Page 67 of Playing the Player

“I would have pegged you more as a nurse.” I joke but like every other time I tease this man, he has a comeback.

“I bet you’d love to see me in one of those sexy little nurse outfits.”

“You have the ass for it.”

“Damn straight.” We both laugh together, the sound like music to my ears. It’s easy. Comfortable.

Conor rubs his hands together before gently touching my shin. I hiss in a breath as he rubs the cream in. “Sorry, Angel.” He winces, removing his hands from me completely.

“Don’t be. Just keep going.” Reluctantly, he does, rubbing slow circles down my legs and feet. “What did you want to ask me?” I need him to talk. I need him to take my mind off the pain.

He hesitates for a second before speaking. “There’s a Halloween party in a few weeks at the stadium.”

“Okay…”

“It’s a couples thing. Coach was wondering if you’d be there.”

I smile at him. “Conor, if you want me to go with you, just say so.” His face lights up at my words, all the worry he was feeling a minute ago dissipating. “You helped me out when I needed you, so I’ll help you out with this.”

“Thank you, Sash.” His relief is almost tangible. Then it disappears again. “My parents are coming to visit in a month or so.”

“Oh?”

“I haven’t seen them in a while.”

“That’ll be nice.”

Conor finishes rubbing the cream on my legs and rolls my sweats back down, covering the disgusting mess underneath.

“Yeah…” He trails off, not meeting my eye. “They want to meet you.”

Everything inside of me stills. “Why?”

He looks genuinely confused by my question. “Because you’re my girlfriend.”

“But I’m not.”

“Sasha, come on. Don’t make a big deal out of this.”

I get off the couch, pacing the living room floor as I think of a response. “I’m not making a big deal out of this, Conor.” I say, wearing a hole into the floor. “These are your parents. I can’t lie to them like this.”

“You lied to your family about this.”

“No, actually, I didn’t.” I stop moving, looking back to the man on my couch. “I didn’t tell my parents anything about what you and I are, and they didn’t ask. And yes, I didn’t tell Liam the truth but that kid has no filter and a big mouth. The whole world would know before breakfast.”

Conor is balling his hands into fists, a clear sign that he’s getting agitated. “You’re being a bit ridiculous, Sasha.”

“I’m being ridiculous?” I'm getting too worked up over this. Am I overreacting right now? Probably. But that’s not the point. I kneel in front of him, taking his hands in mine while the burns on my legs scream in protest. “Conor, these are your parents. You should want them to meet the person you’re gonna spend forever with.” He gives me a little shrug in response, so I continue. “They are gonna love me because obviously, and it’ll break their heart when you tell them our relationship has ended.”

There’s a slight tilt to his lips, but not the smile I was hoping for. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“I’ll think about it, okay?” It’s the best I can offer right now.

“Okay.”

Conor and I watched a movie after the whole ‘meeting the parents’ conversation, but his head wasn’t in it. He was fidgeting a lot, kept checking his phone, bouncing his leg. I know he’s frustrated, but I don’t know why it’s bothering him so much. I had asked, but he was a closed book. After he left, I messaged Olivia. I need to know if I’m being irrational here or not.

Me: SOS