15. Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

Susie

That was a plot twist this author didn’t see coming.

The swarm of butterflies flitting around my stomach is sending small tingles through my entire body as I watch the tall, dark, and handsome man stroll to the counter.

Relief moves through me, pushing out any tension in my body.

I whip out my phone.

Me: It’s Adam! Me: Chase is Adam!

Brie: Chase is Adam?

A euphoric giggle passes through my lips as I frantically type.

Me: Yes!!! Me: Crazy, right?!

Brie: Crazy cool! Brie: Pretty sure he’s not a serial killer. Brie: Have fun!

I look to see where Adam is in line and find him standing at the counter waiting for our drinks. I let my eyes wander over his broad shoulders before moving back to his head, only to slam into a pair of warm brown eyes.

My face heats, and he gives me a grin that makes me thankful for the bench beneath me.

“Owens!” My stomach tightens, and I turn toward the sound of Brie’s voice to watch Josh make his way to her spot in the back of the line. Overwhelming panic surges through me.

I knew they were meeting today, but I had no clue they were meeting here. I should’ve coordinated with Brie.

The last thing I want is for Josh to catch me meeting up with Adam, considering this is more of a date than our previous two encounters. At least, I hope it’s more of a date.

I see Adam walking over to the table, a drink in each hand. Without thinking, I throw myself under the table. I immediately regret it when one of my hands lands on something sticky.

My face pulls as I look to see what it is, but I can’t see anything in the low light. Afraid to put my hand back down, I put most of my weight on my knees as I adjust my position, only to bang my head on the table.

Rubbing my head to get the sting out, I open my eyes and find Adam staring at me.

“Everything okay under there?” His eyes are dancing, and I am exceedingly grateful that my scarlet-shaded face is mostly hidden from him.

“Stop talking and sit down.” I wave my hand furiously toward the bench. He narrows his glinting eyes at me while he struggles to keep a smile from his face. I glare at him, but he doesn’t move. I pull on his pant leg and try to drag him toward the bench, but he only continues to stare at me. “Please. I promise I’ll tell you after you sit down.”

At that, he laughs at me but moves to the bench. Tension oozes from my body, just before I see a knee coming straight at me. I put out a hand to keep it from slamming into my face.

This was not the best idea I’ve ever had. Next time I’m in a situation like this, I’ll plan a bit better and pick a place with larger tables.

But hopefully, there will never be a ‘next time.’

“Mind telling me what’s going on?” Adam’s hushed voice is laced with humor and curiosity.

“Josh and Brie,” I spit out, feeling like a fool.

“What about Josh and Brie?” Adam leans under the table, giving me a heart-stopping smile that, unfortunately, considering my current circumstances, I want to smack off his face.

“Just tell me when they’re gone!” I smack his calf only to feel a sting from the impact.

Dang, that man has rocks for muscles.

“They just walked out the door and turned right.” Adam’s face reappears under the table with a cheeky grin. He catches me trying to figure out what direction is right and laughs. “Away from our table.”

I narrow my eyes at him and snort, unable to stop the embarrassment flow working through my body.

I must look completely ridiculous. Duh. Of course I do. I’m hiding under a table.

Awkwardly, I work to push my head and shoulders between the table and the bench, only to get stuck. I quickly glimpse Adam looking over at me, pressing his lips together. He turns his head away, but I don’t miss his shoulders shaking.

Heat crawls around my body. I’m pretty sure I’ve never made this big a fool of myself. Not in front of a man this attractive.

With one useless push, I realize I can’t get back into my seat. A huff escapes before I slide toward the front of the table. Adam’s laugh follows me. Taking the only option available, I crawl out on all fours into an open space of the Thanks-A-Latte dining area.

The space is eerily quiet, and I freeze. Slowly lifting my head, I find every eye in the room staring at me. A sheepish grin crawls across my lips.

“Got it!” I shout, searching my pocket for something to show everyone. Thank goodness for lip balm. “It rolled all the way to the back corner! I thought it was a goner.”

Amused expressions watch me. Everyone is pretty sure I didn’t go under the table to find lip balm, but no one makes any comments as they return to their coffee and conversation.

Finally clearing the table, I push myself up off of the ground and brush any dirt from my knees. Plopping on the bench, I feel Adam’s eyes on me. I turn to glare at him and growl. “Don’t. Say. Anything.”

He raises his hands in surrender, eyes dancing, with a delicious smirk playing around his lips.

