Page 34 of Something to Prove
“Cool. I’ll meet you outside. Gimme two minutes to get dressed and?—”
“Party at my new pad, man,” Langley interjected, standing between us. “I stocked up on booze, and I’ll order pizza on theway home. You’re in, Czerniak. Not even a question, so don’t give me any ‘Boohoo, I’m tired’ nonsense.”
“Do I ever say that?”
Gus cocked his head as if considering the query. “No, you’re an animal! I love that about you, man. Hey, you should come too.”
I glanced down at the beefy finger aimed at my chest. “Me?”
“Yeah, you. The more the merrier. It’ll be fun.” Langley rattled off his address and called out to another half-dressed player passing by. “Yo, Regan, bring Cassie and tell her to bring…”
And that was my cue. I inclined my chin toward Ty. “I’ll be in the lobby.”
Five minutes later, Ty emerged from the locker room flanked by Brady and Pritchard. He paused and gestured to me. I feigned interest in scrolling through the hundred advertisements in my email, feeling all kinds of conspicuous.
And then he was at my side, pushing open the door and sucking in a gulp of the crisp early autumn air. “Damn, it’s warm out here compared to the rink.”
I surveyed the indigo sky and inclined my chin. “It is. In case you were worried…I won’t be attending your friend’s soiree.”
“Why would I be worried?”
“I—no reason. I just want to be clear that yesterday’s ‘occurrence’ won’t be repeated, and I have zero expectations where you’re concerned. So, if you’re hoping to warn me away, don’t waste your breath. I’m a big boy, and I know how these things work.”
Ty furrowed in confusion or annoyance…or both. “I wasn’t going to say any of that.”
“Oh. What is it?”
He glanced around as if making sure we were out of earshot. “I want to do it again.”
“You want…sex? With me?” I squeaked, my mouth suddenly dry as a desert. “I mean, yes, I’m interested, but it’s a terrible idea.”
Ty pursed his lips in amusement. “I—yeah, but that’s not what I meant.”
“Oh, uh…”
“You said your next assignment is making milkshakes at the diner. I want to tag along. If that’s cool.”
I hadn’t expected that. “Why?”
He tugged an errant lock of hair on his forehead and flashed an enigmatic grin. “We’re the talk of the fucking town, Walker. I had a hundred thousand new followers overnight…just like you said. Honestly, I didn’t notice, but my agent did. Or maybe someone from the Jackals’ PR team called him. They love the press. It’s good, clean fun, and it goes with the wholesome LGBTQ-friendly rookie vibe they’re spinning.”
“Oh. Right.”
Now would have been a nice time for the ground to open in the parking lot and swallow me whole.
Oooh, my God!Had he really asked if he wanted a repeat?
“You don’t have to answer now. Just think about it.”
I managed a tight nod, tipping my chin at the crowd who’d gathered nearby. “Your friends are waiting.”
“Yeah, I should go. I’ll text you tomorrow.”
I hustled to my car, anxious to make a speedy getaway. I needed space to process this new twist with Ty. I had whiplash trying to make sense of where we stood. He didn’t hate me anymore, which was good, but that probably had something to do with that ill-advised albeit amazing sex-against-the-wall scene in my office. I wanted to be ashamed of myself for my lapse of judgment—however, the only emotion I could muster was confusion peppered with a smidge of concern that I’d opened a new can of worms.
Ty wanted another spot on my show. He wanted to use me for exposure…a variation of what I’d initially offered, but tagging along with me was practically a takeover. Or was it? I didn’t know anymore, and every time I tried to sort out my thoughts, I got sidetracked by the memory of his hand on my dick and his tongue in my mouth and?—
“There you are. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to rescue you from the lions’ den…or the bears’ den, as it were.” Robin pushed his glasses up as he stepped around my Mini.