Now the same nervousness she was trying to talk herself out of crept up on me.

Falling asleep in my bed with her had been one of the best nights of my life—championship included. Waking up in the middle of the night, I’d stared at her, watching the relaxed way she breathed and burrowed deeper into my chest like only I provided the warmth she needed.

Instead of closing the window, I’d wrapped the blanket around us. Warm, bundled and safe—that’s how it felt with her in my arms. A landscape swung to mind, one with a setting sun that settled in your chest with a glowing peace.

Lying beside her, fully clothed with our shoes still on felt way closer than I’d ever been with anyone else, but it had been an accident. We hadn’t planned it. I hadn’t planned it.

Tonight, a lot more build up meant a chance for nerves to creep in. On the field and before a game, I didn’t have any problems getting out the energy buzzing through me. But I didn’t think Bay would approve of me jogging in place, shoving on my helmet and banging my head into the wall a few times.

“Did you find something?” She popped up beside me.

I jerked, heart racing, nearly knocking the two glasses of coke and bowl of popcorn from her hands.

My body recovered quicker than my brain and I snatched the two glasses from her shaky hold, leaving her to save the popcorn.

She bent over with the bowl clutched to her chest and let out nervous laughter. “Did you think a serial killer had shown up or something?”

I slid the glasses on the coffee table and took the bowl from her. “Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in.”

“Obviously.” She snorted and dug her fingers into the bowl of chocolates nestled in the center of the pile of popcorn. “Goobers, popcorn and cherry Coke. It’s my nirvana. Did you find something for us to watch?”

I leaned back and rested my arm along the back of the couch. “Not yet. I didn’t know what you felt like watching.” The smell of the buttery popcorn had my stomach rumbling. I turned up the volume to cover it.

She shrugged and flopped down beside me, falling right into the nook of my arm. The raspberry smell of her shampoo filled my nose.

She reached over me, her chest brushing against mine, and grabbed the remote, wedging herself even closer.

Every sense was overwhelmed by her, and I wanted even more.

Flicking through the screens, she glanced up at me.

I ducked my head like I needed to get an inch closer to her to hear her, trying to cover up the fact that I’d been in la-la land daydreaming about her and hadn’t heard a word she’d said.

“Sure, sounds good.” I looked back to the screen and my smile widened.

“Welcome to the party, pal.” She clicked play and set down the remote before grabbing the bowl and setting them on her lap.