“That’s great, Maria,” I say softly, letting my fingers brush her cheek. She leans into my touch, eyes closing briefly. Yeah, she likes Declan—sees him as good father material—but I know what really matters to her. This. Right here. Right now.
“I have to tell you something,” she begins, a little hesitant.
I pull my hand back. “This sounds serious.”
“It’s not, not really…but this…” She waves a hand between us, a small, nervous gesture. “I know it was sort of a secret, but I kind of told Gina and Rowyn.”
I take a swig of my beer, processing. “The other day you told me Gina said you were looking at me with your vagina…but you said she didn’t really know.”
“They staged an intervention.”
A laugh bubbles out of me before I can stop it. “An intervention?”
“They were at the Nook one morning when I went to work.” She shrugs, anxious. I sit back, and she blurts, “Gina called me out on it, on us, and I didn’t deny it. I hope you’re not upset.”
“We’re both consenting adults, Maria,” I say, tone calm. “I know we’re keeping it from the boys, but our friends…they’re pretty astute.”
“Yeah.” She hesitates. Then, softly, “I also told them about college.”
I smile. That makes me happy. She’s always been on the edge of our friendship group, looking in from the outside. Does this mean she’s open to more? To being closer to the WAGs? Everyone needs someone.
Who do you need, Tuck?
I have my teammates.
Is that really enough for you?
Fuck off.
“Okay, so they know about us. What else is on your mind?” I ask, trying to keep my tone casual.
“Declan.”
My chest tightens. Ah, yes…the moment where she’s about to end this between us. I can feel it coming. I’ve noticed her avoiding me, the space she’s put between us this week.
But didn’t she just tell me to take care of her tonight?
Confused, I shake my head, about to ask, when she continues, “I don’t know if I’m old-fashioned, or got married too soon to really know what dating is like, but I thought…once I started seeing Declan, then you and I were…”
“Over,” I supply.
She nods. “Yes.”
“I sense a but…”
“Little did I know, that’s not how things work,” she says, cocking her head. “The girls told me a date is a date. Not a commitment. That doesn’t mean you and I can’t keep…”
“Having sex?” I finish, my heart galloping.
“Yes.”
I shift closer, hands sliding to her thighs. I feel the subtle quiver beneath my fingers. She’s tense, nervous, but ready. “This week…you’ve been avoiding me,” I murmur, letting my hands inch higher.
“It’s true,” she admits, voice low, almost shy. “I wasn’t sure they were right… and something about sleeping with you while dating Declan…felt wrong.”
“Does this feel wrong, Maria?” I ask, letting my hands glide over her skin.
Her face flushes pink, a soft, sweet heat. “Not even a little.”
