Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
“I figured that meant we’d made the right call. I don’t know, I was pissed and heartbroken, and I knew I deserved it. But think about it. It was stupid to imagine a long distance could work with that kind of pressure and media scrutiny. Long distance rarely works in the first place, and especially with two people on different teams, both traveling constantly, and competing with each other.” I had believed that; I still did. I thought I was saving us from more heartache in the long run. Or maybe just myself.
“Always so damn rational.” Garrett tsked. “Someday, you’re gonna find yourself in a situation that all the logic and strategy isn’t gonna solve, though. Ask me how I know.” He shot a pointed glance at Ramsey.
Ramsey frowned. “I’m still missing some pieces, though. The two of you are back together again now?”
“No.”
He and Garrett exchanged a look, and I sighed, inwardly cringing because there was no way they weren’t going to have a field day with what I was about to tell them. “His career is on the line. He knows it, I know it, you two know it, and it’s not like I hate the guy. It’s…complicated.” I took another fortifying breath. “So when G called and said Cullen had been pulled into Coach’s office and told me about the headlines, I may have panicked a little that he was about to get kicked off the team. And I may have…” I blew out a long breath. “I may have said that the rumors were true. Just because I thought maybe the Rush would be happy he’s in a relationship. It would seem like he’s…calmed down or something. Stable. And guess what? They are. PR practically did a jig of relief.”
Garrett hooted with laughter at the same time Ramsey barked, “What the fuck?”
I shot them both a glare. “It’s not funny.”
G sprawled on the couch, hand over his chest. “It’s hilarious. Holy shit, and here I’ve always thought I was the one who makes dumbass decisions. You’ve been holding out, bro. Jesus fucking Christ.”
Ramsey shifted to quarterback mode, though, thinking several steps ahead. He eyed me. “Have you really thought this through? Is there a game plan here? You’re going to pretend to be boyfriends for a month? The entire season? Forever?”
“I haven’t figured that out yet,” I mumbled, and Ramsey threw his hands up.
“This is really unlike you, man.”
He wasn’t wrong, but I didn’t know what to say to that. I’d gotten caught up in the moment, caught up thinking about how devastated Cullen would be if the Rush let him go, too.
“It’s not, though.” Garrett straightened on the couch. “Unexpectedly impulsive, yeah. But it’s very Houston. Loyal to his own detriment sometimes. This is definitely next level, though. I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“I don’t, but we’ll figure it out.”
Garrett tapped his chin. “Funny. Those words sound very familiar.”
The jackass had said the very same ones to me back when he first started hooking up with Ramsey. The difference was, Cullen and I wouldn’t be hooking up.
It was late when I got back to my apartment, but Cullen was still in the living room, stretched out on the sofa, TV volume on low, arms folded over his chest, dozing with his lips slightly parted. His eyes blinked open as I locked the door behind me.
“Waiting up for me?”
“No. Just fell asleep while watching a movie,” he mumbled, with a small smile that told me he was lying.
“What’s wrong with your hip?” I’d noticed the ice pack lying over it as I’d come closer, a spark of concern shadowing the corners of my mind. The last thing he needed now was an injury on top of everything else.
“Nothing, relax. Just trying to stave off a little bruising. The trainer said it’s fine.”
“Stay right where you are,” I told him when he started to ease upright. Dropping my keys on the counter, I went to the freezer and grabbed another ice pack, taking it with me to the living room and snatching up the melted one before laying the fresh one over Cullen’s hip.
“I could get used to this.” He grinned.
“Don’t. And watch yourself this season. Don’t be getting hurt.”
“I’ve already consulted the football gods, made my offering of blood and sweat, and it’s all good.” He made room for me as I sat. “So, are you going to tell me what happened with your brother? If not, we can go back to you waiting on me. I’m good with either one.”
“Not much to tell, really. They just wanted to know what was going on, so I told them.”
“Everything? Even about us in college?”
“That, too, yeah. They won’t say anything. And they understand.”
“So neither of them knew before?” Surprise etched his brow.
“You weren’t out until recently, and it didn’t seem…right.” And there was also a part of me that wanted to keep what had happened between us for myself only. Maybe that was selfish or stupid or a sign of a fragile ego that Cullen made me feel so vulnerable, I wasn’t sure. “Did you ever tell anyone?”