Finally Read Online Free Page A

little odd.” Not to mention how likely it was that the friendship would be over if Quinn every fi gured out how I was starting to feel.
    He looked like he was deciding whether or not to press me further. We’d known each other since college and more than half of our communication happened without words now. “I can’t believe you actually know her. If she’s waving at you before a game, she must like you.”
    I sighed, thankful that he let me off the hook. Usually he took every opportunity to give me a hard time. “She’s as nice as she is talented. You’d really like her. We’re a lot alike.”
    “But you’re assuming I actually like you.” Classic Nykos.
    Some of his best material came from discounting our friendship.
    It stemmed from a fear that he’d become too reliant on me as a friend, which made me smile all the more.
    19

    FOUR

    Kiss her!
    The order screamed so loudly in my head I had to look around to make sure no one had spoken it aloud. All I could see was a bustle of deplaning passengers jostling each other while they moved in a slow herd toward baggage claim. I’d been slaloming through these passengers, wasting time before my fl ight boarded.
    All movement stopped when I spotted Quinn emerging from the jet way. My step left to avoid a businessperson halted suddenly as the plea to kiss her activated paralysis. Not even the painful knock of his briefcase against my shin could make me move.
    This crush of mine was getting ridiculous. And yes, I’d started to admit that it was a crush not just friendship. It was so unfair to Quinn. I’d hoped by now that these feelings would have subsided. The euphoria of a new friendship usually wore off within a month, but after four, I felt all the telltale signs of romantic feelings for someone.
    Not knowing anything about Quinn’s personal preferences seemed to egg these emotions on. As many women as men came on to her whenever we went out. She declined all the offers, but she never let on as to which gender she’d prefer. The foursome at the Storm games all thought Quinn was a lesbian, but they thought that about every woman.
    I pressed back against a railing to fi ght the impulse to push 20

    Finally
    through the passengers. I clenched my teeth, attempting to bite down on the need to be next to her. I’d never felt like this before.
    Sure, I’d felt affection for the men I’d dated, but feelings of desire were rare. And for Quinn, the desire was fi erce.
    Locking my hands behind me through the rail, I managed to keep from knocking people down. We hadn’t made defi nite plans to meet up, just that I’d stop by the gate if I got to the airport early enough. Right now, those indefi nite plans were the only thing saving me. Quinn could walk by with her teammates and never have to know that I was losing my mind, ready to cross boundaries that we’d set long ago.
    The team walked briskly, but their shoulders hunched in fatigue. Another long road trip with fi ve games, only two wins.
    The small gathering of fans helped to lighten their steps. Each player made time to sign autographs and pose for pictures.
    As a clump, they progressed past my spot. I stared at Quinn, seeing her again for the fi rst time. Long, chestnut brown hair harnessed into a single braid. Crisp, alert, blue eyes shining at her fans. Strong bone structure shaped her oval face. At least she had those fi t arms and legs covered this morning in jeans and a sweatshirt. I’d nearly fainted when she showed up last time in a skirt and sleeveless shirt that screamed for me to run my fi ngers over her muscular arms. If she hadn’t been wearing smoky grey eye shadow that electrifi ed her ocean blue eyes, I would have stared at those incredible arms and sexy legs all night. I had to stop this. Quinn is a friend. Quinn is a friend. Quinn is just a friend. A mantra, that would solve it for sure.
    Just then, Quinn twisted her head back as if someone had called out her name. Almost immediately, she