He shook his head. “Excited for your game tomorrow?”
I didn’t mind the change of subject. I’d heard enough abouttrue love for one night. And it was actually really nice that he always came tomy games. Mason, Rob, and James never stepped foot in our old stadium. “Yeah,it’s going to be fun. Penny’s coming. And Bee and Daphne I think.”
“Great. I’ll sit with them.”
“You can’t harass Penny about the dating app thing. It’s ourlittle secret. I wasn’t even supposed to tell you about it. And I don’t wantanyone else knowing about it either.”
“I wasn’t going to harass her. I might ask her some questionsabout how she feels about you though.” He downed his drink and stood up.
“Please don’t do that.”
He laughed and picked up his binder full of women. “Just youwait and see. I’m going to matchmake her to you before she can matchmake you tosome rando.”
“Tanner…”
“I have to get going. I’m going to be late for a date at my sexclub.” He put the last two words in air quotes. “Let me know if you changeyour mind about the car fire,” he said a little too loudly as he started walkingaway from me. “I’ll see you and the lovely Penny tomorrow.” He waved his handthrough the air and disappeared out the door as quickly as he’d come.
I would have gone after him, but he’d left me with the check.I knew how much money he had because my firm was responsible for investing it. Yes,I was rich. But he was a hell of a lot wealthier than me. Cheap asshole.
Chapter 5
Friday
I should have been watching the team warm up, but my eyeskept wandering toward the stands. The last time I’d been this nervous for agame was way back when I was playing. Specifically homecoming game sophomoreyear. I remembered that day perfectly. When I was more focused on winningBrooklyn back than winning the game. I’d won both. Although, Coach Carter hadalmost made me sit out the second half after my stunt in the homecoming parade.It was all worth it though. To see Brooklyn smile.
Just thinking about her made my chest hurt. But for the firsttime in ages, my eyes weren’t scanning the crowd for a ghost. I was searchingfor Penny. So far though, Tanner was the only person I recognized in the crowd.He waved at me and walked over, stopping on the track that circled the field.
“Ready to impress Penny?” he asked, but then frowned. “Whateverare you wearing, dear boy?”
I looked down at my gray sweatpants and Empire High t-shirt. Mywhistle dangled around my neck and I had a clipboard tucked under my arm. “Iwear this to every game.” It was pretty much my coach uniform.
“Exactly. Every game. But this one is important.” He shookhis head like I was ridiculous. “The coach over there is wearing a fittedsuit.” He pointed at the douchey coach for Calver Academy.
“It doesn’t matter what I’m wearing.”
“I thought you were trying to woo Penny? Speaking of which, isshe here yet? I want to sit with her and her friends.”
“You are definitely not sitting with them.”
“Why?”
“Because you’ll talk too much.” I’d sworn Penny to secrecyabout the whole dating app thing. And I’d gone and blabbed to Tanner about it. Iwas seriously regretting both things right now. Because if she found out thatI’d broken our code of secrecy, who knew who she would tell? Actually, I knewexactly who she would tell. She’d tell James. And his brother, Rob.
Tanner laughed. “Exactly. I’ll find out everything you needto know about her.”
“I know everything about her.” Except what her lips tastedlike. And how her body felt beneath mine.
“There’s plenty you don’t know about her,” Tanner said. “Likeall of the important things.”
“What important things don’t you know about who?” Pennyasked.
Tanner and I both froze. We hadn’t seen her walk up. Bee andDaphne weren’t with her. But she was balancing Scarlett on her hip.
“The blonde over there,” Tanner said, hitching his thumb overhis shoulder. “Matt has the hots for her.”
What the fuck? I was pretty sure he was pointing at ahigh school student.
Penny just laughed. “Hi, Tanner, it’s good to see you again.”
Tanner smiled at her in a way that had me frowning.
“Hi, Mr. Tanner,” Scarlett said very politely. But then she turnedto me with a huge smile on her face. “Uncle Matt!”
“Hey, kiddo.” I ruffled her hair. “Have you ever been to afootball game before?”
“No.” She shook her head. “But Mommy said I could have ahotdog if I came with her.”
I laughed. “She’s correct.” I pointed over to the concessionstand. “There’s hotdogs and even soft pretzels.” I knew how much she loved softpretzels.
“Pretzels! Mommy, I need one of those too.” Scarlett turnedback to me. “Mommy said I could have whatever I wanted so she wouldn’t have tosit alone.”
Penny shook her head, but she looked a little embarrassed. “Beeand Daphne were both busy.”
I tried not to stare at the blush crossing her cheeks. Godshe was beautiful.
“No problem,” Tanner said. “I’ll sit with you ladies. This isgoing to be so much fun.”
Fuck me.
“Oh, that’ll be great!” Penny said. “Let me go get Scarlett thehotdog and soft pretzel I promised her and then we’ll meet you in thestands?”
“Perfect.”
“Good luck,” Penny said to me. “I hope you guys win.”
“We’ll definitely win,” I said.
Penny whispered something in Scarlett’s ear.
“Oh yeah. Go Eagles!” Scarlett yelled. “Did I do it right?” Shelooked up at Penny.
“Exactly right.” Penny kissed the top of
