Poppy frowns. “That’s a terrible attitude to have about this.”
“Pops, I—”
She holds up her hand. “I’m not going to make you talk about it right now because I can tell you’re an inch away from shutting down on me.”
True.
“But,” she continues, “I’m here for you, okay? Whenever you’re ready to talk.”
I nod and swallow. “Did you, uh, need something?”
She gives me a side hug. “Nah. Just wanted to see you.”
My heart swells as she skips back to her side of the duplex, calling over her shoulder that she can’t wait for the game.
Gosh, I love my sisters.
“I don’t want to leave them.” The words tumble from my mouth, spoken to no one but my empty duplex. It’s the first time I’ve acknowledged that.
But what will I do if I don’t go abroad? What is my life without my undercover work? I’m buried under so much of it, how will I ever dig my way out?
These are esoteric thoughts for another time.
I pull my jacket and peanuts to my face and bury my head in them.
I’ve got a football game to watch and an article to write. Not to mention an ex-boyfriend whose literal life is in my hands. Those are my priorities right now.
Two hours later, I’m standing on the sidelines of the field, watching the River Foxes warm up. That’s not entirely true. I’m really only watching one player: Anton.
The man is locked in. He’s throwing warm-up passes to his receivers and tight ends like he’s firing surface-to-air missiles. It’s slightly terrifying and, yeah, totally hot.
“Bates looks like he could break a guy’s finger if they aren’t careful.” Collin is standing to my left, with Noli.
Poppy leans forward from where she and Mack are standing on my right. “Maybe he’s trying to impress a certain journalist so she gives him some good press.”
She wags her eyebrows at me, and I roll my eyes. “Very funny.”
All around us, the stadium vibrates with pre-game energy. Jock jams emanate from the speakers, and the smell of snow mixes with the smell of fresh grass. Here in Green Bay, the field isn’t lined with turf. Thanks to the snow that fell last night, we get to experience the heady mixture of the frozen tundra. By the game’send, the field will be a muddy mess, but for now, it’s picturesque, the green and the white.
I tuck my chin into my coat from Anton. Physically, it’s keeping me toasty warm on the outside, and knowing that he was thinking about me is heating me from the inside. A win-win.
“We should probably head to our seats.” Noli glances over her shoulder.
My family is going to be in the stands for the game. I’ll be here on the sidelines so I can get a full gameday experience for the article.Read: so I can keep a closer lookout for anyone trying to hurt Anton. All our intelligence is pointing to a more muted attack. Whoever is out to get him doesn’t seem to want to make a big splash. They’re more concerned with taking him out than they are with drawing attention to themselves. So, I doubt they’ll hit at a game, when the entire general public has the potential to witness it.
Still, as I hug my sisters and fist bump my brothers-in-law, my head is on a swivel.
“We’ll find you after the game.” Poppy releases me from a hug. “Where should we meet?”
“I’ve got to connect with Anton in the locker room.”
“Why? Does he need you to towel him off?” Noli pokes her chin up and rests it on Poppy’s shoulder. “Rub down his muscles?”
“Oh my gosh. Stop it.” I dart a glance around to make sure no one overheard her. I spin back to them and pin Poppy with a warning look. “You told her?”
Poppy shrugs. “There are no secrets among sisters.”
If she only knew. I blink away my guilt.
