Page 122
Story: Pucking His Enemy
He glances at me, the corners of his mouth lifting. "No. I'm practicing for my next career in competitive charcuterie."
"Charcuterie doesn't usually involve strawberries."
"Then clearly, you've been living in the wrong snack circles," he deadpans.
I laugh, shaking my head as I lean back against the cushions. It's been like this for the past couple of days—slow and weirdly domestic, like waking up in someone else's life but not hating it.
Liam shows up daily with some kind of food, claiming it's for the baby but always making enough for both of us. He brings pre-cut veggies, little containers of hummus, fresh bread, soup from that one overpriced place I love across town.
One night he brought over frozen pancakes and claimed it was 'a pregnancy craving via spiritual connection.'
He's also been staying here most nights.
Initially, he insisted it wasn't in the 'let's-make-a-baby-again' kind of way, but more in the quiet, comforting, sharing-space way.
I wasn't having that. It was my idea that we make up for all the sex we missed, and he's been making good on that.
I mean, don't get me wrong, we also watch TV.
We talk.
But, honestly, we don't do much of anything.
Sometimes we just fall asleep on the couch like two exhausted people clinging to a very strange new normal.
But mostly, we just hang out tangled up in each other's arms, and I've never felt more safe.
And the craziest part,
I like it.
I like him.
A lot.
And that terrifies me more than passing out in front of Kyle ever did. Especially with the first game of the season just a couple weeks out.
I should be obsessing over player meal plans and arguing with some rookie about how pizza isn't a carb-load strategy. Instead, I'm wondering if Liam will stay over again tonight.
Which is why I'm sitting here now, holding my phone in my hand, staring at Griffin's name, knowing I have to call him. I'm dreading it. But I've given him enough time to cool off. It's time for us to talk.
I blow out a breath, thumb hovering like the call button might bite me back, then hit it before I can chicken out. He answers after two rings, and I know he was waiting.
"Hey Kat."
"Griffin," I reply. "We need to talk."
"I know," he sighs. "You alright?"
I swallow hard at the concern in his voice. Even when we're fighting, he still worries about me. "Yeah. I'm fine. As fine as someone can be when everything feels like it's spiraling and their brother tried to kill the guy they might actually be falling for."
Griffin exhales like he's been holding it in for days. "Kat, come on."
"No, you come on," I snap. "You've been acting like Liam's the devil incarnate and I'm some clueless idiot. I'm not stupid, Griffin. I know who he is. I know his reputation.
I also know he stayed here three nights this week just to make sure I ate and slept and didn't cry myself into a hormonal spiral."
He goes quiet. I press on.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122 (Reading here)
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127