I swipe them off the bed table and hurry back to him. He reaches for them, but I shake my head. “No, let me.”
I slip the glasses on, and he peers at me over the top as I do.
“You’re so beautiful,” he says softly. Heat rushes up from my neck to my cheeks. “And not just on the outside. You havethe most magnificent soul of anyone I’ve had the pleasure of meeting.”
“I don’t know about that.”
He leans further into the doorway and the gesture brings him slightly closer to my height. “Trust me, you do.”
We stare at each other for a long moment. It’s intense, like it always is with us, but it’s not uncomfortable. My heart beats just a little faster as I mentally will him to kiss me, despite knowing deep down he won’t make that move. Not anymore. I have to. But I can’t seem to get up the confidence to do it right now.
That’s when his phone rings.
He sighs, pulling it out of his pocket. With the spell broken I grab up my clutch from where I tossed it on the bed when I was getting his glasses.
“Yeah, we’re heading down now. Is there room for us? Yeah, okay just wait and we’ll be right there.”
He hangs up and says, “They’re waiting downstairs in a car. There’s enough space for us to go too and not get a separate car. Are you ready?”
Nodding, I grab my cane. “I’m ready.”
When we finally make it downstairs and to the car, we find Sabrina and Noah already celebrating with glasses of champagne.
“Hey! There’s the greatest coach ever!” Noah pours another glass and hands it to Fisher.
Rolling his eyes, Fisher says, “I’m sure the other coaches would disagree with that.”
“Well, none of them are also my best friend so you get the honor.”
“I love this dress,” Sabrina says as I join her in the back row of the SUV. “Do you want some champagne?”
“Thanks.” I tug on the short hem to attempt to cover more of my thighs. “Fisher picked it. And yes, please, I would love some champagne.”
She pours a glass and hands it over as the driver pulls away from the hotel. “He has good taste.”
Fisher, of course, hears this and turns around with a pleased smirk.
“Don’t let it go to your head,” I tease.
“Too late,” he responds, turning back to Noah to carry on their conversation.
“Where’s Maddie?” I ask, noting the absence of Noah’s daughter.
“She wanted to stay in tonight, so your parents actually offered to hang out with her.”
“Oh, that was nice of them.” I need to ask my parents to get breakfast or just to hang out soon. I haven’t exactly been avoiding them, but I also haven’t been going out of my way to see them outside of my brother’s matches.
When we pull up outside the restaurant, the guys get out first and help us. Fisher keeps a hold on my hand and doesn’t let go until we reach the table and he pulls my chair out for me.
“Thanks,” I say as he scoots me in.
“Elias and Whimsy should be here shortly,” Noah says after checking his phone. He slides it back into his pocket before he takes his seat. “Fashionably late as per usual. This is why he can’t win Grand Slams.”
I roll my eyes at Noah’s antics. “He’s beatyouat a Grand Slam.”
He chuckles, picking up the menu. “Semantics.”
By the time my brother and Whimsy arrive, we’ve already ordered a bottle of wine and some small bites.