Stadium of Lights: A Second Chance Sports Romance by Tia Lewis Page A

she’d lost the glasses, but she’d never looked this radiant and confident before.
    “Yeah, here I am.” She giggled like she’d said something funny. I saw the almost-empty glass in her hand and wondered how much she’d had to drink already.
    “Glad to see you, man.” Chad did not sound happy to see me. He sounded very un-glad, and the look in his eye told me to stop cock blocking him. Well, I wouldn’t. I couldn’t. Not when she looked so damned good, and not when she was already a little loopy. Even if I didn’t think she looked more beautiful than any woman in the room, I would have protected her if she had too much to drink. I owed her that.
    “Yeah, you too, bro. So, you think we’re ready for Denver?” I gave him a smile.
    “Relax, man! There’s a whole week until that game. We don’t even fly out for four days.”
    “Yeah, I know, but we can’t assume they’ll be too easy.”
    “Sure, sure.” He was getting agitated. He wanted me gone. I could tell from the way he stood—chest puffed out like he wanted me to know Abby was his territory. He had no fucking idea.
    “What did you think of the game? You never did say.” I turned to her, and she smiled weakly.
    “I thought it was incredible,” she said. “The way you guys pulled it out like you did. Chad, great pick up on that fumble.”
    “Oh, you noticed that that was me?” he asked with a megawatt smile. I wanted to push him through the plate-glass window.
    “Of course! Who wouldn’t?” Yeah, she was flirting even harder than she had been in the therapy room. I needed to put a stop to it, fast.
    “Hey, Chad? Come over here and settle a bet!” Garrett waved him over from the other side of the room. I wondered if Skylar had put him up to it and decided I didn’t care. There were plenty of women in the world. He wasn’t getting Abby. I didn’t even know if I wanted her for myself, but I knew he didn’t deserve her.
    Chad glanced at Abby like he was debating on leaving her alone, or maybe considering bringing her with him. He sighed, shaking his head before walking away. Abby’s mouth fell open.
    “What the hell was that all about?” she asked. She looked up at me with wide, innocent eyes. A little glassy, I noted.
    “What do you mean?”
    “I thought we were hitting it off,” she said, pouting a little.
    “Listen, I know you’re pissed at me right now, so don’t take this the wrong way. How much have you had to drink tonight?”
    “Just this,” she said, holding up the empty glass. “A scotch. Oh, and champagne at the boutique.” Not enough to get her drunk.
    “Have you eaten anything?”
    “Not since breakfast.” She shrugged.
    “Yeah, that’ll do it.” I’d have to stick with her all night to be sure nobody else swooped in to pick up the bird with the broken wing. All eyes were on her, just like Skylar had said. Every guy wanted a crack at the new girl—the only single woman at the dinner, I realized. All the other women were there because they were with one of the guys. Shit.
    Skylar came rushing over. “Come on,” she said, taking Abby by the hand. “I told you I would introduce you around a little. Then we’ll all get our food—it’s almost ready.” She started to lead Abby away from me. It took everything I had not to follow her, or even take her free hand to pull her back to me. I was afraid to leave her on her own. Only the realization of that fear was enough to stop me.
    Why did I care so fucking much? It wasn’t just our history. Sure, I’d look out for my little sister if I thought a guy would take advantage of her. But I wouldn’t feel the sort of murderous jealousy I had towards Chad when I saw the two of them talking and laughing. That wasn’t protectiveness.
    Even when I talked to other people, I kept an eye on her. Skylar was serious about showing Abby around—I was glad she had taken her under her wing. She needed that and I couldn’t do it for her.
    She wasn’t invisible anymore. She