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“Tired. But in a good way.” She smiled, and suddenly my own exhaustion didn’t feel as heavy. “I don’t even remember you coming back to bed,” she admitted, sitting down on a stool at the kitchen counter.

“You were asleep before I got back,” I explained.

“Sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry for. You were worn out,” I offered.

“Yeah. Wonder who did that?” She smiled, her eyes full of affection.

I was completely addicted to this woman. Even though she was functioning on a few hours of sleep, she still managed to make me smile with her wit and her warmth.

“So, you’re off to Dallas?”

I flinched. Not because her words hurt or were untrue, more that I was trying to avoid the reality of what was looming.

“Yeah.”

“What time is your flight?”

“Just after four,” I answered automatically.

“Did you want me to drive you to the airport?” Tillie offered, reaching over and taking my hand in hers.

“Aren’t you working?"

“I’m sure I can arrange something,” she said, and it was so Tillie. Selfless. Going out of her way to help someone else, even if it meant her day was even longer.

“Thanks, but I’ll drive. That way, my truck will be there when I get back,” I told her.

“If you’re sure?” She didn’t seem convinced, but there was no way I was about to add even more to her already overloaded plate.

I squeezed her hand appreciatively. “I’m sure. But thank you.”

Tillie sipped her coffee, her eyes falling closed as the hot liquid touched her tongue. Then, almost as if it were out of nowhere, she blindsided me. “Are you still worried?”

I felt like I’d been hit by a truck, then reversed over. Twice. Was I worried? Fucking terrified was more like it. My whole life, the life I’d been working toward since I was six years old was hanging in the balance, and if the scales tipped the other way, I had no idea what I was supposed to do. Who I was supposed to be. If I wasn’t the baseball guy, if I wasn’t training, playing, and traveling, who the fuck was I? It was a question I wasn’t ready to answer yet, but in the moments I let my guard down, they crept in and left me in a cold sweat.

I couldn’t explain how fucking afraid I was they were going to tell me I was done, but I refused to lie to her.

“A bit,” I answered, downplaying it. “But I’m hoping the scans are clear and they’re just being overly cautious.”

“Well, I have my fingers crossed,” she replied, her eyes holding mine captive.

“Thanks.”

“And you said you’d be gone for a few days?” she probed further.

“Hopefully. Why?” I skirted around the counter, spinning her stool so her legs were pressed between mine. “You gonna miss me, Tillie?” I teased, leaning down and kissing that spot just under her ear that made her quiver.

“I didn’t say that,” she murmured, melting into my arms.

A moment later, I’d lifted her onto the counter. Her legs were wound around my waist, the heat of her core pressing against the erection tenting my sweats.

I broke the kiss, pulling back, panting. Her lips were puffy and glistened from my kisses, and just knowing I was the one who put that dreamy, lusty look in her eyes had me wanting to beat my chest like a damn caveman.

“Are you gonna miss me, Tillie?” I pushed.

“Mmmm-maybe,” she murmured again as I shamelessly rubbed against her.