Page 44 of Unwritten Rules (The Sunburnt Hearts #1)

Chapter Twenty

SINNETT

I don’t know why Khai insists on having the speakers in the apartment complex gym so fucking loud to the point my eardrums might explode.

He says it helps him work out better—needing to feel the base of the music to get him in beast mode or whatever the fuck—but I think it’s to drown out the kids squealing and running around in the backyard area outside.

The gym shares a wall on the bottom floor of the building with a private playground, and without fail, every time we’re in here, we’re greeted with children crying and screaming for what feels like hours.

“You’re going to send me deaf,” I shout over the music, spotting Khai as he attempts to bench press seventy kilos. “If it’s such a problem, chuck on some headphones.”

Khai grunts as he extends his arms and re-racks the barbell. Sitting upright on the bench, he reaches for the water bottle at his feet. “One of these days we’ll get a quiet session in, without those little demons running around.”

I snort out a laugh and switch places with him. Settling onto my back and positioning myself for the lift, I peer up at Khai. “You can’t deny that they’re cute kids.”

“You only think they’re cute because you want some of your own. Freak.”

I bite back a smile and position my hands on the barbell. The weight is fucking heavy, but I focus on completing three reps before re-racking. With a huff, I stand and turn to my friend, who is glaring at the wall shared with the playground.

I roll my eyes and reach for the stereo controller beside my water bottle. With the volume at a reasonable setting, I ignore Khai’s protests to turn it up and fold my arms over my chest.

“I don’t want kids yet,” I remind him. “I know a lot of the guys on the team are having kids, but they’re not on the cards for me. At least for a couple more years.”

Khai raises a knowing brow at me. “You looking to make Tatum your baby mama?”

I scowl at him. “No.”

“With the noises I’ve been hearing from your bedroom at night, I would say she’s not far off.”

The muscles in my back tighten. “You promised you weren’t listening.”

“I also never claimed to tell the truth one hundred percent of the time,” he responds with a shrug and smug fucking grin. “But don’t worry, your secret is still safe with me. How Coach Phil hasn’t caught on yet is beyond me. It’s so obvious you’re into each other.”

“We are not.” I take a long sip from my water bottle to give me time to decide how I’m going to navigate this conversation with my best friend.

“Oh, please.” Khai drops onto the bench and lies down, spacing his hands correctly on the barbell to complete the lift. “An astronaut in space could fucking see the heart eyes you give the girl when she’s not looking. But hey, I’m not judging here. I just want to make sure you’re being careful.”

“I am,” I mutter as I spot him, keeping my attention focused on the barbell moving through the air. “You don’t need to worry about me.”

Khai re-racks and sits up, heaving out a breath and glancing over his shoulder. “For both of your sake, I hope that’s true.”

“Don’t you start with me about it,” I deadpan, raising a brow at him. “Don’t think I don’t know about your escapades over the weekend in Auckland.”

Khai gasps and jumps to his feet, pointing an accusatory finger at me. “Who told you?”

A shit eating grin splits across my face. “I’m not telling.”

“It was Finn, wasn’t it? That bastard!”

I chuckle and clap a hand on his shoulder. “I don’t need to tell you what could’ve happened if someone caught you having a threesome two hours before the game in the backseat of a girl’s car.” My brows crease into a frown. “Actually, now I’m more curious as to how you made that work.”

“Oh, shut up, Sin.” Khai slaps my hand away and drops onto the bench, head slumping between his shoulders. “If Finn hadn’t caught me, my secret would’ve stayed in the back of that car.”

I exhale a sharp breath. “You’ve got to let this jinx thing go before it starts impacting your career.”

Khai rolls his eyes. “God forbid a man be superstitious.” He reaches for his phone, plucking it off the floor and slipping it into the pocket of his shorts.

“And what can I say? I’m a man who enjoys the company of others the night before a game, which happens to turn into sex and results in me performing well in said game. Sue me, Sin.”

