The Romantic Pact (Kings of Football)(26)

“Seriously, do you want the nuts?”

I chuckle. “No, I think the three bags we ate was enough.”

“Because I would really go get them for you.”

“I believe you, Crew. But I think I’m about two seconds from passing out.”

“Me, too,” he says in relief and lets go of my hand.

While I get comfortable in the bed, Crew turns off the entry light to the hotel room and locks the door. Then he walks toward the bed and I catch a glimpse of him in the light from outside. Sleepy eyes, drooped shoulders, but there’s the smallest smile on his lips as he crawls into bed next to me.

I face him, and when he’s settled, he faces me as well.

“Never thought I’d get Hazel Allen in bed with me, but dreams do come true.”

“Might want to pinch yourself. This very well might be a dream.”

He chuckles and his eyes drift shut.

“Hey, can I ask you something?” I ask with a small poke to his hand.

“Mm-hmm,” he says, eyes closed.

“Are you going to pay attention or just fall asleep?”

His eyes open. “I’m listening, Haze. I’m always listening.”

Well, not always, but we won’t get into the blackout period again.

“Did you think we did a good enough job honoring Pops today?”

“What do you mean?”

“I just felt as though we didn’t immerse ourselves into the Christmas market today. We barely got through half of it before we dragged our bodies upstairs and got ready for bed.”

“Yeah, I feel a little guilty about it.”

“You do?”

He nods and adjusts his hands under his pillow. “I mean, the map he wrote was intense, and I keep thinking, what if there was a clue along the way? What if there was something he wanted us to see and we didn’t see it?”

“That’s what I keep thinking.” I nibble on my bottom lip. “Do you think we should go back out there?”

Crew thinks about it for a few seconds. “No. Do you know what I think would be best?”

“Hmm?”

“Getting sleep. We still have six more days here in Germany. Pops even said this wasn’t the start of the road trip. I think we take tonight to catch up on some sleep and recharge for tomorrow.”

“So we can hit the ground running?”

“Exactly. And, hey, we did do something that was very important today. We took that picture. Reading between the lines and looking back at the envelope he left us, I think he wanted us to experience something together that we’d both never done. To create new memories with him as . . . as our guide. Enjoy the atmosphere. Something so different from home, you know?”



“Yeah, I think you’re right.”

“Come here.” Crew lifts up and pulls me into a hug. The side of his head presses against mine and he squeezes me tight. “I don’t think we should put pressure on ourselves to make this perfect, or else we’re not going to enjoy it.” He pulls away and smiles at me. “Let’s just have fun, make it a part of Pops and a part of us as well. Okay?”

I nod. “That sounds perfect.”

We both lie back down and get comfortable. I scrunch my knees up and curl into a ball, accidentally grazing Crew in the process.

“Sorry,” I mutter.

“No need to apologize. I’ve a feeling we’re going to have to get used to sleeping in a bed together for the rest of the trip. Let’s just call it like it is. We’re going to bump into each other.”

“As long as hands don’t try to grab for a free feel again.”

Crew chuckles. “It was one time.”

“Yeah, and driving a truck into a ditch was one time, too.”

“Uh, two completely different things. My hand grazed your boob. Your mistake had to be pulled out by a tow truck. Apples and oranges, Haze.”

“They both seem like little mistakes to me.”

“Of course they would.” He closes his eyes. “Goodnight, Hazel.”

“Night, Crew.”





Chapter Six





CREW





“Come on, Crew. I’m sure your hair is perfect. We’re wasting time.”

I finish tousling my hair and step out of the bathroom. “I spent like a minute doing my hair, unlike you, who spent ten minutes blow-drying yours.”

“If your hair was as thick and as long as mine, then yes, you’d be spending ten minutes on it.”

“You never used to,” I counter.

“And how do you know?” she asks, arms folded.

“Because it never looked that damn good.”

Her eyes widen in surprise as her hand falls to her long locks. “Are you saying you think my hair is pretty, Crew?”

“Gorgeous, actually,” I say, taking a seat next to her on the bed and snagging the “DAY TWO” envelope from her.

“Okay, winning back some brownie points.”

“When did I lose them?” I ask, opening the envelope.

“When I rolled out of bed and you laughed at me. Morning appearances should be a no-judgment zone.”

“Sorry.” I chuckle. “But you looked like you slept in a dumpster the night before rather than our comfy bed.”