We clinked our glasses and my throat got tight. “Thanks,” I mumbled, taking a small sip before setting the drink down. He meant well. I understood that. But the harsh reality was that I didn’t know for sure if Iwouldbeat the case.
“Ah, shit.” Gideon narrowed his eyes at the entrance of the bar and we all looked, wincing at the four women who appeared. They wore very little clothing and heels, their gazes locking on us as triumphant smiles stretched across their faces. “Don’t want to deal with chasers today.”
“Or ever,” Bummy said.
Every muscle in my body tensed when the women, clearly focused on our table, walked over with so much sway in their gait that it actually baffled me that they didn’t fall. I tightened my grip around the bottle and scooted farther into the booth, almost touching Tate’s leg.Fuck, I’d sit on his lap if it meant getting out of the situation.
“Hi! We are so sorry to bother you gentlemen, but we were hoping for a picture? We’re huge fans,” the tallest one said. Her fire-red lips were full and pouty, and her dress left little to the imagination. Six months ago, I would’ve let her sit on my lap before taking her to my hotel room. Easily.
But now, not even a chance. Her gaze zeroed in on me as she moved closer to the booth. “Can we take a few with you?”
“We’re trying to enjoy a drink right now,” Gideon said, no warmth to his voice. There was a reason guys feared him, and right now, the women didn’t care. “I think it’s best if you leave.”
One girl made a pouty sound before the tallest, the one inches from me, slid her hand over my neck. “Brigham, we could have fun tonight. I’d make you feel good.”
“No.” My jaw tightened and I tried to crane my neck away from her, but she kept trying. It was so fucking hard not to grab her hand and remove her from me. But I couldn’t risk it. One photo of my touching her would be enough to ruin everything. So I had to sit there, let her touch me while my body recoiled and it fucking sucked. “Get your fucking hands off me.”
Gideon whistled at the bartender, a big beefy man, and he saw the scene and marched over. But in those few seconds, the woman threaded her fingers in my hair and bent down so low her cleavage spilled over and had a nip slip. “Oops,” she said, giggling and adjusting herself. “Hate it when that happens.”
No one said anything.
“Get out. Now. You have thirty seconds before I call security.”
They hustled out and I pinched my nose, anger and revulsion creating a shit mood. “I’m heading up.”
“Brigs,” Gideon said, frowning. “Sorry, man.”
“It’s fine. Part of what we do.” I pushed out of the booth and bee-lined it to my room.Shower.I wanted to wash the woman’s touch off me and try to forget it. But it was hard. It rattled me. After the arrest, the fact that all the people I was with were all using me in some way made every interaction with strangers nerve-wracking. The scalding hot water helped ease some of the tension, but it wasn’t until I crawled into the bed and Facetimed Sarah that I could relax.
“Hey, you,” she said in her sing-song voice. “How was the match?”
“Game.” I snorted. “The game was good.”
“Game, match, competition. All the same.” She stuck her tongue out at me and rolled over to her side in bed. “You all right?”
“I don’t know.” I sighed and tried to find the right way to say what I felt. “I played great. When I’m on the field, I’m fine. It’s just off it I feel unbalanced.”
“How so?”
Something told me not to tell her about the women. It wasn’t that I felt guilty, because I didn’t. I hadn’t done anything wrong. But fans would always be a part of the game and it would stress her out. “People’s expectations of me. Since the arrest, I’ve realized how few people I trust. It’s sad.”
Her eyes softened and I wished more than anything that she could be there, in the hotel, with me. “Why don’t you focus on those who you do trust? Your teammates. Those guys seem great. Their wives. Your family. Me. You can trust Megan and Ethan, too. They are loyal as hell, so once you’re in our circle, you’re in forever.”
Fuck.I wanted that. I wanted that forever. Their friendship and loyalty and zero interest in my paycheck or what I did. My chest started feeling funny again and I scratched it, knowing it was time to tell her how I felt, the second I got home. I shook my head. “Sarah.”
“Brigham.”
“I miss you.”
“I do too.” She blushed and opened her mouth for a second, before closing it. “It’s stupid, huh? You’ve only been gone four nights but I still look for you every time I’m in the hallway, or every time I take the dogs out.”
“Not stupid.” I almost told her. It was right there, theLword. “Would you ever…consider traveling with me?”
“Like, to Paris or something?”
God, she was the fucking cutest. “I would take you to Paris in a heartbeat. I meant, during the season.”
Shit, nerves fluttered in my belly. It was like asking a girl three years older than me to a dance in eighth grade. She’d said no, but it was the bravest thing I’d done that year. Sarah remained silent for two seconds and I rambled. “The players get their own room and we reserve our own floor at hotels. They are secured. The wives and kids travel sometimes. And I just thought, if you could, or if you wanted, you could come.”
