Her eyes widened a bit, but she managed to keep her face intact. “What do you mean?”

“This.” I narrowed my eyes. “Just a minute ago you were alive, open and real. Now you’ve shut it all down. Tighter than a prison cell.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t do this, Meredith.” I sighed in frustration. “I don’t know what’s going on in your head, but you don’t have to shut me out.”

“It’s for your own good.” The words tumbled out of her mouth.

“What is?” I felt my eyebrows arch.

“We did something amazing together.” She touched my chest. “But we can’t do it again.”

“What? Why?” That blew my plans out of the water. I’d planned on doing it a lot more.

“I have too much going on.” She shrugged. “I can’t handle the complications that come with any kind of relationship. And you don’t want what comes along with me.”

I stared at her, picking my words carefully. “It’s too late for that.”

“Complications?”

“A relationship.” I let go of her chin. “There’s something between us. Whatever you want to call it. Friendship, a relationship, attraction. It’s there already.” Shit, things had gotten out of hand fast. When was the last time I was in a relationship? I avoided them like the plague, but here I was arguing that we were in the middle of one.

“What about when I go home?” Her mask cracked and I could see the worry swirling beneath. “When I go back to singing and have to make public appearances? What then? That’s not the life you want.”

“Let’s take it one day at a time, okay?” I took a deep breath. Again the thought of her leaving twisted my gut, but she was right. I hated being in the public eye. Hated the press that would go along with having a famous girlfriend. “No expectations.”

Her face froze and I watched as she worked through something. “I’m everything you want to avoid, Max.”

“Not everything.” I shrugged. Oh shit. Was I changing my mind? No. Not about the press. That would never happen. But maybe . . . maybe it didn’t matter if she was in the spotlight as long as I wasn’t. “I don’t know. All I know is that I want to spend time with you. And with Marty.”

Her eyes closed for a minute. “Okay.”

“Then let’s go downstairs and see if we can teach Marty something about football.” I sat down and pulled my shoes on.

She nodded her head, but didn’t say anything. Whatever was bothering her was still there, nagging at her mind. Until she worked through it or decided to tell me what it was, there was nothing I could do.

Taking her hand in mine, I led her downstairs and through the back door. I wanted to touch her, needed to cement what had passed between us.

“You’re cheating!” Marty yelled as Cathy picked up the ball and ran away from him with it.

Cathy laughed loudly as she ran back and forth, keeping the ball out of Marty’s reach.

“Cheater!” Sam yelled from her shaded spot under a tree.

“I’ve got to!” Cathy yelled back. “The kid is good!”

“Should we go help Marty?” I squeezed Meredith’s fingers gently.

“I think I’d be more of a hindrance than a help.” She flashed a brief smile. “I’m terrible.”

“It’s all for fun.” I pulled her toward the field. “Get some sunshine. It’ll do you good.”

“You’re as persistent as Marty.” She shook her head. “You’re going to regret this.”

“No I’m not.” I laughed. “You’re on Cathy’s team.”

She looked at me and started laughing. “That’s cruel.”

“She’s making Marty chase her all over the place. This way it’ll be fair.”

“Fine.” She pulled her hair back away from her face. “If I break a leg, it’s on you.”

“I can live with that.” I ran ahead, catching Cathy from behind so that Marty could grab the ball.

“Penalty!” Cathy shouted.

“It’s an all for all.” Marty took the ball and started dribbling it toward the large tree.

Meredith chased after him, desperately trying to kick the ball away from him while the boy laughed loudly.

Letting Cathy go, I chased after Marty and Meredith. “Pass!”

Marty kicked me the ball and I dribbled it a ways while Cathy gained ground on me.

“I’m open!” Marty called, Meredith still doggedly pursuing him.

“Here.” I kicked the ball to him and hollered in triumph when he scored a goal between two trees.

Samantha cheered from the sidelines, her hands in the air.

“Good job.” Meredith held her hand out for a high-five.

“You too.” Marty hopped up and smacked her hand.

We spent hours playing in the sun, chasing the ball back and forth. Meredith scored a goal, which was cause for celebration, even if it looked like it wasn’t on purpose. I picked her up and she laughed as I spun her in a circle. Marty giggled at his mom as she tried to get me to put her down.

“It was an accident.” She smacked at my shoulder.

“Don’t admit it.” I set her back down. “And that’s a hell of an improvement.”

“Gee, thanks.” She playfully punched my shoulder. When she turned to go back toward the ball I smacked her ass.