“Anything.” Victor let out a humorless laugh. “What we are. What it means. The future. Any of it. We sort of fell into bed and…kept going.”
Preston leaned back, looking incredulous. “You’ve been together a month, and you haven’t had that conversation?”
“We’ve just sort of been taking it day by day.” Even as Victor spoke the words, he could hear how stupid they were.
Tank lifted one shoulder casually. “You realize that’s basically how all relationships start.”
Victor ignored him. “It’s been good. Really good. Better than good.” He paused, then added, “Too good.”
Blake’s expression softened a fraction. “And that scares you.”
Victor didn’t answer.
He didn’t need to.
Rook rubbed his jaw, his brows furrowed. “I don’t get it. If it’s good, then what’s the issue?”
Victor hesitated, then found himself spilling all the worries that had been piling up since he’d pulled Belle into his living room and took her on the couch. “She’s more than just Pip’s nanny. She’s family. If things go south, it’s not just me and Belle getting hurt. We’d take Pip and Viv down with us.”
A couple heads nodded, and he could tell his friends got it.
“Plus, preseason is starting up. I’m gonna be gone more. Travel, games, late nights. You know how it is.”
Preston sighed. “Yeah. We know how it is.” The man had retired after discovering a one-night stand with the woman of his dreams had resulted in him becoming a father. After meeting his son, he’d decided to hang up his skates and become a full-time father, while his future wife, Chelsea, followed her heart, opening a bakery here in the city.
Blake pointed a finger at him. “Vic, just because Amelia had issues with you being gone, doesn’t mean Belle will. Erika is fine with my travel schedule.”
“McKenna’s cool with mine, too,” Tank piped in, causing the rest of them to roll their eyes. As part of the team’s PR department, McKenna traveled with Tank when they went out on the road.
“Of course, she’s fucking fine with it,” Victor barked. “She’s always sitting next to you on the bus or plane.”
“Belle’s not Amelia,” Preston murmured.
“Thank God,” Blake grumbled.
His friends hadn’t been fans of his ex, not during the relationship and definitely not after she drop-kicked Victor’s heart. These guys were true blue when it came to loyalty and defense.
Preston tipped his beer back, then fixed Victor with a look that was a little too knowing. “Here’s the thing—you’re acting like you’ve got some kind of choice to make. Like you can eitherprotect yourself or be with her. But that’s not going to work for you.”
“Why not?” Victor asked, just to be contrary.
“Because I know you, my friend, and you’re already in this way too deep.”
Preston wasn’t wrong. Victor knew without a shadow of a doubt, he didn’t have it in him to break things off with Belle. Even if it was the smart and/or safe thing to do.
Tank grunted in agreement. “Love’s always a risk, man. You don’t get a guarantee.”
Blake leaned forward, forearms braced on the table. “So let me simplify this for you, since you’re overthinking it. Is Belle worth the risk?”
Victor didn’t hesitate. “Fuck yeah.” The words came out rough, immediate, certain.
Tank snapped his fingers. “Boom. There it is. End of discussion.”
He scowled. “It’s not that easy.”
“You’re making it complicated because you’re still trigger-shy,” Blake shot back.
Victor protested. “No. If that’s all it was, I’d find a way to fucking get over my anxiety because I’m not a fucking child. But it’s not just about her and me.”
