I raised both brows at him. “Make that after high school, if she has her way.”
“Just speak to Emily. She'll make it happen. Plus, you know I miss Lottie like crazy over the summer.” He shrugged, a look appearing on his face that I knew all too well. “That or you can ask Wank—” I quirked my brow, clamping down on my bottom lip to keep from laughing. I shouldn't encourage his dislike of Wayne, but he got such pleasure from it. “—WonderfulWayne to look after her. I'm sure he'd jump at the chance.”
I flipped him off. “Fuck off.”
I didn't need to elaborate; it would only encourage him further. And after yesterday’s conversation, something I wouldn’t be sharing with Pearce, I didn’t expect Wayne to be in the picture for much longer.
It was time. Not only because of the shit he pulled last night, but Lottie wasn't a huge fan of him.
I'd let all that slide because I knew we wouldn't be lasting the distance. We didn't chat about the future, and then there was the whole open-relationship thing. Something Pearce had scoffed at.
I thought Pearce would have loved the concept, a young, hot guy like him. I'd been wrong. “Fuck sharing” had been his exact words. “If a guy is lucky enough to call you his, the last thing he should need is anyone else. Your love would always be enough.” His words had been so earnest, I'd struggled to catch my breath. When he'd finished up with “Hell, your love would be everything,” I'd fought hard to remind myself how hooking up with a guy in his twenties and trying to make it work was a fool's task.
Pearce was incredible, but he was too young to be trapped. That on top of being with a guy my age with a kid whose age gap to him was almost the same as the gap between us… nope. All I saw in that future was heartache. For me and for Lottie.
I sighed, shoving away the what-ifs and thinking about Wayne. “Okay, I'll chat to Emily and see if it's possible.”
His smirk turned self-satisfied, and he snuggled deeper into the soft cushions. “I'll make sure I tell Lottie it's my idea.”
Warmth battled it out with amusement in my chest when I realized his breathing slowed. Rather than waking him, I went to the master bedroom and collected a blanket. The overlarge couch wouldn't be too cramped, and unsurprisingly, Pearce falling asleep when he was in my space wasn’t that uncommon.
Back at his side, I picked up his cell resting on the couch, turned it to silent, and placed it on the lamp table. I carefully wrapped the blanket around him, taking a sneaky glance at just how peaceful he looked.
He’d played his ass off tonight. A pang of guilt jolted my chest, knowing he should have gone out and celebrated with his teammates. I was a greedy bastard, holding on to our friendship the way I did. Hell, I coveted it.
No matter how many times I tried to convince myself that after I'd turned him down, his promise of us being just friends was honest, I knew it wasn't.
I shook my head, disappointed in myself that I couldn't let him go. While I'd never offered him anything beyond friendship, I didn't discourage how much time we spent together. Nor did I push him to go out and take advantage of his youth as hard as I knew I should.
Just what an asshole I was sat heavily in my gut. Looking at him now, all relaxed and comfortable, I couldn't find it in me to challenge myself too hard.
The truth was, my half-assed relationship with Wayne had been the only thing holding me back recently. But the more time passed, the more difficult it was to remember why holding back was such a good idea.
* * *
Pearce was stillout for the count when I woke. A soft snore drifted from the couch as I organized coffee. I understood that level of exhaustion after a game.
It wasn't until Lottie headed into the kitchen, asking, “Do we really have to head home today?” that his snoring stopped, and he shifted.
At the movement, I struggled to pull my gaze away. When he sat up, shirtless and hair mussed, I was so glad I was unsuccessful. Was I gawking at the guy? Absolutely. Was I grateful that at some point in the night he must have undressed a little? Heck yes. I figured I had to get my Pearce fix whenever possible.
“Dad.”
My attention snapped to my daughter, the arched eyebrow and her intent stare making it clear she noticed my focus was not where it should be. I swore Lottie seriously was ten going on twenty. She was so much sassier than I remembered being at her age.
“Yes.” I smiled, even knowing my answer wouldn't make her happy. “We're not changing our flights.”
“But I want to hang out with Pearce.”
Me too, kiddo.
Instead of saying what was on my mind, I shrugged. “That's not going to happen.”
“And my tummy hurts.”
I frowned and angled my head, raking my gaze over my girl. She did look a little tired, but she’d had a late night. “Since when?”
She shrugged. “A little while ago.”
