Page 32 of Loving a Cowgirl

“Are you going to tell me why you’re dressed the way you are?” I probe after a few too many minutes of silence.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I think it’s obvious.”

Finishing with the pasta, I turn back to her, leaning against the counter as I watch her glassy eyes widen. “You thought I would come here with the intention of making you dinner and eat you instead, pretty girl?”

Her face is instantly five shades of red deeper, her mouth opening as her breathing becomes a little more labored. “I never said that.”

“You didn’t have to,” my eyes drift down to her chest again, the piercings like a giant invitation to look.

“I just like them.”

“You like the thought of me pushing you back on this kitchen island more though, don’t you? My head between your thighs?—”

Her hips shimmy in place as she tries to get comfortable, her eyes looking anywhere but me as she licks her lower lip. “We’re both adults, Owen. It’s been weeks of this back and forth. This weird tension I can’t figure out. Of course, I want you to fuck me,” she says suddenly, her steely gaze meeting mine at last.

If I thought I was having trouble not getting hard before, I’ve failed now.

“I want that too,” I say, shifting uncomfortably. “We just have to figure some things out.”

She rolls her eyes, huffing as she props her head up on her fist. “Well then let’s stuff our mouthes with pasta then, why don’t we.”

24

ISLA

Things have been weird between Owen and I ever since that last night we were together. He’s been busy ever since, although we’ve been texting back and forth almost every day.

I really did want to see how far we could go that night, but he has better self-control than I do.

Watching his arms work as he cut those onions, the way his fingers curled as the knife chopped next to them; that control was something I can’t possibly imagine having.

But now it’s week seven of fantasy, which means it’s week seven of the Cobras’ season. So far they’ve only lost one game, and the fans are starting to get excited about the possibility of them going all the way this year. It’s been a long time coming, and the hopeful, boisterous energy is palpable in the air as the whole stadium erupts in screams and cheers when the boys run out of the tunnel.

“This is so exciting!” Heidi yells as she looks around, her cheeks red in the chilly October air. She pulls her purple Cobras hat down over her ears a little more, taking in the crowd. It’s her first Cobras game ever, though I’m not sure how. She’s never been one for sports, but when I asked my three best friends if they’d come with me to this game, they all surprisingly agreed.

“You can go back in the box for a bit if you want, I think there’s coffee in there,” I tell her, pointing behind us. We’re in our usual seats, but I opted to sit in one of the rows outside of the box today.

“I’m good, Mila will keep me warm, right?” She looks at our friend, also bundled up to the nines despite it being notthatcold.

“Mhm, this is perfect,” she shoots me a thumbs up, and something about the spark in her eye makes me think that it is not, in fact, perfect.

“Well if you guys need anything let me know.”

“I think coming here is worth it just for the butts,” Amara keeps her voice down low as if embarrassed to have said anything at all.

I nod, completely agreeing with her.

The Cobras win the coin toss, and the game officially starts.

Leo is doing well today. It’s like he found his confidence again after that one bad game, making sure to never repeat it. He’s only sacked once, although it looks like it hurt, and he doesn’t throw any picks.

They’re up by two touchdowns in the third quarter, but with five minutes to go, one of our corners gets injured, taking him out of the game.

“That looks like it hurt,” Amara says.