Scored(10)

According to Aiden, football players had to be known for two things to get attention i.e. endorsements and playing time.

1. A reputation worth notoriety.

2. Skills on the field that make fans give that notoriety.

Back then, I knew acquiring a reputation would be risky, but if I were careful, I could be writing my own paycheck. The thought of being so financially free was enough incentive to risk it… so I went all in and reaped the rewards. Hell, I make so much off endorsements that I haven’t touched the money I make from playing football in years.

I don’t simply apply that philosophy to my career; I use it to assess situations in my personal life as well.

Right now for instance, I’m weighing the risk of sleeping with the hot blonde—first name: Jasmine; Last name: Not Sharing—who is practically sitting in my lap—against losing the bet with Aiden.

To Jasmine’s credit, she’s making it hard on me by being fun, easy to talk to, and not expecting anything more than what I’m willing to give. Plus, she’s a friend of Ellen’s, a hot redhead I used to hook up with regularly… until she reconnected with her childhood sweetheart. I was a guest at their wedding and at the dedications of all three of their kids. She and her husband Mike are good people with big hearts.

So if Ellen says she’s legit, then I can rest assured if we do take things to the next level tonight, it won’t end up on social media.

However, Paige is still on my mind. I haven’t been able to get her out of my fucking mind for six days, and I doubt that’s going to change. There’s something about her smile and pretty blue eyes that makes me want to get to know her.

Or maybe it’s because she hasn’t texted or called me.

Either way, I keep replaying our conversation in my head, relishing the part when she blushed over the stickers and it became obvious she had no idea who I was.

That’s becoming harder and harder to come by with each passing season. I hate meeting women and not really knowing if they want to get serious because they think I’m truly the one or because they want to be the one who has access to my bank account. At thirty-three, I’m too damn old to be playing guessing games.

Which leads me back to the risk of Jasmine. I half suspect Aiden sent Jasmine over to fuck with me. Joke’s on him if he thinks I’m so weak-minded or ruled by my dick that I won’t be able to resist her.

The thing is, even if the bet wasn’t in place, I don’t think it’s a good idea to hook up with a woman tonight only to ask out an entirely different one tomorrow. There are a lot of guys who wouldn’t blink an eye at that and would think I’m being a pussy.

I don’t give a good damn.

“Jasmine, I’d like to introduce you to my friend, Sam.” I stand up and hold out my hand, helping her up when she takes it. She follows to where my teammate is sitting, drinking a nonalcoholic drink and more likely than not already watching film from the game. He’s an overachiever like that.

I respect him for it.

“Sam, I want to introduce you to my friend, Jasmine. She loves football, rescuing dogs, and owns a vintage clothing store in Brooklyn,” I say.

Sam looks up from his phone, one of his signature goofy smiles on his face. “Any friend of Dallas’ is a friend of mine.” He pulls out a chair for her and kicks one out for me. “Have a seat, you two.”

“Nah, I’m turning in early.” I roll my shoulder forward. “Got tackled by number forty-five on the Skins’ defensive line one too many times.” Actually, I feel pretty good after today’s game. Well, compared to other games where I was legit injured, I feel damn good.

Jasmine’s forehead creases. “Are you really leaving?”

“Yeah. I’m so sorry, but don’t worry, Sam is one of the best guys I know. He’ll take good care of you and make sure you get home okay,” I assure her. This isn’t me bullshitting her. Sam is the rescuing-damsels-in-distress white knight type. He lives for moments like this.

“Ma’am,” he says in that Kansas drawl I’ve come to associate with smooth talkers who have innocent faces. “I promise to not only make sure you get home safe, but also that you will have a wonderful time. However, if you’d rather spend it with someone else, then point them out to me and I’ll take you to him.”

Jasmine places her hand on her chest and sighs. “You are so sweet.”

See what I mean?

“I couldn’t possibly want to spend time with anyone but you,” she adds a beat later.

“Aren’t I the luckiest guy?” he says and winks at her. “Can I buy you dinner, sweet pea?”

Jasmine melts. “Oh, my God. You are so adorable.”

“Take care, guys.” I walk away, making sure to stop by Aiden’s table on the way out. He’s not alone, but he’s not with a jersey chaser either. Doesn’t mean he won’t have his pick of women tonight, only that he hasn’t decided on who gets the honor.

Yeah, sometimes he’s a real douche, even more than I’ve ever been accused of being back when I was trying to get my player reputation just right.

I rap my knuckles on the table. “Don’t forget the bus to the airport leaves bright and early tomorrow morning, girls, so make sure you get lots of beauty sleep.”

Aiden, Colin, and Fred all flip me off.