Page 60 of Sportsball is for Lovers

Wes beams.

She clicks off the call. “Thank you. That was amazing,” she says.

He shakes his head. “You’re the amazing one. She absolutely loves your books.” He clears his throat. “I do, too.”

“Romance is for everyone,” I chime in.

Sadie swivels her head to stare at me.

“Oh?” I ask lightly. “Do you not agree?”

She closes her eyes and presses her lips together. “I can’t deal with you right now.” She turns back to Wes. “Let me get the details.”

Ten minutes later, he leaves with another enormous tote bag of books. He bought one of nearly each title, plus the two different special edition box sets.

“What are you doing here?” Sadie demands after he leaves.

“I told you. Yoni has the stomach flu.”

“Yeah. But what are you doing here?”

I bite the inside of my cheek. “Is it so strange to believe I want to spend time with you?”

“Yes,” she says immediately. “You don’t want to do that.”

“Why not?”

“You just want to fuck me and move on,” she counters.

“Or, and hear me out,” I say lightly. “I can want to fuck you and also want to spend time with you.”

She blinks a few times. “Really?”

I shrug. “We’re good together.”

“Yeah, but…” She looks away, crossing her arms over her chest. “This isn’t the time.”

“It’s not,” I agree. “Can I take you to dinner?”

She opens her mouth, closes it. “Um…”

“Seriously, just a meal,” I add. “No expectations. We’ll have a nice evening together. That’s all it has to be.”

Sadie chews her cheek. “Okay,” she finally says.

My heart soars inside my chest, roaring with pleasure.

“Okay,” I agree, unable to hide my pleased smile.

She rolls her eyes. “Shut up,” she mutters, fidgeting with the tablecloth in front of her.

I nudge my shoulder against hers, relishing the contact when she doesn’t squirm away.

“Okay,” I repeat softly.

By the time the street fair is over, everything packed up, and then shlepped across town to Sadie’s place, I’m wiped. I have no idea how she manages this on the regular.

“I want to take you out,” I confess as I drop onto her couch. “I don’t think I can do it tonight, though.”