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“Well, I hope you get your shot soon.”
“Thanks. That means a lot. It must be strange for you to say that to me with you and Brett having so much history between you.”
“You know, if this was a couple of weeks ago, I would say yes. But I feel like I was blindfolded for the past seven years when it comes to him, and now it’s been removed. I’m finally seeing him for what he is—a manipulator.”
“I’m glad you’re gaining new perspective when it comes to him. He’s manipulative with us too, so don’t feel like it’s just you who falls for it. I watch grown men cater to him on a daily basis. But that only worked up until now because he was performing well. Dealing with his bullshit was a trade off for him doing well on the field. And now he’s no longer doing that.”
“You have a lot of support on the Silverbacks social media pages, that’s for sure.”
“I’ll have to take a look. I’m horrible about checking for tags.”
“You’d be at it all day if you did.”
“I can still manage to comment on some of them. It’s the least I can do to thank the fans.”
“I’m sure they’d love that. And it would make me look good too.”
“Then I’ll be doing it for sure.”
I smile up at him. I’m enjoying the peaceful rhythm of our conversation. We’re never short on things to say and our banter is on point and stimulating. We fall into easy laughter, which is something I’ve only ever experienced before with Scarlett. He notices my gaze on him and returns my smile.
“This was a great idea. It’s so nice to just wander around the neighborhood without any pressure or distractions. There’s nopractice, no game, no weight room… only you. Although, you’re the biggest distraction of all.”
My expression turns serious. “Is that a bad thing?” I worry I’ll take away his focus.
“Not for me.”
“Good.” I squeeze his hand lightly, feeling a flutter of happiness.
Rogan has setup an air mattress on the back porch for me. He said he’ll sleep on the couch if I want him to. As of now, I’m not sure what to do. I know what would be the smart choice, but that’s not necessarily the one I want to make.
The air is cool and inviting. It’s the perfect weather for lingering outside, soaking in every last bit of peace and tranquility on a summer night. Rogan turned on the lights around the ceiling and they’re casting a magical, romantic glow, or maybe that’s my imagination getting the best of me. I’m suddenly having fanciful notions I’ve never had before.
I watch Rogan finish arranging pillows and blankets. He’s very deliberate in the placement of everything, as if he’s trying to make it look perfect for me. His attention to detail is endearing, and it fills my heart with a warmth I haven’t experienced in so long, I’d forgotten how it feels.
“This looks amazing,” I say, taking in the charming setup. “I didn’t expect it to look so cozy and inviting.” It’s a lot of work to go through for a friendly sleepover.
He grins, clearly pleased with himself. “I figured I had to impress you somehow.”
“You impress me plenty,” I confess.
“Whoa. You complimented me. I better make note of the date and time.”
“Ha. I’m not that bad.”
“Are you sure about that?” he asks, nodding at my pajamas.
“Oh.” I laugh. “I guess it’s kind of ironic that I’m wearing these.” I pluck at the hem on my Grumpy Dwarf boxer shorts. “They’re my favorite. The material is so soft and comfortable.”
He sinks down onto the air mattress beside me. One of the straps on my tank top slips down my shoulder. He reaches over and lifts it back up, his fingertips skimming along my skin. I shiver.
“Are you cold?” he asks, but we both know damn well that’s not why I reacted.
“Maybe a little,” I say, continuing the charade.
He grabs a small blanket from the arm of the couch and drapes it around my shoulders like a cape. Holding on to both sides, he uses the material to pull me forward and tenderly presses his lips to mine. When he draws back, he smiles. “Why don’t you get some sleep.”
That’s it?I find myself disappointed at how brief his kiss was.
