“You called me, remember?”
“Three weeks, Barker. Three weeks we’re in lockdown, and you want to chill at home.” He shakes his head as if he can’t believe I would want to stay in for the night. If he’d ever slept on my Hastens mattress, he would understand. It’s extravagant but so worth it. As football players, we need to take care of our bodies. That includes a good night’s sleep. A man can’t scrimp on his mattress, not in our profession.
“I missed my bed.” I shrug.
“You and that damn bed.” Case shakes his head. “How’s the crowd?” He motions his head toward the main bar area as Harvey slides a Corona in front of him.
“Busy, but then again, everyone knows that training camp is over. You know how they are. Any chance to catch a glimpse.”
“You’re a good man, Harvey,” Case tells him. “It’s nice to be able to get out of the house, have a beer, and not be swarmed.”
“What?” I turn on my stool to look at him. “You feeling all right, bud?” I ask. Lifting my hand, I place the back of it against his forehead, just like my mom used to do when I was a kid. “No fever.” I smirk as he swats my hand away from his face.
“Fucker,” he mumbles under his breath. “So…” He takes another long pull from his bottle of beer. “What’s the latest?” he asks. I’m not sure if he’s asking me or Harvey, but I choose to think it’s the latter and keep my trap shut about Emma. I really don’t feel like taking his shit tonight. My ego has been hit enough today.
“Same thing, another day.” Harvey chuckles.
“How’s the Mrs.?” I ask. I watch as a slow smile brightens his wrinkled face. It also helps to change the subject, and I hope that keeps Case from noticing I’m a little off tonight.
“She’s mine.” He grins. “Gets prettier every day.”
“How long you been married?” Case asks.
“Forty years,” Harvey and I say at the same time.
“That’s right.” Harvey nods. “Last month.”
I know because he told me and I got them a gift. A weekend away at a local bed and breakfast. Harvey works too much.
“I couldn’t imagine the same pu— uh, woman for that many years.” Case trips over his words, making both Harvey and me laugh. A few more beers and he forgets to sensor his mouth. It’s something we’re used to. Hell, we all do it.
“You will,” Harvey assures him. “One day you will.”
“Nope.” Case finishes off his beer and slides the empty toward Harvey, who quickly replaces it with another.
“What about you, Landon?”
I shrug. “It’s hard to find the real deal when you’re in the spotlight. I’m not against it, but this job is a bitch to deal with for us as players, even harder for spouses and kids. Besides, there is something to say about variety.” I give him an overzealous grin. That’s what I’m supposed to say. That’s the public persona that everyone knows. However, one day I’d like to settle down. I want a wife and kids. I just don’t see it happening for me anytime soon. Maybe after I stop playing. When I’m out of the limelight, the vultures will move onto my replacement. Maybe then I can find the real deal. Someone who wants me, not my title or my bank account.
Emma flashes in my mind with her sparkling green eyes. She is definitely the type of girl you would choose for your forever. I barely know her, and that’s as obvious as the sky is blue. I don’t want her to change her last name for me, though, just a date will do.
One date.
I know, wishful thinking.
We spend the next hour talking about more random stuff. The season, Case’s hate for laundry, and somehow, the conversation turns back to my bed. As bad as I didn’t want to come out, I’m glad I did. It’s good to just hang out and shoot the shit. Next time we’ll invite the guys, but I knew this night would go way beyond low-key if we did that. I make it home in twenty minutes. It’s amazing how little traffic there is when there’s not a game. After stripping out of my clothes, I slide under the sheets. With the super softness of my bed for the first time in weeks, other than my earlier nap, it doesn’t take long for sleep to claim me.
Chapter 3
Emma
I barely slept last night. I blame Number Eighteen, and his blue eyes. I have no idea what Landon Barker is up to. What I do know is that whatever it may be, it doesn’t involve me no matter how persistent he is. Although it’s admittedly thrilling to have his attention, it’s for the wrong reasons. It’s all about the chase, one I won’t be surrendering to anytime soon.
“Good morning,” Aubrey says, joining me in our shared office space. She’s the manager and I’m the assistant manager of the South Bay Animal Shelter. That’s how we met, and we’ve been best friends ever since.
“Hey.” I smile and go back to the volunteer schedule I’ve been working on.
“Any phone calls today?” she asks with a grin.
“Ugh,” I groan, sitting back in my chair. “No. I’m hoping he got the hint.”
“You know, Chance said he asked him for your number yesterday before they all went home.”
This has me sitting up a little straighter. “Please tell me he didn’t give it to him.”
“Nope, but he did tell him your last name and where you worked.”
“Well, that solves that mystery.” Yesterday we both wracked our brains as to how he figured it out. I should have known it was Chance. I was too flustered to even consider him.
“He told him if he wanted your number, he had to work for it.”
“Great. That’s all I need is Chance encouraging him. Tell him, next time he can tell Landon I’m not interested.”
“He says he’s staying out of it from now on. He gave
