His response was gravelly with emotion. “You never have to thank me for that. It’s my privilege, Maia.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
BAIRD
The air felt sticky and heady, the humidity so high the lads and I had all discarded our training shirts within the first five minutes. Sweat lashed off us and we were constantly stopping to hydrate.
Usually there was a comfort in the familiar shouts between my team. The sound of the coaching assistants’ whistles. The laughter and the filthy jokes. The smell of deodorant and sweat and fruity electrolyte sport drinks. When I was younger, it was the smell of grass that made me feel at home. But now the turf was a hybrid mix of natural grass and synthetic for better durability. It didn’t smell like the pitches I grew up on.
The pitch wasn’t the reason I didn’t feel at home here lately.
It was strange being here without John.
A hard smack on my shoulder drew me out of my daze, and I turned to find Callan at my side, so drenched in sweat, he looked like he’d just showered. We all did.
“I miss him too.”
Fuck.
He was a good pal, Callan. Nothing got by him.
“Aye.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “Place doesn’t feel the same.”
“Agreed.”
“He’s doing all right, though. Braden called me this morning about an issue with planning rights. I sent John to go see what’s up. I think he’s surprised by how much he’s getting into it.”
Callan took a swig of his sports drink. Once he swallowed, he nodded. “Good. Maybe he’ll stay.”
“I hope so.”
“Is that the only thing bothering you this morning?”
I avoided my mate’s perceptive gaze. “Just gearing myself up for this afternoon. Got another video shoot for the Pennington’s campaign.”
“You don’t sound excited.”
“Oh, aye, it’s my life’s dream.”
Callan snorted. “I don’t think any of us expected this thing to take off like it did.”
Certainly not me. I mean, I thought it might grow some legs, but it had grown arms and legs and extra heads. The kiss I’d shared with Maia in the club last week had gone viral after people posted it online. Pennington’s were salivating over how invested people seemed to be in our romance already.
The kiss was fucking hot. I was more than a wee bit proud of it. And I might have been smug and elated about how into that kiss Maia was, if she was still talking to me.
Okay, it wasn’t like shewasn’ttalking to me.
But ever since she’d had a panic attack at the club and I’d taken her home and looked after her until she fell asleep, Maia had been distant. She’d erected a wall between us.
I glanced at Callan, considering asking him for advice. Then I reconsidered on the basis I didn’t want to come off as being a cling-on fiancé. Not that Callan would … well, we took the piss out of each other all the time, but we knew when to be serious and there for each other too.
My mate side-eyed me. “You want to ask me something?”
Grimacing, I hesitated.
“Is it a relationship thing?”
I nodded.
