Alex POV
"Okay, so where are you taking me?" Mack asks.
"For me to know and you to find out." I respond.
She chuckles.
I reach over and grab her hand, intertwining them.
We continue driving and pull into the restaurant.
"Whoa." Mack says.
I smile and squeeze her hand, "I really love this restaurant and wanted to share it with you."
She stares at me, "Let's go."
We get out of the car and start walking in when I feel Mack grab my hand.
I smile and feel butterflies in my stomach.
"Hi, Miss Morgan, we have your table ready."
"Thanks!"
Mack pulls me to a stop, "Miss Morgan? So fancy."
I feel my face heat up, "Well. You know that I'm famous. I don't want that to scare you off, but it has its perks."
She smiles and shakes her head, "Doesn't scare me."
I nod and pull her along to our table that has an ocean view.
"Wow. This is amazing." She says.
"Well. I think you're pretty amazing, so only the best for you." I say.
She chuckles and shakes her head.
"So, how was your day?" She asks.
I smile, "It was good. We had training and then meetings. We have a big game on Sunday again against Portland. You'll be there?"
She smiles, "I think I'm your goodluck charm."
I chuckle, "You are. I scored and we won last week. Now you have to be at every game."
"I plan on it." She says.
I stare at her, "How was your day?"
She bobs her head, "It was good. It's like getting to the end of the year, so things are settling down. Mostly exams and papers. My students are like so ready to be done, driving me nuts a little."
I chuckle, "Do you remember being in high school? I couldn't wait for summer."
She smiles, "Oh yeah, I remember. It's just hard to keep my patience. Plus I have my GSA kids trying to plan an end of year thing."
"GSA?" I ask.
"Gay-straight alliance. Like a club for the kids. I'm the teacher sponsor for them."
I lean back, "Wow. That's so cool."
She smiles, "Well. I'd always wished that I had that growing up, so it only made sense to kind of give back. Make sure they feel supported, make connections."
I nod, "That makes sense. That's truly amazing, those kids are lucky to have you."
She looks down, "It's nothing, really."
I reach and grab her hand, "It is. It's impressive."
I watch as her ears turn bright red.
"Alright, food. Wait, actually, wine." I say.
"You trying to get me drunk?" She quips.
My eyes widen, "Uh, no? We don't have to have wine!"
She chuckles and squeezes my hand, "I'm just teasing. We can have wine. White wine."
"White wine. Okay." I say.
"Do you eat fish?" She asks.
"Yes." I deadpan.
She stares at me and turns bright red.
I chuckle, "You're adorable. Yes, I eat fish. All kinds."
"Okay. Great." She says.
'This girl is too cute.'
Mack POV
"That was delicious." I say and sit back.
"Glad you liked it." She says.
I grin, "The company was alright too."
She laughs, "Just alright?"
I look down and back up, "Company was wonderful."
"So wonderful that you'll get another glass of wine with me and watch the ocean out on the patio?"
I chuckle, "I think I can manage that."
"Okay, great. You go out there, I'll pay and get the wine."
I smile and head outside.
I lean on the railing and look out, then look down at the rings around my neck.
Babe, if you're there, just let me know.
I close my eyes and feel a wind blow harshly.
I smile, "Hi, babe."
I sigh, "You like Alex?"
I wait and feel the wind blow lightly.
I smile, "Me too."
I feel a hand on my back and startle.
"Hey. You okay?" I turn and see Alex.
I smile, "Yeah. A whole bottle? You really are trying to get me drunk."
She chuckles, "Maybe I am."
I shake my head, "You're something else."
"In a good way?" She asks.
I nod and lean in, kissing her cheek, "A really good way."
She grins and pours us both a glass, handing me one.
She sits next to me and rests her hand on my leg.
I lean my head on her shoulder, "I like this."
"I like this too." She says.
"So how does the World Cup work?" I ask.
I lift my head up and look at her.
"What do you mean?" She asks.
"Like explain it to me. I saw that there's eight groups of four teams."
She smiles, "Okay. So we do group play first, which means we play every team in the group. Top two teams advance out do the group to the round of 16, knockouts then you have to win to move on."
I nod along, "Oh wow. That's like a lot of games in a month."
She nods, "It takes a toll, emotionally and physically."
"I believe it. Does Charlie get to go? And your family?"
She smiles and nods, "My family always comes. My dad is literally like the team mascot."
I chuckle, "That's so cool. That they're supportive. It's in Australia and New Zealand?"
She nods, "Yeah, but it's going to be winter, like cold."
I chuckle, "You don't like the cold?"
She shakes her head, "California girl through and through."
I squeeze her side, "Well, we will have to toughen you up. East coast winters are brutal."
She looks at me, "You'll keep me warm."
I stare at her puppy dog eyes and smile, "Yeah, I will. I'm pretty good at building a fire too."
"Do you go back for the holidays?"
I nod, "Yeah. We usually go see Ally's family, they're in New York. We will probably do that again this year."
She nods, "Do you talk to her family a lot?"
I sigh, "Yeah. I mean Riley is their granddaughter. They've always been supportive and they're really great people."
"That's good, I'm glad they're supportive."
"Me too. It would've made the nightmare even worst if they weren't." I say.
I finish my glass of wine, "Shall we finish this off?"
She smiles and nods.
