“Get that through your thick head,” I growled at my rapidly deflating erection. In the dream, it had felt so right, but as the cum dried on my sheets and the sweat slicked my skin, I wanted nothing more than a shower.
Cian
“O’Malley’s for after game drinks!”The call went up in the locker room as the team buzzed with our fourth victory of the season. San Jose had fought hard, and I had the bruises to prove it, but they came undone in the final period. Laughter echoed around the shower stalls as we released the adrenaline of the game with banter and predictions for the season.
“Are you coming out?” I asked Oscar as he peeled his undershirt away from his body. He let the sopping fabric slap to the ground. I grimaced as I dropped my own on top of it.
“I’ll check what Mia’s doing, but I’m keen. You in?”
“Yeah. I might see if…” I trailed off, wondering if I should finish the thought with so many ears around.
“Do it. Mia’s been asking to meet her.”
“It’s not anything. I just want to be her friend.”
Oscar gave me a look I pointedly ignored as I focused on removing my socks.
“Guys and girls can be friends, you know.”
“Yeah, but if the girl says no and you keep going… Man, there’s a thin line between persistence and stalking.”
“I’m not stalking her!”
Locker room, idiot.
“I’m not stalking her,” I muttered, stripping off my boxers and wrapping a towel around my waist.
“Look, I’m thoroughly enjoying all the angst. I’ve never seen anyone get under your skin like this, but for her sake, will you figure out what you want? And don’t tell me it’s to be friends.”
This conversation was going nowhere and my skin felt tight with dried sweat. Time for a shower. Instead of answering him, I grabbed my shower gel and headed for the first available stall. Being a people person meant that I liked making friends. The fact that I couldn’t let go of the idea of Blair and I getting closer was commentary on what a cool person she was. No ulterior motives here, I just didn’t want her to hate me anymore.
Twenty minutes later, clean and feeling a lot more human, I found her outside the locker room talking in a low voice with Ethan Harrison.
“I just need you to post regularly on your account. I send you the content, but I can’t physically hit post for you. Your fans want to seeyouon their feed. Yes, it seems like it’s going through the motions, but I promise it’ll help.”
Ethan’s head was bent, folding his six foot two frame down so that Blair didn’t draw attention to them. His hands were tucked in his pockets and everything about his posture screamed wanting to be anywhere but here.
Maybe I should have let her keep on him, but seeing as I had several days of posts sitting in my own inbox to go up, I decided to help him out. I was a nice guy like that.
“Hey man.” I slapped him on the shoulder, dividing a smile between them. “You headed to O’Malley’s?”
Ethan straightened and shrugged. The tension slid out of his features and seemed to channel into Blair’s.
“Maybe. I’ll see how I’m feeling.”
“Good. Good.” Blair’s hair was its usual chaos of curls, like a windstorm in fall. But there were dark smudges beneath her chocolate and toffee eyes. The season was tough on us, but sometimes I thought the support staff had it harder. Maybe I should have offered to drive her home and let her sleep, but she didn’t seem to socialize with anyone outside of work.
When she waved, I realized Ethan had taken the opportunity to duck away, but I was still stuck on her.
“So, are you coming?”
She turned back to me with a small crease between her brows.
“To O’Malley’s,” I clarified, stepping a little closer and inhaling the lavender scent that always lingered around her.
“I have a lot to do,” she hedged, glancing down the corridor.
“Come on. Just for a little while. You deserve a break, and I know the guys would love to see you there.” I wanted her there, but I wasn’t sure if that fact would be a help or a reason for her to bail. Blair lifted a hand, her fingers hovering above my chest like she wasn’t sure whether to push me away. A half step closed the distance, and I leaned in toward her ear, my voice dropping to that point in my chest where her hand warmed me.
