“Absolutely.”
Emma laughed. “Well, tell her you need to apologize to Tyler and the team.”
Sean scoffed. “Already on it.”
Of course she was. “Goodnight, Sean.”
“Goodnight, Ems.”
Emma hit the button on the side of her phone and slipped it into the back pocket of her wide-leg jeans. She turned to see Tyler watching her through swollen eyes. Her cheeks flushed as she flashed back over the words she’d said to Sean, completely forgetting that Tyler—though injured—was still awake and lying on the couch behind her.
Tyler was the first to speak. “Maybe you should’ve chosen someone else to make your point. Would’ve gone over better.”
Emma sat down on the end of the coffee table. “If only Fly would’ve dropped his driver’s licence.”
Tyler chuckled then put a hand over his stomach. “Don’t make me laugh.”
Emma winced. “How bad is it?”
Tyler flicked up his shirt, and Emma cursed under her breath. Her eyes traced the lines of his muscles, interrupted by bruises blooming like storm clouds across his skin.
Tyler dropped the fabric and replaced the ice pack over his eyes. “Emma, what Sean said—”
“You heard that?”
“Sean’s voice carries.”
Emma pursed her lips. That it did. When she was a kid and he got up on Saturdays for early hockey practice, his was the voice that always woke her up. Not Carter’s, even though he was older. It might’ve also had something to do with the fact that Sean couldn’t keep track of his skates.
“You don’t need to explain anything to me, okay? I’m not going to judge you for being a beautiful man whore.”Did she just tell him he was beautiful?
Tyler laughed again, wheezing as he tried to keep his muscles from contracting. “Don’t make me laugh.”
“It’s hard. I happen to be hilarious.” Emma stood and surveyed the room. “Can I do anything else? Do you need a knee pillow or something?”
Tyler peered at her from over the paper towels. “A knee pillow?”
“Yeah, you know those things they put under your knees when you get a massage. It’s—” She exhaled when she saw Tyler’s grin. “Never mind. No knee pillows.” Emma turned and pulled her puffy coat from the back of a chair, then slung her purse over her shoulder. She reached the door and froze.
She’d driven Tyler’s truck here, which meant she had no way home. She could call a rideshare.
“Take the truck,” Tyler mumbled. “I’m not going anywhere tomorrow anyway.”
“But what if you need it?” Her heart pumped faster. She didn’t want to take his truck, andshe wanted to take his truck. It felt the same as accidentally leaving a sweater in a guy’s apartment.
Emma didn’t know how she felt about that. Her body knew how it felt, and that was the problem. Sean, even if hewasbeing an ass, was correct about one thing. She did light up around guys like Tyler. Then again, most women did, so at least she wasn’t alone in her idiocy. Somehow that thought wasn’t any more comforting.
She needed to rise above her lizard brain shouting,Did you see those biceps? He’s big and strong! He’ll protect you and fertilize your eggs!and check this off the list. Pretend to date Tyler Bowen and enjoy one of the most heart-stopping kisses of her life? Check.
But . . . she did owe him. He was sporting black eyes, a swollen, bloody nose, and watercolour abs because of her. If she took the truck, she could fill it up with gas, wash and sanitize his gear, and drop it off in the morning. She wouldn’t even have to see his face.
Emma picked the keys up from the table. “I’ll bring it back first thing.”
ChapterNine
Tyler awoke with a start.His body was sinking into something, and when he tried to push himself out, sharp pain exploded through his midsection.Right.He was on the couch.
The muffled echo of last night's events reverberated through his mind, compounded by the dull throbbing in his face. He opened his eyes, relieved to have his full range of vision. Most of the swelling must have gone down overnight with the help of the meds Emma had given him.
