Page 11 of The Interception (Southern Sports Sweethearts #2)

Chapter Eight

Ender

Sweetness. Why on earth did I call Layne the same thing I call my niece? I don’t think she heard me, or if she did, she didn’t bother to address it. I rushed off to gather my senses because, yet again, the woman has me too out of sorts to focus. She’s just so… sweet.

It was all I could do to escort her to the locker room so she could change, then release her back into the wild when we reached the bonfire party already in full swing.

It’s been a long day, and the contestants moving forward in the competition mingle and get to know one another.

I know all the veterans, but for Layne, this is an entirely new experience.

Despite my best effort to stay in her vicinity, I keep getting pulled away.

Every single time I head her way, I lose her in the crowd. I hear her laughter over the chatter from time to time, which only amplifies my need to find her and ensure every single man here knows she is my partner.

When the sun goes down, a few people head back to their hotel rooms to rest up.

Others, like me, stick around to chat and catch up with old friends.

I’m in the middle of a conversation when I spy Layne on the other side of the fire talking to none other than Jonas Lake, also known as the guy who has won second place the past three years.

The guy hates my guts, but he sure seems to like my partner.

I don’t blame him. Layne could wear a potato sack and look great.

It’s not about her clothing style or even her natural beauty.

That all pales in comparison to how she makes people feel just by being herself.

She puts you at ease, makes you feel really heard.

It’s not hard to see why everyone wants to chat her up, but I’m almost sick watching my mortal enemy lean in and whisper to her.

Doing my best to choke down my frustration, I work to focus on the conversation in front of me.

“So we hopped a plane for a second honeymoon,” Sam, a long-time veteran, says. “Anyway, the wife is probably waiting up for me, so I should head out. Want to catch up after the competition?”

Sam is a good guy. I like him a lot, so yeah, I definitely want to catch up with him and his wife after this thing is over, but I can’t focus on anything else but Layne. “Uh, yeah. Sounds great. You got my number.”

“Sure thing.” He claps my shoulder and shifts his gaze toward Layne and Jonas. “Maybe save your partner from certain death.” With a laugh, he heads toward the lot.

Yeah. Save Layne. Only, I’m not positive she needs saving. I shift my focus to her for the hundredth time tonight.

There is no legal reason for a woman to look so good with her nose all scrunched up like that, but whenever Layne giggles, I lose it.

She has a way of crumpling her features when she smiles that would probably be scary on anyone else, but it’s adorable on her.

Coupled with that sweet laugh, I can see why half the guys at this bonfire are staring at her, flirting with her, and generally ticking me off.

She’s my partner. They need to back off.

If I wasn’t stark-raving mad with jealousy right now, I’d walk through the four-foot-tall bonfire just to talk to her.

Unfortunately, I’m trapped by a grumbly bear attitude, and she’s now involved in a conversation with Jonas and his partner, Alex.

I have no idea what Alex is saying to her, don’t even care, which is one of those rude things my sister says I do when I hyperfocus, but how can I not make this woman my obsession?

She glances over the fire and makes eye contact with me. That look says save me if I ever saw one, and I’m up for the task with or without my jealous streak on display. I weave through the crowd and finally make it to Layne, who immediately uses me to her advantage.

“Oh, Ender, there you are.” She smiles at Jonas and Alex and reaches for my arm. “Sorry, fellas, I need to talk to him about our next round. Catch up later?”

The disappointment is palpable between them, but it only fuels my jealousy. Jealousy? Am I seriously jealous of these two? Just for talking to Layne? I shouldn’t be. She’s not mine, and it doesn’t make sense. There’s nothing to be jealous over, right?

She tugs me aside and relaxes when we’re far enough from the crowd to speak in hushed whispers. “Thank you. I’ve had a headache for the last half-hour, and I really want to shut my eyes for a few minutes.”

“You mean Jonas and his stimulating conversation caused your brain to attempt escape through your skull? Yeah, he does that to me too.”

Layne, through her aching head, laughs and pinches my arm. “Yeah, I got the feeling he doesn’t like you much, but he’s harmless. Kind of stuck on himself, but generally not someone I’m too worried about.”

“Second place three years in a row has made him bitter.” I wink down at her, which makes her smile widen. “Want me to walk you to your truck?”

“I think I can make it the fifteen feet to the lot, but thanks.” She parts from me, and I watch her head to the lot before I am once more dragged away by a long-time competitor.

I’m lost in conversation this time, catching up with an old friend from across the country, when I realize how much time has passed. Half an hour since I’ve seen Layne. “Would you excuse me? I need to make sure my partner is okay. She had a headache a bit ago.”

