Page 46 of Sportsball is for Lovers

“Everything good with you two?”

Rachel hums. “I don’t really want to get into it.”

My eyebrows go up. “That means it’s not good.”

“I just—” She sighs. “Can we do brunch after Passover is over? You, me, mimosas, maybe some blitzes from Bubbie Ruth’s?”

“Just like old times.” I squeeze her arm. “You got it, babe. Boozy brunch, no boys allowed.”

Pulling out my phone, we compare calendars, finding a date that works for us both.

See? This is what’s great about being single. I don’t need to check in with anyone. I can just do things.

Jared’s soft request flits through my brain. We can keep doing this. It doesn’t have to end.

It does, though. It did. For both of our sakes.

My invitation to the Seder didn’t get lost in the mail—Yoni simply added it to my online calendar, like it was fait accompli that I’d be there.

And really, it’s not like there’s anywhere else I’d be. I can’t fathom the thought of working at the bookstore during the Seder. It’s antithetical to everything I was raised to do. Sure, I may not believe or observe all the traditions, but some are ingrained so deeply I couldn’t pry them out of my soul with a crowbar.

So I put on a nice outfit, did my hair, and stopped by the store for a few bottles of Kosher for Passover wine. Knocking on Yoni and Elliott’s door, I’m surprised when it swings open immediately.

And then my insides go haywire.

Because it’s not my assistant standing there. It’s his brother.

“What are you doing here?” I blurt.

He looks as good as ever. His dark curls are rich and luxurious and his beard is neatly trimmed. He’s wearing a dark green dress shirt, the sleeves rolled up his forearms, and dark jeans that do wonders for his thick form.

Jared wrinkles his forehead. “I… live here.”

“Here?” My voice comes out in a squeak.

“Temporarily,” he sighs. “I—well, I had to come to Boston for a while.”

My eyebrows go up. “Look, dude… I know we had a good time, but, like⁠—”

He snorts. “Nothing to do with you. It’s more I had to leave Denver.”

“Ah.”

“So I’m staying with Yo and El until I can find a new job,” he says with a casual shrug of his shoulders. “Do you want to come in?”

Swallowing my hesitation, I nod, and he steps aside to let me pass.

He takes my coat without comment, but I can feel the way his eyes burn into me when my simple shift dress is revealed. It’s a soft green fabric with darker green and yellow flowers embroidered.

We match.

“You look nice,” he murmurs, his voice dropping an octave.

“Thanks.” Without ceremony, I hand him the bag of wine. “Here, make yourself useful.”

Jared snorts and shakes his head, turning down the small hallway.

“Sadie! You made it!” Asher Gold gives me a giant grin from the small den area.

Crossing the room, the giant teddy bear gives me an enormous hug, lifting me clear off my feet. And that’s no easy feat. We’re both several dozen pounds above a healthy weight.

“How’ve you been, Ash?”

“Doing well.” He gives me a poke in the side. “You been a good girl?”

“Always,” I tease back.

But the word has a different meaning with Jared here. I’m his good girl.

Not right now, though. For now, I’m just me and he’s just him and we just exist in this place. We’re not in a scene. We’re essentially strangers.

Asher settles back into his seat beside Arielle. I say hello to the others—Alex and Mara, Rachel and Erik, and some other mutual friends.

Am I the only single one here?

No. Jared’s here, too.

Fuck. Is this a set-up?