“Where doyou want the bed frame?” Maddox asks, Finley’s twin-sized headboard hoisted over one shoulder as he steps into the entryway. After four solid hours of sleep, I woke up, made breakfast, and called the guys to help us get her belongings from her old apartment. Imagine her roommates’ surprise when my three teammates and I showed up, ready to load our trucks and get Finley out of there for good. They were well within their rights by asking her to leave, but it doesn’t mean we aren’t judging them for it. The same thing goes for Club Tilt.
To be fair, they didn’t know she was pregnant when they initially made the decision to fire her. But to let her go after she made them aware—and told them that her symptoms were subsiding—was a shitty move in my opinion, and I definitely won’t be returning to their establishment. I’d rather drink at home anyway, since that’s where my favorite bottle service girl is.
“Just set it down there,” I reply, knowing that she’llprobably want to continue using the bed in the guest room. It’s much bigger, which is great because Boner has been like a shadow since she got here, not letting her take a single step without following. I’m guessing I lost my sleeping buddy, but I can’t say I blame the guy. I’d rather sleep with Finley than in my bed, too.
I laugh quietly at my own thoughts just as Emmett and his wife Stella enter the house, arms full of boxes. I’m glad she was able to make it, along with Maddox’s girlfriend, Livvy, and Jett’s fiancée, Bailey, because I think they’d bring some positivity into Fin’s world. The girl has been strong on her own for so long. It’ll be nice for her to have some friends to lean on—ones that won’t turn their backs on her when life throws an unexpected curveball.
I was raised in a family where we stuck together through all the ups and downs, but I have a feeling she’s never felt that. It killed me when she said she’s been taking care of herself for as long as she can remember. Not because I don’t think she’s capable of doing so, but because sheshouldn’t have to. Everyone deserves love without conditions, and I have a feeling the Renegades and their girls will help me give that to her.
“You guys can set that stuff in the guest room,” I say, pointing to the stairs. Finley and Livvy are up there already, unpacking her suitcases into the dressers and closet. I have no doubt that my dog is up there supervising, considering there’s only one person in this world who can make him obey with so much commotion going on downstairs.
Jett walks in from the porch empty-handed, closing the front door behind him. “Bailey had to go rescue Sydney,” he says of our team owner’s daughter, and Livvy’s sister. “She ran out of gas on her way here. She didn’t want to wait for Triple-A, so Bay is picking her up.”
I huff a laugh. “Classic Syd. Never a dull moment.” She can’t be more than five feet tall, but she’s a spitfire, for sure. Last season, I watched her square up to one of the opposing team’s defensive linemen because he talked shit about Maddox. Not gonna lie…the girl is fucking scary.
“How are you doing?” he asks quietly, lifting his eyes toward the second floor. “Last time I saw you around Finley, you couldn’t string three words together. Now she’s moving into your house. That’s a pretty big jump.”
I fill my cheeks with air, letting it out slowly as my brows shoot up. “It’s crazy, right? As soon as she told me about the baby, and how Moss wasn’t stepping up, everything changed. I know she isn’t looking for anything more than a place to stay while she figures shit out, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t hope she’d eventually open up to the possibility of staying longer.”
He waggles his brows. “You meanforever.I know your crush didn’t fly out the window when she walked into the house. You still want to touch her butt, don’t you?”
I roll my eyes. “Her butt, Kingsley? Are you five? Grow up.” I try to be serious as I scold him, but I onlylast a few seconds before a cocky grin breaks free. “Fuck yeah, I do.”
He chuckles quietly just as the door swings open and our newly retired quarterback, Austin, steps inside. Several boxes of takeout are stacked on top of one another in his hands, so high that he can barely see over them. “Dinner’s here!” he yells as though he owns the place. Jett and I jump in immediately, unloading his arms and bringing everything to the kitchen.
“Damn, Cap. Did you order from every place in Cleveland?” I joke, refusing to let go of his nickname, despite the fact that he no longer plays for the Renegades. The impact he made on our team in the months before his career-ending injury is still felt today, as I’m sure it will be for years to come.
“It’s these women,” he replies. “Why is it like pulling teeth to get a straight answer when you ask what they want to eat? Livvy, Syd, and Bailey all said they didn’t care, but when I made a suggestion, they hated it. And Stella had me running around the city for different flavored Oreos.” He turns to Emmett, lifting a dubious brow. “Why aren’tyougetting your wife’s cookies? I swear she does this shit as payback for me meddling in your relationship.”
“Oh, trust me,” Emmett tosses back with a wink. “I get hercookies. Every night.”
