Chapter 7

Seven

“W hy can’t I wear the dress from last weekend?” Tori argued with Leah.

“Because he’s already seen you in it. And it was just last week,” Leah exasperation clear in her tone.

They were standing in her walk-in closet, looking through everything she owned as Tori tried to get ready for her date with Chance in less than an hour.

“You should have let me bring stuff over. I should never have believed you had something to wear,” Leah grabbed an armful of clothes and took them to her bed. “We’ll have to get creative.”

Tori followed her to the bed. “It’s not that bad,” she protested. Though, looking at all her options, she had to agree that it wasn’t that great, either.

“Here, try on this skirt.” She held it out for her. “With… this shirt.”

Tori took the black skirt and the low-cut top and proceeded to slip them on. With both pieces on, she did one spin so Leah could inspect her choices.

“That’s going to have to work. We need to go shopping if this keeps up,” Leah told her.

“It’s one date,” Tori laughed.

“I hope it’s more than one. He likes you and your kid, plus he’s hot and you’ve lusted after him for years,” Leah told her. “Besides, how many people get to meet their favorite sports star and then get asked out by them? Embrace this.”

Tori threw the nearest pillow at her friend. “Be quiet before Emmett hears you.”

Leah waved her off. “He’s got headphones and his tablet. He’s not hearing shit.” She leaned back on Tori’s bed. “Tell me about him shutting down and humiliating Isaac again.”

“That is not what I said.”

“It’s what happened, even if you didn’t say it. I still can’t believe it did. I should have gone to the game this morning.”

“Stop it.”

“I’m serious. No one ever gets to school Isaac because you are always telling them to leave it alone, and yet he got to. I wish I had seen it.”

“By no one, you mean you,” Tori laughed.

“Well, yeah. And yet Chance defended the both of you. It’s so sweet.”

“Get off my bed. I’m ready.”

“No, you aren’t.” Leah rose and went to her. “We can do so much better.”

Over the next half hour, Leah proceeded to redo her makeup and hair. It looked way better than when she did it herself, as usual. She didn’t have the talent or desire to learn makeup and hair that Leah did.

“Thank you,” she said.

The doorbell rang, and Leah hurried out of the room. “Wait here while I let him in, and then come down.”

“This isn’t prom night.” She pushed her friend. “Get out of my way.”

“You ruin all the fun,” Leah whined.

Tori opened the door for Chance and let him in. He was dressed up tonight as well, black dress pants and a white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and the top buttons were undone. He could have posed for any romance novel cover at this moment, and women would flock to buy them all. She’d be first in line.

“You look amazing,” he said.

“Thank you. So do you,” she said.

“Go on, kids. Be safe,” Leah joked from behind her. “Do all the things that I would do.”

“If she’s like Maddox, I don’t think we have time,” Chance said.

“Definitely not enough time. Probably too many morals, too,” Tori teased as she slipped her jacket on.

“Hey!” Leah laughed. “Go. The gremlin and I plan to stay up all night and get wasted.”

Tori rolled her eyes as she followed Chance out onto the porch. Chance took her hand and led her to his SUV before opening the door for her.

Once she was in and buckled, she tried to think of the last time anyone had done that for her. She came up short. No one ever had. Not even Isaac had opened the car door for her when he was still pretending to be a good guy.

“Ready?” Chance asked as he buckled in.

She nodded. It had been years since she’d gone on a date or been to a nice restaurant. She didn’t make a habit of being in a position to be asked out. She was a single mom and that rarely worked out in her favor as far as dating went.

The last time she’d gone out with a guy, he’d clearly expected her to put out at the end of it. She’d paid for her portion of dinner and had Leah come pick her up. That was two years ago.

By the time they’d made it to the restaurant and taken their seats, her nerves had taken over completely. She was suddenly terrified that she was going to do or say the wrong things, and Chance was going to be the one wanting to leave.

“You okay?” Chance asked after they ordered. “You haven’t said much.”

She hadn’t really said anything. “I’m just a little nervous,” she admitted.

“Why?” Chase put a hand over his heart. “I’m offended. This is our third date. You should be more relaxed by now.”

“What?” She tilted her head, trying to figure out what the hell he meant.

“We went out last Saturday night. Then we had a lunch date today. And now makes three. It could be four if you could that time you stole my groceries.”

“Oh, my God. Stop saying that!” she laughed. “People are going to believe you.”

“You did,” Chance insisted.

Tori looked around to see if anyone was listening to him. “I did not. I accidentally moved your basket, not the same thing.”

Chance brushed her off. “Feeling better now?”

“You said earlier wasn’t a date,” she fake pouted.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Their server returned with their food before she could argue. With an extra wink to Chance, she left after setting it all on the table.

Tori laughed. “Does that happen often?”

“Annoyingly so,” Chance groaned. “It’s better when Maddox is with me because he flirts back, and they usually leave me alone.”

Tori shook her head. “You know he took Leah home the other night?”

Chance nodded. “I didn’t say anything to him about it, but yeah. I mean they’re both adults, and I don’t think that either of them went into it with expectations.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean it like that. I can guarantee you that while she’s a bit much sometimes, she would never press someone into a relationship.”

“I figured.” He shrugged. “They’re adults.”

“Agreed.”

They chatted about soccer and the upcoming clinic as they ate dinner. Tori’s fish was good, but she wouldn’t call it great. The menu had no prices so she could confidently say it wasn’t worth the price.

“How’s your dinner?” she asked Chance.

He shrugged again. “Meh.”

“Same.” Tori put her fork down, no longer feeling the need to finish the plate.

