Imaginary Lines (New York Leopards 3)

Abe smiled at her. “You already know I’m coming. Why do you need a piece of paper? Tree killer.”

She rolled her eyes in fond exasperation. “It’s far too late to RSVP. This is for your meal. Because I can’t do that for everyone. And it would be nice to know if you’re bringing a date.”

My stomach had no reason to clench, but it did anyway.

Abe shrugged with utter nonchalance. “All right, then. I am.”

Bri looked astonished. “You are? Who?”

Abe’s gaze settled on me, and low burn began in my stomach. A smile slowly spread across his face, purposeful and sure. “Hey, Tamar, want to go to a wedding with me?”

The tension in my stomach turned into a paralyzing shock that raced through my entire body. I shook my head. “You’re supposed to ask a girlfriend. A date.”

He let the pause stretch for just long enough to be noticeable, and then responded comfortably. “I don’t have a girlfriend. And I want to take you.”

They all stared at me. I stared back, and then helplessly nodded. “Yes. Okay. I’d love to come.”

“Good.” Abe stood up and smiled. “I promised I’d help Rach take the dessert out, but I’ll see you in a bit.” His hand caressed the back of mine as he left.

Natalie and Bri stared at me, and then Bri let out a laugh. “So I’ll see you at the wedding.”

I swung back to her. “If that’s all right? I don’t want to intrude.”

The two women exchanged a fast look. “I wouldn’t worry,” Natalie said with gentle amusement. “After all, I expect we’ll be seeing you a lot more in the future.”

* * *

I was leaving the bathroom later in the evening when I heard raised voices coming down the hall to my right, and the reporter instinct in me—fine, the endless nosiness—inched me closer. The door at the end of the hall had cracked open, and I peered inside, though guiltiness instantly overwhelmed me.

Rachael Hamilton and Ryan Carter stood locked in a tense conversation.

“I don’t care about what everyone

else does.” Rachael sounded close to tears. “I care about you getting hurt.”

Carter remained stoic. “It’s better play.”

“That’s absolutely ridiculous. It’s ridiculous for the League to have rules for your safety that you guys just sneak around and ignore. Are you guy are so blinded by your bro-code that no one’s going to say anything? I can’t watch you keep getting hurt!”

He reached out for her. “Rachael—”

She pulled away, apparently too worked up to be comforted. “It’s not okay.”

“This is football.”

She spun back to him. “This is your life.”

He pulled her toward him and kissed her with such passion that I quickly backed away, unwilling to eavesdrop on such a private moment. I stood in the hall, my heart thumping. What was going on in there?

The door swung open and Rachael stormed out into the hall and almost bumped into me. Both of us froze.

“I am so sorry,” I blurted out. “Are you okay?” For such a pretty girl, she wasn’t a pretty crier; her face had turned red, her eyes watery and scrunched up.

She tried to smooth out her face and paste on a smile, but it was wholly unconvincing. “I’m fine. I just need to...” Her voice broke and she ducked by me and into the bathroom, where she splashed cold water on her face.

I turned and hovered in the doorway. “Can I help?”

“No, it’s fine.” Her eyes met mine in the mirror, looking extra green from the red that surrounded them. “I’ve been in this world for two years now, and it still barely makes sense to me.”