“Khai…”

“No, I don’t want to hear it,” he bites out, standing. “I’ve told you before I have no plans to abandon the jinx, not unless I’m proven wrong.”

“Have you ever considered the fact that you might just be a good player?” I ask, folding my arms over my chest. “Because I’ve seen you out there.

As my right-hand man, you help me in ways no one else on the team can.

Which I think is accredited to your skill and abilities, not who you fuck the night before. ”

Khai runs a hand through his sweat-soaked hair and grunts, casting his eyes to the floor.

When Khai first told me about this jinx of his when we transitioned to the main roster of the Wolves, I thought he was pulling my cock at first. He was always a jokester growing up, so I thought this was one of those times he would try to make me believe something only to turn around ten minutes later and die laughing at what he thought was the prank of the century.

But the laughter never came, and his need to fulfill the jinx grew with each passing game and season.

I’ve warned him multiple times not to let the jinx get in the way of keeping his head clear, especially the day before a game. The last thing he needed was to get caught in a compromising position—much like he did in Auckland over the weekend—that could see him facing disciplinary action.

“If this has to do with your parents, you don’t have to?—”

“It’s not about them,” Khai squeezes out, running a hand down the side of his face. “I don’t care what they think about me or my career. Their opinion means nothing to me.”

Exhaling a breath, I nod. Growing up, I thought Khai had the coolest parents ever.

They were young, fun and always down for a good time.

Whenever Khai organised a sleepover with some of the guys from primary school, neither of his parents cared if we were too noisy at three in the morning.

His mum made the best chocolate chip pancakes and his dad would sit down with us in the media room to watch re-runs of the footy games from the night before.

From the outside looking in, Khai had the perfect life with even more perfect parents.

But then something shifted. Something Khai refuses to tell me about, not wanting to let go of whatever secret he’s holding on to. And I don’t want to pry—not if he doesn’t want to talk about it.

“Just be careful, okay?” I caution with a nod. “Whether you think you have a jinx or not, you’re a fucking phenomenal player.”

Khai grins and opens his arms, gesturing for me to embrace him. “If you wanted to hug me and kiss my cheek, Sin, all you had to do was ask.”

I playfully roll my eyes, refusing his hug before swiping my phone off the ground beside my gym towel.

The soft material soaks up the sweat clinging to my face, which is much needed after the intense session I was put through by my best friend.

He insisted on getting me into the gym with the excuse that I need to be ready for the round twelve game this Saturday afternoon, on the off-chance I am medically cleared to play.

Two days ago, I had a six-week check-up with Ian while the rest of my teammates were in Auckland.

Not having them around, breathing down my neck all desperate to know how the session went, made it a little easier.

I’m glad my team cares about me and wants to see me back on the field enough that they’re interested in my recovery, but this was something I needed a clear head for.

You’ve got this .

Tatum’s words got me through the session with Ian, and by the time I walked out, my steps were lighter and my head clearer than when I walked in.

She was right about me doing all I could leading up to the check-in.

Ian didn’t say much as he looked me over and went through a physical fitness test with me, but I saw the impressed look he tried to hide throughout.

If that’s not an indicator that I’m going to be cleared, then I must be fucking blind or seeing shit.

“Let’s go get something to eat,” Khai says as he gathers up his gym bag, stuffing his bottle and towel into it. “I’m so fucking hungry I could eat a horse. Or better yet, one of those insufferable kids outside.”

I burst out laughing as I follow him out of the gym and toward the elevator. “Shit, man, you can’t say stuff like that.”

Khai shrugs as he steps into the elevator. “This is a free country, Sin.”

I shake my head and keep my mouth shut as we ride the elevator to the top floor of the building. When we step through the front door to the apartment, my phone vibrates in my pocket. Like a freak with no self-control, I clumsily reach for the device and drop my bag just inside the door.

I feel Khai’s eyes on me as I read the caller ID on the screen.

“It’s Ian,” I breathe, muscles tight as I stare at the screen.