“That’s fucked up,” Austin deadpans, making me laugh. The three of them have quite an interesting dynamic. Stella and Emmett were married right out of high school, then divorced only a handful of months later. But when she came to Cleveland as a privatenurse, ending up with the injured quarterback as a patient, it was only a matter of time before they came face-to-face again. Austin was pretty quick to catch on, and the chaos that ensued ended in the couple’s second set of vows. The Hayeses have one hell of a love story. They deserve every ounce of happiness they’ve been given.
“Oh my God, I’m starving,” Livvy says as she and Maddox enter the kitchen. Stella follows closely behind, swiping a package of Oreos from one of the grocery bags and thanking Austin before tearing into it like a feral raccoon. Moments later, Bailey and Sydney appear, and I notice that there’s only one person missing from the group.
I leave my friends to eat, heading up the stairs toward the guest room. I expect to find Finley knees-deep in stuff that needs to be put away, but that’s the exact opposite of what I see when I get there. As soon as I approach the open door, I freeze, all the breath sucked from my lungs at what’s in front of me. Instead of a mess, everything is tidy, hints of pink and purple—which seem to be her favorite colors—giving life to the previously drab space. The scent of her soft perfume lingers in the air as my eyes lock onto the most beautiful sight. Finley and Boner lie cuddled up on top of the plush duvet, her arm thrown over him haphazardly as they both sleep peacefully. I stand there quietly, taking the opportunity to catalog her soft features, unable to tear my gaze away. Those pink pouty lips. The delicate slope of her nose. The smattering of freckles that decorates her flawless skin. She’s fuckingperfection—so stunning that it causes my chest to ache, even when she isn’t trying.
How could anyone not want the two of them?
As though she can sense my stare, she pulls in a deep breath, her green eyes fluttering open. A sheepish smile blooms across her face when she notices me. “Sorry. I should’ve known I wouldn’t be able to lie down without falling asleep. I hate being so tired all the time.”
I huff a quiet laugh, walking toward her and taking a seat at the end of the bed. It seems oddly intimate, but I can’t ignore the pull I feel whenever she’s around. I just want to be close to her—to provide her with a sense of security and comfort—on whatever level she’ll allow.
“Fatigue is normal during pregnancy,” I reassure her. “Your body is doing the most incredible things right now, working so hard to give your baby everything they need. On top of that, it’s been a long day, and you’ve barely taken a second to rest. Give yourself some credit for all the shit you’ve done this week. You’re a badass, Finley Bolton.”
She tucks her chin, cheeks pinkening at the praise. “Thank you, Theo…for everything. I can’t tell you how much lighter I feel already, not having to tiptoe around people who don’t want me there. I promise, I’ll get a plan together, and I’ll be out of here before you have a chance to get sick of me.”
I roll my eyes playfully. “That’ll never happen, Mama. Stay as long as you want. We like having you here.” Reaching out, I smooth my hand over Boner’s soft fur, chuckling at the tiny snores that come from hiswet nose. He’s a completely different dog since she arrived. He barely left her side all day, even with all the people going in and out as we unloaded Finley’s belongings. He’s calmer, happier, and more well-behaved…all because of her.
“You hungry?” I ask, focusing my attention back on her. “Austin brought food from every restaurant in Cuyahoga County. I can make you a plate, so you can keep resting.”
“No, I want to eat with everyone,” she says, sitting up. Her shirt clings to her belly, and I notice the swell of her small bump through the fabric. My cock twitches in my pants at the sight, but I do my best to ignore it becausewhat the fuck, Theo?
She’s not my girl, and that’s not my baby, but goddamn if I don’t feel an overwhelming sense of possession when I see her like this. I know I shouldn’t even be thinking it, but the urge to touch her—toclaim her—is a million times stronger than it was before she was pregnant. I need to rein that shit in, though. I want her to feel at home here, not like she’s living with a creep who wants to show her how a real man could make her legs shake.
Locking my filthy thoughts away, I stand, extending a hand in her direction. She takes it, allowing me to pull her up, and to my utter fucking shock, doesn’t let go of the connection after she’s steady on her feet. Instead, she weaves her fingers through mine, causing a trail of warmth to start where we’re joined and bloom out until I feel like I’m wrapped in the world’s thickest blanket. If she feels it too, she doesn’t let on, leading me from theroom as though we’ve held hands a million times. But it’s all I can focus on, nearly tripping over Boner as he takes his place at Fin’s side.
It isn’t until we rejoin everyone in the kitchen that she finally lets go of me, acting like she didn’t just rock my entire world with the simplest gesture. I know it doesn’t mean anything—that handholding isn’t some gateway drug to dating and sex—but I’d be lying if I said I won’t be living off the way it felt for a long fucking time.
