a baby together,” I repeat, letting the reality of it set in harder than ever.
I barely know Ellie. I mean, physically, I got to know her pretty damn well that night said baby was accidentally made. But as for her as a person, I don’t know much. But I know that I want to.
“I’m actually glad you’re working for Riders PR and all that,” I say. “Spending more time together, given the upcoming circumstances, can’t be a bad thing.”
“That’s really true,” she says with a smile, seeming more relaxed every moment. “Besides, focusing on your image and playoffs and all that is sort of a way to get our minds off of it. At least part of the time.”
“Let’s get our minds off of it, then.” I sip my Sprite, eager not to let the spontaneous night together end. “How are you gonna make the fans adore me?” I smile. “Other than focusing on my insane good looks and unparalleled athleticism.”
She lets out a bubbly laugh and rests her head against the back of the sofa. “You’re not really an arrogant prick. I know you want to be, for whatever reason, but I don’t think you are.”
I draw back and gasp in mock hurt. “You think I’m soft?”
“I think you’re nice. Nicer than you make yourself out to be. Humble, even.” She gathers her hair over one shoulder. “But that’s just a guess. Like I said, we don’t know each other. You could be a stone-cold douchey jock down to the core.”
I narrow my gaze and look at her for a long moment.
“You’re not,” she clarifies.
“I guess I’m not. I just want to be the next Chase Kennedy, you know? I’ve always looked up to him and admired him so much. Now I’m literally standing in his shoes, and…I need to live up to that. I need to live up to him.”
She scratches her head and studies me, like a computer scanning my brain for bits of information.
“What?” I ask, a little impatient.
“Nothing. I just…” She looks out the window. “I want to figure you out. I need to, if I’m going to make everyone love you and believe in you. I can’t only market you as a good quarterback and an impressive athlete. I need to understand you and find something that people will get behind and relate to.”
“Well, everyone adores Chase.” I run a hand through my hair. “That’s why I want to be like him.”
“I get that.” She twists her feet up underneath her on the sofa. “I just have to get to know you well enough to make people love you the way they love Chase.”
“Well…” I smile slowly, loving the idea that’s popped into my head. “You don’t really know me until you’ve seen me play. And since you’ve spent the last decade gallivanting around the globe, I doubt you’ve been to a Riders game.”
She arches a brow and fights a smile. “In my defense, you didn’t start for the Riders until this month.”
“Okay. No need for rudeness,” I tease. “Come to our game on Sunday. It’s here at home, first round of playoffs against the Ravens.”
She considers this with a deep sigh. “All right. I guess I can’t market you as a football player if I haven’t seen you on the field.”
“Awesome. I’ll give you a ticket to sit in the box seats so you can chill with all the players’ wives. They’re all great.”
She cocks her head and furrows her brow. “Matt, that’s sweet, but I can use the executive suite if I want to. My family owns the team, remember?”
I wet my lips and jut my chin toward her. “Something tells me you’ll have a little more fun in the box seats.”
“Okay. Thanks.” She hugs her knees to her chest and rests her chin on them. A yawn slips out. I never realized a yawn could be that adorable.
“You’re tired.” I give in to the urge to toy with a strand of her shiny, dark red hair.
She smiles. “Just a little. Making a human being and all.”
I stand up and give her a smile, feeling like I’m floating, because tonight could not possibly have gone any better.
Well, okay. We could have ended up in bed again. That would have been better.
“Night, Matt.”
“Peace out, Ellie.” I open the suite door, and she walks over to say goodbye to me. “Don’t stress. We’re gonna figure all of this out.”
She nods, biting her lip and holding my gaze steadily. “I know we are.”
As I leave