Love, Utley (Love Letters #1)

She shakes her head. “Chaotic. Too short. Too hot. Take your pick.”

“Sounds about right,” I laugh and shuffle into the row after Chelsea. “At least today isn’t scorching.”

The woman nods, but her attention is no longer on me. It’s on the man behind me.

I let her stare as I stop in front of my seat.

I wore a wide-strapped red tank top today and a pair of stretchy but fitted jean capris. The fitted part was important because my hips are wide enough, and I’m trying to keep them contained, not add more fabric to increase my width.

This morning, as I was dressing, I had a vivid memory of the last time we came to a game here. We sat way up in the nosebleed seats, and I remember struggling to get my ass between the unforgiving armrests.

I’m not huge. Not the biggest girl there ever was. And most of the time, I feel totally fine in my body. But then I get into a situation— or seat— like that, and I remember the world isn’t built for me.

Holding my breath, I lower myself.

My hips press against the armrests, and I have a moment of sheer panic that I’m not going to be able to sit here. But I let more of my weight press down, and my squishy bits adjust, letting me slide the rest of the way into the seat.

I fill my lungs.

It’s not comfortable, but it’s fine. And I’m not stuck perching on the edge of the seat like I did before.

Then Maddox sits down.

His hips are trim. But his frame is huge. So his butt fits into the seat just fine, but his knees touch the seat in front of him and his shoulder presses into mine, forcing me to lean over into Chelsea’s seat.

He grunts, and shifts, and says something about “made for fucking children.”

And suddenly, I don’t feel too big anymore.

Biting my lip, I twist and look up at him. “You okay?”

He shifts. “I feel like Baymax stuck in that window.”

I let out a startled laugh and shake my head. “How do you even know that reference?”

Maddox lifts his arm up around my shoulders. “What, a man can’t enjoy a good animated film?”

“You’re totally right. Sorry for judging.”

“Uh-huh.” Maddox looks down at me. “Babe. I take up too much space.”

My humor fades. “No, you don’t.” I grip his thigh, squeezing. “You’re perfect.”

His giant grin catches me off guard. “Oh, Bunny.” With the arm around my shoulders, he pulls me into his body and kisses the top of my head. “I appreciate you saying that. But I need something else from you.”

He loosens his grip, and my eyes drop to his lap before snapping back up to meet his gaze.

And he looks like he’s trying really hard not to laugh. “I’d appreciate you for that too. But try to control yourself. This is a family sport.”

I flick his leg. “You’re the one—”

He gives my ponytail a little tug. “I need you to switch seats with your mini me.”

Spacing on what we’d been talking about, I look up at him.

Maddox sighs. “So pretty. So forgetful.”

That makes me narrow my eyes at him.