So, with a slight tilt of my lips, I assure Ezra. “It’s just one of those nights, dude. I’ll be fine.”
His worry doesn’t ease as he walks over to me, the guys getting lost in their own chatter. “Promise to call me?”
“Don’t steal my spot as the team’s daddy,” I quip with a roll of my eyes, trying to lighten him up.
He doesn’t. I squeeze his shoulder. “I promise to call you if I need you.” Ezra’s shoulders sag with relief at my words. “Now, off you go. Have some fun!”
His eyes light up, and I know he’s going tomention her. “I think I’m gonna skip too. Kaeli decided to bake a frosted cake today,” he reveals and licks his lip, his eyes gleaming with wicked intentions.
I jab his stomach as I shut my eyes dramatically. “Dude, I don’t need that visual!” He only laughs at my misery, and so do I.
When our laughter subsides, I turn around and leave. Swinging the towel over my shoulder, I yell without looking back. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t!”
His voice follows me into the shower stall, “That’s quite literally gonna be difficult, considering your single and celibate ass.”
The fucker!I flip him a middle finger even though he can’t see it.
The second the cold water hits my muscles, a breathy sound escapes my mouth. The tense muscles start to loosen, and it feels too good to focus on anything else but this.
By the time I leave the gym, almost all the guys are gone. Deciding to walk home, I take the sidewalk. I had been lucky to have found an apartment so close to the arena. It’s honestly thanks to my agent, David’s, contact.
I signed with him shortly after being acceptedinto Northern Michigan University on a full scholarship. Since then, he has been guiding me and has yet to lead me astray. His age, experience, and kindness make him more of a father figure to me than my own.
Thinking about my family, my parents, is usually enough to spoil my mood. I think better of it and try to divert my thoughts from them to literally anyone or anything else. Suddenly, someone’s shoulder knocks into mine, and I startle out of my brain and into the real world.
“Sorry,” I mutter under my breath, trying to hide my face with the bill of my cap, hoping to pass by unrecognized.
The man rushes by in a hurry, uncaring about me, thankfully. I swivel around to be on my way whenshesnatches my eyes, and I halt right there in the middle of the sidewalk.
There she is—the woman who’s so fucking far out of my reach—helping an older woman cross the busy streets of Boston.
My lips lift into a smile on their own accord. Andie Moore truly is one of a kind. When the people couldn’t care less about anyone else but themselves, she finds it in her heart to take care of those around her with a smile, even the peopleshe doesn’t know.
The light gust of wind makes the dress she’s wearing flare at her hips, giving a peek to anyone who’s looking at her skin underneath.
My hands fist as I dig my nails into the palm of my hand, reminding myself that she’s not mine, she can never be mine. All she is is my best friend’s sister.
I screw my eyes shut and take a deep breath. When I open them, I see her muttering something to herself and entering the newly opened Italian restaurant.
I wonder why she’s here alone. Is she meeting someone? Should I say hi? What if she doesn’t wanna be disturbed? What if she’s on adate?
The last possibility infuses my blood with something foreign, something I don’t wish to dwell on. I must be out of my mind if I think she’d want to see me when she could be having the night of her life.
Shaking my head, I swing my gym bag over my shoulder and head over to my place. Within the next few minutes, I’m at the main entrance of my high-rise building, wondering if she’s having fun with whoever she met. If he’s funny enough to earn himself those hearty laughs. If she’s goinghome with him tonight.
I despise it.
Loath it.
Hate that I care about what and who she does.
I shouldn’t care about her. Idon’t.
It’s because of Ezra I’m worried about her. Yes. Andie is his baby sister, and I know he wouldn’t want her going home with a weirdo or getting into a situation where she’s uncomfortable. Not that she needs my help or anything.
The doorman frowns at me as I burn the path in front of the building, pacing relentlessly. I give him an assuring smile, which I’m sure looks more like a grimace.
But in this moment, I can’t bring myself to care. All I can think about is her with some guy who doesn’t know her worth. Or some guy who does.