Knot So Lucky (Destination Love, #1)(41)

The door closes behind me, ruining her moment, because in sheer panic, she spins around, her hand covering her mouth.

But I shake my head.

“Calm down. That’s the thing movies do get wrong. The door reopens.”

I lean back, pressing it open before letting it close again. She smiles before going back to her moment as I walk over to two lawn chairs I snuck up here months ago.

It squeaks as I sit down, setting the drinks on the other chair before I open our dinner bag. Eleanor looks over her shoulder and spins around, walking over to join me.

“This is pretty amazing,” she breathes out, taking her tacos. “I bet you bring all the girls you marry and end up having to live with for thirty days here?”

“Obviously,” I throw out with a wink. “Why else would I invest in this kind of luxury?” My hand motions to the cheap lawn chairs we’re sitting on.

She laughs, and I join before I watch her take a ginormous bite of her taco. She leans over the paper to catch the spillage. Eleanor really is the definition of authentic. The girl doesn’t give a shit about being anyone other than who she is. It’s refreshing.

I also have no idea what to do with her because people like this make it so whatever guard you have up is hopeless. She makes me want to be myself.

And that’s not someone I can really ever be with anyone. A thought strikes.

“I’ve actually never brought anyone here. Not even TJ or Nate. This is my hideaway. I figured…”

My voice trails off because she mumbles through a mouthful of food, but I still make out that she’s saying, I thought you guys were in love. My shoulders shake, and I abandon what I was about to say, opting to take a bite of my food as she starts talking.

“I guess I should be honored. But why do I feel this is more about escaping the public eye? Back there in the casino…you were really nice to that guy. You even leaned in for the shot. But that has to get overwhelming. I mean, I was a little tripped out. And there aren’t nearly as many eyes on me as there are on you.”

I take a swig of my beer, then hold it between my fingers, letting it dangle.

“My first year as a rookie, that was hard. People were really intrusive, and my privacy felt like a sacrifice I had to make in return for the fame. But now, I guess I’m kind of used to it.”

I look up at the sky, smirking before adding, “But it is nice to be able to eat without people taking a photo of me and ending up as a meme. You know?”

My face turns to Eleanor’s. She’s mid-bite, mouth wide open, staring up at me before she lowers her taco.

“No, I have no idea what it’s like.”

The grin on my face grows. “Lucky…for them and you. Because you eat like an animal.”

“I’m hungry,” she growls.

“You’re feral,” I toss back.

She shrugs. “That too.”

We laugh before eating in silence for a few minutes, only moaning over how good the food is. I take another swig, relaxing back on the chair before she steals my beer.

“You know, you’re not terrible to hang out with,” she muses. I raise my brows, smirking, as she grins. “How is it that you haven’t had a girlfriend? I mean, I know I was joking the other day, but I get the vibe that you’ve been single for a hot minute.”

I prop a hand behind my head, stealing my beer back with the other.

“Jesus, I haven’t had a serious relationship since I started in the league. At first, the worry was is every girl a gold digger? Then that morphed into what are they willing to do to tie it down? And I know there are plenty of nice people out there too. But mostly, I think I didn’t commit because love is a distraction.”

“I get that. The whole distraction thing. I feel the same way. I have things I want to accomplish, and if part of who I am is someone’s girlfriend, the expectation is set that I’m supposed to consider them above myself.”

I’m nodding. She totally gets it.

“Exactly. There’s shit I want to accomplish, and it doesn’t include learning to compromise to make someone else happy. This is all I’ve ever wanted to do since I was a little boy.” I glance over at her, suddenly talking about shit I never talk about. “I grew up in foster care, but football was my one constant. I was lucky enough to take it from place to place.” My forehead wrinkles. “Stop me if you googled this.”

She laughs, rolling her eyes and cutting in as she wipes her hands on a napkin.

“Why would I google you? Nobody does that.”

“Yeah, they do,” I bark playfully. “I did it to you. And after reviewing your Twitter, I could totally understand why you don’t have a boyfriend. You’re a troll of the finest degree. But who has the balls to take that on?”

She gasps, chucking her napkin at me. I laugh and turn to block it with my shoulder.

“Weak. My Twitter is legendary, you son of a bitch. And if you’d really googled me, you would know that I am the premier esthetician in the Bay Area.”

I’m smiling because I’m pretty sure she’s not saying that sardonically. She lets out a deep breath before rubbing her tummy and lying back on the chair.

“Gimme,” she whispers, wiggling her fingers for my beer.

“Why didn’t you get your own when I asked if you wanted one?”