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“But my parents… and Jude will ask questions. Wyatt too. And the team gossips like no other.”

“I’m aware,” Rhodes said dryly. “Just… tell them you took the Tampa scout up on his offer, and you’re going down there for a few days. I’ll arrange our schedule to make sure you get over to see the training facility.”

I made a face as I considered it. On one hand, it was a dream invitation. The chance to spend time with Rhodes—to openly be with him—was everything I wanted. On the other hand, what if people asked too many questions? What if I couldn’t lie well enough to convince them? What if someone figured it out?

“Only if you want, Theo,” he added.

“Are you sure we won’t get caught?”

“No one but my friends know where I’m going or why. My family knows I’m going back for a wedding, but they won’t assume anything. And there won’t be pictures online, and no one knows I have social media. I’ve been good about keeping that to myself,” he assured me, but I frowned.

“You have social media?” I asked. I had a hard time picturing him as the selfie-on-social-media type. In fact, I could barely imagine him on social media at all. What was he posting? Probably space things.

“I’ll show you later.” His lips brushed against the inside of my knee. The contact sparked across my skin enough to make me moan. “Be my plus one, Theo? I know I can only say so much to convince you, but I can show you that I want this.”

“When you put it like that… I’d like that,” I whispered. He smiled and kissed me once more. “Can we go on a date—a real date—before that?”

“I’d like that,” he murmured against my skin. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but we’ll figure this out. I promise.”

“I trust you,” I said without thinking, because I did. Not because I believed he’d never make mistakes. But rather because, for the first time, I believed he wouldn’t run from me.

CHAPTER 43

Rhodes

WOLF: It’s hard to pay attention when you look like that.

Pay attention, little wolf, or so help me.

WOLF: Please, finish that threat.

Brat.

WOLF: Still not helping yourself.

WOLF: You know what I realized?

If it’s about my ass, I don’t want to hear it.

WOLF: It’s not, though you do have a sexy ass.

WOLF: We’ve never kissed.

We’ve kissed plenty.

WOLF: I mean when sex wasn’t involved.

Oh.

You good, Coach?” Forrest asked after I’d pulled my phone out, glanced at it, saw another text, and shoved it right back in my pocket. The frustrated sound had been automatic—I had to get better at hiding it.

And normally, I would’ve been. But Theo was actively sending me dirty texts from across the room. The brat was testing my patience, especially because there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to stop him.

“I’m fine,” I said. That didn’t stop my gaze from flicking briefly toward Theo. That cocky grin he gave me didn’t help either. Not even a few days into dating, and he was already testing boundaries. Little shit. Though, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Something had settled inside me with the shift in our dynamic. I wasn’t magically fixed in any sense of the word, but I felt calmer than I had in a long time.

“Anyways.” I shoved all thoughts of Theo aside to be dealt with later. I had to focus on the team. We sat around in the review room, going through the last game’s footage. As a whole, they welcomed the gentle criticism, and I did mean gentle. Hale and I were at odds about the approach. I had no desire to just berate them for not getting it right. Before I could continue, Terry threw up a hand, and I sighed. “How many times do I have to tell you this isn’t a raise-your-hand kind of situation?”

“Probably every time,” Brent chimed in, laughing. He wasn’t wrong. So far, that message hadn’t hit home with Terry.