Page 187 of Falling Offsides

“I disagree. Your body is perfect. I love your thick thighs and your big ass…” I tell her gripping her ass because every chance is an opportunity I will never pass up.

“Stop it,” she smacks my chest with another giggle.

“Never. Especially when you giggle like that. That sound is worth everything.”

“Auguste.” Courtney’s voice is a low whimper.

“Yes, Princess?” I curl a frizzy strand around my finger and unwind it over her shoulder.

“How do we do this?”

“Do what?” I know what she’s asking, but this is a conversation she needs to lead.

“Everyone I’ve cared about gets taken away from me.” Her hands hold my jaw. “My mom took me away from my dad, Martin took her away from me… So how do I keep you?”

“Since you asked… did you know that The Crescents and The Comets will play in the same city on the same days eight times in the upcoming season?”

“No.” Courtney shakes her head.

“On top of that, we’ll be on the same coast at least sixteen times.”

“That’s twenty four meetings.”

“I know it’s not even ten percent of the time we will be apart, but there are breaks and holidays.”

“Auguste…”

“I’ll take twenty-four meetings over none. Twenty-four nights over none. Twenty-four kisses and twenty-four chances to hold you over nothing.”

“Auguste,” Courtney murmurs. “Long distance…”

“Tell me you haven’t thought about it.”

“Yes.”

My heart stutters with relief. “Good. We can talk about it later when we’ve figured out how to get you in to see your mom.”

Courtney nods as I grab the other dress from the door and take her hand before I open it and we walk out to two very shocked, very nosey assistants that spend the rest of our time in the store following us around being far too helpful when all we walk out of there with are two pairs of jeans, a couple t-shirts, and then the dress which I bought and asked to deliver to the hotel while Courtney was trying on her jeans.

THIRTY-SEVEN

AUGUSTE

Delilah callsas I’m getting out of the shower. Courtney’s messaging her nurse contact at the hospital to check on her mom while she and Delilah talk, and I’m regularly checking my phone for updates on Coach’s flight.

He’s fifteen minutes out, which means I have to leave now so he’s not left waiting. It’s his pet peeve, and I need to be as much in his good graces as I can. This isn’t how I wanted him to find out about Courtney and me. But I standby my decision. I don’t know Martin and Catherine like he does, and if there’s one person that has a chance at getting Courtney to see her, it’s him.

Pressing a kiss to her head, I roll the cart with the teapot and cup next to the bed.

“I’ll be right back,” I mouth before I lean closer and kiss her lips. Firm and quick.

“Where are you going?” she asks, covering the microphone of her phone.

“I have an errand to run. I’ll be back in an hour or so and we can come up with a plan of action. Okay?”

Courtney nods, squeezing my hand as I amble backwards, holding on to her until I have to let go.

Once I’m out of the suite, I rush down to the valet pick-up spot. The Merc is fully charged and ready, and then there’s an envelope on the seat with my request from reception.