Page 36

My throat bobs, a warmth building in the pit of my stomach as my heart flutters inside my chest. My body betrays me when she simply looks at me. Goddammit. I’m drawn to her in ways I can’t even begin to understand.

And just like that, my feet move without instruction, leading me directly to her.

“Hi.”

Andi’s still staring at me, her nude colored lips twitching. Her hazel eyes stand out against her dark mascara, but her face appears to be free of makeup, except for the pink tint across her cheeks and the bridge of her nose.

“Hi.”

Matteo whips his head to the side, a smile lighting up his face when he sees me. “Hi!”

“Is there room for me here with you guys?”

Matteo nods eagerly and I smile at him then look at Andi, waiting for her approval. Her eyes burn holes through mine, her lips parting as a breath escapes her. Her tongue darts out to wet them and I wish it was mine instead. As her tongue retreats,my gaze drifts back to those hazel eyes that have lingered in my mind for years.

My heart skips a beat as she smiles at me, like I’m the only one in the damn stadium.

“We were hoping you’d join us.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

ANDI

Carson and Matteo are both sitting on the edge of their seats, Carson’s elbows propped on his knees, Matteo craning to see over the ledge. They watch the game intently as Carson explains some of the plays to Matteo. I sit back in my seat, unscrewing the lid of my water bottle to take a sip and watch the two of them.

My heart swells in my chest and I see the way Matteo hangs onto every single word Carson says to him. I didn’t realize what was missing until seeing the two of them together.

There’s a stoppage in play and Carson glances over his shoulder at me as a tender smile crests his lips. This isn’t the first time I’ve caught him looking at me while talking to Matteo within these first two periods of the game.

It’s the ninth time, but who’s counting?

“I’m going to use the restroom quickly,” I tell Matteo and Carson as I finally rise to my feet. There’s only four minutes left in the second period and the Archers are up by two goals right now.

“Okay,” Carson nods as he stands up to grant me access to pass Matteo and him. Matteo moves out of the way, moving intomy seat as he watches the players getting into position for a face-off.

As I walk past Carson, his body shifts towards mine and I end up brushing against him. The warmth from his chest radiates against my arm and I pause to inhale his scent. Blush creeps across my cheeks and I force myself to keep moving, clearing my throat as I duck my head. I don’t miss Carson’s low chuckle so I move my legs faster, forcing myself away from him.

He’s been looking at me all night long and it’s bringing back thoughts of that one night we shared together. I was immediately drawn to him after I collided with his back that night, and I can feel myself once again being pulled into his orbit.

I liked Carson Ford more when he was an enigma. When he was unreachable and a memory.

Having him close like this is dangerous to my heart. We need to focus on co-parenting and finding a balance, yet I find myself incredibly distracted by him and his presence.

I slip into the bathroom, relieving myself before stepping in front of the mirror to wash my hands. I stare at myself, my eyes roaming over my face as I work the soap into a lather between my fingers. My hazel eyes stare back at me and the pink tint on my cheeks lingers.

Damn him for what he does to me, especially when I know it can never be anything more than a fleeting moment or a lingering feeling.

He made it clear that night that he doesn’t do relationships. He specifically said that he doesn’t do strings and unfortunately for both of us, I’m no longer at a place in my life where I don’t want strings. I want more. I want a love that rivals the types you read about in fictional stories.

And I don’t think that’s something Carson will ever want.

When I come back out of the bathroom, there’s less than a minute left in the second period. I step closer to the stairs, but movement to my right catches my attention. It’s Nova, Lincoln’s fiancée, and she waves me over to the table where she’s sitting.

I briefly met all the women earlier, but Nova was the one I talked to the most. She seems to be more of the leader of the group. Riley, Nash’s wife, sits to her left, holding her son and I see Hadley, Rowan’s girlfriend, walking around patting Rowan’s baby girl on the back.

“How are things going?” Nova questions me as she gets up from her chair, leaving her daughter and Caleb’s daughter, Estella, with a coloring book. She looks over at Carson and Matteo. “He seems like such a natural with him.”

Carson and Matteo stand up as the period ends. I can’t stop the smile that takes over my face at how similar they are. “He’s great with Matteo, and Matteo is obsessed with him.”