I have to take off soon, but if you don’t mind knocking on my door when you’re up, I think we need to chat about a few more things if that’s okay with you? K. Let me know
Well, this is a fucking fantastic disaster.
I curse under my breath as I clumsily make my way to the bathroom to take care of business and brush my teeth.Wouldn’t want my new boyfriend to know I have morning breath.
I shuffle over to the adjoining door and open my side. My knuckles barely graze the wood before it’s flung open wide. Heat burns low in my gut, my knees suddenly unsteady. My eyes are still sleepy, but, unfortunately, my hormones are wide awake and staring at the male figure before me. His Riders’ T-shirt does nothing to hide his muscular arms, nor do his tight as hell gray joggers hide the thick thighs beneath. He’s wearing a backward baseball cap for God’s sake.
My breath catches in my throat—it is too goddamn early to have this kind of hotness thrown in my face.Thank God women aren’t subjected to something visible like morning wood.Did he have morning wood today?FUCK.I shake my head, not prepared for the onslaught of thoughts running through my mind. Especially since they don’t seem quite as annoying as they once did.
God, I really need to get laid and not be thirsting after this way too young for me, egotistical, sculpted as hell man-child standing at my door. My jaw ticks.Shit.I can’t get laid.I have a fucking boyfriend now—one who is standing in front of me and getting my sleep shorts much wetter than I’d like. I certainly can’t fucking sleep withhim!Deep breaths, Kennedy.Let’s just hear what he has to say.
“Good morning. Hope I didn’t wake you,” he says, his voice gruff with sleep and a soft curve to his smile.
Dammit. His smile is kind of sweet. I mean…if that was the kind of thing that got me going. Not me, though. Nope. I don’t go for cute smiles and broad shoulders.
I sway back and forth, arms crossed tight across my chest. “Shockingly, you didn’t wake me—it was the other eighty thousand notifications that did. Yours came after I was already up.”
His lips twist, his nose crinkling as his cheeks heat. “If it makes you feel any better, I had just as many. I’m guessing you figured out the photo is everywhere?”
“I think everywhere is an understatement,” I snort. “I getyouhaving all these notifications, but…how do these people know whoIam?”
He leans against the doorframe as he shakes his head. “Internet detectives are no joke.”
“For real. So, what did you need at this God-awful hour?”
“Right. So listen. I’m not sure if I’ll have to do press after the game tonight. Hopefully not, but it all depends on how the game goes. If I do end up in the hot seat, they’ll for sure ask about us, and that will be my formal announcement about our,” —he motions his hands back and forth between us— “relationship.”
“Fakerelationship,” I quickly correct him. A low pull tightens in my core, my body betraying me. “This is all just an arrangement.”
He exaggeratedly nods. “Right. Yep. Our very fake relationship. Got it,” he says, biting his lip. The tension in my muscles let loose. “I, um…I also wanted to tell you that my cousin, Hannah, is my PR agent. I gave her your number so she can give you a call later. I figured your phone was blowing up like mine, and I thought I’d pass her number along so you would answer and not think it was spam. She just wants to talk to you and let you know she’s here if you need anything.”
I narrow my eyes. “You think I can’t handle myself in front of the media? I’m quite capable of taking care of mysel?—”
“Oh God no!” he interrupts. “It’s nothing like that. She’s just…Hannah and I have always been really close. The Bouchers learned a long time ago to not trust many people outside our family. She owns her own PR company; I trust her with my life. And I trust her with yours. I don’t think you need help. Not atall. I just…I wanted to offer it in case you didn’t want to dealwith the insanity that’s coming. The media’s brutal. They suck balls, actually,andwe play Columbus today. We’ve had some bad blood with them recently, so this is only going to fuel the fire.” He rubs at his shoulder, the tension in his body practically vibrating. “Game days are really crazy. I have a routine, and I get really anxious if I don’t stick to it, so I…I just wanted you to have someone to chat with about all this if I’m not around.”
A quiet sigh escapes. It is still too fucking early to deal with all this, but…his offer is a nice gesture.At least he’s being somewhat helpful.And not annoying me…for now.
“I appreciate it. I guess it couldn’t hurt.”
“Here’s her number,” he says as he hands me a torn piece of paper from a hotel notepad.
My lips twist in a wry smile. “You know, you could have just texted me her info and went on your way.”
“Yeah, I know. I just…” He pauses, his eyes looking to the floor before popping back up to mine. “I still feel bad about last night, and I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
My heart skips a tiny beat at his thoughtfulness. I swallow it down quickly, putting my fortress back in place. “I’m fine. Thanks for the info.”
“Sure. No problem. Also…there’s one more thing.”
It’s fucking too early for one more thing.My knuckles go white against the edge of the door. “What is it?”
“Hannah thinks we should go on a date.”
Grilled Cheesus take me now.
18
jordan
