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I scream again. He swings the bathroom door open, and I jump into his arms. “The water was running,” I say as I start dying laughing.
His abs contract as he laughs too, but there’s nothing funny about being in the protective arms of Tackett Towles.
He strokes my hair before letting go of me and his eyes linger on my mouth. “Wake me up before a seven-day road trip again and see what happens.”
ChapterNine
TACKETT
Seven-day road trips suck. All I want is to be home in my own bed in Talynn’s guest room. The Sharks rescheduled all our home games for the month because the city is still using the stadium for relief, so we’ve been on the road more than usual. Megan and Archer want the team to help rebuild the community, but how can we? All we do is shower, sleep, travel, and repeat. The team does make deliveries but it’s not as hands on as I would like.
As I turn the doorknob, voices echo inside the apartment. Well, I guess I don’t need my keys.
There’s a guy lying on a massage table in our living room. Did I say he looks naked with only a towel over his ass? This is not what I need.
It’s been three weeks since the hurricane and nothing has happened between Talynn and me. Every time it feels like we’re getting close to kissing, something happens and both of us act like nothing happened. Maybe she’s toying with me.
Talynn’s eyes widen with brightness when she sees me. “Hey Towles, glad you’re home. We have company.” She has her hands all over him but whatever.
“I see that.” I grunt as I carry my luggage into my room. After showering, I put on my tightest white T-shirt. I saw that guy’s back muscles, and they’re nothing like mine.
As I re-enter the living room, the guy pops his head up, still half-naked. “Tackett, didn’t you recognize me?”
“No, Hagan, I’ve never seen you in your birthday suit. What are you doing here?” I ask, although I don’t care. I’m too tired and too jealous. He winks at Talynn when he lifts up from the table. He’s in athletic shorts. My eyes dart to hers. Is she buying his charm? Yep, she is.
“College is out. I had a little time to come help with clean up, but I tweaked my back. Talynn was helping me out.”
Yeah. I saw that.
Walking to the fridge, I open it and pull out a water. “Tay, do we have any fruit for my smoothies?” I already know the answer because the shelves are empty except for beer. A pang attacks my gut realizing that Hagan is hanging out here, a lot.
“Hey, do you mind handing me one?” Hagan comes up behind me and points to the beer. “You’re welcome to have as many as you want.”
“Nah, thanks. Wilson says what goes into your body comes out of your body. Put in shit, you’ll get shit out.”
I glance over my shoulder before closing the door. He has on athletic shorts as he leans against the counter. He takes a long pull off the beer. “So, have you been eating crap on the road because you, my man, are in a slump.” He goes on to recite my numbers for the year.
To make matters worse, he’s saying all of this in front of Talynn. She looks like she’s at a tennis match watching us go back and forth.
“Yeah, I’m aware.”
“Maybe you need to have some fun. Live it up.”
“Hagan, I can’t afford to screw this up.”
He chuckles, “You can’t be worse than you are now.”
Right again. Talynn breaks the flow of our banter. “Towles, go out with us tonight. We’re going to play trivia. Harper’s coming too.” She says Harper’s name with a flutter of her eyes like she’s suggesting I hook up with Harper, Hagan’s twin sister. Why can’t Talynn see she’s the only one I want to hook up with?
“I’m not in the mood. I need to rest and watch film on the Torpedoes. Where is Harper?”
“She’s at the hotel. We’re picking her up.” Talynn saddles up next to me and begs, “Please?”
I’ll do anything she asks. But I make her beg a little more to make sure Hagan knows she wantsmethere.
Finally, I relent, and we all get into Hagan’s Range Rover; must be nice to live the life of a rich kid. To my surprise, Hagan asks me to get in front. “Hey, thanks for all you’ve done to help Archer and Megan. He couldn’t have pulled off the proposal without you.”
“Your brother is like a brother to me. He’s close to the same age as my brother, Jayson. You know I sniffed out Archer’s relationship with Megan before anyone else?”
