I switched off my phone and threw it on the bed.
What I was sorry for was always screwing shit up. I gave a humorless snort and lay back on the mattress, inhaling the scent of Sutton’s bodywash and his natural scent.
* * *
The bangingon the door jolted me from my sleep. Wincing, I took in my surroundings.
At some point in the night, I’d stripped down to my boxer briefs and crawled under the sheets. I’d even managed to close the blinds.
What I hadn’t managed to do was get wasted. Nor did I figure things out with Sutton. It wasn’t necessary to glance over his side of the bed. I knew he hadn’t returned.
Once again the door thumped with a knock. I groaned. “Hold up.” Dragging myself out of bed and tugging my jeans up from where I’d discarded them, I yawned. I unlocked and opened the door, surprised to see Eddie standing in the doorway.
“You missed breakfast.”
I groaned and threw him the stink eye. “Seriously?”
“Get your ass showered and meet me in twenty minutes. I’ll scrounge you up some food. It looks like you need something.”
“I have no plans to leave this room today. Unless it’s to get beer or pizza.” I had no issue with feeling sorry for myself. The last thing I wanted to do was see, well, anyone. The gossip mill would have been working overtime. Dealing with that would take energy I didn’t have.
Eddie pursed his lips as he adjusted his stance, stubbornness setting in. It may have been a few years since I’d seen the man, but we’d played on the same court for a couple of years, and I knew that look all too well.
With a sigh, I brushed my hand over my face. “Why are you here, Eddie?” When he folded his arms and quirked a brow at me, I dropped my head. “You just going to stand there and not leave me alone?”
After a beat or two of silence, he leaned against the doorframe. “Just please shower and don’t forget today’s visitors.”
Guilt jolted me. How could I have forgotten today’s activities? Fuck, it was something I’d been looking forward to. Not only because I was going to be on the court, whipping the young guys into shape, but more because the Pride Youth group was visiting for the day.
“Shit, yeah, of course. Give me twenty.”
I took a quick shower, trying to get my head into what was involved in the day ahead. After dressing, I gazed around the room, looking at the unrumpled sheets of Sutton’s side of the bed. My heart pinched. Would he be back for the game? How would that even work?
I picked up my cell with a sigh, not bothering to turn it on. Yesterday, after one long hard look at his message, I’d switched the contraption off. The thought of listening out in case he tried to call or text but not receiving anything had been too much. Self-preservation had kicked in, and I’d shut it down.
Maybe we’d find a way to figure this out, but feeling bruised this morning, I couldn’t even begin to start wrapping my head around how to do that.
Rushing to the canteen, I was relieved when I didn’t hear voices. Since it was well after breakfast, the college players would already be on the court, running drills and doing some last-minute preparation for the group’s arrival. Once inside the canteen, I looked around and saw Marian in the kitchen. She spotted me immediately and grinned.
“Eddie asked me to put this aside for you.” She reached inside the warmer and pulled out a heap of pancakes. Placing it on the tray, she set a dish of cut fruit next to it, along with a small jug of syrup.
“You made pancakes? Are they Coach approved?”
With a conspiring wink, she hushed, “Shh, if you won’t tell, I definitely won’t.”
I leaned across and planted a kiss on her rosy cheek. “You’re the best, Marian. Thank you.”
“You’re a good boy. Go and eat up.”
I chuckled. “It’s been a while since anyone called me a boy.”
Her expression turned tender, kickstarting the emotions I wanted to ignore today. “My own boy has ten years on you, Jayden, which most definitely makes you a boy.”
With a small smile, I took the plate, set it down, then went to the fancy coffee machine. One steaming mug of coffee later, extra creamy, just like I liked my cum shots apparently, I dug into the fluffy pancakes. I sighed, embracing the moment of contentment, not having realized how hungry I was or how much I needed the comfort food.
Noise at the door had me glancing up. My heart stuttered, and I swallowed my mouthful of pancake, grimacing as it clogged my throat, having not chewed enough. I coughed immediately and took a gulp of coffee.
“Chewing is an impressive skill to have. Clearly you take after your mother.”
