Page 57 of The Player I Can’t Pick

Her eyes widen, and I can see how scared she is of all this.

And that about tears me apart. I cup her cheek. “I’m going to San Antonio. I’m going to play some ball. I’ll be back in four days, and I’m coming straight here.”

Her hand goes to my waist, bunching my shirt in her fist.

“Guy, listen…”

I cup her face in both hands. “No. You listen. I love being with you. I don’t want this to be over. I know being with me scares you, and I’m willing to be patient, but I can’t just pretend you mean nothing to me because that makes you feel safer.”

Her hands slide up my chest and loop around my neck. “Good luck this week.”

I lean closer until her body presses against mine. “You going to watch?”

She rolls her eyes. “My dad is pitching.”

I laugh. “Oh, so you’re not watching me?”

Her mouth softens into a smile. “Yeah. I’ll be watching you too.”

I brace my hands on either side of the doorway. “We’re not broken up, Nicole.”

Her eyebrows lift.

“I don’t want to leave town with you thinking you’re suddenly single.”

She lets out a breath that almost sounds like a laugh. “Guy…”

“I’m serious.”

She tilts her head. “You can’t just decide we’re not on a break.”

“Fine.” I nod once. “Then I’m deciding I’m not on one.”

That finally gets a real laugh out of her. I smile, but I don’t let her off the hook. “You need four days to think? Take them. You need space? I’ll give you space.” My thumb brushes over her cheek. “But I’m not going to date anyone else. I’m not going to sleep with anyone else. And I’m sure as hell not changing how I feel about you.”

Her smile fades, and she looks at me like she doesn’t know what to do with that. Good. Maybe she needs to sit with it.

I lean down and kiss her forehead instead of her mouth. “I’ll call you when I land.”

“Guy—”

“I know. Space.”

I take a step back. Her hand slips from my shirt, and I hate the empty feeling immediately. “Four days, Nicole.”

She leans against the doorway. “What happens in four days?”

I look straight at her. “I come home.”

I let that sit between us for a second before turning toward my truck. I make it halfway down the sidewalk before she calls my name. “Guy.”

I turn.

She’s still standing in the doorway, arms wrapped around herself. “Be careful.”

My chest tightens. I nod. “Always, honey.”

Then I get in my truck and force myself to drive away.