“I can think of a few ways to have fun,” I said, wiggling my eyebrows because seeing him happy like this? Wanting to take care of me? It was too much. Keeping things physical was easier, but he shook his head. “Are you turning me down?”
“Absolutely not.” He sucked in a breath, and his gaze heated for a second. “But I think we both know that’s not what you need right now. Later, abso-fucking-lutely.”
Irritated that he was knocking down my lame attempt at protecting my heart, I fired back, “Oh, and what do you think I need right now?”
“To start, food.” He moved his hand to my stomach and patted it. “Then, we’re going to hang out. Do crazy shit.”
“Crazy shit?”
“Yup. Now go putmoreclothes on and be ready in ten minutes. Wear tennis shoes.” He spun me around, patted my ass, and nudged me in the direction of my room. Despite all of the lines we were crossing, I really liked this side of Jonah. The version that was taking care of me.
* * *
“We’re… at the gym?”
“Yes.”
“Why?” I looked over my shoulder. “No one is chasing me with a knife, so I’m not running.”
Jonah’s lips curved into a dangerous smile, one that had butterflies exploding in my lower belly because it was a look just for me. He didn’t flash that grin at anyone else. “You showed me what you do when you’re upset, so I’m showing you what I do.”
“You’re going to work out while I watch you?” I raised my brows. “I’m not opposed to that. Will you be shirtless?”
He ran a hand through his hair and looked sheepish, which was adorable, but he shook his head. “We’re going to play racquetball.”
He could’ve told me he practiced magic down by the river and could read tarot cards and that would’ve made more sense. “I don’t…do athletic things.”
“That’s fine. I don’t binge watch TV shows.” Challenge flared in his eyes. “Trust me.”
Well, when he said it like that, I nodded. “Okay, boss.”
He led us to a front desk where we had to show our student IDs, and he asked for a ball and two rackets to rent. The guy behind the counter stared at him with stars in his eyes before pointing down a hallway to the right. “Room three is open.”
“Thanks, man.”
“Good luck this season, J.D.,” the guy said, blushing and fumbling with the pen in his hand.
“Appreciate it,” my roommate said, the tips of his ears bright red as he put a hand on the small of my back and guided us away. His warm touch almost burned through my thin T-shirt. We rarely touched in public, and this felt downright scandalous. Michael was at the gym a lot.
So were the twins.
So was the team.
Yet… I couldn’t bring myself to swat his hand away. The comfort of his touch helped the sadness plaguing me today. The hallway had doors on either side with windows that led into rooms with fake wooden walls. Squeaks of someone’s shoes on the floor echoed from another room, followed by grunts and a loud whack.
“We’re going to be making those noises?” I asked, eyeing the room as he opened the door and handed me a racket. “I trust you, Jonah, I do, but I’m wary of your methods today.”
His answering grin was evil. He gripped the back of his shirt, took it off, and set it to the side with our phones and keys. I snapped my mouth shut to keep myself from drooling and swallowed, hard.
“Ready to play?” he asked.
“Maybe?” I said, my voice way too low and husky. He stretched his arms over his head, and I studied every ripple and tight muscle on his torso. It wasn’t even fair how toned he was. I used to consider myself a forearm girl. I loved strong forearms, but with Jonah… his chest and stomach and broad shoulders all leading down to a narrow waist made me forget my middle name.
“Ry, you’re ogling me.”
“You took your shirt off.”
“This room gets hot, so yeah.” He shrugged, but I didn’t miss his growing smirk. “Let’s warm up, hmm?”
