LEOMy parents' house was filled with people, food and noise. I eased my way out of the kitchen and into the hall, looking for a little break from all the family members who wanted to hear the details about my first season as a pro football player, as if they didn't know. I'd lost count of how many times I'd agreed that this had been a growing year, that we were a young team, that Coach Harris was a wonderful man and that our quarterback Gideon Maynard was due to have an amazing season. I'd promised tickets to my uncle and two cousins, and I'd told my other teenaged cousin-female variety-that I'd do my damnedest to get her a signed picture of Gideon. "I'd take Corey Iverson, too," she'd added, wagging her eyebrows. "He's hot.""He's also married." I tapped her on the nose. "And way too old for you." She stuck out her tongue at me. "You're no fun."I wanted to laugh. Yeah, that seems to be the general opinion of the world at large.The hallway was a little quieter. I could hea
LEO"Whoa." She teetered for a minute and instinctively grasped my arm. "Sorry about that. I was taking a short cut to the desserts."It had been just about a month since I'd seen her. The first thing I noted was that she wasn't quite as thin as she'd been then, and I was glad about that. There was a little more color in her face, too, and it looked as though she'd had her hair trimmed. It wasn't short, but the curls that bounced around her shoulders seemed a little more tamed. More styled, or whatever it was the girls called it. It was different in a good way.She wore dark blue jeans that clung to her legs and heels that brought her eyes closer to my level. Her loose black top should have seemed formless, but it somehow clung to her boobs, accenting their curves and cleavage, making my mouth water and my hands itch to touch her. Quinn's fingers released my arm as she realized it was me she'd run into, and she took one step backward, bumping into the wall behind her. When her eye
QUINNQuinn: Hey-just wanted to let you know I arrived safely in California. The apartment is beautiful. Allan and his wife are really nice. Hope all is good with you. I stared at the text for a solid minute, hating every word. It sounded stilted and formal, the kind of thing I might send a work acquaintance or an aunt I hadn't spoken with in a long time instead of the person who was closer to me than anyone else in the world. Or who used to be, and maybe that was the problem.Finally, I hit send and tossed the telephone down on the couch, sighing. When it came to Leo, everything felt uncertain and murky. I couldn't quite find my footing. I'd been proud of how well I'd handled our meeting at his brother's engagement party; I knew I'd taken him by surprise with my announcement. He'd seemed almost unhappy that I was moving across the country. I'd expected him to be relieved that I was leaving, after my disastrous visit to Virginia.Still, I'd managed to stay both aloof and calm wi
LEO"He's gonna go for the pass here. Trust me, I know this." Tate Durham ran one hand through his short hair, damp with sweat. "I don't know, man. Why wouldn't he just run with it? Makes more sense." He was hunched over, his head near mine in the huddle. "And why should I trust you? You don't play defense.""Neither do you, doofus. But I know because he's my brother, and he thinks he can exploit our weakness, which is defending the pass play.""Doofus? What are we, nine?" Tate jabbed me in the arm. I grimaced. "Sorry. Hanging out with Danny tends to bring out my inner little brother. Would you be more comfortable with me calling you asshole?""Nah. I kind of like the doofus bit. You know me and my retro slang." "Yeah, that's true.""Hey, are you two finished making out over there? Can we get back to playing this game, or do you need to cuddle for a few more minutes?" Danny stood a couple of yards away, hands on his hips. "Shut up." I straightened. "We were figuring out wh
QUINNLeo: Hey, you still awake?Quinn: Uh, yeah. It's only nine. I'm not that feeble yet. Leo: Forgot about the time difference. I just got home from Corey and Ellie's house. Danny and Tate are out in the great room playing video games, drinking my booze and being obnoxiously loud. Quinn: Oh, you poor thing. :p I don't think I've ever seen Tate drunk or disorderly.Leo: Yeah, you're right. It's mostly Danny. Tate's just playing the game. Quinn: So why aren't you there with them?Leo: I don't know. Just not interested. And I wanted to talk to you. How was your wine tasting day?Quinn: Fun. Kara's very nice, and I think she's glad to have another woman around. They work with a lot of guys in their business and charity. Leo: Lots of guys, huh? Young, good-looking guys?Quinn: Hmmmm . . .Leo: Hmmmmm?Quinn: LOL no. Mostly middle-aged and married. Leo: I like the sound of that. Okay, now that we have that out of the way, do you have a minute? Quinn: I think I can spar
QUINNQuinn: Hey, are you busy? Leo: No. Just laying here hoping to die.Quinn: Why?? What's wrong? Are you okay?Leo: Yeah, sorry. Spring conditioning is brutal. Just got back home, made it as far as my couch. Not sure I'll move again tonight. Quinn: Oh, you poor thing. What did they make you do?Leo: Sprints. Bear crawls. Burpees. You know, the trifecta. Quinn: Yikes. I'll let you rest. Text me later if you have a minute.Leo: No, I'm fine. As long as I'm laying here hurting, I might as well chat with you. Quinn: Ummm, thank you? Leo: LOL no, no, no, didn't mean it that way. Just that talking to you distracts me from feeling bad. What's up? You all right?Quinn: Yeah, I am. I just ...I wanted to tell you I'm sorry, Leo. I never really said that to you, but I am sorry. I spent a lot of time today talking with Kara and Allan about Nate. I guess I finally admitted to myself how mad at him I've been.Leo: Mad at Nate? For what, dying?Quinn: No, for asking me to marry h
QUINN"Are you sure there isn't anything else I can do for you?" I leaned one hand on the corner of Kara Crocker's beautiful antique desk. "Do you need me to go over those press statements one more time? Or I can run out to pick up the new candles you ordered for the front table. Or-""Quinn." Kara shot me a stern look. "Stop. The press statements are perfect. They've already been sent out. And the candles will be delivered. You are off the clock, sweetheart. Get out of here. Go for a walk, or go shopping, or go out to lunch. Or take a nap."I dropped into the small, elegant chair that fronted the desk. "But I don't want to be off the clock. I want to be helpful.""Darling girl." Kara stood up, came around to stand in front of me and tugged me to my feet. "You've spent the last five months being helpful. Allan and I are so grateful for everything you've done for us. We love you, and we will always consider you part of our family. But now, you need to take a little time for yourself
LEO"So, Taylor. When do you head out?" Corey wiped off his forehead and bent at the waist, breathing hard. We'd just finished running three miles, and for the life of me, I couldn't remember why. After all, mini-camp had ended the day before, and preseason training camp didn't start for another month. This was supposed to be our break, but Iverson had big ideas about staying in shape between times. I'd agreed to do some lifting and a little PT, but I hadn't expected him to want to run today. When he'd showed up at my house, though, eager to get in a few miles, I hadn't had the heart to turn him away.Not that he would've left anyway. Dude was seriously stubborn when it came to this training shit. Now I stared at him, my eyes narrowing. "Where exactly am I heading out to again?" "San Fran, to see your girl." He spoke serenely and certainly, as though I actually had discussed plans of this nature with him before. I hadn't. Oh, had I considered the idea of flying out to see Quinn