Why does he have to look so good wearing a smirk?

He slides my coffee over to me, and I bring it to my lips. “Thank you,” I murmur.

Warmth spreads through me with another sip and I lean my head back against the top of the booth, letting out a sigh. I go to let go of the cup, but my hand sticks to it. I hold the cup with my other hand and rip it off.

A napkin appears in my line of sight. “Thank you,” I say, taking it and wiping off whatever goop is on my hand.

Inhaling one more breath to boost my courage, I finally lower my head to meet Adam’s gaze. A gleam is there along with that smirk, still in place.

A giggle bursts out, and I bite my bottom lip, shaking my head. I hear Adam join in, and I snort. My eyes go wide, and I cover my mouth.

Adam throws back his head and roars. The laughter I’ve been holding back bursts out of me, and the two of us are doubled over.

Without glancing around, I feel the eyes of everyone in the coffee shop watching us.

Gasping to catch my breath, I look up to find Adam watching me. His eyes are soft, and he’s wearing a crooked smile that makes my heart leap. I turn my gaze away and look out the window, needing a moment to collect myself before turning back to him.

“Sorry about all of that.” I point under and around the table with a self-conscious grin. “When I heard Brie’s voice and realized she was meeting Josh here , I panicked.”

“So you mean you don’t normally hide under tables?” My gaze whips to him, and I laugh again at the earnest expression plastered on his face.

“No.” I beam. “I don’t normally hide under tables.”

“What a shame.” His response catches me off guard, and my eyebrows shoot up. “Cause you looked pretty adorable doing it.”

My face flushes, and warmth fills my stomach with the tenderness in his eyes. Unable to drag my gaze from his, we stare at each other while the air crackles.

“Excuse me,” a shy voice interrupts. Turning, a young boy stands in front of us, holding a Sharpie out toward Adam, and an older man behind him says, “Would you mind signing my jersey?”

I look over at Adam, and his expression knocks the breath from my lungs. It’s a look I’ve seen Josh wear whenever someone asks for an autograph, but it’s never had this effect on me before.

“Of course.” A smile so bright that I might need shades crosses his face as he takes the sharpie from the boy. “Where do you want me to sign it?”

“Can you sign it on the nine? That’s how old I’m going to be next week,” he says excitedly as he turns around. I look toward the older man, and he smiles at me. I smile back.

“Happy early birthday! I hope it’s the best one ever.” Adam says as he pens his name on the back of the jersey.

I watch Adam and let my gaze roam over his face. A flutter dances in my stomach.

Yeah, this may be one of the most attractive things I’ve ever witnessed.

“Thank you! Good luck tomorrow.” The boy grabs the older man’s hand and whispers to him.

“Thank you so much.” The man looks at Adam. “He hasn’t stopped talking about you since we walked in.”

“It’s nothing,” Adam replies. “It’s probably one of the things I enjoy most about being a professional football player.”

Narrowing my eyes and pursing my lips, I give him a questioning look.

“Well, besides actually playing.” We all laugh, and I watch them walk away, the boy bouncing the entire way.

I just look at Adam, a grin on my face.

“What?” he asks, a shy smile covering his lips.

“Nothing,” I say, not ready to delve into or examine my feelings. More importantly, I'm not ready to say them out loud to him. “So, Chase, huh?”

Watching his face switch from shy to amused makes a butterfly flit in my stomach.

“Chase is my middle name.” He responds with a shoulder shrug, and the corner of his mouth lifts. “I don’t tell strangers on the internet my real name. It’s why I have a username. Oh, wait! I just got yours.”

“My what?” I draw my eyebrows together and tilt my head.

“Your username.” That smile of his is now beaming in my direction and I feel like a piece of chocolate between a marshmallow and a graham cracker over a campfire flame. “Not Josh Owen’s Sister…Clever. Very clever.”

I lift a shoulder. “I was mad at Josh the day I signed up for the Blitz Brigade, but then it just became a thing. You’re the first person to figure it out.”

“You mean to tell me that you don’t just meet guys from sports bars but also find them online?”

The glint in his eyes lets me know he’s teasing, but embarrassment rises through me.

“Actually, I’ve never met anyone online in person before. You’re the first.” I look under my eyelashes at him to see a surprised expression on his face. His eyes soften right before me, and a small smile lines my lips. I fiddle with my coffee cup and then just let what I’m thinking tumble from my mouth.