Wanted Distraction by Ava McKnight

wiped my hands with a napkin. Then I said, “Thanks for the tea and sympathy, Mom. I needed a different perspective.”
    She leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. “You’re a good girl, mon petit chou . I want you to be happy. And if Carter Davis is the man for you, then don’t let him slip away.”
    Advice I seriously needed to consider.

Chapter Four
     
    Saturday night eventually rolled around. The week had seemed to drag by in slow motion. I couldn’t get motivated to do much more than scribble down a few story ideas as I scoured the Internet and newspaper for events or grand openings to cover. Even my ear-to-the-ground contacts couldn’t come up with anything to stir my interest.
    I hadn’t spoken with Carter, nor had I read his letter. I wanted to let the night I’d spent with him, the things we’d said, and the pearls of wisdom my mother had imparted percolate in my head before I made any hasty decisions. Of course, it was altogether possible I didn’t have a decision to make. For all I knew, Carter could have written me to tell me I’d been right to leave his hotel room after we’d made love. That I’d been right to not pursue more with him.
    It didn’t feel right to me, though. That was the bottom line. My heart and body ached for him. My very soul ached for him, it seemed. I couldn’t get his sexy smile and warm eyes out of my mind. I couldn’t stop thinking about the way he’d looked at me, or the way he’d touched me. There had been an undeniable and captivating dynamic between us right off the bat. That unto itself held its own significance.
    So when Taylor and I arrived at the US Airways Center for Carter’s first game with the Rattlers, my insides buzzed with excitement and nervous energy.
    We had seats on the fifty-yard line, in the first row. I barely said a word to my friend as my anxiety mounted. The crowd of about seventy-five-hundred went wild when Fang rode in on his badass motorcycle. The Rattlers’ mascot, Stryker, and the Sidewinders Dance Team joined him. The pyrotechnics lit the field as a Van Halen song rocked the arena. I hadn’t been to this type of football game in years, and realized I’d missed the energetic and exhilarating vibe.
    When the first quarter got underway, I clutched my purse tightly in my lap as I watched Carter, trying to see if he was having any trouble with his throwing arm. The best I could tell, however, was that he still delivered a strong and steady bullet into the hands of his receivers.
    Taylor leaned over and whispered, “Damn, that boy has a nice ass.”
    A blush tinged my cheeks. “Yes, he does.”
    “I don’t think there’s a dry thong in the house.”
    “Taylor!”
    “Just saying.” She gave me a saucy look. “You’d be the envy of the arena if these women knew you’d slept with him.”
    “And I just might shrivel up and die if he moves on and finds someone else to sleep with.”
    That, of course, was the moment I made up my mind.
    I suddenly couldn’t wait for the game to be over. Though it was fast moving, I was antsy to get out of my seat. When the final touchdown hit the scoreboard, Carter had led his new team to an impressive 64-32 victory, propelling the Rattlers into the top spot in their division.
    I hadn’t realized so much was riding on this game. I’d thought it was just about Carter’s career. But the team had the potential to make it the national championship again, and they needed a quarterback of Carter’s caliber to help get them there.
    As the team celebrated on the field, Taylor and I stood. Carter worked his way out of the huddle of football players who had surrounded him, clearly embracing his leadership and talent. He took a few steps away from the rowdy crowd and his gaze scanned the stands, landing on me. He’d known exactly where to look, after all.
    I gave him a little wave as my heart fluttered. He, in turn, lifted his chin in acknowledgement of my presence.
    Beside me, Taylor said, “That pretty