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I watch his back tense and his body clam up as he grabs a water from the fridge. “Yep.”
“So, what’s with you? You’ve been acting weird for weeks.” Tackett sits down at the kitchen table, which is not the place to have a long discussion. It’s a bistro-type table and barely big enough for one person. “Can we talk in the living room?”
He pushes off against the table, reluctantly and follows me to the couch. We sit on opposite ends. I have my feet crisscrossed facing him, but he’s faced forward. Lately he’s been distant when he’s home, and that’s not much. He’s either playing, doing community service, or all of us are out as a group.
Taking a deep breath, I ask the question that’s been weighing on me. “Are you avoiding me?”
Tackett rolls his thumbs over and over which gives me a minute to admire his strong and muscular thighs. Although I’m not trying to rush him, I can’t resist scooting closer to him on the couch. My hand reaches for his knee, and he jerks away.
“Damn, Towles, what did I do?”
His eyes close as he breathes deeply. “I’m not avoiding you. I’m doing my best tonotbe a failure. This hitting slump…sucks. And I don’t need to come home to Hagan telling me about it every chance he gets. Don’t get me wrong, I love the guy.”
“He just wants you to lighten up and have fun. Hagan thinks you’ve been psyching yourself out since the wedding day. You can’t let one bad day make more bad days.” When I place my head on his shoulder, he accepts it and pats my leg.
His hard body relaxes as he blows out a puff of air. “I know. Are you happy Tay?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Are you in love with him?” His voice is filled with hesitancy.
“Hagan?” My mind goes blank because why would he ask that?
“I just don’t want you to get hurt. He had a long-term relationship that ended not long ago. It was a bad break up which is why he’s transferring to Kentucky.” He pauses then finally looks at me. “You don’t deserve to be someone’s rebound.”
“No.” I don’t know how much to say because I don’t want to be shot down. Tackett considers me a friend and roommate, so other than those first couple of weeks of fleeting touches and heated stares, he hasn’t done anything to suggest he’s interested in being more than friends.
“No what?”
“I’m not in love with Hagan. We’re just having fun. You’re gone all the time, and it gets lonely. Besides, he’s leaving this weekend. You’re going to be out of town right?”
He quickly asks, “No, why?” I see a flash of jealousy flash as his eyes roll, but why? “Should I crash at one of my teammate’s houses?” He clips his words.
He’s being a jerk. A girl has needs and if he’s not going to fill them, I might as well fill them with a fun-loving guy like Hagan. “You know what? I don’t owe you explanation. Have you tried changing your underwear? Socks? Or getting a new freaking cleats? Your hitting slump sucks…for both of us.”
I fly off the couch and into my bedroom where I promptly slam the door. How dare he suggest that I want to sleep with Hagan. I don’t. But maybe I should. Hagan and I are just flirting. We haven’t even kissed. I don’t get butterflies when I’m with Hagan like I do Tackett. But maybe I should try. Who knew being in a slump would make a guy like Tackett so grumpy?
Me:Want to go out?
Hagan:Can’t. Parents are coming for dinner.
Me:Okay. We need to talk before you leave.
Tackett must be taking a shower because I hear water running. I bide my time until I think the coast is clear. Maybe he’s taking a nap because I haven’t heard any noise for several minutes.
Two knocks rap against my door. I’m scared to open it; afraid he might be in a towel.
Nope, not a towel. His boxer briefs. What the hell?
Our eyes lock, and a slideshow skips through my mind of all the ways he could have me.
Tackett parades around the house shirtless every time he’s home. I’m not ashamed to say I relish watching every oblique muscle ripple when he reaches his Raisin Bran, dream of having him on top of me, and gush over every silly smile as he watchesTom and Jerryon Netflix.
I swallow hard as he stands stoic, letting me survey and memorize his body. One eyebrow points up as a cool, sugary smile spreads evenly over his face. In contrast, the heat in my face feels like a third-degree burn. My heart is racing and my core thrumming when he says, “Sorry, I was being an ass. It’s your life to live and I need to stay out of it. I just…” He presses his lips together and doesn’t finish his thought.
I wait until the silence becomes untenable, finally nodding. Then I watch his muscular ass walk away.
I lay on the bed until I hear the front door close. When I’m sure the coast is clear, I let myself out. There’s a purple sticky note on my dry erase board where I keep mine and Tackett’s schedule. I started my internship a week ago, so I made the calendar to see when we would be home together. We’re both here today, and look how that turned out?
