in my hands, and I held them out to him. “I got you and your dad a water.”
I was pretty sure he hadn’t registered a word I said. He reached out for my hand, tugging me toward him, and my chest pressed against his.
He stared down at me without saying a word, and I could barely breathe. This was where everything became so confusing. This right here. It felt real. Far too real. But I didn’t know where the truth began and the lies ended.
Was this for him or was this for everyone else?
“What?” My voice sounded as breathless as I felt.
“You really took the cheerleader thing to heart, huh?” His hand moved to my hip. It was an innocent touch, but I felt like he was stripping me bare right here for everyone to see.
“I’m nothing if not a little extra.” I shrugged as he grinned.
“Are you going to cheer for me?” He moved his face closer to mine and pressed a kiss on my jaw that was so gentle I almost thought I imagined it.
“If that’s what you want.”
His lips were now right against my ear. “I want a lot of things.”
I swear to God a chill ran through my body and everyone in those bleachers or on that field had a front-row view of Liam turning me to putty in his hands.
“If we lose this game, I’m blaming you.”
“Me?” I turned my face to look at him, but that only put his mouth incredibly close to mine. “What did I do?”
“You came here looking like a wet fucking dream, and I’m going to be distracted.” His hand tightened on my hip, and I swear if we weren’t in front of his whole damn town I would say fuck this agreement. I wanted Liam, and despite our history, I knew he wanted me too.
I just didn’t know how far that want went.
But we were in front of an audience and that audience included people who were supposed to believe we were in love.
“Don’t blame your lack of football skills on my outfit.”
“Alright.” He chuckled and finally faced me again. “I’ll win this game just for you.”
“Don’t write checks your ass can’t cash, Golden Boy.” As soon as the words left my lips, his mouth was on mine. The kiss was passionate or soul-searing, but it was sudden and unplanned and real.
And I couldn’t do anything but stare after him as he took the waters from my hands and headed out onto the field.
I took a seat between his mom and Sophie and nudged Sophie in the side to get her to stop smirking like a loon.
She leaned toward me, whispering where only I could hear. “You’re right. Like looked super official. No funny business at all.”
I was so screwed.
She knew it. I knew it, but I couldn’t let Liam know it.
It was the last thing I needed.
This was a fake relationship, and I didn’t want my soon-to-be business partner realizing that I was making really poor business decisions from the get-go.
Especially when it came to him.
They took the field, and I smiled as I looked out at Liam’s dad standing near him on the field. I didn’t have a clue what position he was playing. In all honesty, the only one I actually knew was that Liam was the quarterback.
“Let’s go boys!” Sarah yelled from beside me just as the ball hit Liam’s hands.
I wasn’t at all surprised at how good he was. He threw the ball, it landed in the hands of the other player perfectly, and before I even knew what was happening, they were scoring.
I jumped to my feet, cheering with Liam’s mom, and we high-fived just as the other offense took the field.
The game went back and forth for a long time. The score was practically even the whole game, but then Liam got into a rhythm and the other team didn’t stand a chance.
It was the fourth quarter, thank God. It was hot as hell out here and this jersey wasn’t nearly as breathable as it looked. Liam looked like he was having a blast, and I loved seeing him so carefree and happy.
He caught the snap, Sarah told me that was what they called it, and cocked his arm back to throw the ball. He didn’t even see the guy coming at him from the side.
None of us did.
They were playing flag football, but this guy hit Liam like he was trying to kill him.
Liam hit the ground and I jumped out