Page 119 of Only Between Us

“Respectfully, you’re completely delusional.” I kiss the tip of her nose. “But I’m so glad you did it.”

Chapter40Siena

A handful of giant men tear down the otherwise deserted Huskies field. With the start of the Rebels training camp just days away, Brooks’s agent recruited a few recently retired NFL players to come put Brooks through his paces for one last practice.

After half a day of directing customers to the live-bait section at the back of Ship Happens and staring at the sunny boardwalk outside the window, I threw in the towel and joined his friends at the stadium. I couldn’t stomach spending yet another day under the fluorescent lights at the shop, instead of soaking inhislight while I still have it.

Brooks’s gorgeous smile, the butterflies he sets off in my stomach.

Hell, Brooks doesn’t give me butterflies. He gives me fire-breathing dragons, wreaking havoc on my insides. Burning me up, disrupting my sense of gravity.

He has his back to me on the field, but Brooks stands out easily as the tallest of the bunch, wearing a number eleven practice jersey. Also, I’d recognize that bubble-butt anywhere.

“So, what do you think?” I ask Summer and Parker. The question draws Zac’s and Mel’s eyes to me from their places on Parker’s other side. “You happy with the way he’s playing?”

“I think he looks like a fucking NFL star.” There’s unmistakable pride in Parker’s voice.

Summer nods her agreement. “And I think we’re awesome at our jobs.”

“Damn awesome.”

Without looking away from the field, they sync up for a fist bump between their seats.

Ass aside, Brooks is so captivating when he plays. He was even before his retirement, but he’s even more so now that I know just how much each of those runs costs him. How hard he works to condition his body into being able to block a defender the way he just did.

“What the fuck?” Zac’s voice is quiet, but his words carry enough trouble for us all to look over. He and Mel are peering at his phone, both a little ashen.

“What?” Parker asks sharply.

Zac hesitates, then lifts his phone to show us. It’s open to the homepage of theAround the Leaguewebsite, with the lead story in big block letters across the top.

BATTLE OF THE RECEIVERS: REBELS HOSTING ATTWOOD AND MCDANIELS AT UPCOMING TRAINING CAMP

Doug McDaniels. The guy Brooks’s ex left him for. My stomach hasn’t just dropped—it’s left my body entirely.

Parker’s thumbs fly over his own phone as he flicks from website to website, like he’s hoping one of them will contradict the news. They don’t.

I swallow. “Is this normal? Inviting two receivers to compete for a spot?”

Zac stares grimly out at Brooks. “It is. But that’s not the problem.”

I know what he means. It’s bad enough that the Rebels are pitting Brooks against his ex’s affair partner, but there’s a very real chanceit’ll mean Brooks comes face-to-face with the woman who broke his heart for the first time since she left him. During a week that’ll be high stress and high stakes enough as it is.

He’s worked so hard for this. Wants it more than anything. Deserves it more than anyone. And if seeing that woman throws him off his game, after everything she’s already done to him…

“I know the whole reason I’m going there is to show these people that he’s settled down. But how bad would it be if I lose my cool when I meet her?”

“Who, Naomi?” Summer seems to be giving my question real thought. “What would you do to her?”

“I can’t decide between scratching her eyes out or some kind of public humiliation.”

“If you’re looking for someone to talk you out of either, you’re with the wrong people,” Zac says.

Summer nods. “Public humiliation. It’s what she deserves.”

Parker smirks proudly. “And make sure you tell her I sayhi. She fucking hated me.”

I lean around Summer to get a look at him. “Why?”