Nebiolo snorts. “Accurate. But also…I think it’s nice, goofing-off, ribbing each other, keeping things light. We can be serious—I don’t think you’ve witnessed that yet—but we are when it counts. There’s something to be said for being a kid at heart.”
He’s got me there. It’s one of my many favorite thingsabout Shane. And I’m fully awaremany favorite thingsdoesn’t make sense. But I can’t pick one thing, so, you know what? Fuck it. They’re all my favorite.
Nebs clears his throat. “Speaking of being serious…”
That sounds ominous.
“What are your intentions with Shane?” he barks at me.
Some kind of strangled noise slips from me before I can stop it. “Excuse me? Wh-What?”
“I need to make sure you’re good enough for my boy. Make your case. You have two minutes. Go.”
“Um. Easy there, Nebs. Weren’t you and Winters the onespushingme and Shane together? You literally kicked him into my lap the other night. And now you’re giving me the third degree?”
“One minute forty-five seconds.”
“For fuck’s sake,” I say under my breath.
I glance quickly at Nebs before looking back at the road—and damnit, the guy’s face is dead serious. My heart is racing—which is ridiculous—but his glare is burning into the side of my face.
And the thing is. If there is even a sliver of a chance that this could impact my chance with Shane, I refuse to blow it.
Nebiolo tsks. “The silence is telling, Pebs.”
“I’m not sure what we’re doing,” I burst out. “But it’s not casual, okay?” I look at him quickly before moving back to the road. “Not on my end. Some things have clicked for me since your and Winters’s extremely unsubtle meddling. Like why I couldn’t get Shane out of my head even before we hooked up. Like why I couldn’t resist him even though I knew it wasn’t the smart choice to mess around with a teammate. Because I’m not messing around.”
Hehmphsat me. “Thirty more seconds.”
Jesus fucking Christ. I wipe my palm on my joggers.
“It’s been a long time since my life has been anything but the drag of routine, just a loop of practices, games, and sleep. Motion without meaning. I didn’t think emotions besides anger were even possible for me anymore.”
My fists tighten on the steering wheel, and I clear my throat. Here we go. “Losing my dad…fucking broke my heart. Brokeme.There was no repairing me, no salvaging the pieces into something that could feel again. I haven’t felt anything in so goddamned long—” My throat strangles my words, and I swallow hard. “Until Shane.”
We might not have discussed specifics, and we might not be ready to have that conversation any time soon, but there’s something here, something real between us.
“He’s the first time I’ve been excited about anything in seven years. I’m holding on to that.” That ray of light. Sunshine.
We drive in silence, my knuckles white on the steering wheel.
Nebiolo finally breaks the uncomfortable quiet. “Damn,” he whispers.
“You asked,” I grit out.
“No, Stone. Not a bad damn—animpresseddamn. Maybe a heavy damn. I’m sorry. I know it’s paltry, but I am.”
I nod stiffly.
“After all that—” His hands wave in my periphery. “It’s clear you’re already aware of this, but Shane is really fucking special. He’ll do anything for the people he cares about, including sacrificing himself. He deserves to have someone who puts him first.”
I couldn’t agree more. “Yeah, he does.”
“Good. Then consider this the dad talk. You hurt him. I hurt you. Just so you know, I own a shotgun.”
“What?”My voice cracks.
“I’m just kidding—about the gun. Isn’t that what all dads say to their kids’ new boyfriends?”
