Page 70 of Irreplaceable

I stared at the dash. “I feel like I’ve traveled back in time.”

She laughed and pulled out onto the street. “Yeah, it’s kind of nice. It’s like shooting with film instead of a digital camera. There’s just something comforting and fun about it. Nostalgic.”

“That’s how I feel when I play soccer with kids. It takes me back to when I first fell in love with the sport. Before all the expectations and the pressure.” Before all the drama.

I shifted around, trying to get comfortable. There had to be a way to get more legroom.

“Here,” she said when we came to a red light. She reached beneath my legs and pulled a lever that sent me flying backward. I gripped the handle on the door, ready to launch myself out of this contraption. But she merely laughed at my expression.

“This car is a deathtrap.”

“Stop being so dramatic.” She sighed. “It’s one of the safest cars on the road.”

“And one of the oldest. No.” I shook my head. “It’s not the oldest, but it’s in that weird time frame where it’s not old enough to be cool again.” Though I wasn’t sure this car had ever been—or would ever be—cool.

She laughed and pulled onto the freeway. “You’re such a snob,” she said as she turned up the music.

The white stripe of the freeway disappeared beneath the tires as we drove farther and farther away from LA. I wasn’t sure whether it was the situation or the woman, but I felt surprisingly carefree.

Everyone was speculating about my performance with a new team, but that seemed miles away. At least until Val’s name flashed on my phone. I shifted in my seat but sent the call to voice mail. She didn’t approve of Harper, and she certainly wouldn’t approve of this weekend away. And I didn’t want to hear her opinion right now.

“Tell me more about home.” I’d heard about Harper’s girlfriends when we were in Bali, and she’d mentioned her family. Even from our brief conversations about them, I knew she was close to her parents and her brothers.

She smiled. “We have these huge annual events where everyone comes together. And there’s a great weekly farmers market. But it’s just—the spirit of the place, you know? Everyone looks out for one another.”

Every time she spoke of home, it was with a sense of nostalgia and longing. It made me wonder why she didn’t visit more, especially since she seemed to have such fond memories.

“Why did you move to LA?”

She laughed, running a hand through her hair. Did she have any idea how sexy she was? I wanted to graze my hand up her legs. I wanted to have them wrapped around my head as I gulped down her orgasm. I fully intended to, but I was getting ahead of myself. It was clear that Harper had serious reservations about us, but I was determined to prove her wrong.

“Probably for the reasons you’d expect. Because I was young, and I thought my hometown was boring. There was a whole wide world out there I wanted to explore.”

Harper’s phone rang, and she glanced at it quickly. “It’s Juliana. I’ll call her back.” It went to voice mail, and then there was a chime, followed by another call. She checked the screen. “My mom’s calling. She probably just wants to know if I got on the road. Just—” Her tongue poked out from between her teeth as she concentrated on hitting the button to connect the call. “Give me a sec.”

I shook my head. She should not be fumbling to answer the phone while driving. A newer car with Bluetooth and a touchscreen would allow her to drive with fewer distractions. It wasn’t about being a snob; it was about her safety.

“Hey, Mom!” Harper’s voice was overly bright, and I wondered if I should say hello or stay silent since the phone was on speaker. I opted for silence.

“Oh my god, Harper. It’s been insane here.” She was talking a million miles a minute, and I wondered if she was always this high energy. “The phone has been ringing nonstop. Patients can’t get through to Dad’s office. I’ve had calls on my business line. There’s this ridiculous rumor going around that you’re dating a famous football player.”

“It’s soccer,” I interjected without thinking. The rumors better not be about Harper and Crew.

“Hello? Who’s that?” Harper’s mom asked, sounding alarmed.

I pulled out my phone to search the internet for articles about Harper and me. Sure enough, Val and Nico had already sent me a text with links to one. There was a blurry shot of Harper and me hugging in the garage this morning. Then another of us leaving the hotel.

“What the fuck?” I said under my breath.

“The famous soccer player,” Harper said in a wry tone. “Sorry, Mom. You’re on speaker with Enzo and me.”

“Wait. It’s true?”

Harper twisted the wheel in her hands. “I was going to tell you when I got home, but yes. It’s true, and he’s coming home with me. Surprise!”

“He…” Harper’s mom paused, perhaps remembering that I was listening in. “Um, hello…is it Enzo?”

“Yes. Hello, Mrs. Allen. Please call me Enzo. I look forward to meeting you.”