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She shook her head. “I’m okay, really.”
“Audrey.” I waited for her to get into my room and then I shut the door. She leaned against it, and I had the strongest urge to toss her on my bed and kiss the hell out of her. I wanted to suck the attitude out of her mouth and bite her lips until she panted. I did none of those things, but I wanted to. Badly.
“I need you to talk to me. You keep saying you’re fine and okay, but you’re keeping something from me. You know all my shit. You’re in my childhood bedroom, for fuck’s sake. You know my secrets. I want to know yours.”
She swallowed loudly, the click of her throat like a gunshot in my room. “They’re stupid.”
“Your feelings?” I huffed. “Your feelings matter, and I care about them.”
She closed her eyes as she took a shaky breath, and when she met my gaze, there was a new glint to her eyes. One I sure as hell couldn’t figure out. “I’m not used to being put first or included or hugged. I’m struggling with how to feel right now.”
“Put first? Hugged?”
“It doesn’t?—”
“If you say it doesn’t matter, I will be fucking angry, Audrey.” Did this beautiful, kind woman not get hugged? Why did that make me want to cry?
“I’m sure that kiss didn’t mean anything to you. I know I’m one of many and that I’m not unique or special, but for a moment, I might’ve thought I was. And that’s foolish and on me. So, when you didn’t show up for the break, it solidified I was right in not being at the top of your mind. I’m not mad at you or upset, so please don’t take it that way. We’re still friends, Theo. I promise. I love your siblings.”
I paced my room as she leaned against the door.
One of many.
Not unique.
Not being at the top of my mind.
“I upset you. I’m sorry. I knew I shouldn’t have said anything. I’ll leave.”
“If you open that door, I will wrestle you to the ground. Stay. Give me a goddamn second to respond.”
She paled, and I instantly regretted my tone. “Auds, honey, I shouldn’t have yelled. I’m not upset with you at all. I’m upset with me. My mind isn’t as brilliant as yours, so I need a second to formulate my response. Can you wait for me?”
She nodded.
“Here.” I went to my dresser and pulled out an old crewneck sweatshirt that had faded hockey sticks on it. My mom found it thrifting for me years ago, and it was my favorite piece of clothing I owned. “You can put this on.”
I also tossed her an old pair of gray shorts.
I meant to offer her to go to the bathroom to change, but Audrey immediately whipped off her scrubs and stood there in a sports bra. She slid on my sweatshirt, which reached her thighs. Then she stripped out of her pants so fast I didn’t notice anything and put on my shorts.
Words escaped me. Thoughts did too. The ability to breathe was shortly behind.
“Fuck, Audrey.” My voice was raspy as hell. She looked sexy.
“What?”
She had no idea. I laughed and ran a hand over my face. My thoughts were a damn mess and probably out of line. I knew, deep down, that lusting over a teammates sister was against the rules, but she was in my room, in my clothes, and I didn’t care.
“You look fucking good.”
Her eyes widened. “But you say that to everyone.”
I smiled and shook my head, taking a step closer to her. “No, I don’t. I also don’t have everyone come to my house, my childhood bedroom, or wear my clothes either. I certainly don’t let everyone meet my siblings.”
Her pulse raced at the base of her neck as her eyes darted from my face to my mouth. “Oh.”
“You are special to me. And unique. And I’ve thought about that kiss every single second since it happened.”
