He didn’t miss a beat. “Yeah, you know, feet move, step by step.”
“Easy their New Kids.”
He full on belly laughed. And the sound had me grinning.
We headed out the building and it was easy to fall into step with each other despite the height difference between us.
Josh turned to me at the red light. “Can I ask a question?”
“Oh-kay,” I hesitated. There was a soft expression in his eyes and I wasn’t sure where this was going.
“Why did you move me to Moose?”
My face fell. “Oh. Uh.”
I felt flustered. The truth was, I wasn’t sure why. The official story I told Moose was that I was busy with Grimes’s torn rotator cuff and Falston’s knee, but honestly, I needed space from Josh. The past couple of weeks we had seemed to find each other more than we ever had and after my embarrassing stand-up situation, I’d thought he was just pitying me. The last thing I wanted from Josh was pity.
“It was just temporary. There was a lot going on and the physicality of the last set of games put a few of the guys onthe injured list, so that means I’m at max capacity.” There was some truth to that at least.
The light changed and we started to cross.
“Does this mean I can have you back?” There was hope in his eyes. “It helps our story out,” he added before I could speak.
“Does it now?” I raised my brows.
“Absolutely. We spend more time together. Let a few hushed rumors spread.”
“Kev’s great at that,” I muttered under my breath.
“Exactly. We don’t confirm or deny, just flap it off as locker-room shit. In the meantime, we talk, text.” He pulled out his phone. “I even got a name for you.”
I groaned. “Please tell me it’s not snookums?”
“Ha. That would be good, but no one would believe I’d call anyone snookums but Kev.”
He said it so seriously I faltered in my step. Thankfully, he grabbed my elbow and laughed. Pulling out his phone, he showed me the name, Summer, with my number.
I grinned. “Clever, Josh, very clever.”
He beamed. “So, does this mean yes?”
“We can’t.” I shook my head.
He jutted out his lips into a pout. “Why not?”
“Because, even if we were rumored to be dating, then you on my schedule would be a massive red flag to the coach.”
He groaned. “Damn it.” He grabbed my wrist and brought my hand up, I tried to ignore the spark it sent up my arm. “These hands are magical and healing and damn, have I missed them.”
“Wow, pulling out all the stops.” I tugged my hand free. “Maybe I’ll do a little out-of-office session with you.”
He waggled his brows. “Oh yeah.”
“Not like that!”
He laughed. “If you change your mind.”
I propped my hand on my hip and shot him a sassy glare. “And what would I get out of that?”
