I took on an international position that involves a ton of travel.”
“Not a desk-job gal, huh?” She flips a pink lock. “Me, either. I teach yoga.”
I smile. “Cool.”
“But if you have this crazy, world-traveling, zillion-dollar, important job, why are you working for the Riders now?”
Her giant brown eyes sparkle with purity and genuine curiosity. The poor, sweet yogi has absolutely no idea of the massive weight attached to that particular question.
“Just wanted to…settle down.” The phrase makes me jump the second it slips out of my mouth. “Temporarily,” I add quickly, waving a hand. “I’ll be back on the jet soon. I just needed a break.”
Melody nods. “Rest heals the soul. And South Florida is a perfect place for it.”
“Exactly.” I try to stifle the audible sigh of relief and realize I’m gonna need a better go-to explanation for the sudden drastic job change.
“So.” Frankie turns to me, having handed off Sammy to a couple of other wives so he can play with their kids in the back. “What’s your plan to make everybody love Matt?”
“Well, so far it doesn’t involve pretending to be his fiancée,” I tease.
Just carrying his baby. Secretly.
Frankie laughs heartily. “Fair enough.”
“No, but honestly, I haven’t quite nailed it down just yet.” I look back at the field and watch as the Riders line up on defense for another play. “I’m still figuring him out. All I know so far is that he wants to be the next Chase Kennedy. And he wants people to love him as much as they love Chase.”
Frankie snorts. “We know. Matt worships Chase. Maybe not as much anymore, now that he’s actually QB1 and starting to come into his own.”
Whitney leans over and chimes in. “Oh yeah. Matt is definitely his protégé. And not just with football.” She gives me a side-eye and purses her lips. “Chase used to be a pretty notorious playboy. He’s been trying to pass that lovely torch to Matt ever since he realized he was madly in love with…” She points to her glittery ring. “Yours truly.”
“Oh, for sure,” Frankie adds. “From everything Leo tells me, Matt’s definitely been walking in those footsteps. Just one hookup after another, or at least that’s what I’ve heard.” She rolls her eyes.
I try to ignore the tightness in my throat and the way my heart tugs and jumps. What if the playboy thing isn’t an act? What if he really is a soulless womanizer and now I’ve actually agreed to co-parent with him?
“I don’t know, guys.” Melody twists one of her rings. “Matt tries to be a hotshot fuckboy, but is he really? He seems so sweet all the time. I mean, when was the last time that we know for a fact he had a one-night stand?”
I gulp and stare at my feet, practically holding my breath.
Frankie tilts her head. “We could be wrong. He could just be hyped up by Chase and the guys. I guess we don’t really keep close enough track of Matt’s sex-capades.”
Whitney chuckles. “Mel, you’re probably right. Pretty sure the last time Chase talked to me about it, he referred to Matt as a ‘lost cause.’ He apparently turned down a three-way because it felt weird.”
Frankie and Melody laugh and mutually eye-roll, and Frankie gives me a pat on the shoulder. “Good luck, my friend. Welcome to the world’s most in-each-other’s-business football team.”
“So he tries to be a huge player, but isn’t really?” I clarify slowly. For business. For this assignment. Not because I care about Matt’s sex life.
“That’s kinda my take on it,” Melody says with a sip on her straw.
“He is way, way more of a ‘nice guy’ than Chase.” Whitney laughs. “I’ll be the first to admit that.”
Frankie and Whitney agree, and I scratch my head and ponder this.
Somehow, we’ve managed to chat and cheer and laugh our way through almost the entire first half, and Matt’s been playing really well. One gorgeous pass after another and a lot of great running plays. I’ve found myself getting more and more captivated with each second on the clock.
Captivated by the game of football. Not captivated by…him.
As halftime rolls around and drink refills are served, I realize I’ve spent a little too much time daydreaming about the way his biceps flex when he throws the ball and not nearly enough time putting together a marketing strategy to make the public love Matt in time for the Super Bowl.