Page 98 of Bad Run

He’s grumpy and, aside from my mother, alone. The last thing I want is to end up like him.

I look around, making sure only my closest friends can hear.

“Let me preface by saying, if you breathe a word of this to anyone, I will rip your balls off and put them in a jar on my trophy case.” I narrow my eyes at Blake.

“Rude. I would never tell anyone anything. Well, maybe Reed, but that doesn’t count.”

“Defo don’t count, bro.” Reed pats Blake on the back as he rises from his seat and turns around to face the group with a wide, mischievous grin plastered on his face. “Tell us your lady problems, Lancy boy, and we’ll help you out, like we did with Nico.”

“I did not need your help,” Nico bites back.

Reed grins wider and winks at our catcher. “Sure, you didn’t, baseball boy.”

“I hate you. This is about Lance, not me. My woman is happy and satisfied.”

“Touchy.” Reed returns his attention to me. “Well?”

“Last night, Gw … uh.” I cut myself off, not wanting to say Gwen’s name. I want her to have a say in when and who finds out about us. For now. “My girl walked in on me while I was in the shower, you know …” I make an inappropriate hand gesture.

“Jackin’ the beanstalk,” Reed blurts.

“Cranking your hog,” Blake adds.

“Slappin’ the salami.” Cam laughs, unable to help himself.

“I’m more of a ‘rubbing one out’ guy,” Heath jokes.

“Okay, enough. We get it,” Nico snaps as his gray eyes dance with mirth. “Lance was jerking the one-eyed monster. Tell us what happened next.”

I scowl at Nico. Bastard just had to pile on. Ignoring him, I continue with my story. “I thought she was into it, but when I finished, she ran out on me. Like, all the way back to her apartment.”

“Damn, that sucks. I’m sorry, dude.” Heath pats me on the shoulder.

“You must have one ugly-ass O face,” Blake says, shaking his head in disbelief.

“It’s still hotter than your regular face, dick waffle.” I flip Blake off.

“Listen, she’s probably just scared,” Nico says.

“Scared?” Gwen’s scared? Of me? I’d never hurt her. I’d hurt myself before I ever laid hands on her.

“Yeah, scared, dumbass. She doesn’t want to get heartbroken. When I was pursuing Savannah, she feared what other people would think of us dating, especially her sister.”

“Exactly. G needs reassurance from you. With Talia, I told her I was all in. No one else. Made sure she knew I was serious. That helped her let go and give into the fall.”

“Wait. Are you serious about her?” Heath interjects. “Because last time I checked, you only married her to help her get a job.”

“Of course, I’m serious about her. Hell, I haven’t been with anyone since her. Can’t get her out of my damn head. She burrowed her way under my skin. From the moment I met her, I knew I wanted her to be mine. Marrying her is part of my plan to keep her,” I declare.

Admitting the truth to my friends feels like I unloaded a ten-ton weight off my chest. Freeing. Thrilling. Completely terrifying.

Which is probably how Gwen feels.

“Damn, that’s deep, bro.” Blake smirks.

“Call me Daddy, because my babies are growing up,” Cam says, wiping away a fake tear from under his eye.

“Oh, fuck off.” Nico shoves Cam.