The Game by Vi Keeland by Vi Keeland

We spent another hour riding bikes before we ventured back to Christian’s car. As we got on the highway and headed back to the City, Christian entwined our fingers and lifted our joined palms to his lips, dropping a sweet kiss on the top of my hand. “Are you hungry?”

“I’m actually starving.”

“Would you want to come back to my place? We can order in? I liked it being only the two of us today, and I’m not ready to share you with people yet.”

How could I say no when he asked like that? Plus, I didn’t want to share him either, and there was a good chance that would happen based on how often he got recognized when we went places. I looked over and smiled, doing something I never do—answering without any internal debate. “I’d like that.”





CHAPTER 16




* * *



BELLA



Christian’s building was nothing like mine. He lived in a modern high rise with a doorman and lobby that had thirty-foot ceilings. We’d walked in at the same time as a guy about our age wearing a suit. It wasn’t lost on me that the staff called him Mr. Waxman, while I noticed Christian was just Christian.

Inside the elevator, Christian inserted a keycard into the panel, and thirty-four illuminated without needing to push any buttons. When we arrived on that floor, Christian put his hand on my back so I’d walk in first. I’d expected to enter a hall, but the foyer we stepped into was actually part of his apartment. And it opened to a jaw-dropping view of Manhattan.

“Oh my God.” I laughed nervously. “What must you think of my place if you live here?”

Christian tossed his keys on a round table. “It makes me think a lot of you. I love that coming into a shitload of money didn’t change you. Though I do think you need a place with some security at this point.”

He led me through the kitchen and into the living room, which had floor-to-ceiling windows. I shook my head, looking out at the City. “This doesn’t even look like the place I grew up. It seems so sparkly and clean.”

“Most things look better at a distance. You can’t see all the tiny cracks and grime.”

“The same could be said about a lot of people.”

“True.” He stepped behind me and bent to kiss my shoulder. “Except you. The closer I get to you, the more I like what I see.”

The thump of my heart seemed to grow louder. I tapped my nail to the glass. “Did you know that one in thirty-eight people in the entire United States lives down there? Our little thirteen-by-two-mile-wide City is pretty jam packed.”

A smile teased at Christian’s lips. I got the feeling he recognized what I was doing—rambling on about some fact because I was nervous—even before I did. He tilted his head toward the kitchen. “Menus are in there. I’ll give you a tour after we order. What are you in the mood for?”

“Do you like Thai food? You’re only a few blocks from my favorite place. The owner used to have a food truck downtown near the water for years, but last year he opened a small restaurant.”

Christian’s brows drew together. “Are you talking about Uncle Moon’s Thai House?”

I smiled. “I am.”

“I freaking love that place. John Barrett actually turned me on to it. When we had a good week, he’d invite a bunch of food trucks to come after practice. That was always my favorite one.”

“Really?”

“Yep.”

“Wow. That’s so funny.”

“Guess you and John had a few things in common.” Christian’s dimples made an appearance. “He did like me, after all.”

After we placed our dinner order, Christian poured me a glass of wine and took me on a tour of his apartment. The first stop down the long hall was an office on the right. It looked like a smaller version of my office at the stadium, with similar bound playbooks and team photos on the wall. After that, there were two spare bedrooms across from each other, each with en-suite bathrooms, and a half bath on the left. At the end of the hall, Christian opened the door and held his arm out for me to enter. “My bedroom.”

I hadn’t thought anything could rival the view from the living room, but apparently I’d been wrong. His bedroom faced west, and the sun was mid-set, casting orange and purple hues across the sky. I walked straight to a double set of French doors that led to a balcony, staring in awe. “I don’t think I’d ever leave this room.”

“That could be arranged…” Christian was behind me, but I could hear the smile in his voice.

Out on the balcony, I noticed a long stretch of grass and smiled. “There’s your happy place. Do you keep a stock of Chipwiches in the freezer at all times?”

“I do.”

I spent another minute taking in the view before turning to check out the rest of the room. I’d figured Christian was somewhere nearby, but I found him leaning against the doorway.

“Why are you all the way over there?”

“Admiring the view.”

It was clear he wasn’t talking about the one I’d been appreciating.

I looked over at his enormous bed. “That’s a very big bed you have…”

“I’m a very big man.”

I bet you are…

He still hadn’t moved from the doorway. I cocked my head. “Doesn’t my tour include the master bath? You showed me the other ones.”