Page 18 of Playing for Keeps

We all laugh at this and I don’t pretend to myself that I’m not envious of Gabe, but it’s because of what he’s found with Mia, not of Mia herself. She’s everything I’m looking for, except not quite. Not that explosive spark I need. An inappropriate image of Chloe pops to mind before I dismiss it with a derisive admonishment. Note to self—don’t waste a thought on the likes of Chloe Smith who, even if she were not a reporter, would most definitely not be my type. She’s too wild and bold and if she weren’t a reporter, she’d be something else totally unconventional—maybe a circus performer or something and then I make the mistake of picturing her—

“On the other hand,” Cat says, poking a finger in my chest to get my attention. “I am the best at matchmaking. Used to do it all the time in college and I have a fabulous record of success.”

“Is that right? What’s your winning percentage?”

“It doesn’t exactly work like that—“

“Of course not,” Hunter says, laughing. “How does it work?” He’s teasing her but I can tell she’s serious and I’m betting on her in any conflict between the two of them. Hunter is notoriously pussy whipped, though no one would dream of saying this to his face because he’s also notoriously tough and would think nothing of whipping each and every one of our asses. I’d be the only one in this group who’d have a shot at putting up a fight, but it would be touch and go. He comes from a far tougher place than I do. It’s what drives him.

Me? I have the guilt demon driving me, on top of my sheer love of the game. Gabe? He’s all about being in love with the game. I don’t even know how Mia puts up with him, but she does. As for Sean Patrick, he’s still young and excited and has something to prove for reasons I don’t know about. Maybe he doesn’t either. But the important thing is that he’s highly motivated. We all are.

Cat eyes him and when Gabe and Sean stop snickering, she says very reasonably, “Almost every one of my customers was extremely satisfied. Eventually.”

“To this day? Did they all get married and live happily ever after?” I’m joking, but I’m curious too because she seems to be truly proud of herself.

“Not exactly. Too soon to tell for most of them, but one of the couples got married and another couple is living together.”

“What about the couple that wasn’t satisfied?” Gabe says, teasing.

“Truthfully, I don’t know what happened there because neither of them is talking to me.” She laughs. “But seriously, I think I didn’t know them well enough to do a good job and I’ve learned a lot from the experience.”

She turns to me with a speculative look. “So, Tate, you’re looking for someone special?”

Raising my hands, I say, “Yes, but I can handle the job—”

“Let me help you. I bet I can find someone for you. Let me play matchmaker.”

“No way in hell,” I say automatically. My upbringing is too conventional, too vanilla to consider this seriously. Saying no to anything unusual is my kneejerk reaction. Though, in truth, I’m trying to work on resolving that, to expand my horizons.

“Why not?” Hunter says. “I’ll put money on my wife.”

“Hell, I’ll pay money just to see it happen,” Gabe laughs. “I want to be there for the fix-up.”

Sean perks up. “I’ll take that bet, Hunter. A hundred bucks says she fixes him up and it doesn’t work, ’cause I don’t think he’s ready to settle down. He’s too good a wingman for that.”

“You’re on,” Hunter says.

“Guys, you’re forgetting something,” I say. “I haven’t agreed to this matchmaking scheme.”

Cat turns her eyes on me then and the others all look at me expectantly.

“I promise it’ll be painless, Tate. What do you really have to lose?” She pauses and they’re all waiting, but she’s right. I haven’t been making any progress the conventional way. Besides, matchmaking is a lot like a blind date setup, isn’t it? And that’s not so crazy really.

“Okay. I’ll agree to one blind date. We’ll see how you do with that.”

She gives me a big smile and the others high five each other.

“You won’t regret it. I’m excited about the challenge.” She has a scary gleam in her eye. “I’ll be in touch with the details. I’ll arrange a dinner party.”

“Sounds good,” I say. It is good. I need this. A decent woman—who’s also gorgeous and smart whether I deserve it or not—to take my mind off a certain girl reporter. I’m not looking for love and roses at this stage, but I’m no player with women and I’m not interested in being a monk either., Some day I’ll be looking for serious, but not now. First things first. I need to seal the deal on my new contract.

Then it’s the promised land, the security I crave because I can’t escape my midwestern upbringing, the conventional need of the regular guy to have a regular life. It’s who I am underneath the football player, before I was ever a pro in the NFL. Some day I’ll go looking for a a woman who, like me, will appreciate a regular life, to share it with me. But that’s not until football is over.

The rest of the team starts trickling off the practice field and Hunter asks, “What did you and Chloe Smith talk about at lunch?”

Fuck it. I get an instant gut clench, but I listen.

“Sorority sister stuff. No football talk, I promise.”