Part 4 (1/2)

”No, I don't, sweetheart.”

”Why not?” someone asks.

”Well, there is one woman I'm interested in, but I don't think she likes me back.”

”Well then she's stupid,” Liza retorts, and everyone laughs.

”No, she's smart,” Trevon jokes, punching Will in the shoulder.

”Who is it?” Nick asks him.

”Actually, you know her,” Will begins and I bite my lip and feel my eyes widen. Holy s.h.i.+t! ”I'd love to get to know Meg better.”

”Well then ask her out,” someone out of my line of vision advises him.

”I don't think she's interested in me.”

”We can help,” Liza offers. ”We know her really well.”

”Um, okay.” Will suddenly sounds nervous and I grin.

”She loves music,” my patient, Bree tells him.

”And chocolate,” offers Mike.

”And she likes hugs,” my thirteen-year-old Jason chimes in.

”But if you f.u.c.k with her, I'll tear your heart out of your chest, cancer be d.a.m.ned,” Nick states clearly, harshly.

”Nick!” his mom exclaims. My feet are rooted to the floor. I should go take care of this, but I can't move. I want to hear Will's response. Silence fills the room and I picture the two guys, one almost a man and one a grown up, staring at each other.

Finally, Will says, ”You know, Nick, I already had a lot of respect for you just from our chat earlier today, but now I just think you're bada.s.s. You're a good man. You don't need to worry about Meg.”

I walk into the room in time to see Nick nod soberly and look at the floor. The other four players' smirks have left their handsome faces, and are instead looking at Nick with respect.

”Okay, everyone,” my voice is bright, not giving a clue that I just heard the conversation about Will and me. ”I know you probably have a lot more questions for our guests, but I think it's time we let them off the hook. They've spent a lot of their time with us today.”

There are a few groans, but the room erupts into applause.

”Thank you!” The kids call out, and all five players look a bit embarra.s.sed, but boast huge, proud smiles.

”You're very welcome,” Will responds when the applause dies down.

”Good luck on Sunday,” Bree's dad calls out. ”I have money riding on it!”

”We'll see what we can do,” Sanders responds.

I follow the players back to the elevators, Will and I lagging behind the others. He takes my hand in his, but I pull away and look around.

”Not at my job, Will.”

”Oh, so I can hold your hand outside of work?” he asks with a c.o.c.ky grin.

”I didn't say that.” d.a.m.n him.

”Walk me to my car.” He murmurs down to me, so only I can hear.

”You didn't ride with the others?” I ask.

”No, Trevon stopped at the training center on his way here to get the Hawks gear, and we all met here.”

”Okay.”

When we reach the parking garage, Will's teammates each hug me tight.

”You do not have an easy job, little lady,” Kip mutters, his face grim.

”Days like today make my job fantastic, Kip. Seriously, thank you, all of you for coming today. You just don't know what you did for those kids.”

”Why haven't you asked us to come before?” Jerrel asks and Will coughs, choking on his own spit.

”Actually, I have. Several times. But I always got a no.”

”f.u.c.king Susan,” Trevon mutters darkly. ”From now on, contact us directly. I'm a.s.suming you have Montgomery's number?”

”Uh, no.” I shake my head and press my lips together.

”Well, h.e.l.l, I'll give you my number,” Kip grins. ”And not just to visit you at work.”

”Back up, Sutherland,” Will warns. ”I got this.”

”Good.” Kip winks at me and the guys all go climb in their own vehicles to leave, wave at us and are gone.

”So,” Will murmurs and steps toward me. Despite the magnetic pull I feel, I take a step back.

”I should go back up.”

”I want to see you, Meg.” Well, he's blunt, isn't he?

”I don't think that's a good idea,” I murmur.

His eyes narrow and he crosses his arms over his chest. ”Why not?”

”This is a busy time for you, Will, and my job is busy too. h.e.l.l, I haven't heard from you for the past two weeks, so I just a.s.sumed...”

”Number one, don't a.s.sume. Ever.” His voice is hard and immediately grabs my attention. ”Number two, yes, we're busy, but we can find the time. And number three, I'm interested.”