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“I relate to that awkwardness,” Rix says.
“It’s probably why Roman has always been on you about never dating the players,” Hemi says with a chuckle.
“Yeah, that’s part of it.” I take another sip of my prosecco and fight the flush working its way into my cheeks. Having a thing for one of the players would be bad enough, but this thing I have for Hollis is on a totally different level. “Mostly he wants me to end up with someone normal, so I have stability. Which I understand, but the flip side is that normal guys don’t really understand my life. I just want someone who will show up for me the way you all do.” And I need to stop wanting that person to be Hollis.
“It goes both ways, doesn’t it,” Dred muses as her knitting needles clink soothingly against each other. She’s making toques for the unhoused who frequent the library where she works. She’s amazing. “You show up for all of us.”
“And you really showed up for me.” Rix hugs my arm.
“You’re a badass babe,” Hemi declares.
“This,” Shilpa agrees.
“To badass babes.” Hemi raises her glass, and we all follow.
“We should have Badass Babe Brigade shirts,” I muse.
“I’ll have them designed,” Hemi replies.
“We’ll be our own team,” Tally says with a grin. “Officially.”
“Yeah, we will.”
I’m half in the bag, thanks to all the prosecco, and struggling to get my sleep shorts on when Hollis messages.
Hollis
Hey, checking in.
I forgot to feed the boys. They might be able to wait until morning, but it increases the risk of Postie taking an anger dump on Hollis’s bed. Pajama situation sorted and phone in hand, I step into the hall. Rix’s door is closed, and her light is off. I pause, rolling my bottom lip between my teeth. Part of me wants to use his spare bedroom to be a brat.
I return to my bedroom, stuff Batdick into my purse, shove my feet into a pair of fluffy slippers, and leave the apartment with Hollis’s fob. Two minutes later, I let myself into his penthouse. A single light illuminates the living room. As predicted, he forgot to shut his bedroom door. I drop my purse in the hall outside his room and peek inside. Postie and Malone are curled up together on his pillow.
I scan the room for the kitty cam. I spot it on his dresser, across from his bed. It’s tucked beside a small stack of books and a framed crayon drawing from his niece.
My stomach flips, and my mouth goes dry. The camera has a perfect view of the bed and the door leading to the hall. I believe him when he said he deleted the video without watching. Hollis is honorable and a rule follower. If his physical therapist tells him to sit in the hot tub for half an hour, he times it. If the team doctor says he needs to up his lean protein, he has Rix tailor his meals to hit that target. But I wish for once he could have let go of his rule-following ways and watched the video, instead of deleting it.
Postie stretches, and Malone’s tail twitches. I glance from them to the camera. It’s late. Hollis is probably in bed, already asleep. How much harm would it do if I joined the kitties for a minute or two? Just provide the cuddles they’re missing before I give them a snack. Huff Hollis’s pillow. Maybe even steal one of them for a possible self-gratification session in his spare bedroom. I climb up onto the bed. Malone lifts his head, and Postie gives me a head butt.
“Hi, boys. Sorry I’m so late for a little loving and a treat.” I scratch under their chins.
My phone buzzes from the hallway, where it’s tucked inside my purse.
I ignore it.
“You missing your daddy?” I rest my head on the pillow and inhale deeply. I’m not disappointed. Hollis’s aftershave permeates the fabric.
My phone buzzes again. And again.
Postie trots to the end of the bed and hops to the floor. Malone climbs onto my chest and headbutts my chin.
My phone goes off again. This time with a call.
“Come on, buddy, that’s probably your daddy losing his mind because I’m in his bed again.” I move him off my chest and roll to the edge of the mattress, popping to my feet.
My heart thunders in my chest, and I’m suddenly anxious. I don’t know why I’m acting like this. Maybe because I’m hurt? Maybe because he can’t do anything about it while he’s a flight away?
The call ends but starts again a few seconds later. I answer it on the second ring.
