Page 71 of The Wrong Game

His hand tightened around mine, and he shook his head, watching me like I was the most infuriating, yet adorable creature in the world.

At least, that’s where IhopedI’d landed.

“I have a wild proposition,” he finally said, still holding my hand.

“What’s that?”

“I know it’s only halftime, but how do you feel about watching the rest of this game back at your place?”

His eyes sparked with heat, a devilish smile curling on his lips as he watched me. That heat spread from my neck to my toes, pooling between my legs as a completely different kind of throbbing took over my body.

“At least no one will yell at us for standing up there, right?” I teased.

He barked out a laugh, and in the next second, I was in his arms, his lips pressed against mine as my entire body melted into him. It was the kind of relief you felt after a fight, or after hearing the good news you’ve been praying for for weeks. Every worry, every ounce of tension flowed out of me at once, releasing the knots in my muscles in a single breath.

I was still petrified as we stood there, kissing in a crowd full of football fans, but it was a different kind of fear. It was the kind that came with taking a risk instead of avoiding one, and the kind that was as exciting as it was terrifying.

I didn’t know what would happen next. I had no guarantee I wouldn’t be hurt. And, honestly, I had no idea what I could give, what I could let go of.

But I knew I wanted to try.

Zach pulled back, his eyes searching mine with his hand still in my hair. There were a million words in those coffee eyes of his, a thousand reasons to smile — but there was a bit of fear, too. And it was his fear that somehow brought comfort to me.

He was taking a risk, too.

“Let’s go, then,” he said after a moment, eyes still fixed on mine.

I wrapped my hand in his, letting him tug me up through the stands in the opposite direction of everyone else. They were all filing back into their seats while I was texting Belle that we were leaving early. She just responded with a winking face emoji, and I smiled, tucking my phone away and saying another silent thank you to my best friend who knew me better than I knew myself.

We climbed into a waiting cab, Zach pulling me into his arms and running his fingers through my hair, both of us settling into a comfortable silence on the way to my condo.

And for the first time all season, I didn’t give a damn how the game ended.

Gemma

My hands shook just as much as they did the first night with Zach as I twisted the key in my door. The nerves were almost stronger tonight, born less out of anticipation of what would happen and more out of the high of letting go.

I had surrendered to my feelings for him, backing down on a plan I was so hell bent on sticking with. And now, I was no longer in control.

That both excited and terrified me.

I dropped my keys on the little table by the front door once we were inside, kicking off my sneakers and socks and leaving them by the door, too. The city lights filled my condo with a cool glow, and I only turned on one lamp, leaving it mostly dim.

“Wine?” I asked, already halfway to the kitchen as Zach closed the front door behind him.

He watched me, kicking off his own shoes and leaving them next to mine. “Wine sounds great.”

“Red okay?”

He nodded, and I pulled down a new bottle I’d purchased that week, uncorking it and filling two glasses. My hands were still shaking, breath shallow.

You’re shaking because you want to touch me, because you want me to touch you.

I heard his words in my mind just as clearly as if he’d just said them, and I bit my lip, cheeks flushing as I crossed my living room to hand him his glass.

I did want him to touch me.

I wanted him to touch me so,sobad.