Knot So Lucky (Destination Love, #1)(74)

“I’ve heard a lot about you, Crew Matthews.”

I give him a tight smile.

“And I’ve heard a lot about you.”

We stand there staring at each other, tension building until we both break and laugh at the same time. Alec throws an arm over my shoulder as he turns and guides me off the field.

“Are we talking football, or are we talking women?” he says quietly, giving a nod to someone who says his name with admiration.

I look at him, appreciating the frankness, but I shake my head.

“There’s only one thing I can talk about. Because the other one’s not an option.”

He nods, looking thoughtful, and removes his arm as we get to the bench, so I grab my sports bottle and take a drink.

“Well,” he finally offers, “if we’re talking football, then that’s easy. Just do what you know how to do. That’s what got you here, and it’s what’ll keep you here. And maybe if you’re lucky, your name will be somewhere around mine in that Hall of Fame.”

I nod, and I keep nodding because I heard him, but I’m still thinking about what I really wanted to ask him. And that thought is getting more and more intrusive until I look up and, against my better judgment, say, “How is she?”

He smirks and gives my cheek a pat. “Give me a moment.”

Alec pulls out his phone and hits the call button as I frown. Who the fuck is he calling? But I don’t get a chance to ask before a voice rings out.

“Did he cave already?” Who the fuck?

Alec chuckles, covering the phone and whispering, “That’s Cole,” before he answers the question. “He did. Even before I got to the inspirational shit.”

Cole shouts, “Reed, you owe me three hundred dollars.”

Jesus Christ, he called the whole damn dick brigade. So now I have to talk to all her sister’s boyfriends. Come the fuck on.

“I already gave it to your mom for head,” Reed yells back.

Alec hangs up and looks at me.

“Sorry about that, but a bet’s a bet. You understand how that is.”

I roll my eyes because my girl talks too much—shit, not my girl…thought typo.

Alec continues. “And to answer your question, she looks about as good as you.”

I take another drink from my water bottle, trying to decide how I’m handling this bullshit. But again, he beats me to the punch.

“You should call her.”

“I can’t do that, Alec. Simply because she doesn’t want me to. I won’t pressure her. Why should I? For a chance at love? I don’t believe that would make up for giving up who you are. Sometimes people can’t have it all, and that just fucking sucks.”

Alec crosses his arms, staring back at me for a long, hard few seconds before he takes a deep inhale. But I pipe up first this time.

“Is this gonna be the inspirational part?”

He huffs a laugh, shaking his head.

“No. This is the honest part. I’m assuming you know about my private life?”

I nod.

“Then we’re proof that you can have everything you want without sacrificing who you are. We manage that shit daily with five people. Your amateur-hour ass can figure out the two of you. Don’t you think?”

I toss my bottle a little harder than necessary, but he’s starting to piss me off.

“If I go after her, I’ll always wonder if she would have ever eventually chosen that for herself. She wrote the note. She decides for herself. Who the fuck am I to second-guess that?”

“You’re the fucking guy that wants to be with her,” he presses.

He doesn’t get it. “Eleanor isn’t there for me to take… That woman is a gift only she can give.”

I hear Coach blow the whistle, so I reach out and shake Alec’s hand, putting an end to the conversation.

“I appreciate you coming today.”

He gives me a tight smile, but as I let go, he holds me in place, his eyes locked on mine.

“Eleanor’s a wild card, Crew, but she’ll never be able to surprise you if you don’t give her the option.”

Alec releases my hand, and I take a few steps backward, still staring at him. But as I turn around to head out onto the field, I stop, looking back over my shoulder, and do something I’m scared to death I’ll regret.

“Tell her there’ll be tickets with her name on them at will call for the season opener. If she wants me, she can come and get me.”





eleanor


“Yay, salon opening.” Sami cheers, clinking her glass to mine.

I smile and say, “Yay,” back before downing the entire flute of champagne I’m holding.

“Whoa,” she breathes. “I was assuming the vibe was celebratory, not blackout drunk.”

I narrow my eyes at her, aiming for hilarious sarcasm, but instead, I hit too close to home…mine.

“Why are you trying to bring up my past?”

Her head draws back as she looks at me like I’m crazy. But before she can say another thing, Millie walks over.

“Oh my gosh. The turnout is amazing, and I’m so excited to see how many bookings we get… hold on a minute.” She looks between Samantha and me as her finger shifts between us. “Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. What’s going on here? There are no sister fights at the opening of our salon.”