Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 59445 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59445 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
But I had no idea where she stood.
There were only a few times I’d caught her looking at me with that sense of longing that made me want to haul her over my shoulder and work it out for her. Other than that, she’d been normal, falling back into our usual rhythm like nothing had happened.
And fuck, that terrified me. The idea of her telling me the allure of us had fizzled out made me anxious in a way I never was. I jumped out of planes and explored live volcanoes for fun for fucks’ sake. I didn’t do nervous or anxious or scared.
But when it came to Brynn? Everything was different.
I knew it would be better for us both if she was the strong one, if she decided what happened between us was a fun night, but nothing more…that we were better off as friends. Because I’d kept my feelings for her in check for years for that very reason. She’s the one person in my life I couldn’t afford to lose.
But here I was, watching her laugh and chat with Hendrix and Gareth, her ease and grace so damn attractive. Everything about her was attractive to me, from her tenacity in her personal and business goals to the way she made drinking coffee a more intense sport than the NFL. She was perfection wrapped up in a gorgeous package that seemed tailored specifically for me, and somehow, I was the idiot who’d asked for two weeks to think when she called and confessed she couldn’t stop thinking about me.
It had been hot as hell, having her talk about me with that hint of desperation I’d always dreamed about. And of course, I’d ruined that. If I’d been a smarter, more selfish man, I would’ve jumped in my car and given her all the reasons in the world to keep wanting me.
“Dessert for anyone?” the waiter asked, drawing my attention off Brynn for a few seconds.
“Yeah, Weston?” Hendrix asked, laughter all over his features as he looked from me to Brynn and back again. “You craving anything sweet?”
“No, I’m all set, thanks,” I said, the rest of the table waving the waiter off. I shot a glare to Hendrix, who was arching a knowing brow in my direction.
Fuck, he could see it, the tension between me and Brynn. I could tell by the way he kept silently asking me a question before glancing casually at Brynn. Luckily, she was wrapped up in a conversation with Liberty about her and Nixon’s latest family adventure they were planning for the off season.
I gave Nixon a subtle shake of my head, silently letting him know I’d explain another time. Because as of right now, there was nothing to tell. Nothing that I could share, because I didn’t know what Brynn wanted, and until I did, it was no one else’s business.
“Heading out,” Gareth said long after the check had been paid and all our plates cleared. He shook my hand again, clapping me on the back before heading out of the restaurant.
Nixon, Liberty, Hendrix, and Savannah did the same, the six of us lingering in the hotel lobby saying more goodbyes than likely necessary. It was hard when we rarely got to see Hendrix, but I was hoping our schedules would align for the holidays.
“It’s always so good seeing them,” Brynn said after they’d headed to their rooms.
“It is,” I agreed.
“Even better when we have a win in our pocket though, right?” she asked.
“Definitely.” I wanted to say more, but my mind was whirling with all the things we weren’t saying or doing.
After a few moments of silence, Brynn gave me a soft smile. “Okay, then,” she said. “I’m going to head up.”
I swallowed hard. I’d booked the penthouse, not only because it was the best but because it had two rooms. When we traveled for away games, I usually booked Brynn her own room, but this time I’d wanted her even closer than usual. She didn’t seem to mind.
“You staying down here?” she asked when I didn’t immediately move to follow her toward the bank of elevators across the marbled lobby floor.
“Yeah,” I said, motioning to the bar behind me. “I’m going to grab a drink while answering some more emails.”
“Do you want me to stay with you?”
“No,” I answered a little too quickly. “You go up. I’ll be along later.”
Her shoulders dipped just a fraction, but she nodded and spun around, disappearing into an elevator moments later.
I blew out a breath, loosening my tie as I headed to the bar and ordered a tonic and lime. A good whiskey would do wonders for my nerves, but the last thing I needed was something else clouding my judgment right now.
I responded to email after email, none of it helping distract me at all. Every swipe on my phone was just an automatic motion my body performed when my mind was already upstairs with Brynn.