Page 87 of Securing the Pucking Rebound

“Again, that’s bullshit. Everyone has a choice.”

“Not if you speak to my parents.”

“When was the last time you spoke to them?”

“I can’t remember. Although I’ve got a whole heap of unlistened-to voicemails and unread messages on my cell,” I confess.

“Why haven’t you opened them?”

“Because I know exactly what they’ll say.”

“Which is?” she probes.

“They’ve all come in since my injury,” I explain. “I’d put every cent I have on them suggesting it’s a sign that I should give it up and return to where I belong.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah. The Keller clan is full of delights.”

Sienna flips her suitcase closed and frowns at it when the two sides of the zipper are miles from each other.

“So, where is home?” she asks absently as she opens it again and begins rearranging.

“Uh…” I rub the back of my neck anxiously. “A small town in Texas.”

“What’s the town called?”

“It’s tiny. No one has ever heard of it,” I hedge. If I tell her, there’s no doubt she’ll put all the pieces together.

I might be starting to come around to the idea of her finding out, but not tonight. Not after what happened not so long ago, and not before she leaves town for a few days.

“Try me.”

My mouth opens, but thankfully, her apartment buzzer rings, distracting her.

“Who’s that?” she asks as I carefully swing my legs off the bed.

“Our dinner,” I explain. “I hope you’re hungry.”

“Calvin,” she warns.

“Meet me in the kitchen in a few minutes?” I ask before hobbling out of the room to get our food, incredibly grateful for the delivery driver’s timing. I make sure to give him an extra tip for that.

“It smells incredible,” Sienna says when she emerges from her bedroom as I’m unloading the bags. “Oh wow,” she says, taking it all in.

“Fully nutritionally balanced. I’ll send you all the information so you can load it into your app.”

She stares at me as if I’ve just sprouted another head. “What?”

“That was really thoughtful.”

“Contrary to popular belief, I’m not actually an asshole, darlin’,” I tease.

“Oh no, I never thought⁠—”

I capture her chin between my thumb and forefinger before slamming my lips against hers, cutting off her words.

I don’t push for anything else; instead, I release her after a couple of seconds, leaving her wanting more.