“Nah.” I shook my head. “You know me. I’m more of a lover than a fighter.”
“With the exception of that near miss, you’ve been hot tonight. Whatever you’ve got going, keep it up.”
Smirking, I replied, “Oh, I intend to.”
Now, I just needed to figure out how to get some of that good Gemma juju to work for me while the team was on the road and we couldn’t be together pre-game.
The team-chartered plane to Atlanta was dark. Most guys were trying to catch some sleep in the few hours before we landed, but I was too keyed up after the game—a two-to-zero victory for the Speed.
With my headphones on, music washed over me as I tried to calm down enough that I would be able to crash once we reached the hotel. A body dropping into the seat beside me had my head turning to find Braxton.
I’d been harsh on him this morning, but I wouldn’t apologize for defending Gemma. So, if that’s what he came over here looking for, he would leave disappointed.
Sighing, I tugged my headphones off until they rested around my neck. “What’s up?”
Braxton shifted in his seat, clearly uncomfortable, and I braced for yet another round of disapproval over my choice of a life partner.
“Spit it out, Slate.” Using his last name let him know exactly where we stood.
My teammate blew out a heavy breath. “I was out of line earlier.”
A scoff sounded from deep in my throat. “You can say that again.”
“Seriously, Goose. I shouldn’t have made comments about your girl.”
“You don’t even know her. You judged her off a moment of passion strangers decided to exploit for laughs on the internet.”
“You’re right, and I’m sorry.”
I nodded a silent acknowledgment of his apology.
“Does she make you happy?” Braxton searched my eyes.
“Yeah, man. She’s it for me.”
Surprised eyebrows shot up high on his forehead. “Really? You think so already?”
“Seriously? You just apologized.”
He nudged my shoulder from the seat beside me. “Relax. It’s not a dig at Gemma. I’ve known you for a while, and I can tell it’s wearing on you to be the odd man out with all the couples. Plus, you were talking about findingthe onewhen you had us all over to your place a few months ago. I’m only making sure you aren’t trying to force something because you’re lonely. That’s all.”
“I know you think I’m crazy for falling for a woman who lost her shit on me the first time we met, but—”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Braxton held up his hands. “Did you say you’re falling for her?”
“No.”
He sagged back in his seat with a relieved sigh.
“I’ve already fallen. Hard.”
Whipping his head to the side, Braxton’s mouth dropped open.
“Come on, Braxton. At what point did you know Dakota was it for you?”
His features relaxed into a dreamy smile at the mention of his wife. “The night I met her,” he confessed, chuckling. “She had this spark, and I was drawn to it.”
“Then you should understand.”
