Page 31 of On Her Team
“But?”
“You’re hitting the hole at full speed. Defenders can read you too easily. It’s why you’re getting stopped for short gains or tackled hard. You don’t have to win the play in the first step.”
Otis hangs off every word Gage says. “What should I do?”
“Slow down for half a second. Let them commit. Then go.”
Otis nods. “Okay.”
“Make them think you’re going left. Even when you’re not.”
“Thanks. Will you watch the rest of the game?”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Except when Gage says those words, he’s not looking at my little brother. He’s staring into my eyes.
Gage tips his chin toward the bench. “Get back to your team. We’ll see you after.”
Otis dashes off and Gage grasps my hand to lead me up the bleachers to our spot. He doesn’t let go of my hand for the rest of the game. I should tell him friends don’t hold hands. I should remind him of the boundaries I’ve set. But I’m enjoying the feel of his hand in mine too much.
The final whistle blows and Gage jumps to his feet. “He won!” He claps and whistles.
“You’re acting like a fan.”
“Because I am a fan. Football is life.”
“No,” Penelope disagrees. “Life isa complex, carbon-based process defined by self-sustaining biological systems.”
Gage smiles at her. “You are correct.”
Penelope sniffs and tilts her nose in the air. “I usually am.”
“Penelope is a nerd,” Mila sings.
“I am not a nerd.”
My sisters start to bicker and I groan. “Enough! Penelope, escort Mila to the car. I’ll meet you there in a minute.”
Penelope huffs, but she doesn’t hesitate to do as I say. I keep my eye on them as they walk through the crowd until they reach my car.
“Thanks for coming,” I tell Gage.
“Thanks for inviting me.”
“You invited yourself.”
He shrugs. “Same thing.”
“I need to get the girls home.” I push up on my toes to kiss his cheek. He smells of sunshine and sandalwood. I take a deep breath and inhale the scent into my lungs. “See you around.”
He shackles my wrist before I can escape. “Hold on. I haven’t given you your surprise yet.”
“You gave me a coffee and a cookie.”
“Those weren’t your surprise.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Coffee and cookies are always a good surprise.”
He smiles and his dimple makes an appearance. “Good to know.” He digs out his phone. “But I have an even better surprise.”
