I buy orange laces as bright as I can get them. I believe today’s pair glow in the dark.”
That was the sweetest thing I’d ever heard , and I remembered Van saying Joel was a momma’s boy. “I look forward to seeing you light up the field.”
Our breakfast arrived. His came on a large platter with a side plate for his toast. I watched him attack his food. The man was huge and I’m sure he needed the fuel, though, in my entire life, I never saw anyone put away that much food. I will admit to cleaning my own plate. I expected grease, but got perfect eggs and toast with real butter. The meal was delicious.
Joel finally leaned back and groaned.
“I can’t even imagine what your grocery bill is.”
“Large. We need to go. I have a few things to do before the match.”
Our time was over. Joel paid the bill and lifted me into his truck again. We didn’t speak much on the way to my hotel.
“Don’t move,” he said when we pulled up to the lobby. He came around, opened my door, and swung me down. “Are you coming to the match?”
It seemed an odd que stion. “Of course. I need the score for my first article and also experience at watching an actual match live.”
“I’m glad.”
What he meant dawned on me and I needed to clear this up. “What happened between me and your brother won’t keep me away. Awkward, yes, but I’m not running from my stupidity.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Will you be at The Slam Tavern afterwards?”
I really didn’t want to go if Van would be there , but I had to suck it up for my job. “Yes, I’ll be there. So for a little inside scoop… is The Slam winning this afternoon’s game?”
A fanatical light practically went off behind his eyes. “You bet your ass. We’ll annihilate them.”
He d rove away as I entered the Inn’s lobby wondering why I couldn’t have fallen for Joel instead of Van.
Chapter Thirteen
I sat my things on the end of m y bed and headed straight for the shower. I removed my clothes vowing to never wear the dress again. The scent of sex hit me. I still smelled like Van. Could Joel smell it on me? The thought was mortifying. I held back additional tears, but couldn’t stop thinking “What if?” What if I hadn’t gone out with Van? What if I hadn’t melted into his arms with the first kiss last night? What if I hadn’t had so much to drink? What if I drown wild Cami in a vat of poison? That was the best what if I had.
I scrubbed myself, even my tender lady bits that were swollen an d raw. The small stubble scratches on my skin pissed me off. What the hell did he do, mark his harem so everyone could see? I was such a stupid fool. My first real assignment and I fell into bed with my contact—a stupid, blowhard jock.
I set my alarm on my phone and crawled naked under my covers. Again the what ifs swamped me , but I managed to shut them down. I slept until the bing bing bing on my phone went off. After a quick shower to clear my head, I dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. I planned to enjoy the match. I also wanted to be comfortable and approachable looking like I fit in at a rugby match.
Taking Charlie’s advice, I hit The Slam Tavern first. The parking lot was crowded. I walked through the front door and the noise about overwhelmed me. As my eyes adjusted I noticed red and yellow shirts everywhere. So much for me looking like part of the crowd. A young waitress came up to me and asked if I wanted to sit at the bar or a booth.
“Is Estella here?”
“She’s working the bar. You need to talk to her or do you just want a seat in her area?”
“I’ll sit at the bar , thank you.” I walked to the long bar and noticed a couple of empty stools at the end. Charlie turned around on his stool and shouted my name. He pointed me to the empty seat next to him. He stood and helped a woman at his side down from her stool. Once she was standing, I saw she was at least an inch under five foot.
“Hey , Cami, meet my wife, Stub.” The woman
That was the sweetest thing I’d ever heard , and I remembered Van saying Joel was a momma’s boy. “I look forward to seeing you light up the field.”
Our breakfast arrived. His came on a large platter with a side plate for his toast. I watched him attack his food. The man was huge and I’m sure he needed the fuel, though, in my entire life, I never saw anyone put away that much food. I will admit to cleaning my own plate. I expected grease, but got perfect eggs and toast with real butter. The meal was delicious.
Joel finally leaned back and groaned.
“I can’t even imagine what your grocery bill is.”
“Large. We need to go. I have a few things to do before the match.”
Our time was over. Joel paid the bill and lifted me into his truck again. We didn’t speak much on the way to my hotel.
“Don’t move,” he said when we pulled up to the lobby. He came around, opened my door, and swung me down. “Are you coming to the match?”
It seemed an odd que stion. “Of course. I need the score for my first article and also experience at watching an actual match live.”
“I’m glad.”
What he meant dawned on me and I needed to clear this up. “What happened between me and your brother won’t keep me away. Awkward, yes, but I’m not running from my stupidity.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Will you be at The Slam Tavern afterwards?”
I really didn’t want to go if Van would be there , but I had to suck it up for my job. “Yes, I’ll be there. So for a little inside scoop… is The Slam winning this afternoon’s game?”
A fanatical light practically went off behind his eyes. “You bet your ass. We’ll annihilate them.”
He d rove away as I entered the Inn’s lobby wondering why I couldn’t have fallen for Joel instead of Van.
Chapter Thirteen
I sat my things on the end of m y bed and headed straight for the shower. I removed my clothes vowing to never wear the dress again. The scent of sex hit me. I still smelled like Van. Could Joel smell it on me? The thought was mortifying. I held back additional tears, but couldn’t stop thinking “What if?” What if I hadn’t gone out with Van? What if I hadn’t melted into his arms with the first kiss last night? What if I hadn’t had so much to drink? What if I drown wild Cami in a vat of poison? That was the best what if I had.
I scrubbed myself, even my tender lady bits that were swollen an d raw. The small stubble scratches on my skin pissed me off. What the hell did he do, mark his harem so everyone could see? I was such a stupid fool. My first real assignment and I fell into bed with my contact—a stupid, blowhard jock.
I set my alarm on my phone and crawled naked under my covers. Again the what ifs swamped me , but I managed to shut them down. I slept until the bing bing bing on my phone went off. After a quick shower to clear my head, I dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. I planned to enjoy the match. I also wanted to be comfortable and approachable looking like I fit in at a rugby match.
Taking Charlie’s advice, I hit The Slam Tavern first. The parking lot was crowded. I walked through the front door and the noise about overwhelmed me. As my eyes adjusted I noticed red and yellow shirts everywhere. So much for me looking like part of the crowd. A young waitress came up to me and asked if I wanted to sit at the bar or a booth.
“Is Estella here?”
“She’s working the bar. You need to talk to her or do you just want a seat in her area?”
“I’ll sit at the bar , thank you.” I walked to the long bar and noticed a couple of empty stools at the end. Charlie turned around on his stool and shouted my name. He pointed me to the empty seat next to him. He stood and helped a woman at his side down from her stool. Once she was standing, I saw she was at least an inch under five foot.
“Hey , Cami, meet my wife, Stub.” The woman
Similar Books
