“Yes,” I mumbled, getting another chuckle from her. We hung up. Having a focus helped.Clear my head, rest my leg, come back ready to play.
Clearing my head meant one thing…talking to Kenzie.
* * * *
My plan didn’t work out how I wanted it to—Kenzie was at the bar Monday night and she wasn’t back yet. It was eleven, the familiar worrying feeling had returned and I couldn’t distract myself. I tried video games, movies, social media and even reading a baseball book. I got only ten minutes into the activity before I’d check my phone, or the light in her room to see if she was back.This is stupid.
Tanner: Are you heading back home soon? We need to chat.
Kenzie: You might need to chat, I sure don’t.
Tanner: Are you safe? Do you have a ride home?
Kenzie: Chill, I’m fine.
God, she was frustrating me, but I deserved the short answers.
Kenzie: Not being secretive. I met my future roommates and they are driving me back. I’m trying not to be a rude human and be on my phone with them.
I read the subtle dig at me in her text and adjusted my position in my bed so my leg could stretch fully. It tightened when I didn’t move around enough or change angles, and with another thirty minutes of worrying, I finally heard her light footsteps coming up the stairs. Wincing, I moved from my bed and walked through our bathroom. She stopped at the door, staring at me with an unreadable expression.
God, I missed her.
She wore ripped black jeans, a tight black tank top and a cut-off jean jacket. Her hair was in a high ponytail and those cute glasses perched on top of her nose. My heart skipped a beat and I blamed it on my nerves. It wasn’t often I apologized. “Hey.”
Cool, I’m off to a great start.
“Can you let me know who I’m dealing with? Is this the guy I’ve spent the last three weeks laughing with or the one who is a total dick?” she replied, not stepping into her room or closing her door. Aaron could walk out from the other side of the hallway at any second, but she didn’t seem to care.
I gulped. “I’m here to apologize.”
“Then don’t let me stop you.” She sighed and entered the room, shutting the wooden door and leaving the two of us alone. She removed her jacket, putting her bare arms and neck on display, and the urge to kiss her had me stuttering.She’s so fucking pretty.
“Could you look at me?”
She stopped removing her shoes and gave me her full attention, green eyes wide and patient, a smirk almost forming on her delicious lips.
I hobbled from my spot to her bed, sitting down two feet away from her. “I’m sorry for a couple of things. I should’ve texted you we were on our way back. It hit me today how scared you were last night and that’s pretty shitty of me and Aaron.”
“It was. I’m madder at my brother for that, but carry on.”
I swallowed hard and ran my hand through my hair, hoping that would make this easier. It didn’t. “I blamed you for me not playing well and getting hurt.”
“Um, what?” Her eyebrows disappeared into her hairline and her chest heaved in what I could only assume was anger. “Explain how that would be my fault.”
“No, I know it’s not. I was looking for someone to blame and the only difference in my life is you, really. I worried about you when my phone broke, how you were doing at work, and it distracted me and my game. It wasn’t fair to you and it was a shitty move.” I stood, groaning at the pain in my thigh, and moved to put my hands on her neck—just over her collarbone and her sexy birthmark. “I’m sorry for my behavior. I’m out for two weeks and until I knew that, my brain was on high alert, like everything was ruined. I panicked and took it out on you.”
She sucked one of her cheeks into her mouth and studied me for a minute before she spoke. “Thanks for being honest.”
“Can you forgive me?” I moved my fingers up to her jaw, cupping it and pulling her closer to me. “I have two weeks where I can’t do anything…fourteen days with you in this house. Think of all the things I can do to you…to help you forgive me.”
Her eyes fluttered shut and I leaned in, not quite touching our lips together because I wanted her to make that decision. After some excruciating seconds, she closed the distance and let me taste her. It had been a long week, way too long, and I yanked her body against mine. I couldn’t get her close enough—the sounds she made, the way her tongue danced against mine, the taste of gum still in her mouth. My dick sprang to life, desperate for a slice of our insane chemistry. I moved my fingers down her arms, over her sides, and landed on her ass. I moaned between kisses, “God, I missed your mouth.”
She clutched my T-shirt, digging her nails into my abs, but too soon, she stopped. She pushed me a foot away and stared at me with her mouth parted, her lips red and swollen. “I’m not sure I’m ready to forgive you. Yes, our bodies are amazing together when naked, but you were hurtful on purpose. I don’t condone that in any relationship—roommates, friends, lovers, colleagues. While I’d love to make you use your mouth in all my dirty places, you can’t kiss your way to forgiveness.”
Oh my god, is she ending this? Fuck. No. No!“Kenzie,” I started, but my words jumped in my head because I wasn’t sure what to say. “Tell me what I need to do.”
“Let me sleep on it.”
