“Okay, I’ll come. You got yourself a date.”
“Thank you, Alexis. This really means a lot to me.” I press a long, gentle kiss on her forehead. She’s coming. And she called it a date!
I’ve kissed her, tasted her, and woken up with her in my arms. But we haven’t talked about any of it. What it means, what we want it to mean. At Miller’s party Alexis told me that she would follow my lead; is that what she’s been doing all this time? Pretending for the cameras? My heart twinges at the thought. If she’s been pretending this whole time…
I might just be crushed beyond repair.
No. She can’t be pretending—at least not fully. Alexis is many things, but she is never cruel.
“Oh, it’s not a favor,” she says matter-of-factly. “It’s going to cost you. Not sure what yet, but I’ll think of something.”
I slide my hands down her spine, not stopping until they’re only a hair above her ass, her front pressed flush against mine. “You know I’ll make it worth your while, don’t you, Sunshine?”
She raises a brow in challenge. “You will. Now be a good boy and kiss me—we’re on camera.”
Chapter 19
Blake
Me
Dinner tonight?
Sunshine
Not tonight. I can’t move.
Bad pain day?
You have no idea.
I’d like to be alone for a bit, if that’s okay.
Just until I feel less like death.
Absolutely.
Text me if you need anything?
*Kiss face emoji*
After our cooking class,I didn’t see Alexis for days.
My training schedule nearly tripled for the big game in Vermont, and as she was stuck in bed being the cutest corpse alive, there wasn’t much room left for romance. We did our best, though. She FaceTimed me whenever she felt a little better, and I brought her flowers and take-out after practice so we could eat together in her room.
Besides, it’s hard to mourn those days when her face is the first thing I see when I wake.
She’s up already, fussing about in tight leggings and a hoodie she stole from my closet, one of my beanies pulled warmly over her head. She’s all packed, as am I. We dropped Lucky off at the boarding place last night, so all there is to do is leave.
Well, that, and trying not to lure her back to bed.
I roll onto my back and watch as she moves through the room like a lost little bird. I want to speak up, ask what she’s looking for, but I’m afraid I’ll startle her.
As I get out of bed I make sure to step on the creaky floorboard by the nightstand so she knows I’m up. If she hears it, she doesn’t show it.
My fingers find her hips before meeting at her belly button, my head resting in the crook of her neck. “What’s wrong? Restless? Anxious? If it’s the latter, I know a way of calming you down…”
I leave a trail of kisses down her neck, stopping at her collarbone. Her hand flies up to hold me in place, her breathing steadying at once.
