Page 58 of Game Misconduct

My heart already knew what my mind was just now seeing. I’d fallen for my friend.

Twenty

Parker

Despite talking to Vivi each day, I missed her. A few texts and a short phone call weren’t enough. I wanted to see her and hold her as I had at her office. It was ridiculous how much I enjoyed a simple hug. The feeling of her body pressed against mine was familiar and comforting. In just a few weeks she went from a complete stranger to someone I couldn’t imagine life without.

I hated that I didn’t get the chance to talk to her about how I was feeling before I left, but the timing wasn’t right. For whatever reason, fate or the universe didn’t want me to tell her that day. Admitting how much I liked her, then turning around and leaving for a week probably wouldn’t have been any easier than holding it in. That wouldn’t really have been fair to either of us. I couldn’t dump that on her, at her place of work, then fly across the country for a week without giving her the time to absorb the information and react.

It was a good thing. A solid relationship wasn’t something that should be rushed. I wanted to take her to a romantic dinner, or at least on some sort of proper date, before telling her I was falling for her.

“Quit pouting, Garrison.” Lance jabbed his elbow into my ribs as he passed me in the hall of the training arena we were using.

I ignored him and continued to the locker room. I wanted to shower and get back to the hotel to rest before the game tonight. I didn’t bother arguing with him. I knew I’d been a downer, but I didn’t have it in me to waste energy on faking it. I needed to save it for the game.

“You heading back?” Mitch asked after I cleaned off and changed into warm-ups.

“Yeah, want to walk with me?” I asked while hefting my bag onto my shoulder.

“Sure.” He picked up his bag, and we headed out. The hotel we were staying in was conveniently close to the training area, but it was a twenty-minute drive to the arena downtown where we’d play tonight.

“You okay?” he asked once we were outside.

The warm Tampa sun was a welcome reprieve from the snowy, gray skies of Salt Lake. It made the five-minute walk far more desirable than waiting for the infrequent shuttle to come pick us up.

“You’ve been extra quiet lately,” Mitch said. “Is everything okay?”

I didn’t answer immediately. Yes, everything was okay in general. Nothing was technically wrong. I was healthy, strong, and feeling good after that practice. I was just in a bummer mood. I was pouting, and so grateful Lance pointed that out to me. I’d have to return the favor next time he missed Jess.

“I’ve been thinking about Vivi,” I finally admitted.

“Yeah? What about her?” He pressed the button to change the walk signal.

“I really like her. I know it’s kind of fast. I mean, we’ve only known each other for a little while, but I think I’ve had feelings for her from the moment we met.”

He glanced at me. “Like love at first sight?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know if I believe in that. A least, I didn’t before. But maybe that’s what this is. It wasn’t like I saw her and thought, bam! That’s her. It was more like a pull, something dragging me toward her, and the more I got to know her the stronger it got.”

“I thought you were going to tell her how you felt.”

“I was, but when I tried, it didn’t work out. Then we left town, and I didn’t want to have this conversation over the phone.”

He nodded and rubbed his chin. “But your feelings haven’t changed?”

“No, but maybe it was a sign that I didn’t get the chance to tell her. Maybe I’m not supposed to.”

“I should probably tell you something.” His voice lowered.

My stomach dropped to the ground. He didn’t sound like he was about to tell me good news. “What?”

We were at the entrance to the hotel, but he stopped a few yards away from the door. “Vivi asked a favor of me.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What kind of favor?”

“She asked me to set her up with one of my friends.”

His words didn’t make sense. “What do you mean, set up?”