“Is that why you’re here? To apologize for something you had no part in?” It comes out harsh, but I don’t take it back.
“No. I’m here because—” She cuts herself off, cheeks flooding with colour. “You can’t spend every night scowling at a computer screen. There’s no point in punishing yourself with game tapes, you know. LA is a good team.”
I push my hand into my pants pocket and look behind her at the empty stalls. The game ended two hours ago, yet here she is. There are a thousand other places she could be or people she could be spending time with. Having sex didn’t lock her to me.
Even if it was life-altering, soul-shattering sex. The type that you only need to have once for it to become an addiction.
“You should have texted me,” I tell her, softening my tone.
“I did.”
I twist my mouth, forcing myself to look at her again. “I don’t usually check my phone when I’m watching film.”
“Are you sure you weren’t just still ignoring me?”
“I don’t ignore people. I’ve been busy.”
She deadpans, one brow lifting. “Don’t lie to me, Roman. I don’t like it. If you didn’t have a good time or just don’t want to do it again, tell me straight up. I’m a pretty confident woman, but even I have limits to how much I’ll push before I stop. The last thing I’m going to do is be desperate for a man. If you hadn’t sent me that jersey, I wouldn’t have been texting you this entire week and continuing to pursue you. The signals I’m receiving are pretty mixed, buddy.”
“I’m not your buddy,” I snip, inching forward. Her legs part to make room for me as I settle between them, forcing my hands to stay at my sides. “If we’re going to have this conversation, it’s going to be somewhere other than a parking garage where anyone could hear.”
“This better not be you trying to shut me up, because if it is, I’m going to key your car. I’d bet it cost quite the pretty penny,” she warns, attempting to scare me.
My smile is impossible to hide. Her glare slips when it falls to my lips.
“You’re as terrifying as a kitten, Brielle.”
“Okay, so you don’t care about the car, then. There’s got to be something else?—”
I don’t think.
Something shifts inside of me before I’m reaching for her and taking hold of her soft, warm cheek. She exhales, and I inhale her breath as our lips touch. It’s sudden and light enough that I could probably convince anyone who saw us that it wasn’t a real kiss. None of that stops me from lingering for another second.
“Get in my car, sweetheart.”
She nods sharply, green eyes wide and vibrant. Neither of us moves.
“Now,” I murmur.
Another nod before she all but tears herself from my hold and slips away. I take a stunted step backward when she opens the passenger door. Déjà vu slams into me like a semi-truck as I close it behind her and take a look around the quiet garage.
It doesn’t matter how many times I say it because it never gets any less true. I’m so, so fucked, and there’s no piece of me that wants to escape the trap I’ve found inside of.
28
BRIELLE
“Are you hungry?”Roman asks once we’ve entered my apartment and left our shoes at the door.
“I’m pretty sure I should be the one asking you that.” I gesture to the fridge beside me and the cheeked-up peach magnet holding up a picture of me and Aubrey. “You know, since this is my place.”
“Then I’m starving. Are you going to cook me dinner, Brielle?” He smirks, slowly dropping the arms he’s had folded awkwardly across his chest. “You know, since this is your place.”
The sudden nerves that race through me are unexpected. I blow them off with a laugh.
“Is that why you came over? To see if I’m a good cook?”
“Why not?”