“Well fucking answer it,” Khai hurries to say, gesturing to the phone. “Now, you big idiot.”

Snapping out of the trance, I bring the device to my ear. I hope I can hear him through the blood rushing in my ears.

What if he doesn’t clear me and I have to continue with Tatum’s recovery plan?

I felt confident going into the check-up, but now I’m wondering if I was gaslighting myself into thinking my quad was okay and I was just too blind to see it.

Oh, God .

“Sin!” Ian’s cheery voice sets my nerves further on edge. “Do you have a minute to talk?”

My eyes lift to meet Khai’s, who is watching intently. Clearing my throat, I adjust the backwards cap on my head. “Y-yeah, I can talk now. Is everything okay?”

“Couldn’t be better,” Ian says, spiking my heart rate.

“I wanted to call to say that our session on Sunday went amazingly. I’ve had a couple of days to go over your file with the results from our session, and consult with Tatum about your progress, and I’ve come to the conclusion that you’re medically fit to return to the field as soon as this Saturday. ”

Somehow, my heart doesn’t burst from my chest and the air in my lungs doesn’t evaporate. Instead, my eyes widen and I strangle out, “Really? I can play this weekend?”

“Absolutely. Coach Phil is on board and is excited to have you back out there.”

Holy fuck .

I did it. I’m cleared to play again.

It’s hard to explain the emotions racing through every inch of my body, seeping into my veins and bubbling away under my skin.

But my first thought goes to the strawberry-blonde who got me here.

If it wasn’t for her knowledge and perfectly laid out recovery plan, I wouldn’t have pushed myself the way I did, and I certainly wouldn’t be having this pleasant conversation with Ian.

I owe this win to Tatum.

“It would be my honour,” I rasp, throat tight. “Thank you.”

“Just be careful of the quad, okay? It’s more susceptible to aches and further injury moving forward, so when entering tackles, be mindful of your positioning. And have Tatum strap you up good before the game.”

“Will do, Ian. Thank you.”

“Have a good night, okay? I can’t wait to see you back out there.”

The call ends a moment later, and all I can do is stare at my best friend, silence enveloping us in the hallway.

“You got cleared to play?” Khai asks, his words hopeful.

A grin splits across my face. “Fuck yeah I did.”

“Hallelujah!” Khai races forward and lifts me in the air, his laughter bouncing off the walls. “This calls for celebratory drinks.”

“Put me down you idiot,” I grunt, but the words hold no malice to them. “I would like to step onto the field first before you fuck my quad again.”

“Oh.” Khai sets me down, smiling. “Not to fear, I will protect you with my life out there. You can count on me.”

I clap him on the shoulder, returning his smile. “I have no doubt you will.”

“Welcome back, Sin.” Khai gestures over his shoulder. “I’ll drop my gym bag in my room and get started on those drinks. I think it’s time we crack open the good whiskey.”

He hurries down the hallway, leaving me standing by the front door with my heart pounding in my chest and one specific person on my mind.

My fingers fly over the screen as I type out a text message.

SIN: You up for a drive tonight?

Her response comes not even thirty seconds later.

STRAWBERRY: What’s the occasion?

SIN: I have something I want to tell you.

STRAWBERRY: Consider me intrigued.

SIN: I’ll pick you up at ten.

STRAWBERRY: See you then, stud.

Unable to wipe the smile off my face, I pick my gym bag off the floor and enter my bedroom. Tatum deserves to be the first to hear the good news—apart from Khai—because without her support, I wouldn’t be here.

I wasn’t kidding when I said she’s done more for me than she realises.

Not just physically with my injury, but emotionally, too.

She has shown me that it’s okay to be vulnerable.

I had thought it was weak to put your heart on your sleeve, that no one would take me seriously or consider me to be less of a man.

But the more time I spend with her, I’m learning to be more open and allow myself time to think about what I want moving forward.

Because at the end of the day, I’m living this life for myself—no one else. And whether my father likes it or not, this is my career, not his.

I just have to start believing in myself, even when it feels impossible.