr. Rex Grun, the medical director for Cincinnati.”

Rhett, Russel, now Rex. I think I’m about done with R names.

“Nice to meet you.”