Page 97 of Bad Run

At least not yet.

So, I run.

thirty-two

Lance

Present

I fucked up.

Forcing Gwen to watch me jerk off.

What was I thinking?

Guilt simmers low in my stomach. I’m such an asshole. I pushed her too far, too fast.

I should have stayed facing the wall and pretended not to hear the hitch in her breath as she watched me from the doorway. Then maybe she wouldn’t have freaked out so damn hard and drove back to her apartment.

Judging by the wet spot on her pretty pink panties, she was into watching me. I just can’t figure out what made her pull a road runner.

With a sigh, I lean back into my seat, ignoring the rest of teammates as they file onto the plane. Leaving for a week of away games in Florida and Atlanta couldn’t have come at a more terrible time. Not with Gwen ignoring me and my inability to fix whatever the fuck I messed up in the first place.

What does a guy do to apologize for whacking off in front of his wife? I already texted her, but should I send her flowers or something? Donuts?

“A newly married man should look a lot happier,” a gruff voice says, cutting through my thoughts.

I look over to find Heath plopping into the seat beside me. He’s wearing the Evaders’ team travel uniform—a gray collared shirt and black slacks. I couldn’t be more grateful that business casual is our team’s dress code.

My buddy would know what being happily married looks like, seeing as he’s been married to his wife for more than a decade. He and Grace are what people would label as “couple goals.” They met in college and have been together ever since.

“Hey, man.”

“Why so gloomy?” he asks.

No reason. Just scared my wife off after forcing her to watch me jerk off in the shower.

I shrug. “It’s good, I guess. Could be better.”

Heath arches an eyebrow. “Meaning?”

“He wants to bang her and hasn’t yet,” Blake says, popping up over the top of the seat in front of me and Heath.

“Fuck off,” I grumble, scowling at him.

“Leave him alone.” Cam flicks Blake’s ear. As the little brother of the group, Blake speaks his thoughts out loud. Doesn’t mean we don’t flick or slap him upside the head for it.

“Damn, that hurts,” Blake grumbles, rubbing his reddened ear.

Nico chuckles. “You deserved that.”

Cam and Nico slip into the aisle of seats behind me and Heath. Instead of sitting, they stay standing, arms propped on the headrests. All ears and ready to continue the conversation.

“Seriously, though, what’s up, Cap?” Cam asks.

I hesitate. It’s not easy for me to talk about my personal life. I didn’t have a good example growing up. My dad doesn’t talk about his feelings, and I was taught to be the same.

And how’s that working out for him?