“Is he a good player?”

“He’s a great player, but his confidence is shaky.” Fable’s smile is gentle. “It’s normal for players to go through tumultuous emotions when they first start. Everything’s on the line and they’re so close to making their dreams come true. Sometimes they fail, though. And that’s hard for them to process. They want to believe in the fairytale.”

“What fairytale?”

“That they’ll all go on to win Super Bowl rings and championships and be the greatest player that ever lived. That’s not always guaranteed. You have to put in hard work first and make it happen, you know? You have to want it bad enough.” Fable’s gaze drifts to the window and locks on the two men still sitting outside. “Wade doesn’t just want it for himself, though. He wants it for his mom too. He wants to make sure she’s taken care of for the rest of her life, though I know he’s secretly afraid he won’t make it and he’ll disappoint her.”

How sweet. He wants to take care of his mom. Most guys are selfish and only care about themselves.

“Sometimes he acts like making it on the team isn’t that important to him, but deep down inside, he wants it. I know he does. He’s working hard toward it too. He’ll cement his spot on the team, but he just needs to build up more of his confidence first.”

I glance out the window once again, letting my gaze wander to the two men sitting by the pool outside. The day is clear and bright, the temperature unusually warm for San Francisco. They’re both wearing black shorts and red 49ers T-shirts, the cotton stretching taut across their broad shoulders, the sunlight gleaming off their dark heads. Their expressions are serious, Wade’s more earnest than anything else as he hunches forward, as if in rapt attention over whatever Drew is telling him.

Taking a deep breath, I return my attention to Fable, smiling at her. “Is there anything you want me to help you with today while the kids are sleeping?”

“I’m so glad you asked, or I probably would’ve forgot. There’s too much going on and not enough hours in the day to get it all done.” Fable’s expression brightens. “Let’s go to my office. We can go through that fat stack of mail sitting on my desk.”

We both groan, then she starts to laugh. I definitely need to focus on something else, and sorting through her mail is better than daydreaming about Wade Knox.

“Fable’s probably sick of seeing me hanging around here all the time, huh?” I mutter as I follow Drew back inside the house.

“Nah. She loves having you around. You’re the closest thing to Owen and she misses him so damn bad. If she can’t have him nearby, at least she has you,” Drew tells me as he shuts the French door that leads into the kitchen. He glances at the giant clock that hangs on the nearby wall. “I’m freaking starving. Want to go grab some dinner?”

“Uh…” My voice drifts. I don’t want to take up all of Drew’s time. But I also don’t want to go back to my boring, empty apartment in San Jose. I live close to the stadium because it’s easier to get to practice every day. Drew bought a badass house in San Francisco a couple of years ago because he’s a multimillionaire and can afford it. So what if his commute to work is longer than mine? His house makes it worth the drive every day.

“We’ll go grab some pizza or something. Make it easy,” Drew says.

“Did someone say pizza?” Fable walks into the kitchen, Jacob propped on her right hip. He has a fistful of Fable’s hair and he’s staring at it in fascination. “I’m hungry. Let’s go somewhere.”

“Yeah, but where?” Drew drops a kiss on Fable’s upturned lips when she stops to stand beside him. He then takes Jacob from her arms and cuddles him close. “You really want pizza?”

“I adore pizza. You know this. You fed it to me constantly during your college days.” The knowing look she sends Drew has him kissing her again. I feel like I’m intruding during a private moment, so I look away. “You’re going with us too, right Wade?”

“If you don’t mind.” I don’t want to be a third wheel.

Fable beams. “Perfect. I’ll ask if Sydney wants to go with us too.”

Wait a minute. I won’t be a third wheel. It’ll be more like we’re on a—double date? I don’t know how I feel about that. I don’t know how Sydney’s going to feel about it either.

I mean, the girl is hot, but she works for Drew and Fable. She’s the freaking nanny. Which means I shouldn’t have dirty thoughts about her, though I do. I wonder if her skin is as soft as it looks, and her hair. What her lips might taste like….

Yeah, the nanny is gorgeous. Quiet and pretty, with a soft yet sexy laugh and those beautiful blue eyes. I’ve been checking her out. And I swear she’s been checking me out too. So going to pizza together tonight could be potentially awkward.

I’m willing to give it a shot, though.

“Fable.” Drew’s voice is low, carrying a warning with it.

“What? It’s no big deal. We’ll be four—friends going out for a meal.” Fable’s expression is full on innocent and also full on bullshit.

I love Fable, but I’ve known her too long. I can see right through her. I think she’s trying to set me up with the nanny.

Interesting.

“Sydney’s not your friend. She’s your employee.” Drew steps closer to his wife, reaching out so he can skim his fingers up and down her bare arm. “Maybe you should be careful about crossing lines and all that.”