Page 24

I can’t help but return a raised brow as she continues to ramble at me.

Cute asfuck.

Her eyes fall to my dress shoes and she opens her palm, fiddling with the AirPods in her hand.

“Do you usually wear those to work out?” I tip my chin at her hand.

At this point, I’m now running behind schedule and risking pissing off not just Jon, but the pilot, but my feet refuse to move from this spot between my living and kitchen area.

“Sometimes. I just didn’t want to wake you this morning. I wasn’t sure how early when you said early.”

This time, I’m successful when I look at the screen rather than her chest. “Do you find it helps you? You know, with your game?”

When she reaches up to adjust her ponytail, her crop top rides up with it, but I fight to keep my eyes on the paused instructor on the screen.

“I guess it’s no secret that I have ongoing issues with my left knee. My ACL is relatively unstable, so I do all I can to strengthen it. Pilates is great for that, and with a strong core comes reduced risk of injury. I’m barely into my pro career and already facing physical battles.”

I know she’s struggled with sporadic injuries; I remember overhearing Tyler talk about them in college.

I reach into my pocket and pull out the keys to my truck, knowing I have to get going, but still unable to prevent myself from asking one last question. “Got any plans for your upcoming birthday?”

Last night, she dropped that she was turning twenty-three soon, but I’d already known. I never went to any of the parties her friends threw for her, but it always stuck with me that we were born exactly a week apart, and consequently, we’re both Libras. When I’d found that out in our first year of college, Ican’t say it surprised me. Kendra and I are similar in a number of ways, but mainly in that we love to socialize.

As I stand, waiting for her to finish another sip of water, I can’t help but hope that she noticed my birthday when we were in college.

She shakes her head slowly and runs the back of her hand across her mouth. “No. I was planning on having a few of my teammates over at my place for pizza and maybe a couple of cocktails, but”—she shrugs and picks up the TV remote—“that one went out the window.”

A few beats pass between us until she points to the keys in my hand. “Better get going, or you’ll be catching a red-eye to Colorado at this rate.”

I look down at my keys and then back at Kendra, my brain in overdrive at all she said. “Right, yeah. I’ll be back in three nights.”

KENDRA

The second the door closes behind Jack, I look down at my skimpy black Lycra shorts and sky-blue crop top.

Nice one, Kendra. Way to make a guy feel uncomfortable in his own place.

With my focus completely off track, I point the remote at Chelsea Rayne—my favorite online Pilates coach—and the screen goes black, plunging the room into darkness.

Overflowing with frustration at my lack of awareness for my roommate, I grab my phone and open up the message thread with Tyler. The last five texts are all from him, asking if we can meet up to talk things through.

I stare down at the flashing cursor and think over the bestway to go about this, Jack’s advice to bring closure repeating in my brain.

Me

How about we meet when you get back from your away series? I can hand you your stuff at the same time.

The second I hit Send, panic shoots through me. How would I know he’s on an away series without someone telling me? Or worse still, me tracking his movements like I’m missing him or something.

I open up a new message and begin rushing out another response as three dots appear below. My fingers fly across the keyboard, and I feel like I’m in a race to send an explanation before he can get there first.

Tyler beats me to it, and I pause on typing to read his response.

Tyler

Yeah, sure. What about Friday night? I can pick you up, and we can go to that French place you always wanted to try out. P.S. Good to know you remember my schedule. *winking face*

I audibly groan into the dark room as I move across to the L-shaped couch and drop down with a thump. Picking me up is not an option, and no way am I letting him take me out to dinner. And to the place I suggested more times than I’ve run sprint drills? A little too late for that.