"Pour me a glass? I'll be right back." She says and I watch as she walks inside.
I pour her a glass and myself.
'Best night.'
Alex POV
I walk back out and stare at Mack.
'I'm so lucky.'
I hear the music come on and she looks up.
I walk over to her and hold my hand out, "I told you that I'd make you dance with me."
She shakes her head and I throw my head back.
"Please? Don't leave me hanging." I plead.
She sighs and takes my hand and I pull her up.
She laughs, "You like Taylor Swift?"
I pause, "It's not a like, it's a love."
She stares at me and shakes her head, "I like her music too."
I grab her hands and place them around my back.
We start swaying and I lay my head on her shoulder.
We sway until the music is over and I look up at her.
She's staring at me and I take a deep breath.
"Hi." She says.
I chuckle, "Hi."
"I really want to kiss you." She whispers.
I lean in so that my lips ghost over hers, "I really want you to."
She smiles and leans in, pressing her lips against mine and I swear the world was burning around us.
I pull away and open my eyes, seeing her eyes closed with tears falling down her cheeks.
I place my hands on her cheeks, "Hey. It's okay."
She opens her eyes and stares at me, "Tears of happiness, promise."
I rub my thumbs under her eyes and lean in, pressing my lips against hers, then pull back.
She chuckles, "You're something."
I nod, "I know. But I really like you."
She bobs her head, "I really like you too. Just be patient with me, okay?"
I pull her close and hug her, "I'll be as patient as you need me to be."
She kisses my head, "Thanks."
I pull away and she sits back down and holds her hand out.
She pulls me so that I'm sitting on her lap and hands me my glass.
"This is cozy." I say.
She grins, "It is, huh. Okay, so, is Portland good?"
I stare at her and chuckle, "Yeah, they're very good. They're pretty physical too. I usually need like a whole body massage afterwards."
Her eyes widen and I can see her whole face flushing.
I chuckle and put my hand on her cheek, "I'm not expecting you to give me one. But for future reference, how would Ally have rated your massage skills?"
She smiles and shakes her head, "I think she'd rate them pretty good."
I bob my head, "Good to know."
"So am I going to be worried about you at the game?"
I shrug and take a drink of wine, "Maybe, but I'll be okay. I always get back up. Or almost always at least."
Her eyes widen, "Almost always?"
"There's been a few times. But if you're going to be my biggest supporter, you're allowed to worry. But you'll know when I'm really hurt or when I just need a minute to breathe through it."
She nods, "Okay. You'll give me like a thumbs up or something?"
I chuckle and nod.
I finish my wine and watch as she does too.
"I don't want this night to end." She says.
I lean down and press my lips against hers.
"Me either." I say as I pull away.
I stare at her and try to read what she's feeling.
I rub her cheek, "I'm not going anywhere and we have time."
She closes her eyes and nods, "You're amazing."
I smile and press my lips against hers again.
"Well I think you're pretty amazing too. Ready to head home?"
She nods and I stand up, reaching my hand out.
She grabs it and I turn my hand to intertwine them.
I pull her through the restaurant.
"Goodnight, Miss Morgan."
I look at the hostess, "Goodnight, thank you!"
We get to my car and I open her door, closing it after her.
I get into the driver's seat and turn to look at Mack, who's staring at me.
"What?"
"I used to always open the door for Ally. It was like our thing." She says.
I grab her hand and pull it to my lips, "Well now I'll open it for you. It'll be our thing."
She smiles and nods, leaning her head back, "I like that."
I smile and nod, starting the drive back to her house.
I turn on Taylor swift and start singing.
I look over and she's smiling.
"What? Am I bad at singing?" I ask.
She shakes her head, "I'm not telling you to shut up. I'm just smiling at you."
I reach and turn up the music.
"But she wears short skirts, I wear t-shirts, she's cheer captain, and I'm on the bleachers. Dreaming about the day when you wake up and find that what you're looking for has been here the whole time!" I sing loudly.
I look over at her and she's smiling widely.
"If you could see that I'm the one who understands you. Been here all along, so why can't you see? You belong with me!"
I turn down the music.
"You'll sing with me?" I ask her.
She chuckles, "I don't sing."
"You also said that you don't dance, but I already got my way with that." I say pointedly.
She shakes her head, "You did, didn't you?"
I nod, "Yup!"
She smiles widely, "I'll sing with you one day."
"I'm holding you to that, Mack!"
She squeezes my hand, "I know you are."
We pull up to her house and I sigh.
"What's wrong?" She asks.
I look at her, "I had so much fun. I'll just miss you until Sunday."
She squeezes my hand, "Well what if Riley and I saw you and Charlie tomorrow?"
I stare at her.
"Beach day?" She asks.
I smile and nod, "Absolutely. I have a light training and a meeting, but after?"
"That's okay. Riley and I are going to visit Ally in the morning, so that works out." She says.
I smile softly, "Okay. Beach date?"
She chuckles, "Beach date with our girls."
I lean in and wait until she meets me halfway and presses her lips against mine.
I move my lips with hers and can't help the moan that escapes me.
I pull away and lick my lips.
I open my eyes and see her smiling, "See you tomorrow, superstar."
"Night, Mack."
I watch as she gets out and walks to her door, opening and turning back towards me.
I blow her a kiss and she catches it.
I shake my head and laugh.
'Best date ever.'