Page 17 of Break Out

“Was surprised you said you were coming today. Especially with . . . everything,” Holt or Wes—I don’t remember who is who—says to Brody as we’re setting up our chairs. I glance at Brody in time to see him shooting a glare at his teammate.

Huh? What am I missing?

Hunter and Madison arrive at that moment with their beach gear, and introductions are made. I get the distinct impression that Hadley doesn’t like Kitty, whose real name is Kat, from the way she rolls her eyes every time Kat speaks. Once all the chairs and umbrellas are set up, everyone starts putting sunscreen on or grabbing drinks from the coolers.

“Can you put sunscreen on my back, please, Brod?” I ask, pulling off my cover up to reveal my black and silver bikini. It’s one of my favorites, with stars and constellations all over it.

He sucks in a breath behind me, and I turn to see him staring at me.

Chapter eight

Brody

“Can you put sunscreen on my back, please, Brod?”

I suck in a breath because Aubrey’s bikini, while modest and covering everything, doesn’t leave much to the imagination. I’ve seen her in a bathing suit before, so why does this feel different?

She peeks at me over her shoulder and holds out a bottle of sunscreen. I shake myself out of my stupor to slather it on my hands and rub it on her back, loving the silky feel of her skin. Is the rest of her body as soft?

I bet it is.

And now I’m picturing her spread out, naked on my bed, her gorgeous brown hair fanned out on my pillow, her blue eyes watching me, waiting for me to explore her body. To find out what she tastes like. How wet she is. My cock stirs to attention at the vision I’ve conjured up. I take a deep breath, forcing myself to think about something else.

This is a fake relationship. There will be none of that. Besides, she doesn’t want me like that. She made it clear on New Year’s Eve. I force myself to focus on my task and not on how smooth her back feels, like a freshly surfaced ice rink.

“All done, sweetheart,” I say, reluctantly pulling my hands away from her body.

“Thanks,” she says. She spins around and takes the bottle of sunscreen. “Want me to do you?”

I pull off my shirt, and she gestures for me to turn around. My eyes close and I try not to squirm as she rubs my back. I want to groan as her soft hands slide over my skin, but I don’t. Instead, I open my eyes and focus on the waves rolling in and out along the shore.

“You’re really tight, Brod. Everything okay?”

“Fine. Fine,” I mumble.

Am I okay?

I don’t know anymore.

I’m the reason we didn’t make it to the next round of the playoffs. My career might be over…and then what happens? It’s something I’ve been mulling over for the past few weeks, since Aubrey and I started this fake relationship, really. Something about agreeing to be her fake boyfriend made me start to think about what’s next.

I’m only thirty-five. I have a long life ahead of me. Except I have no idea what I want to do with it or who I want to spend it with. While I could never work a day in my life again—the perks of investing most of my salary and living modestly—I don’t know if that’s what I want to do.

I never thought I wanted a family, or to put down roots. That’s why I only bought a condo instead of a big house with a backyard. But watching Cole and Caleb both have their first child this past season has made me question everything I thought I wanted.

Having a backseat view of Hunter meeting and falling in love with Madison. The way they love each other, help each other through the difficult times, support each other. It makes me wonder if maybe I do want that.

Maybe I want the roots.

The family.

I feel Aubrey’s eyes on me and peel my gaze from the ocean to look at her over my shoulder. She’s studying me. I wait for her to call me on my bullshit, but she doesn’t. Instead, she gives me a smile and proceeds to put sunscreen on the rest of her body. I heave out a breath and do the same.

A few minutes later Cole and Hannah arrive with their son, Nate. Soon after, Caleb and Jenna walk over to us with their daughter, Bailey.

“Hey, buddy. Glad to see you here.” Caleb claps me on the back before he takes the seat next to me that Aubrey vacated to go in the ocean with Madison and Hadley.

“Hey. How’s everything going?” I ask, glancing over to Jenna and Hannah chatting in the shade with the babies.