“Sure, no problem. I can’t wait to see what you two cook up next round. Those meatballs were delicious,” she says.

“Sure thing.” I edge away and let someone else take her attention before searching for Layne.

I don’t see her around the fire, so I assume she’s still napping.

It’s almost midnight, and I’m not crazy about the idea of her sleeping in her truck in a stadium parking lot all night.

I peer into the tinted windows of the truck, but she’s not there. Not in the back, nowhere.

Calling her finally occurs to me, but it’s a dead end. Three calls lead me nowhere but to her voicemail, so I head back to the bonfire. Surely, she didn’t leave with someone and not mention it to me. I try not to let panic or jealousy cloud my judgment, but I have no idea where she has gone off to.

My phone vibrates. “Oh, thank goodness,” I say, assuming it’s Layne. It’s not. It’s Sarah Beth.

“Hey, what’s up?” I ask, working to hold in the panic.

“Just wondering if you’re okay? You said you’d be home by ten. I’m not trying to play mother hen, but I was worried.”

“Yeah, on my way. Just looking for Layne to say bye.”

“Okay. Would you mind stopping for some cold medicine on the way?”

“Oh no, is Lula sick?”

“Yeah. She’s sniffly and congested. You remember the kind I get, right? Not the nasty chemical stuff. The good one.”

“Of course. Only the best for my princess munchkin. I’ll grab it at that twenty-four-hour pharmacy on the way. Get some rest. I’ll be home soon.”

“Thanks, En.”

I get off the phone with my sister and try to do another sweep of the bonfire.

I still don’t see Layne. With a sigh, I head to my truck.

I’m sure she’s fine. I’ll get the medicine for Lula, then try calling her again.

The pharmacy isn’t far, so I run in, get the goods, and head back out to the truck.

It takes another fifteen minutes to get home, filled with worry about what happened to my partner.

Worst-case scenarios begin to play in my mind.

I check my phone to ensure she hasn’t messaged me.

Worry has me ready to go back to the bonfire site and look for her some more, but I need to check on my niece and deliver the medicine first. I’ll run in, tell Sarah Beth what I’m doing, then head back out to look for Layne.

I try to control my panic so I don’t scare my sister, but I’m starting to really freak out.

Sliding out of my truck, I pull up her number to call her again. I slam the door and turn to head inside when someone shoots up in the back seat of my truck and releases a blood-curdling scream. It startles me so badly, I drop my phone and the pharmacy bag, and yell.

Once I swallow my soul back down into my body, I yank the door back open to find Layne sitting up, panting, with her hand over her chest, eyes focused on the windshield in front of her.

“Layne!” I pull the seat forward and offer my hand to help her out. “What are you doing in the back seat of my truck?”

She looks around, orienting herself. “Your truck? This is…wait a minute.” After looking around again, she presses her hand to her forehead. “I’m such an idiot. Your truck and mine are the same. I can’t believe I crawled into the back of your truck and fell asleep.”

I chuckle, mostly relieved that she’s safe and sound, but also a little excited that she’s here with me and not with some other guy at the bonfire. Or worse, because all those horrible scenarios flash in my mind again.

“How’s your head?”

“Still terrible.” Layne massages her temples. “Worse after waking up screaming.”

Relief floods my body. She’s okay. “Here, come inside and let me get you something, then I can take you back to your place. We can get your truck in the morning.”

Rather than argue with me, she relents and I lead her to the front door. “I can’t believe I did that.”

“No worries. Let’s get inside so I can stop panicking and calm down. You had me worried to death. Couldn’t find you anywhere, and all the horrible things that could have happened to you freaked me out.”

She presses her hands to her face. “I’m sorry. I need to pay closer attention.”

“It’s really fine. I’m glad you’re okay.”

“I wouldn’t say I’m okay, but certainly better than dead in a ditch somewhere. Sorry I scared you.” She drops her hands to her sides and forces a smile. Her body is droopy and tired.

“Do you think you might be getting sick? You don’t seem as perky as usual. I mean, I guess I don’t know what your usual is and you do have a headache but…you know…are you sick?”

Layne takes a deep breath, assesses herself. “I don’t think so? Probably just exhausted from a busy few days. I might be a little dehydrated. I tend to forget to drink when I’m busy.”

“I can remedy that too. Come on in, and we’ll get you squared away.” I push open the front door and let Layne in first, then close it behind me and try to ignore the stupid giddy feeling I get just thinking about her being here, with me, safe and sound…and not with Jonas.