How the hell am I supposed to deny this woman?
Reluctantly, I nod, knowing deep down that this might be a mistake. “Okay,” I concede. “I’ll go.”
But I have a condition, one that breaks yet another of our rules. “But only if you come with me,” I add, my voice barely above a whisper. “You have to be my date.”
Her eyes widen in surprise, and hesitation flickers across her features. It would be a public outing, a breach of our carefully constructed boundaries. But as she meets my gaze, I see the resolve in her eyes.
After a moment of contemplation, she nods, her lips forming a small smile. “Okay,” she agrees softly. “I’ll go as your date.”
Cecilia leavesbright and early on the bus with the rest of her team. I try to convince her to ride back with me on my bike, but she declines.
I know what she’s doing. I’m not blind.
She’s trying to put space between us after we spent the night with one another, and I don’t like it. But I decide not to push her. Not today.
I’ll let her have her space. For now. But she’s delusional if she thinks she’ll be spending the night tonight anywhere but in my bed.
Since practice isn’t until later in the day, the rest of us decide to burn some time and visit an old friend.
We meet up with Allie and her fiancé, Roman, for breakfast.
As I walk into the Sun Valley Station, the nostalgic vibes of the place hit me like a wave, transporting me back to a time of poodle skirts and slicked-back hair. I’d been too distracted the night before to really take it in, but today I’m seeing it with new, much less exhausted, eyes.
Sun Valley station is a vintage-styled diner straight out of Grease, complete with neon signs and checkerboard floors.
Allie is the first to spot us, her face lighting up with a smile as she rushes over to greet our crew. "Gabriel!" she exclaims, enveloping me in a warm hug. "It's been too long."
"Yeah, it has," I reply, returning the hug before she moves on to Julio, Felix, and Deacon, hugging each of them in turn. I can't help but notice the protective aura that surrounds her fiancé,Roman, as he watches her interact with us. He grumbles when she hugs us, but he's decent enough to shake each of our hands, even if he tugs Allie back to his side at the first opportunity.
There was a time when an innocent hug would have sent Allie over the edge. She’s come a long way and worked through a lot of her past trauma. We all have this broody fucker to thank for that. Not that I’ll ever admit it out loud. Pretty sure J won’t either. But regardless, we’re grateful.
Roman keeps Allie close, a possessive hand resting on her thigh as we join them at their table.
It's a subtle gesture, but it speaks volumes about their relationship.
I can't help but feel a twinge of jealousy as I watch them together, knowing I'd be the same way with Cecilia if she'd let me.
We settle into the booth, the atmosphere buzzing with conversation as we catch up on each other's lives. Allie fills us in on her latest welding adventures and talks about watching Roman play football while he sits beside her, his arm now wrapped around her waist in a protective embrace.
He’s a junior at Suncrest U. Their star receiver. If he wasn’t such a dick sometimes to anyone who isn’t Allie, I might actually be impressed. But Roman’s never been one for making new friends. He’s only here for her. And that’s just fine. The way he looks at her, his eyes filled with adoration and love, it’s clear she’s his entire world.
The two of them, they’re exactly as they should be. Content in their relationship.
It's a stark contrast to the tumultuous emotions swirling inside me, but I push them aside, focusing on enjoying the morning with friends.
CHAPTER 56
GABRIEL
Icut a path across the parking lot toward the locker room with Julio at my side, our steps hurried, knowing we’re fucking late.
Coach is going to have our asses.
Deacon and Felix left our place ten minutes before we did in Deacon’s car. Julio and I decided to ride our bikes over but it looks like that ten minutes is going to make a difference.
“Shit,” I mutter, glancing at Julio. “We’re screwed.”
He grimaces. “Maybe not.”
