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Tinley
The guys head out for their afternoon practice, but I stay back to try to take a nap. I only got four or five hours of sleep last night based on my calculations, but it’s hard to fall asleep. When I don’t take my meds, I have trouble sleeping. I can usually fall asleep with no problem, but I only manage to get two or three hours of rest before waking up, and it always feels like I’ve slept an entire night. Eventually, the lack of sleep will make me irritable and it’s a whole cycle.
I give up and head out to find my computer. I jump, taking a step back when I see Warrick lying on the couch. He’s always so intense, but I’m not scared of him. I just wasn’t expecting anyone to be around. “I thought you left to practice.”
Warrick scoffs. “No, it’s probably better if I interact with Carter and Xavier as little as possible until I cool off.”
I meander closer. He looks unhappy, and my impulses ache to soothe that discomfort.
He leans up on a forearm, patting his chest. Even though I know it happened a while ago, the pink scar on his cheek still looks fresh. The skin is slightly puckered and red. He raises an eyebrow like he’s waiting for me to do something.
I scramble forward and stretch out partially on the couch, but mostly on Warrick’s chest.
“Happy birthday,” he growls, kissing my forehead.
“Thank you.” I barely keep myself from saying,you too. It’s so random, but every year, I inevitably accidentally say it to someone.
“I’m sorry about that bullshit with your medication.”
I shrug. “It’s not your fault. I’ve had the lecture before from my doctors about keeping it in a safe place. I’ll survive. I might be a little extra hyper and irritable until it’s time to refill it, but I can cut back and take half a dose instead.”
It’s mind-boggling how someone managed to go through over a week’s worth of medication in a night. I hope it wasn’t just one person, or their heart might explode. It’s a stimulant.
“You shouldn’t have to.” Warrick’s jaw is tight with tension, and my chest aches to soothe it. A warmth slips through my entire body as I run my fingers over his chest. “Jesus Christ, are you soothing me right now?”
I bite my lip, frowning.
My nose twitches.
I sit straight up, smacking his chest. “I think Iamreleasing soothing pheromones.”
“You don’t need to calm me, pretty girl. I’m okay.”
“Yeah, but I can,” I squeal. “I’ve never been able to before.”
Warrick smiles, and the sight is breathtaking. He’s definitely one of the hottest guys I’ve ever seen in person. The scars don’t distract from his looks in the least. If anything, it’s a reminder of his character. He’s the kind of man who goes out of his way to protect people.
“Let’s get your birthday gift.” He sits up and reaches between the couch and the wall. He grabs a box with a pretty pink ribbon. I realize I’m bouncing on my knees, vibrating with excitement. My eyes fly up to his because I was inadvertently grinding my pussy over his cock. “You’re too fucking cute.” He leans back on his forearm, nodding for me to open the gift. “It’s not as extravagant as Ram’s present.”
“That’s okay,” I assure him, pulling the lid off. “It’s actually better that way, because then…” I trail off as my fingers run over the super soft material. I pull it out, shaking it to see what it is. It’s a set of long-john pajamas in a reindeer print. They’re red and green. The fabric is so soft that I pull it to my face to test it out. A stretchy headband goes flying, and I snatch it up. It’s a pair of reindeer antlers. “I love this so much.”
“Good, there’s more.” He cups my hips, giving them a squeeze.
I drop the pajamas between us and the back cushion of the couch and dig inside. There’s a pink pajama dress. It has silver trim around the top and bottom, and tank top sleeves. It’s the kind that’s fitted up top and flared after the waist.
“This is just my style,” I tell him with a grin. “You’re really good at shopping for someone.”
“This is just the beginning,” he says. “There’s one more thing for your birthday, and then we need to discuss courting.”
“Really?” I whisper, studying his face. I’ve dreamed about a big growly alpha saying those words to me, but now that it’s happening, it’s a little hard to believe. I still feel obligated to tell him everything I mentioned to Ramsey earlier.
He palms the back of my head, teasing his fingers through my hair. “I’d like to court you if you’re open to it.” I swallow thickly, nodding my agreement. “Go ahead and open the last gift.”
My eyes fall to the box, and there’s a square wrapped with tissue paper. It’s pretty big and takes up the entire bottom of the box. I pull it out, rip the paper away, and melt when I see the photo album.
My fingers run over the cover. “It’s lovely.”
“I know you have to work during this tour, but don’t be afraid to take some pictures just for us.” He smiles, encouraging me to open it. “You’ll want to remember the courting process.”
