“It’s not that bad.”
“I know,” I agreed with a sigh. Obviously no one was aware that Sutton and I weren’t technically engaged. It was the one thing still hanging over us. “Let’s just get through this summer, okay. When we’re back in the real world, we’ll talk then.”
Greg was silent for a beat, and I could just imagine how antsy he was about the whole thing.
“Okay. Have a great time and stay out of trouble, yeah?”
I snorted. “Do you not know me at all?” I teased.
“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of. Speak soon, Jayden.”
“Bye.” I ended the call, ecstatic that the whole Axle bullshit was over and wasn’t a complete bust. Smiling, I headed back to the court to carry on with the drills. It wouldn’t be long till we stopped for lunch and I’d be able to update Sutton.
* * *
After lunch,we headed to our first staff counseling session.
With no idea what to expect but aware that Sutton was unusually quiet, I stayed glued to his side. I talked overtime and nonsense, trying to distract him and ease some tension. When that didn’t work, I didn’t even hesitate to take his hand in mine.
He angled his head, our gazes connecting, the smallest of smiles playing on his lips. Squeezing his hand, I watched as he loosened his tight muscles. Happy I’d reached out to him, I smiled, so relieved we were here together, doing this.
As far as I was concerned, I didn’t need to understand the how or why.
Sutton was mine. That was all I needed to know. That it wasn’t the same for him, that he wasn’t having such an easy time accepting the how or the why wasn’t ideal, but I expected it, truth be told.
Sutton was almost zen in his approach to life and his understanding of himself. The guy prided himself on being open and honest and so real in every avenue he followed. And this all being so new and unexpected, well, that could screw with a guy.
“So, Saturday’s our day off,” I started as we got closer to the room where we were meeting. “You thought about what you want to do?”
“Not sure yet. As long as we’re hanging out, I’m good. It doesn’t matter where we do that.”
A zap of emotion hit me. It did whenever he said such things. I grinned at him. “You know, I never took you for a romantic.”
The look he attempted didn’t quite work. His usual deadpan expression was wrecked by the twinkle in his eyes and the twitching of his lips. “Hanging out and doing literally whatever is romantic?”
I shrugged. “Maybe it’s not beer and Twizzlers, which by the way also works when you want to get down and bereallyromantic,” I said, “but just wanting to spend time with me is.”
“But that’s what we’ve been doing for how many years? Five or six when we’ve actually played for the same team?”
“And the four years at college when I totally made sure I was at the closest school possible.”
His gaze softened, and he paused, Eddie almost running into us.
“Sorry,” Sutton said quickly, tugging me closer to the wall so we were out of the way.
“What is it?” I asked, bemused.
Sutton’s attention swiveled around the hallway. With no idea who or what he was looking for, I glanced around too but didn’t see anyone. Once my focus returned, my breath caught, and I groaned when he slanted his mouth against mine.
The kiss was fast and possessive, full of need and so many unspoken words. When he pulled away, his pupils were blown, and I was panting, my cock hard, and seriously wondering if one of these doors led to a dark room.
Just as I intended to suggest we find out, Eddie called, “When you guys have finished necking, we’re waiting to get started.”
I grinned, my smile smug. “I’m just so hard to resist,” I hollered back, latching on to Sutton’s arm and heading toward the room. The other coaches had been incredible from the moment we joined the ranks. And I was so grateful it had been that way and we’d been surrounded with positive experiences. Of course, that was completely ignoring some of the ridiculousness on social media.
As we stepped into the room, I threw Sutton a wink and sought out Eddie to give him some more shit. “I can’t help it that I’m irresistible. These lips have been known to change lives.”
“I can testify to that,” a smooth voice interrupted.