“In my defense, it had good reviews.”

She set her napkin over her plate, done with her meal. “It’s not bad…”

“Yeah. That’s the best review I can give it.”

Chance paid and they walked out of the restaurant into the downtown area. Not wanting the night to end, she let Chance set a leisurely pace down the sidewalk, her hand in his.

“Ice cream?” Chance asked.

“Frozen yogurt,” she corrected. “But, unlike the restaurant, I’ve been here. It’s actually really good if not a little pricey.”

“Let’s go.”

He pulled her into the brightly colored shop and she explained how it worked. Frozen yogurts in hand, Chance paid and led her out to one of the patio tables.

“This is really good,” Chance said.

Tori looked at the mountain of toppings he added and shook her head. “Have you even reached the frozen yogurt yet?” she teased.

He dug is spoon in and pulled up a scoop. “Yep.” He showed her.

They laughed and teased each other as they ate their treats. Tori finished long before Chance and she pointed it out. He joked that he was just delaying the end of their night.

“Did you always want to play soccer?” she asked as they continued their walk.

Chance nodded. “A lot like Emmett. I played soccer in some way from the time I woke up until I went to bed.”

“That’s him.”

“He did really well today. What’s up with his dad?”

Tori sighed. “He’s an ass.”

“I figured that much out on my own,” he agreed.

“He doesn’t believe there’s a career in sports for anyone, much less Emmett,” she explained.

“Well. What a great job you’re doing taking care of our son.” Isaac’s voice rang out from behind them.

Tori winced. She wasn’t interested in doing this with him, especially not now.

“Interesting that you are also not with him,” Chance pointed out.

“He’s with Leah. At home, safe, with someone he knows,” Tori said with more patience than she felt.

“As though she’s a responsible adult. She can’t even get her own life together,” Isaac sneered.

He never liked Leah, probably because she saw through his bullshit long before Tori did. His date clung to his arm but didn’t speak.

“Did he even tell you he had a son?” Tori asked the tall, thin blond.

She shook her head.

“Like I thought. You are one to talk about how your son is being cared for when you constantly cancel on him instead of being there for him yourself. I wouldn’t need to have anyone watch him if you were doing your part as a parent.” Tori didn’t hold back. She was tired of his shit every time she turned around.

Chance pulled her into his side, his arm wrapped around her as his body language was clear he was there for her.

“You wanted to be a mom. That was your choice, not mine. Now that you are, you seem to be finding an awful lot of time away from him while sleeping with his idol.”

The fact that he even knew that Emmett idolized Chance was a shock to her. Probably just a lucky guess on his part, though.

“Emmett is a great kid. He’s really good at his position as well. I’m happy to get out there and run drills with him while his mom makes us all dinner. It’s hard being a single parent when your dad is never there for you,” Chance jumped in.

“Who are you to judge me?” Isaac ground out.

“The one that’s been there for your kid and ex-wife.” Chance’s tone was more casual than his words.

“Let’s go,” Tori told Chance. She placed a hand on his chest, moving to stand between him and Isaac.

She knew Chance could be hotheaded, and she didn’t want him to lose control because of Isaac. If she had to guess, Isaac had looked him up because it sure seemed like he was trying to push Chance’s buttons.

“Pleasure meeting you,” Tori told the woman she hadn’t actually really met.

Chance took a few steps back, still facing Isaac before turning with her to leave. They walked straight back to his car without another word.

“I’m sorry about that,” Tori said as Chance pulled out of his parking spot.

“You didn’t do anything,” he told her.

“Maybe not, but dating me means dealing with that shit on the regular.” Tori bit her lip before continuing. “If you don’t want that drama, I completely understand.” She was giving him an out.

Chance clenched his jaw, and she watched his muscles tick once as she finished speaking. He didn’t say a word until they parked at her house.

“What nonsense he has to say about us will not make me change my mind about wanting to see you. I really do enjoy your company and Emmett’s, too,” Chance finally said.

Tori nodded. She had expected him to take the out she was offering. Now she had no words.

He leaned across the center console and unbuckled her seatbelt. “Stay right there.” Chance opened his door and walked around the car, opening hers.

He took her hand, pulling her out of the car. She had barely stood before he backed her up against the backdoor and pressed his body to hers.

“I’m going to kiss you now,” Chance said, his eyes searching hers.

Tori swallowed and nodded again. She had no voice.

Chance brought his lips to hers and she was grateful for the car behind her. His tongue slipped out, parting her lips as he sought to deepen the kiss.

She wanted it too, opening for his tongue to dance with hers. The passion in this kiss was unlike anything she’d ever experienced. Tori brought her hands to his shoulders, gripping him as he led the kiss.

Chance’s hands didn’t wander over her, and oh, how she wanted them to. He caged her in at the car, his hands on the frame as he pulled away.

He dropped his forehead to hers. She felt his heart racing, matching her own as he both tried to get themselves under control.

“Let’s do all of this again?” he asked.

“Please,” she breathed out.

Chance chuckled. “Call or text me?”

He dropped his arms and backed away from her, picking up her hand as he did. In another first for her, Chance walked her to the door, waiting for her to close it before walking away.

She leaned her back against the closed door and took a deep breath.

“That was some kiss,” Leah told her.

Laughter bubbled out before she could stop it. “You’re a perv.”

Leah shrugged. “Was it as good as it looked?”

“Better,” Tori sighed and pushed away from the door, following her friend into the living room.

“I poured you a glass of wine.” Leah handed it to her. “Now, spill.”

Tori laughed again but took a sip from her glass before telling Leah everything that happened.