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I keep trying to get a moment alone with Hazel, but there are too many people, too many eyes on us. It’s not until we’re ready to head out and meet with the press that I catch her in the hallway.

“Haze—”

I get interrupted by Joanne’s heels clicking their way closer and closer to us, and resist the urge to roll my eyes.

“Oh good, I caught you both. We have a slight issue,” Joanne says, stopping near my shoulder and grimacing.

“What is it?” Hazel asks.

“We booked this place way in advance, before you joined the team,” Joanne says, eyeing me cautiously. “We’re short of a bedroom.”

I purse my lips and place both hands on my hips. “Fix it.”

“Oh, I can sleep on a couch, it’s no problem,” Hazel says with an easy smile.

“Absolutely not,” I scoff, clenching my jaw.

Joanne’s lips pull to the side, and I’m suddenly concerned about what she’s about to say. “I can book a hotel room for myself, or…” She looks between us, her straight bob swaying with the movement. “Or you can stay in Levi’s room,” she tells Hazel, giving her a knowing look.

My girl gasps and presses a hand to her mouth, blushing from her cheeks to her collarbone. “Well, I—are you insinuating—” Hazel tries to compose herself, but she’s flailing.

I drop my hands from my chest and take a step closer to Hazel, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “Nothing gets past you, right Joanne?” I address my assistant.

Joanne winks and says, “Nothing. Besides, I like this. It’s good for you.” She points between us and gives Hazel a genuine smile that reaches her eyes. “Make sure he sleeps.”

“I will,” Hazel squeaks at her retreating back. She looks at me. “Should we be worried that your team knows?”

I shake my head and press a quick kiss to her forehead. “It’s only Joanne. I trust her. Besides, I got the best sleep with you by my side. You’d be doing me a favor at this point. And after this weekend, you won’t be working for me anymore.”

She bites her lip and takes a couple steps back. “So many favors. I’ll have to start asking for some payment soon.”

“I can think of a few things,” I say with a wink.

The next couple days pass in a flurry of activity. Between the press interviews, fan interactions on the course, and practices to check the hole locations and green speeds, I barely have time for—well, anything.

I keep wanting to check in on Hazel, but I’m trying to hold back and not be a nuisance. Sabrina hated the work part of golf. She’d watch it, sure, but she’d always stay at a hotel with a spa, far away from my team. From me.

With Hazel, everything is different. We fell asleep curled up against one another, talking about short game strategies. She gets me, and it’s everything I’ve always wanted. To share the sport I love with the person I⁠—

I inhale and promptly choke on a blueberry. The entire group of people at the kitchen table turn their heads to me as I cough and not-so-eloquently spit out the blueberry into a napkin. “I’m good,” I rasp.

Hazel gives me a concerned look, but I can’t hold her gaze. Holy shit, am I in love with her? I let the sentiment wash over me, seeping into my chest.

I think I am.

Which is crazy, we haven’t even gone on a first date yet, haven’t even slept together, but—when I think about Hazel in my life, in my house, us playing a round of golf together, the two of us in my passenger seat as we drove to the training facility, in my arms, in my bed—I almost can’t remember a time when she wasn’t a part of me.

I swallow and blow out a breath. With rushed movements, I grab my phone and push the chair back. It screeches loudly and I wince. All the gazes return to me, and I wave my phone lamely in the air. “I need to make a call.”

“Don’t be long, we need to head over to the course for your tee time,” Mike yells after me. I give him a thumbs up over my shoulder.

Levi

I just had a major revelation that I don’t know how to feel about. Two hours before my game.

Jacob

That’s bloody shit timing.