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Austin pulled me to his chest and circled me in his arms. “Greer. You are not responsible for what happened. Why do you think that?”
Tears filled my eyes as I tried to look at him. “Because I didn’t love her enough. My heart wanted something else. It wanted you. I’ve always wanted you. And I wasn’t supposed to. I was supposed to love my wife like I loved you. But I couldn’t.”
He held me to his chest, and I wrapped my arms around him, holding on for dear life. “I wanted you too,” he whispered into my ear. “But you are not responsible for that. It’s devastating and heartbreaking, but it happens, babe. And I’m going to keep telling you that you’re not responsible every day until you believe it. Tell me you both saw a grief counselor?”
“We did. But we also realized we wanted different things and parted as friends. She stayed in Chicago, and I moved to Portland. It’s funny how that worked out.”
“And I ended up in Portland with GQ,” he said. “Seems to me like we were meant to be.”
“Maybe. And I’m so tired of fighting how I feel about you.”
“Good,” he said, kissing me. “Because we’re not fighting it any longer. We’re going all in, baby.”
CHAPTER 24
AUSTIN
When we walked back into the room from the hot springs, Greer’s phone was vibrating. I closed the door behind us while he went to pick it up. I needed to find the box I’d asked the front desk to have delivered to the room.
“Someone wants your attention,” I said, tossing my bracelet onto the dresser.
“It’s my attorney.”
“Ah, I thought it might be your sister.”
Greer smiled at me over his shoulder. “Katherine still has a distinct ringtone. When she calls, you’ll know it’s her.”
He picked up his phone and scrolled through the messages. I watched as his brows drew together as he read.
“Is there a problem?” I asked, opening the dresser drawer.
He continued to read as he answered my question. “I’m not sure yet. They’re getting ready for the Combine next month, and we need a little wiggle room with the salary cap.”
I smiled, thinking about Carter. “Owner problems,” I said, kissing his shoulder.
He smiled, but continued reading as I went to start the shower. I stripped out of my T-shirt and bathing suit as the water warmed up for my third shower of the day.
Rubbing my hand over my jaw, I looked in the mirror at my reflection. The man looking back at me was almost unrecognizable now. I was truly happy for the first time in my life, and it showed on my face. I was a lovesick fool for the hot-as-fuck silver fox out there on his phone.
Dreamboat was going to give me so much hell when we got home, and I didn’t care one bit.
I was toweling off when Greer finally walked into the bathroom. His hair was a mess of waves, and his eyes sparkled. “You’re already finished?”
“Yeah, I need to check in with GQ.” My friend was the furthest thing from my mind, but I needed a few minutes alone in the room to get ready for tonight.
He smirked, then put his hands on my hips. “He’ll have to wait a minute.”
Pressing my back against the wall, I caught his face in my hands. Greer was as strong and fit as I was, so when he took the lead like this, it made me feel all kinds of things I couldn’t quite put my finger on. All I knew was I wanted to kiss the fuck out of him for the rest of our lives.
But to get that life, we had to get out of the room. I pushed him back and kissed him once more. “There is nothing I want to do more than wrap my body around yours. But we have dinner reservations first. Then I’m all yours.”
“I like the sound of that. But I think maybe I need to be all yours tonight. I’m ready to experience everything with you.”
“And I’m ready to give it to you. Like I said earlier, I want to take my time with you. So, first things first for now.”
He nodded and ran his teeth over his bottom lip. “Yeah, okay.”
Greer pulled away and stripped off his clothes as I watched. I was a lucky, lucky man. When he got in the shower, I went to check my messages. Opening my phone, the message I’d been waiting for was ready to be read.
