Page 16 of The Interception (Southern Sports Sweethearts #2)

Chapter Twelve

Ender

Kissing Layne’s cheek was an impulsive move, but I don’t regret it. In fact, I’m pretty sure if my sister hadn’t been watching us, I would have full-on kissed her. I’m supposed to be clearing my head, but I can’t seem to stop thinking about what could be with Layne.

“Okay, what will it be? A movie and popcorn, ice cream, or…well, that’s all we have.” Sarah Beth stands with her head in the cabinet, no doubt searching for something else to snack on. “I wish we had cookies. Why don’t we ever have cookies in this house?”

“Because you eat them all.” I flop on the sofa, completely spent. Layne sits beside me, close but not too close, and Lula climbs in her lap to play with her hair.

“Miss Layne’s hair is soooo pretty.” Lula giggles when Layne tickles her.

“I think Miss Lula’s hair is prettier.” Layne ruffles my niece’s hair.

She’ll be an amazing mother. When that thought enters my mind, it makes me smile despite the intensity of it.

There is no reason I should be thinking about the kind of mother Layne might be, but once my mind is on that track, there is no derailing it.

She’s gentle and kind, seems to genuinely listen when Lula talks to her, and doesn’t wince when her hair gets tugged into a hundred knots.

“Okay, I found some stale biscotti. It’ll do.” Sarah Beth offers the container to Layne, who turns up her nose.

“No offense, but offering that to me is like asking me if I’d like to nibble on a dirty sock. If you ever had my Nonnie’s biscotti, you’d understand.”

“I would love to have your Nonnie’s biscotti. If it’s anywhere near as good as her spaghetti sauce, then I’d also love it if you invited her down here to cook for us all the time.” Sarah Beth bites into the stale cookie and grumbles because it’s not what she really wanted.

“She’d probably do it. The woman loves to cook, and she’s the biggest extrovert God ever made. She can make friends with anyone in five seconds flat.” Layne glances down at Lula, who must be as exhausted as I am. She’s laid her head on Layne’s shoulder and her eyelids are droopy.

“It’s past naptime. Here, I’ll take her to her bed.”

At that, Lula’s head pops up and she frowns. “Miss Layne can tuck me in.”

“I think she might be as extroverted as your Nonnie,” Sarah Beth says.

Layne rocks Lula a little, encouraging her to lay her head back down. “I don’t mind tucking her in if you’re okay with it.”

I’m not sure how my sister will react to the thought of another woman tucking her child in for a nap.

Lula has been her only distraction these past months, but much to my surprise, Sarah Beth nods down the hall.

“I don’t mind at all. You know which room is hers.

You can just drape the princess blanket over her. ”

Layne rocks her a little more before slowly standing with a completely spent toddler in her arms. I can’t help staring at her as she shimmies down the hallway and disappears into the bedroom. My heart feels…light…at ease. I’m not sure I know what it means, but I know I like it.

“She’s really the sweetest,” Sarah Beth says.

“Yeah, she’s a great kid.”

My sister chuckles and flops on the sofa beside me. “I meant Layne. I like her. We should keep her around even after the competition.”

“You two made friends fast,” I tease.

She throws a biscotti at me then snatches it back before I have a chance to eat it. I wouldn’t want to. They’re so stale they look chewy. “She’s easy to talk to. I like that about her, and she seems like a person who says what she means and means what she says.”

I slowly nod. “She does tend to say what she thinks.”

“Whew, that was close.” Layne drifts into the room, startling me. “She almost woke up, but a little back rub did the trick.”

“Thank you for doing that. She really likes you.” Sarah Beth stands and heads back to the kitchen. “Can I get you two anything to drink?”

“Oh, no, thank you. I should head back to the house and let Ender get some rest.” Layne smooths over the wrinkles in her clothing caused by a toddler and notices a drool spot. She chuckles but doesn’t seem the least bit put off by it.

“Are you sure you can’t stay a bit? He’s fine. He’ll survive.” Sarah Beth brushes off my near-death experience, but she’s right. I’m fine. It’s not my first rodeo with an epi-pen, but I kind of hope it’ll be my last.

“I’d love to but if I’m honest, I’m pretty tired too. Raincheck?”

Sarah Beth is about to dig in and work hard to get Layne to stay, but I don’t want her to run Layne off by pushing too hard. I know she needs friends, but she also needs to understand social cues and boundaries. Clearly, Layne is ready for a break.

“I’ll walk you out.” I stand, making it clear to Sarah Beth that it’s time to let Layne head out.

Besides, I can’t help wanting a few minutes alone with her to reassure her that I will be fine.

It was a simple mistake, one that could have been avoided if I had been thinking with my whole brain.

There is no reason for her to worry about it another moment.

Okay, and I kind of want to see if she brings up the cheek kiss.

“All right, but don’t be a stranger!”

Layne waves and waits for me to open the front door, and we step onto the front porch together. The late afternoon breeze, crisp and clean, sends a shiver down her back. She rubs her hands up and down her arms. “It got cold out. I think we’re in for a little chill the next few days.”

I did not come out here to talk about the weather.

The best way I can think of to detour that train of conversation is to wrap her in my arms and warm her up.

She effortlessly eases into my arms when I open them to her.

I can’t help the smirk that pops out, but boy do I try.

There is no chance a big ego will convince a woman like Layne that I’m worth taking a chance on.

Wait.

What?

I freeze a little, unsure where all these thoughts came from.

When did I go from working hard to convince myself there’s no future for us, to getting cocky over how close we’ve gotten in only a few days?

Somehow, I fell in deep. Despite everything that’s happened, everything that should tell me to tap the breaks—like having a family to take care of, a competition to win, and a game to focus on—I can’t seem to convince myself to stop.

“I’m sorry about today. I know you’re okay, but I’m still a little freaked out.”

Rubbing small circles on her back, I snug her in closer. “I’m fine, Layne. Please don’t apologize anymore.”

“I’m sorry, I—”

I chuckle, interrupting her seventeenth apology. “You can’t help it, can you?”

Layne shifts and peers up at me. “Nope. I’m a born apologizer. I apologize for apologizing.”

Her breath fans over my face, and if I dipped my head an inch, I could kiss her.

Her eyes study mine, both of us knowing this is more than friendship.

I can’t define what it is, but this isn’t normal behavior between cooking partners.

I’m not sure it’s normal behavior between casual friends either.

So what are we? Good friends who snuggle, or… something more in the making?

Inside, a pan clatters, snapping me out of my haze. My sister is probably cleaning up or planning dinner. My sister who just lost her husband, who needs me on top of my game. Who is still grieving the loss of the love of her life, while I’m out here making eyes at my cook-off partner.

“Uh, I’ll walk you to your truck.” My voice cracks with emotion I try to hold in.

I’m not in the mood to cry in front of Layne again, and she seems to know this.

She doesn’t ask questions. She steps back and walks down the stairs with me, side by side, lets me open the truck door for her, climbs in, and smiles.

“Thanks for having me over. I’ll brainstorm tomorrow while you’re at your game.”

I swallow what feels like lava bulging in my throat and nod. “Yeah. Sounds great. Night, Layne.”

“Night, Ender.”

I watch her pull out of the driveway and recommit to being responsible. I can’t keep letting myself get distracted. I will not let attraction to Layne Rossi derail my responsibilities to the people I love. I can’t. My heart won’t survive it.