“Gid, I’m trying to be patient here, man, but I want the details.”
I ran my hand over my face and collected my thoughts. We were co-coaches who hooked up. Maybe friends. I was unsure about that, but we had each other’s backs and that was enough for me. “Sorry. Want a beer?”
“Nah, I’m good. I need to drive back soon anyway.”
“We don’t have a game tonight. We don’t play until after the holidays.”
“I know. I want to enjoy my free night,” she replied and rolled her eyes. She hoisted herself up onto my island counter and continued to stare at me. “What’s wrong? You have that haunted, I’m-becoming-an-asshole look right now. It either means you’re horny or pissed. What is it?”
I laughed. I didn’t want to, but her candor amused me. Her expression warmed and I moved to stand between her legs. “I’m always horny when you’re around.”
“You’re insatiable.” She giggled when I ran my hand up and down her leg. “But get to talking. I want to hear all about it.”
“Want to sit outside or in the bean bag room?”
“Need you ask? Bean bags, please.” She jumped off the counter and led the way into the basement. I watched her ass the entire time and didn’t feel the pinch in my knee once on the way down.Hell, yeah.“If I ever need extra money, I’m selling pictures of this man-child room to the tabloids. I’m giving you a heads-up to prepare for the backlash.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” I threatened, but without real force. Her teasing meant she cared and I’d grown to love her little quips. “If you’re going to sell anything, I can pose nude for you. That’ll get you at least a couple of grand.”
“You’re right, maybe some calendars. Holy shit! Yes. Can we make a sex calendar of you and get profits for the charity?” Her voice rose two octaves too high and she clapped her hands like a fool. Her joy was contagious, and I smiled too.
“Hm. I’m going to say a hard no, but I’ll pose for you anytime.”
“You know, I think you’re the first person I’ve met who has my libido. Honestly, the most productive thing I’ve done today was fantasize about you being naked.” She smiled and I felt it in my chest.Huh.“Well, besides hang out with your niece. That was fun, but enough sexy-talk. Tell me everything.”
She plopped onto her stomach and grabbed a pillow to support her head. She glanced up at me, patting the spot next to her, and another emotion went through me.Longing.I longed to be with her. “Come on, big guy. Get comfortable.”
Clearing my throat, I joined her and lay on my side to face her. “Okay. Vic is Quinn’s father who abandoned her after six months. He came sniffing around wanting to get custody, after years without paying child support. It was settled today and he gets no time without Cheryl’s permission and paying all the support he owes.”
“Good lord, that’s great news.” She closed her eyes with a slight tremble to her lip. “I’m happy for Quinn and Cheryl, but did he express any interest in seeing Quinn?”
“No,” I replied and my tone darkened. “That’s what pisses me off. That piece of shit doesn’t care about his daughter. We had a feeling he wanted to get a paycheck or blackmail from me. He kept looking at me in the meeting and it creeped me the hell out. He’s not getting shit from us, ever.”
“Fuck that. God.” She paused and clenched her hands into fists. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. But I’m so glad Cheryl and Quinn have you. You’re a good man.”
“Thank you.” I stared at her mouth. It still shook a little. “Are you okay?”
“I can’t forgive someone who leaves a family behind. It’s the worst thing a parent can do. I get this rage-fueled emotion inside my chest when I think about it, but also an innate sadness that is bone deep. My dad left us, but I was old enough to remember time with him. He, uh, has a new family now. I think I told you that after that shit-storm of a night.”
“Have you talked to him?”
“I tried. I called him a bunch afterward, but he never returned my calls and they became less frequent. My mom would scream at us when we tried contacting him, and that’s not the worst part.” She hesitated and I took her hand. Her sad gaze met mine for a second and I wanted to turn every one of her bad memories into good ones. I would’ve agreed to anything to help her. “My mom knew he had a new family, wife, house, daughters and she didn’t want Amanda, Bea or me to know. But I went behind her back and found out when I was fourteen.”
Jesus.“Does your mom know you found out?”
“Yeah, but we’ve never talked about it. Amanda…probably. But I’m not sure. Bea knows too, but he’s just a topic we shove under the rug. It’s so fucked-up.” She wiped her eyes and I forgot about our rules. I just wanted to take her sadness and fill it with joy. I pulled her to me, enclosing her body with mine.
“He missed out. He missed out on everything, Fiona. That’s on him, not you. He doesn’t get to see the amazing, beautiful, talented and ass-kicking woman you are.” She blinked up at me, tears welling in her eyes again, and I kissed her.
Her lips were softer than normal. I slowly brought my tongue to hers, taking my time to speak without words. She opened her mouth, arching her neck so I could deepen it. We started out slow, an agonizing dance of give and take, and that shook me to my core in every way. She let her emotions come into the kiss, not holding anything back. She was sad, and I did my best to change that. I cupped her face, dragging my lips across her jaw, up to her ear and back to her mouth. “His fucking loss, Fiona. You’re helping change the world.”
The smallest, almost inaudible whimper left her and it broke my heart. I rolled her on top of me and slid my hands down her sides. God, I wanted all of her. Her joys and pain. But she stopped. She sat up, wiping the back of her hand on her mouth.
“I’m on my period so I should go soon.”
I froze.Wait, what?“Uh, I don’t care if you’re on your period.”
“You’re into that sort of thing?” She scrunched her nose and gave me a weird look. There was no more tenderness in her gaze. No more sadness or vulnerability. The fiery glint that I loved on the field was in her eyes, but why was I a game to her? I shook my head, becoming more annoyed at her direction of her conversation.
