Payton’s gaze was ripped away from Eliza to the Callaghan Green players who were running onto the pitch, her eyes on one in particular. She’d met Owen Anders a few weeks ago when she’d literally walked into him and then verbally exchanged insults. Since then, she’d spent more time with him than she’d admitted and I suspected that her attempt at being just friends was about to fail miserably.
Owen and Eli started warming up, and I tried to not watch. Claire was engrossed in Eliza; Killian taking time to come over and see them, planting a kiss on the head of his sleeping daughter. Payton was drooling and I figured that no one would notice if I did study Eli’s form for a few minutes.
He was tall and broad with sculpted thighs and a taut ass that I knew bore the marks of my nails as he’d pounded into me the night before. Brown eyes met mine and I saw the slip of a smile; he was totally aware that I was checking him out.
“You need to stop staring,” Claire’s voice was quiet next to me, making sure no one overheard. “Although, I can see why you would stare.”
I bit back the denial that was forming in my mouth. “Don’t tell anyone.”
“Are you sleeping with him?”
I nodded. “It’s not going to be serious though. He’s just got out of a relationship. I’m not interested in anything more than fun.”
Claire nodded. “I get that. You know Max won’t mind. Or Jackson. They like Eli.”
“So they’d be bothered about me messing him about.”
“They’re aware he’s a grown man, Ava. He can look after himself.” Her attention was taken by Seph and Callum who were doing their usual comedy routine while they warmed up, mainly for the benefit of a couple of girls who were watching, one of whom was shaking her head in disapproval.
My eyes went back to Eli who moved easily about the pitch, long legs striding. I knew he exercised and was into the fitness aspect as much for how it honed his body. Right now he looked athletic and confident, his face alight with a smile as he passed a ball between him and Owen.
The game started and I watched grown men launch themselves up and a down a muddy field for a ball. Eli was on the wing and for a big man, he was fast and agile. I followed the game, the rules having been ingrained into me before I was old enough to complain about watching it and started to enjoy the sport. It was good to see my brothers and friends in one of their many elements, working together as a team, and it was good to be there with my sisters.
I glanced at Payton whose eyes were firmly fixed on Owen still. “You need to experience that hotness,” I said quietly, making sure that no one overheard. “Never mind about Sunday lunch: take him home and ride him like a pony. Do you think his cock’s proportionate to the rest of him?”
Payton shook her head and tore her eyes away. “We’re just friends. And he’s still my client.”
I shrugged. “Honestly, I think you need to get his case sorted as soon as you can and have a friends with benefits type relationship and then you can still be friends, experience his cock and be satisfied without dating a jerk. Not that Owen’s a jerk. He’s nothing like your exes. Nothing.” I smiled, wondering how I could stage an intervention. Payton did need a boyfriend; someone she could share stuff with. Her twin Seph was better in a relationship, it grounded him and Payton wasn’t that different.
“Ava,” she said, trying not to sound too panicked. “Please don’t get involved in me and Owen. We’re friends and yes, he’s gorgeous, but we’rejustfriends and it needs to stay like that.”
I shrugged. “I don’t see why it has, but I’m not planning anything. I have my own life to deal with.” I left her to it, thinking about exactly what my life entailed at the moment and somehow felt dissatisfied. What if I did want something more?
Chapter Six
Elijah
May
We’d won.It had been a close game against a good team, but we’d won. I sat on a bench in the changing room, doing what I could to avoid Killian who smelled as if he’d rolled in fox shit or something equally horrendous. In some ways, a victory like today where we’d had to grind out the result was far more satisfying than when we’d turned a team over. It had also been satisfying having Ava watch. I’d caught her looking at me a few times and fuck if I hadn’t preened a bit and tried a few runs and tackles I might’ve dodged if she hadn’t been there.
It felt good to have someone there watching me. In the two years I’d been with Andrea, she hadn’t made a single game. I got that rugby wasn’t her thing and it was hardly glamorous, standing on fields for an hour and a half on a Sunday morning. She wasn’t interested in the game and she’d made no effort to try to find out about something I loved. Looking back, we were never going to work, we’d both just thought we should.
“Shit,” Max said, checking his phone. “I’ve got to pick up the cheesecakes. Fuck.” He looked momentarily panicked.
“And I take it if you don’t, Vic won’t let you have your balls back for your weekly reunion?” Callum messed up his hair, staring into the mirror.
“Fuck off,” Max said. “One day you’ll realise that keeping your woman happy is your most important job. If she isn’t happy, trust me, you’re not either.”
“Why’s picking the cheesecakes up a problem?” Jackson said, fiddling with his wedding ring. He was still completely owned by his wife. I doubted it would change.
Max shook his head. “I’ve got to pop into that… you know, that shop.”
I shook my head. “You mean the jewellers. We all know what you’ve got planned.”
“The diamond trader is there today and if I can’t get there... Fuck. Did Ava drive here? I’ll get her to stop off at the bakers.” He looked around the room.
“She got a lift with Claire,” Killian said. “I don’t think Claire will want to stop off on the way. Eliza’s due for a feed.”
