“Aww, that’s so wonderful,” Mia said. “I’ll bet you’re so excited.”
“We are.”
The doors opened and the reporters poured out. Soon enough, the players followed. Flynn came over and wrapped his arms around Amelia.
“It was such a good game,” Amelia said. “You were amazing.”
“You really were, Flynn,” Mia said. “Defense looks solid.”
Flynn turned to her, keeping his arm around Amelia. “Thanks. It’s just preseason so positions aren’t fully set yet, but I liked the way the defense felt in that game against a damn good opponent.”
Amelia laid her hand on his chest and looked up at him. “Building blocks, right?”
He smiled down at her. “Right, babe.”
Nathan came out then, and Mia made sure to keep her distance as he stopped to chat. Since journalists were still wandering around, she didn’t want to give them any gossip fodder, plus she was still on the lookout for that photographer who’d been stalking them. She didn’t see him here, though.
“Hey, great game, Nathan,” she said.
He smiled. “Thanks.”
“You looked amazing out there, Nathan,” Amelia said.
“I appreciate that.”
“Don’t go giving him a swelled head,” Flynn said. “He was just okay.”
Nathan laughed. “That’s Flynn, always keeping my feet solidly on the ground.”
Flynn slapped him on the back. “That’s what I’m here for, man.”
Jamal came out and stood next to Nathan. “Hey, Mia. How’s it going?”
“Good. Is Wendy here?”
He shook his head. “She was disappointed she couldn’t make it, but she had to take an early flight out today. She has a client meeting in New York first thing in the morning.”
“Next home game, then.”
Jamal nodded. “For sure. Which is in two weeks since we fly to Tampa next.”
“Oh, that’s right. You and Barrett get to beat up on each other in the preseason,” Mia asked.
Flynn grinned. “Yup. That’s always fun. We’ll plan on plenty of trash talk.”
“I guess I’ll have to get in the middle of that since I’m the one who’ll be scoring on Barrett,” Nathan said.
Flynn arched a brow. “Score one touchdown and suddenly you’re a superstar, huh?”
Nathan laughed. “So you don’t want me to score against Tampa?”
Flynn frowned. “Careful, kid, or you might find yourself crammed into one of the lockers at the stadium.”
“Yeah, I’ll mention that to my offensive linemen.”
Jamal laughed hard. “He got you, Cassidy.”
Mia grinned at Flynn. “I don’t think you’re going to win this one.”
“I don’t know. I think me and my defense can take the kid and his offense.”
“Bring it, Flynn,” Nathan said.
Flynn shook his head. “Kid. You’re cocky. I kind of like this new side to you. But don’t push it.”
Nathan laughed.
Mia knew they were all joking, so she blew it off, and when Amelia suggested they all go grab a bite to eat, she thought that sounded like a great idea. But she let them walk off ahead of her and said she was going to stop in the restroom first and she’d meet them at the restaurant. Mainly, not to be seen with Nathan. Even though Jamal was with them and it wasn’t like they would look coupled up, she was still sensitive about it.
Probably oversensitive, but it was better to be cautious.
So she showed up at the restaurant ten minutes later than everyone else, then sat next to Amelia instead of Nathan. She saw the look Nathan gave her, and she knew he’d ask her about it later.
They decided to stay local and eat closer to the stadium rather than fighting traffic to get back into the city. The Fish Market was crowded with people from the game, which meant that Flynn, Nathan and Jamal were recognized. They smiled and took some pics and signed a few autographs, but then people left them alone.
Mia was glad she’d made sure to arrive separately. And since Nathan was huddled with Jamal and Flynn, it gave her an opportunity to chat with Amelia.
“Does it feel good to have a Sunday off from Ninety-Two?”
“I never mind being at the restaurant. It’s relaxing for me to cook. I often do that on my days off anyway.”
“True. I hear cookbook sales are going well. Flynn told me they often sell out at the restaurant.”
“Which surprises me all the time. I’d originally planned to write the book and maybe self-publish it in digital format just for fun. I had no idea it would end up in print. Or be reprinted. It’s amazing. And now to be working on another cookbook is a dream come true.”
“I’m so glad you get to do something you love so much.”
“Me, too. And now, so do you.”
“Thank you. I’m pretty happy about it. At first it was all on paper, but now that it’s a reality it’s become more than I could have ever imagined. Still a bit scary.”
Amelia nodded. “Of course it is. Nothing worth fighting for is ever going to be easy. If it is, then you’re doing it wrong.”
Their waiter brought the drinks they’d ordered. After they looked at the menu, Mia decided on the linguine with clams. They all decided on oysters for an appetizer.
She hadn’t eaten during the game, so she was starving. By the time the oysters arrived, she was more than ready to down several, along with the delicious bread they offered.
Since she’d driven down to the game today, she wasn’t having any wine, which was a shame because a nice pinot grigio would have gone well with the oysters, but she was content with a sparkling water and the view of a hot man who continued to give her questioning looks from across the table.
She gave him a smile back and arched her brow.
“Excuse me, I’ll be right back.” She got up from the table to use the restroom. When she came out, Nathan was waiting.
She leaned against the wall. “I don’t know if you noticed, but this is the ladies’ room.”
“Funny,” he said. “How come you didn’t leave the stadium with us? And why aren’t you sitting next to me?”
She’d expected to have this conversation with him—later—not now, outside the ladies’ room.
“Because the media was loitering outside the locker room and I didn’t want to give them any reason to think you and I are together. And same reason here.”
He rolled his eyes. “Come on, Mia. We are together.”
“I know that and you know that, but the press doesn’t need to know it.”
He palmed the wall, caging her between the hallway and the corner. “The press isn’t here right now.”
She couldn’t deny her reaction to having his body so close to hers. But she pressed her hand against his chest to move him away. “Nathan. You have a lot of fans in this restaurant, so we shouldn’t be seen together.”
“Oh come on. Now you’re being paranoid.”
“Maybe you should be more paranoid. Your season is just kicking off and the last thing you need is some fan taking a pic of the two of us hanging out in a restaurant hallway together and posting it on social media.”
He lingered, his gaze connected to hers. Sure, she wanted to be with him all the time. But the timing on this wouldn’t be good—for either of them.
She pushed at his arm and he dropped it.
“This conversation isn’t over, Mia.”
“Whatever you say.”
She went back to the table, feeling irritated and out of sorts. She took her seat and grabbed her glass, taking a long drink of her water.
A few minutes later, Nathan returned to his seat, giving her a pointed stare.
She decided to ignore him.
“What is going on with you two?” Amelia asked in a whisper.
Mia turned to her. “With who? Nathan and me? Nothing.”
“Please. The vibes are obvious.”
“What kind of vibes?”
“Angry hot ones. Do you have a thing with Nathan?”
Mia noticed Flynn was deep in conversation with Jamal and Nathan had joined in, which was good. “Define thing.”