“I hate to break it to you, Gray, but I think I have more Dragons jerseys than I can count,” she says gently.
“You don’t have this one.” I turn it around to show her my name and number. Not only that, it’s the new jersey that’s premiering this season that has thread with glitter in it decorating the edges of the logo, name, and number. “There isn’t a Colver on the team anymore, so I figured you need a current one.”
She rolls her lips together, and smirks. “That’s why you want me to wear your name?”
I shrug, trying to act nonchalant even though my heart feels like it’s going to beat out of my chest. “And my number.”
She takes it from me, holding it up, taking it in. And despite all my nerves, I keep going and revealing more about the reason I’m giving her the jersey. “Have you ever wondered why my number is twenty-three?”
“I figured you wanted twenty-four like your dad, but they wouldn’t let you and you didn’t want to one up him.”
“No.” I huff out a laugh. “I definitely would like to one up him. But what else is twenty-three?”
Rae hesitates, worrying her lip, looking down at the fabric in her hand instead of me, “Um, I mean my birthday, but I’m sure that’s a coincidence.”
I don’t respond right away and her eyes shoot up to mine.
“Is it?” I question.
Her jaw drops slightly as she stares at me, tightening her hold on the jersey.
“Because I remember when I had to pick a number I could only think of one. The one number from the day my favorite person was born.”
“Me?” she squeaks, and I instinctively take a step forward.
I nod. “Always have been.”
“You’re mine too,” she replies quietly.
“So, what do you say? Will you wear it?” I take another step.
“My dad may not be happy about it.”
“He’ll be fine,” I insist, taking the final step and realizing how close this brings us. Our chests are only a couple inches apart.
“Think your fan club will be jealous?”
I scoff. “I don’t have one.”
“Oh yes, you do. You may not be online much, but I am and let me tell you, you could have any woman you wanted.” I see her eyes dim at the comment, and I want to set her straight so badly.
I only want one woman.
But I don’t get the chance to say anything, even if I had the courage to do so. Rae looks back down at the jersey and smiles.
“This is going to look so good on me.”
“Yes, it is,” I agree easily, wishing I could pull her in and kiss her right now. Hold her against me and fall into each other. For her to know what I’m thinking about the real reason I want her to have this jersey. Instead, I do nothing but smile.
CHAPTER 7
Asher
Ihate staying still. I hate being told I can’t do something. And I fucking hate being in pain. Of course all three are happening right now, and Ifucking. Hate. It.
The doctor hasn’t come to talk to me after my MRI. I keep saying I’m fine, I probably just sprained my shoulder or something. It’s nothing I can’t work through. Shit, I’ve worked through worse before and will do it again after this.
The door opens, and I expect to see the doctor come back in with the results, but instead it’s my coach, Adam. I slump back against the pillows and glare at him. He’s the reason I came here in the first place to get checked out because I guess I winced when I was sparring with Drew, and of course Adam noticed.
