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“Good morning.” I clear my throat when my unused voice comes out gravelly and rough. She returns the greeting and slides out of bed, heading straight to the bathroom. There’s no point in her freaking out because she’s not going anywhere, not after last night for sure. I only thought I was engrossed in her before. Now that I’vereallyexperienced her, felt what it’d be like to wake up next to her every morning, there’s no way I could ever let her go.
Getting out the bed, I pull on my black boxer briefs and impatiently wait for her to exit the bathroom. When she does, she avoids making eye contact with me as she slips into a T-shirt and pair of pajama pants, then heads wordlessly out of the bedroom, so I follow. Avery Whitlock is not going to run from me again. She can’t. She wants this as much as I do, I just need her to not get spooked and dart for the hills. Once in the kitchen, she fills the coffee maker’s carafe with water and proceeds to busy herself with making a pot.
“Avery, are we okay?”
Her body tenses for a moment before she eases. “Yep. Just making you some coffee for a change.”
The playfulness in her voice says more than her words to my relief. Stepping in front of her, I wrap my arms around her. “I bet it’ll be the best coffee ever.”
A knock sounds on the door, and I lose her soft skin under my hands as she wiggles out of my arms. But the ease that finally appeared in her posture is what I’d wanted to hold onto a little bit longer.
She looks out the peephole before glancing back to me, her eyes dropping to my bare chest, but then she swings the door open.
“Morning,” Bodie’s chipper voice greets her. That happy attitude changes real quick when his eyes land on me. “I see you didn’t take my advice.”
“What advice?” I ask by way of greeting, tipping my chin up to him in what I’m trying to keep as a casualHey, what’s up, man?acknowledgment. Really wanting to know what advice he gave his best friend, I have a sinking feeling it’s not favorable for me.Damn it, Bodie.I’m having a hell of a time fighting to keep her from running away from me as is without him putting even more shit in her head. She said they’re only friends. Is that his choice or hers?
Avery pulls him into the apartment and shuts the door. “You’re early.”
“Obviously.” He doesn’t look my way. “Your dad wanted me to help him with the shelving rebuild before lunch.”
The game is even less appealing now, knowing I’ll be missing Whitlock family lunch while Bodie is there with Avery, Lyle, and the entire bunch.
“Give me a few minutes to get dressed.” She moves into the kitchen, grabs out a coffee mug, and fills it. Passing it to me, she repeats the process for herself. “Oh, Carter agreed to do the podcast interview.”
Bodie watches me as he says, “I’m sure Carter agreed to a lot last night.”
“Bodie,” Avery scolds him, slamming her cup on the counter.
I can’t blame the guy. I’d be terrified of losing her too. Although, he might as well get used to it because I’m not going anywhere. I slip a hand onto her hip, giving Bodie an unbothered, friendly expression, especially after she leans into me. “It’s the least I can do for you bringing her to my game.”
His face tightens as he lets out a laugh. “Yeah, she wasn’t happy to seeBaby Cashplay, for sure. Her nickname, not mine.”
Fuck. That one stings.
On a sharp inhalation of breath, Avery whips her head to look at me. “That was before— I didn’t even know you. He’d told me how much he wanted to see the game because you were starting.” She turns a frustrated look to her best friend.
Bodie doesn’t pay her any mind. “Speaking of, don’t you have one to get to now?”
“Yep. I should get going since I’ve missed warm-ups.”
His condescending, big brother attitude kicks into full gear as he asks with a sarcastic chuckle, “Was that really a wise choice with the big return to your home turf tomorrow?”
Probably not. “I’m more than ready.” At least I should be. Only, I wish Avery was going with me. “I really should get going though.” Once I’m in the bedroom, I hear quiet bickering between them.
Bodie didn’t seem to have any issue with me before, but I really hope it’s only his protective-friend instinct flaring up and that he’ll simmer down once Avery sets him straight. Because if he’s feeling some kind of way, a lifelong friendship will be hard to compete with if he decides to make a move.
The room goes silent when I step back in. But I still see the look she’s giving him, a nonverbalChill out, reminding me of siblings who have a language all their own. That both makes me happy for the two of them, and jealous once again at the connection I’ll never have a chance of competing with. With my jeans on, I grab my T-shirt from the living room floor before moving to her. For a second, I fear she’ll pull away, but she doesn’t, instead wrapping her arms around my neck as she kisses me back. Bodie and Avery might have a brother-sister language, but there’s no way they have the gut-level passion between them that her and I do, reiterated by the way her hands move to my chest, her fingers gripping my T-shirt like she can’t hold on tight enough. And I know that feeling.
A loud, obvious throat clearing sounds. And while I want him to know she’s mine and I intend on sticking around, I don’t want to damage the friendship I hope I can have with her best friend. He’s important to her. So, he’s important to me. As I shift away, her grip tightens, her lips lingering for a few more seconds before she releases me. Yep. We’re more than okay.
“Here.” She passes me a travel mug. “So you don’t fall asleep at the field. It really puts some people’s jock straps in a twist when that happens.”
Shit. Her gorgeous smile reaches her eyes and takes ahold of any remaining sliver within me that wasn’t already hers. All I can do in response is place another quick kiss on her smiling lips.
I hold up the pink cup, donning yellow and blue llamas as I hear Bodie snicker. “Oh, it’s serious now. That’s her favorite one. She won’t let me take it without a lecture to not lose it.”
“Yep, ’cause you lose everything or forget to bring it back.” She gives him an annoyed look before turning to me. “It is my favorite though.”
