“I’m sorry. I understand you need to go back to your room. I don’t want you to catch it and pass it to the guys.”
He stilled, glancing up from his tennis shoes that were halfway on his feet. “I’m not going to my room.” He finished tying the strings before he traveled to my side of the bed. “I’m going to get you some meds. We need to get your fever down.”
This man.
“It’s the middle of the night,” I pointed out.
“I’m sure there’s a twenty-four-hour store somewhere.” He leaned down and pressed a kiss to my temple.
“You’re going to get sick!” I turned my head, whipping the comforter over my face.
My luck, the whole team would catch it, then we’d lose our undefeated status.Perfect.
He chuckled. “I’m pretty sure I’m already exposed, Angel. You’ve been in my bed for the last three nights.”
He was right. I’d been with the guys at the field too. It was too late now. Hopefully, they’d been taking their vitamin C as directed.
“Try to get some rest. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” His palm squeezed my hip before the bed dipped.
The click of the door sounded, and I peeled back the covers. This was supposed to be one of our biggest games. The Bisons and the Stallions were our two rivals. We were in Bison territory tomorrow, and the guys had been more pumped than in any game we’d played this year. I didn’t want to miss it, but it looked like I’d have to enjoy it from the comfort of my hotel room.
Guilt slashed through me like a sharp knife. Preston needed to be ready for tomorrow. Rested. Not traipsing around an unfamiliar state in the middle of the night for me.
Love and guilt collided. I didn’t want him to think he had to, but the part of me that longed for that kind of care and love wrapped me up like a warm blanket. He never said it, but I felt it. His love. I felt it every time he looked at me. Just like it rushed through me when I looked at him. Every time I locked in on those blue eyes, I was terrified he would see it written clearly on my face.I am in love with him.But if I voiced it, it became real. And I had this gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach that the other shoe was about to drop.
45
Preston
The door shut behind me, the hallway quiet as I started toward the elevator. I’d never had this kind of reaction before. As a kid, if Liv ever got sick, it tore me up. I was usually the one who comforted her. The one who stepped in for her. Until Cecile came into our lives and became the motherly comfort we never had. Even then, something about Trinity ill just got me. Seeing her sick was another level. The urge to fix it. To take away anything that caused her pain was practically a need.
I paused across from a gold set of doors, pressing thedownbutton to take me to the lobby. I ran a hand through my hair as they parted, then stepped inside. My thumb hit the numberone, then I leaned back against the wall, my phone in hand as I scrolled through the list of stores open at this hour.
The doors had almost closed when a ding sounded, and a hand wedged between the crack. The doors slid back open, and a familiar figure stepped through.
Motherfucker.
“You’re out late, Coach.” Jagger Ross smirked before clicking the second-floor button where the team was located. “I guess we both had the same idea tonight.”
He leaned against the opposite wall, mimicking my stance. I didn’t like the gleam in his eyes. The one that said he was about to stir up some shit. My mind raced back to the hallway. I swore it was empty. Did he see me leave Trinity’s room?
“And what idea was that?” I asked. “You have curfew. You should be in your room. Resting up for the game.”
He shrugged, his smug attitude front and center. “Getting my dick sucked before a big game is my good luck charm.”
I bristled at his comment.
“What about you?” He cocked his head to the side. “I know you aren’t staying on this floor.”
Fuck.
I cleared my throat. “I had to move rooms. Hotel issue.”
He eyed me. “What a coincidence.” Then he crossed his arms. “I could have sworn Trinity was on this floor.”
Double fuck.
Before I could defend his comment, a sly grin spread across his face. “Can’t blame you, Coach. I’ve wanted to fuck her since the first time I saw her.”
