He absolutely had a date. “More like a prior obligation, unfortunately.”
Drake nodded. “Okay. Catch up with you later, then. I’m going to grab some of the boys and have a nice, juicy steak.”
“Steak sounds good. You celebrate for me, too, okay?”
“You know it.” He slapped hands with his best friend.
His best friend. The one he’d just lied to.
He was going to try really hard not to think about that when he was alone with Harmony tonight.
He went back to his house to change clothes. He’d texted Harmony about picking her up at her place. Then they’d go out to dinner. He fielded a few calls while he was home, including one from his parents. Mainly his dad wanted to rehash the game with him. He was always up for talking about the game, so he spent some time on the phone talking to both parents. Mom told him how proud she was, and Dad went over specific plays and highlighted how he could have done better.
That always made him laugh. He knew his dad was proud because that was always the last thing he said before he hung up.
“Damn fine game, Barrett,” his dad said, right before “I love you.”
He had a great father. Someday he’d do the same thing with his kids.
Someday. When he had kids.
As he was changing clothes, his phone rang again.
It was his brother Grant.
“Shitty game,” Grant said.
He laughed. “Yeah. Pretty awful, huh?”
“Seriously, your team looks good this season. Not as good as mine, though. Sucks for you.”
His lips curved. “We’ll see about that, won’t we?”
“We will. Too bad we don’t play each other this season.”
“That is too bad. I’d hate to have to intercept all those passes you throw.”
“Yeah, you wish. Nobody intercepts me.”
Barrett rolled his eyes. “I seem to recall that game last season against Baltimore where you threw three interceptions—”
“You’re such a dick, Barrett.”
Barrett laughed, then heard a click and looked at his phone.
Grant had hung up on him.
He laughed again and threw his phone on the bed so he could finish changing clothes.
After he got ready, he got in his SUV. He stopped at a flower shop and picked up something for Harmony.
When she opened the door, her eyes widened.
“You got me an orchid?”
He smiled. “I thought about a bouquet of flowers, but you’re special. And beautiful. And when I saw the orchid I thought of you.”
She laid her hand over her heart. “Barrett. This is lovely. Thank you.” She leaned in and kissed him.
Obviously he’d chosen well. “I’m glad you like it. I realized I’d never brought you flowers.”
She took the orchid and laid it on her kitchen counter, then turned to face him. “You realize I’ve never had the expectation that you would bring me flowers. Or anything else for that matter.”
“I know that.” He stepped over to her and swept his hand down her hair. “But I do want you to know that I think about you, even when I’m not with you.”
She breathed in deeply, then let it out. “That is the best thing a woman could ever hear from a man.”
He smiled, then brushed his lips across hers. “Good to know.”
“And if I wasn’t absolutely starving, I’d show you how much I appreciate the gesture. However, hunger wins.”
“Damn. Okay, let’s get food.”
He’d made a reservation at Eddie V’s, one of his top five restaurants in the city. He already knew he wouldn’t run into Drake here, since he knew where Drake would go to get his favorite steak.
They went inside and were seated at a table in the corner. They ordered drinks and their waiter brought the menu.
“You played so well tonight,” she said. “You and the team must be so happy with how the game went.”
“Thanks. We’re just starting out, since it’s the first game and we didn’t get a lot of playing time. We have a few tweaks to make, but overall, it went well.”
“On the road next week?”
“Yeah. We’re in Dallas.”
“I’ll miss you when you’re gone.”
He loved the sincerity in her tone, and he knew she really meant it. “I’ll miss you, too. But we’ll still see plenty of each other before I have to leave town.”
She looked up from her menu. “And by that you mean we’ll be naked.”
He grinned. “I’m always hopeful for that part.”
She laughed.
He looked over the menu. “Appetizer?”
Harmony looked up from the menu. “Yes. Absolutely.”
He laughed. “You are hungry.”
She smiled. “Yes. Absolutely.”
Their waiter came over and they placed their orders, including the appetizer.
“Those batter-fried oysters can’t come soon enough,” she said.
He’d noticed he was getting looks from a group of college-age guys a few tables away, and when one of them got up and came over, he knew they were probably fans.
“Barrett Cassidy, right?”
“Yes.”
“I’m really sorry to bother you, but would it be possible to get a picture with you?”
“Sure. Bring your friends over and we’ll do a group shot.”
“Awesome. It’s my birthday and my buddies and I went to the game to celebrate. Great game, by the way.”