She’s quiet for a long while and I can tell she’s really mulling over that question in her head. Finally, she answers with a soft and sincere, “No.”
“No,” I confirm. “I know that we’re... well, I don’t know what’s happening between us, but it feels really good to be needed. Especially by you.”
She burrows her head against me. “I’m not usually like this.”
“I know.” I move her hair out of the way, pressing my lips to her temple. “So thanks for letting me see it.”
“Emmett, I think I made the wrong decision.”
Shit. I was worried the noise would eventually seep in.
“Do you?”
It’s almost as if having to repeat it for a second time is giving her pause to think. “I... I don’t know.”
“Do you actually believe you made the wrong decision, or do you think maybe Milo had one bad game when we really needed him to do well? Do you think if everyone would just shut up for a second and let you think clearly, you’d still regret making that trade?”
She pulls away from my chest and searches my face but doesn’t give me an answer.
“Em, I need you to tell me the truth.” Her eyes are pleading with me, even in the dark hotel room. “Even if I’m not going to like it. You’re the only person I trust when it comes to the team. Do you think I made the right call?”
There’s absolutely no hesitation for me to answer. And it has nothing to do with my feelings for her. Even if I wasn’t completely gone for the woman, my answer would remain the same.
“I do.”
Her brows slightly lift, and I watch as a wave of relief washes over her. “You do.”
“Reese, I wholeheartedly trust your gut. I need you to try to block out the noise and remember what it feels like to trust yourself too.”
She absorbs my words, the pinch between her brows softening a touch, and even more so when I run the pad of my thumb over the creased line.
She smiles gently. “I hope Milo is doing okay.”
There she is.
“He’s okay,” I tell her, drifting my fingertips up and down the column of her spine. “Isaiah, Cody, and Trav took him out for a beer after the game.”
That pinch between her brows returns. “Is he even old enough to drink?”
“Let’s not ask questions we might not want the answer to.”
Chuckling, she drops her head back against my chest, and fuck... I couldn’t tell you the last time I felt like this. In fact, I don’t know ifI’veever felt like this.
Sure, I’ve been needed by others, but rarely do I let that be reciprocated. I pride myself on taking care of my people, but regardless that I’m the one holding Reese, comforting Reese, I thinkImight be the one who needsher.
But it’s nice to think that maybe she needs me too.
She exhales a long breath as if she were shaking off the heaviness of the past few days. “So, how’s Miller doing? Is she feeling okay?”
The shift is somewhat startling but only because I realize just how normal this feels with her. Laying with her in bed. Talking through the hard parts of the day. Her asking about my daughter.
I tighten my hold on her. “She’s doing all right. She’s more tired than usual, and is having some nausea, but she’s handling it.”
“Is that where Kai is? Did he stay home to take care of her?”
“Yeah, he did.”
I feel her smile against my chest. “He’s good to her.”
