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Heat flooded my body, and I scrambled like a demented crab to get as far away from Brody as I could.

“Oh, man.” Brody let out a belly laugh and lay back on the floor, his hands gripping his head.

I’m glad he thought it was funny. I took a second to think back to what Finn may have actually heard, and the blood in my veins ran cold. He would’ve heard me telling Brody to undo his zipper. Not to mention a whole lot of grunting and questionable chatter.

“I had some trouble stopping, and I tripped and fell into Brody’s, well, you know, and then my hair got tangled in his zipper…and…”

Finn chuckled. “I really don’t want to know, but I have to lock up. I’ll leave you two to sort yourselves out, only next time, get a room.”

He winked and turned to leave. I shook my head and stared down at Brody, still lying on the ground, his ribs shaking with laughter. “It’s not funny. Unlike you, I have my good name and a reputation to maintain in this town.”

Brody pushed up to his elbows, lime green trunks still poking out of his zipper. “You forget, I know all about your reputation. This little adventure would only add to your popularity.”

I narrowed my eyes and brought my hand to my chin, sucking a breath in through my teeth as I touched it.

Brody sprang up to a full sit. “Are you okay?”

“I think I grazed it when I fell.”

He scooted across the floor. I was on all fours, but when he reached me, I sat back on my heels, my wheels digging into my butt cheeks. He lifted his hands to my face, his thumbs gliding over my jawline. I’d always imagined his skin would be rough, manly, and calloused, but the soft sweep of his fingers had me holding my breath and pressing my thighs together.

Meeting my gaze, Brody gave me the tiniest smile before he tilted my chin up a little, checking for injury. “Yep, you scuffed your skin. Like a friction burn. You may get a bruise.”

“I don’t know about a bruise, but I feel like I shattered my teeth.”

“Smile for me.”

“Sorry?”

“Smile, Ro.” Brody’s soft blue eyes drilled into mine, but I opened my mouth and smiled despite myself. He ran his eyes over my mouth before letting go of my face and bringing his hands to his thighs. “Perfect.” His voice was almost a whisper, and my heart jumped in my chest. “Your teeth, I mean. Your teeth look perfect. Intact.”

I closed my eyes, and my lips curled. Of course, he meant my teeth. Why was I looking for meaning in every word he spoke? Every gesture. Brody was my friend, nothing else. The sooner I remembered that, the better.

“I’m so sorry, Ro. I didn’t mean for you to get hurt.”

My heart lurched. He’d already hurt me. He just didn’t know it. Five long years ago, when he never replied to my note. “I’m more worried about you. I hope I didn’t snap anything new.”

He winced. “I’m fine, but I think we should stop for now.” Brody got to his feet, his movements stiff. “And I think we should get you a mouthguard.”

He reached down to help me up. I took his hand. “I thought we’d be here all night. What happened to ‘no surrender,’ Mr. ‘I always get what I want’?”

Brody threw me a side-eye before letting go of my hand. “Never doubt my dedication, but I have to look after my assets, too. And right now, that’s you, Ro.”

I dusted down the top of my thighs, grateful for my faithful old knee pads. “I’m tougher than I look. I didn’t get to be Captain of the Cockettes without ruffling a few feathers.”

His laughter filled the gym. “That’s a terrible joke.”

I smiled. Right now, in the middle of the gym floor, standing in his socks, he was the old Brody. The relaxed guy I’d adored so much. Who I still adored. No bravado. No hunger to win. To achieve. No sexy swagger. Just utterly gorgeous.

I swept my eyes over his face and ran my tongue over my bottom lip. My heart raced like it was in NASCAR. This was the Brody I wanted to remember when he left for Denver. Unfortunately, this version of him ran the highest risk of wrecking my heart again. “Let’s go home.”

He nodded with a grin before gathering his discarded sneakers.

“And do your fly up,” I said. “I don’t want anyone else getting the wrong idea.”

13

BRODY