“I’m sorry,” I murmur, setting her gently on the couch before cupping her face. Running my thumb gently over her cheek, I make sure she’s looking at me as I say, “I won’t ever give you a reason to doubt me like that again, Kins. I’m so fucking sorry.”
“You said fuck,” she says with a small smile.
“You taught me well.”
She snorts and then winces, her arms wrapping around her middle before grabbing the heating pad and sagging against the couch.
“My reactionmayhave been a little over-the-top and hormone related,” she admits a little sheepishly. It’s adorable, but I shake my head.
“You were right. I was a dick and apparently acted every bit of my twenty-four years.”
“I know it’s hard to see it from where you are,” she says, “but what I do—what I’mdoinghelps. It gets girls excited about sports, seeing that they can do it too. We visit high schools and do clinics with their teams. Our fanbase has exploded and people are excited about the game.Reallyexcited. I have to believe I’m making a difference,”—she waves her hand toward a pile of products she’s probably tested and reviewed—“otherwise none of this matters.”
“You matter,” I say firmly, “and you’re absolutely making a difference.” Leaning forward, I kiss her forehead. “Ice cream, tacos, candy, popcorn, chips, or cookies?”
“Yes.” She grins as I sit back and meet her gaze. “But tacos first.”
I hand her the container and tuck the ice cream into the freezer before holding out my phone. “Look.”
She takes it, hesitantly scrolling before looking up at me. “What am I looking at?”
“It’s an update on every fundraising event you’ve attended in the last year. I requested media updates, boosted visibility, and shared the links anonymously to a couple of groups that like making charitable donations.”
“You what?”
“I’m not just a pretty face, you know.” When she stares at me, I sober, wetting my lips as I say, “These things are important to you, and you’re not a flowers and candy kind of girl, Kins. I wanted to make sure the things you’re passionate about are still being seen. I was listening and I heard you.”
“You…” She looks down at the screen again, scrolling slower as she brushes a few tears from her cheek. “Jesus, Roy, how will you top this the next time you screw up?”
I laugh, leaning in and waiting for her to meet me halfway. She does, her lips curving up in a sly grin. “I figure streaking through Times Square has potential.”
“Bold,” she muses.
“Worth it.”
And it is, because Kinsley slants her mouth over mine and kisses me until the tacos have gone cold.
15
KINSLEY
“Let’s go to bed,” Royce says after the third time I fail to hide my yawn.
“This,”—I gesture down my body—“is closed, and as sweet as you’ve been, I’m not putting out.”
“You’re obnoxious sometimes. You know that, right?” he grumbles as he lifts me off the couch and carries me to my room.
“It’s part of my charm.”
“Not right now, it isn’t.”
“And look at you, carrying me twice in one day. Sure you’re not gonna throw your back out?”
“Seriously, you need to quit it, Coach.” He chuckles as he sets me down gently on the mattress.
“That was me giving you a compliment. Have you been lifting weights without me?”
“Not a chance.” He pulls the blanket and sheets down then motions for me to get in. “Take your shirt off.”
