Page 85 of Coastal Rewind

“Sometimes the ones worth having are just off-limits.” He shrugged.

“Off-limits? What are we, twelve?” Zane laughed as he appeared next to Mack. “You guys are doing it wrong anyway. The fun part of traveling from city to city is all the fine ass you can take home.”

Tucker clapped him on the shoulder. “You’re all talk, my guy.”

Zane sputtered. “I am not.”

We all laughed at his expense and fell into casual conversations. Zane ordered too many rounds of shots and by the time I made it back to my hotel room, the floor was spinning.

I fell into bed and grabbed my phone. I missed my girl and I needed to see her smiling face immediately. I squinted at the screen and scrolled until I found Ryleigh’s number. I pressed the FaceTime button and waited like the love sick man I was.

Ryleigh answered on the third ring. My heart soared when her face took over the screen. She was wearing one of my Sparrows warm up shirts and her hair was in her signature messy bun.

“Hey, baby.”

“Hey, Superstar.”

“How was your day?”

She looked away and shrugged. “It was good. MJ and I went swimming after camp and then we baked some cookies before bed.”

“Sounds like a better day than I had.” I laughed lightly even though I had a tight feeling in my chest.

“I’m sorry about the loss.” She finally looked back at the camera and I could see the loss of life in her eyes.

“It’s okay. I’m just ready to be home. I miss you.”

“I miss you too,” she whispered, as if it was a secret.

“I’ll be home soon.”

She nodded. “I’m looking forward to it. Your bed is lonely when you’re gone.”

The thought that she still slept in my bed while I was away made me smile. The longer she was there, the more it felt like our bed.

“I’m going to let you get back to the book I know is on your lap and head to bed.”

She giggled, a little light returning to her eyes as she held up a book with yet another fucking hockey player on the cover.

“Traitor,” I muttered.

“Don’t worry. Baseball is still my favorite.”

I rolled my eyes. “Good night, baby. I love you.” The words slipped out before it even registered what I was saying.

Ryleigh’s eyes went wide and she opened her mouth like she was going to respond but closed it immediately.

“Ryleigh—”

“Good night, Mason,” she cut me off and ended the call.

Panic rose in my chest as I sat up. I knew she had been acting weird but there was no way that what I was feeling was so wildly one sided. My little nomad was scared. I knew that. She was basically allergic to settling down until she’d walked into my life a few months ago. Here I was expecting her to easily fit into this domestic lifestyle and give up her constant adventures. I knew the change would take time, and I just hoped that when she decided what she wanted, MJ and I would make the cut.

I knew there was a risk when I started dating her. I knew who she was and I loved every part of her. I loved her spirit and freedom. I loved the way she challenged me and found humor in most scenarios. I loved the way she saw the world. She was a light in my life that I wasn’t willing to let go.

Nolan told me to chase her.

There was nowhere in the country Ryleigh could go that I wouldn’t find her and tell her how much I loved her over and over until she finally believed me.