Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 152064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 760(@200wpm)___ 608(@250wpm)___ 507(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 152064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 760(@200wpm)___ 608(@250wpm)___ 507(@300wpm)
I’ve managed to keep my marriage to Fiona under wraps, but I also haven’t had a single girlfriend in that time. That might not continue once my relationship with Tally is public fodder. I don’t want people digging into that unhealed wound. Telling Tally will be hard enough. Being used by the woman I thought I would spend my life with left me in pieces. My biggest fear is falling in love again, only to have my heart shredded all over.
I tuck the worries away for later and finish getting dressed. Once we’re in our suits, the guys and I walk back to the hotel.
“Why don’t you all come to my room?” Connor isn’t much for the bar scene.
I nod. “Be there in half an hour?”
“Sounds good.” His phone is already at his ear as he steps off the elevator. “I’m okay, darling. No concussion.”
When I reach my room, I swipe the keycard over the sensor and text Tally.
Flip
You around?
Tally
I am! Nice win tonight. That was an intense game.
Flip
Thanks. Can I call you?
Tally
Sure!
I stretch out on my bed and hit the video-call button.
Tally’s face appears. “Hey!” I can barely hear her over the background noise. “I didn’t realize you were video calling. Give me a second.” She moves around someone. “Can I use your room for a few minutes?”
A guy says yes.
She weaves through bodies, saying hi and excuse me and I’ll be back. She rushes up a flight of stairs, knocks on a door, then slips inside.
“Where are you?” The anxious jittery feeling makes my spine hot.
“Mac’s. It’s Gage’s birthday, so they’re throwing a party. Half the campus showed up.”
I may or may not have met these guys in the past. “Who are Mac and Gage again?”
“Chase’s friends. They all play for the university team.” She drops into a computer chair. “Mac and Gage live with Brody. We’re at his house.”
“Right. I remember them.” Brody has nice friends. I feel better. “Whose room is that?” I note the Terror poster on the wall featuring me, Tristan, and Dallas.
“Mac’s. He’s Terror obsessed.” She kisses my two-dimensional face on the poster while grinning.
“He’s a good guy?” I can’t see her using his room if he was a douchebag.
“Super good guy,” she confirms. “He and Fee are a thing.”
“Oh yeah? Has Roman met him?”
“It’s only a matter of time. Poor guy.”
On the wall behind her is a whiteboard with a class schedule taped to it. The age gap is glaringly obvious right now. When we spend time together, it’s with our Terror friends. We have mostly civilized dinner parties, we go to the Watering Hole and exclusive clubs. I’m separate from her university friends. She can’t invite me to a house party. I’d be mobbed by the Tilton players and flirted with by the girls.
“Is everything okay?” She bites her thumbnail.
“Yeah, kitten. Everything’s good now that I’m looking at your gorgeous face and talking to you.”
She tips her head. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was going to a party tonight.”
“Don’t apologize, I don’t want you to stop living your life when I’m on an away series.”
She spins in the computer chair. “I’d rather be cuddled up next to you than at this party, though.”
“When I get home, we will have a serious snuggle session.” It’s a physical ache to be looking at her, but unable to wrap my arms around her.
“I’m holding you to that.” She rolls her bottom lip between her teeth and whispers, almost too quiet to catch, “I miss you.”
That feels good to hear. “I miss you too.” More than she could know.
She smiles impishly. “Did you like the video I sent you?”
“Oh, fuck me, yeah. I love it. I’ve watched it an unreasonable number of times. I can’t wait to have you dance for me again.”
“When you’re home,” she replies.
“How’s the studio?” I ask.
“Amazing. Obviously I’m getting good use out of it.” She wraps a tendril of hair around her finger. “Between last night and today, my troupe has spent four hours rehearsing. We all have solo time, and group time and a whole schedule set up. I already feel so much better about the upcoming showcase.” Noise makes it hard to hear her for a moment. “I’ll be down in a bit,” she tells someone off-screen. “You can start this hand without me.” She turns her attention back to me. “Sorry about that. I usually end up playing cards with Cammie and the gang at these things. What are your plans for the rest of the night?”
“I’m heading up to Connor’s room in a bit.”
“So no bar tonight?” She seems relieved.
“Nah. It’s a HABs gathering.”
She wrinkles her nose. “HABs?”
“Husbands and boyfriends,” I explain. “I made that up, by the way.”
I’m not sure how to interpret her surprise. “Does that mean I’m a WAG?”
“Do you want to be a WAG?” My stomach knots as I wait for her reply. I should have done this before I left for the away series.