Page 59 of Ruck Me Harder

“We should go out tonight,” Dylan says. Steve lives in Colorado, training at a facility out there. He leaves in the morning. The two alternates, Alex and Doug, leave the day after. They’re both still in college.

“Unless you’ve got plans with your girl?” Tommy raises his eyebrows at me.

It’s no secret that Vivienne and I are together. Between the kisses being caught on social media, which the guys ribbed me about endlessly, and the smiles on my face the last few days at training, it’s been fairly obvious that I’m seeing someone new.

I’d shout it from the rooftops if I didn’t value my privacy. Just because I’m a semi-public athlete doesn’t mean I can’t have a private, personal life too.

“We’ve got plans,” I say simply, and he smirks at me.

The coaches release us for the day. It’s a rare break before my shift at the shelter this afternoon, so I swing by the grocery store for some supplies for dinner. There will be four of us in the same room for the first time. I can’t wait for her to meet my siblings properly, to get to know them. She’s my partner, but they’re my family. They have to get along.

Vivienne is my first call. She doesn’t answer—I know she’s at training—so I leave her a quick voicemail telling her we’re celebrating tonight.

Alycia is my second.

“I’ll do it. I’ll sign,” I tell her.

“Great,” my new agent says. “Let’s get started.”

twenty-five

. . .

Viv

My stomach flutters with nerves as I approach the Mattapan townhouse. I haven’t been back here since the day I found out about Tony and my past connection. Although I know Tony and I are solid now, although Cari and I get along and I liked Al the one time I met him, I can’t help being nervous. If my siblings didn’t like my partner, I’d listen to their opinions why. I’d at least hear them out.

If Cari and Al don’t like me with Tony…

I can’t even think about it. Yes, we’re new, and I’m already in over my head, but I can’t picture doing this without him. In such a short amount of time, he’s brought so much happiness into my life, I don’t know what to do with myself.

The front door swings open without my having rung the bell. Cari beams at me.

“You going to stay out here all night?” she teases.

Forcing a smile onto my face, I summon all of my bravery. “Maybe.”

My teammate laughs, shaking her head. “Come on in.”

The house looks the same as it does before, but where I was too panicked to notice the little details, now I drink them in. There are photos on the mantel and on the wall. A few throw pillows and a soft-looking knit blanket. A basket full of cat toys.

Shadow, the little black kitten, isn’t so little anymore. She comes running toward me, then stops just in front of me, staring up at me. I stare down at her, meeting her eyes. After a moment, the cat bats at my leg with her paw and then darts off.

Through the small kitchen, I can see Tony at the stove, sauteing something that smells fantastic. I watch his back muscles flex through his T-shirt as he expertly controls three different pans. I think I might drool.

“Damn, girl,” Cari says, shaking her head. “You’ve got it bad.”

“Yeah, I do.” I’m not ashamed of how much I care for him.

Does it scare me? Yes.

Am I hiding it? No. Hell no.

There’s a rumble on the stairs and then Al appears in a T-shirt and sweatpants, his hair wet. He stops short at the sight of me.

“Viv. Hey. Great to see you again.” Before I know what’s happening, he tugs me into a light hug.

There’s a clatter in the kitchen and I turn to see Tony watching us, glaring in our direction.