I laughed, too, relieved at the break in tension. “Love it. Like the only way someone can be traded is if he and the other player are in total agreement and want to be traded.”
“Exactly! We can all if the North American Because-Fuck-You-That’s-Why League.”
“Hmm, might have to workshop that one a little. Bit of a mouthful.”
He huffed and rolled his eyes. “It’s a great idea, damn it.”
“It is! But, you know, maybe tweak it so it rolls off the tongue better?”
The answer to that was a middle finger, and I laughed.
Right then, I glanced at the clock on the nightstand, and my heart sank. “Fuck. It’s late. I should get some sleep.”
Was that disappointment on his face, too?
“Yeah, I should probably sleep myself.” He ran a hand through his hair. “It’s almost two and I’ve got therapy first thing in the morning.”
“They make you show up in the morning?” I stuck out my tongue. “That’s justmean.”
I would seriously do or say anything to make this man laugh like that.
“It’s my choice, honestly,” he said, still smiling. “Get it all out of the way, and then I have the rest of the day to do whatever.”
“Okay, that’s fair.” I sighed. “Well, I might not have time to chat tomorrow night; we’re flying out right after the game, and then I have to try to sleep.”
“Ooh, that’s right—you guys have a back-to-back, don’t you?”
“Ugh. Yes.” I rolled my eyes. “Fucking hate back-to-backs on the road, but it’s not like they consult me about the schedule.”
“Those bastards.”
“I know, right?”
He chuckled. “Okay, I’ll let you go.” Turning a little bit serious, but still smiling, he said, “Thanks for chatting. It’s, um… It’s been really good.”
“It has for me, too. So… thanks for that.”
We locked eyes.
The moment threatened to get unbearably awkward, so we quickly wrapped it up and ended the call.
And just like I had the other times we’d talked on this trip, I lay there and stared at the ceiling for a few minutes, trying to figure out what all I was feeling after talking to him.
I was no closer to making any sense of it than I’d been before. If anything, I was even more homesick than I was the first time we’d FaceTimed.
We still had two games to play on this trip. Three nights to sleep in hotels while I drove myself insane wanting to be back in Pittsburgh.
Wanting to be back in the same space as Avery.
Seriously. Is it time to go home yet?
CHAPTER 31
AVERY
Peyton
Just landed. Care for company?
