Page 56 of Tiger Lilies and Tight Ends

“Listen, I appreciate you thinking of me and giving me the heads-up of what might happen, but I promise you not only can I handle whatever is thrown at me but I’ve got you. I’ve got us. And for the record, your decisions about your career should never involve someone else. If this is what you want, then do it. If it’s not, then don’t.”

He’s got us. Does that mean there is an us? What I wouldn’t do to have that. Him and me.

“I know, and I’m getting there. It just feels really big at the moment.”

“I know you’ll make the right decision for you, but, Lily, good things are going to happen for you. I can feel it.” His hand lifts from my arm and slides over my shoulder to the nape of my neck, where his thumb swipes back and forth, and the ache for wanting him is so strong I want to turn around and slide right onto his lap.

“Thank you, Tyler. Thank you for everything.”

Silence again falls over us as we sit together on the couch. The hum of the fish tank fills the air, and it’s almost like white noise, and I find it soothing to my racing heart.

“Are you hungry?” I ask, glancing up at him. He’s so handsome that my stomach flips and flops. Teenage me would have died knowing that one day he was going to snuggle me on the couch and put his hands on me.

“Not yet, but I will be in an hour or so. Do we have dinner plans?”

“I was thinking of grilled salmon. Are you good to do that while I make a few things to go with it?”

“Grilled salmon sounds delicious. I just saw a new recipe with maple syrup, brown sugar, pineapple juice, and black peppercorns I’d like to try out.”

“Yum.”

One corner of his mouth turns up as he looks down at me.

“Curious, are you going to this week’s game too?”

“I was planning on it.”

“Good. Then I got you this.” He leans us forward, and from behind him, he pulls out a shirt that he must have tucked into his waistband. It’s a Tarpons shirt. He opens it, and sure enough, his name is across the back. He grins like the cat that got the canary.

“Ha. You know if I wear this, it won’t matter what we say to anyone. They’ll assume we’re together.”

“Ask me if I care about what others say?” he challenges.

“Do you care?”

“I don’t give a fuck. At all. The only people who matter here are you and me. They’re going to talk no matter what, so let’s give them something to talk about.”

I laugh. “You’re crazy.”

“Yep. We’re also playing the Destroyers.” He wags his brows like this excites him, and he wants to throw fuel on the fire.

“I know. I did see the schedule.”

“Are you okay seeing him?” He tilts his head and studies my face for a reaction.

“There’s nothing really to see. He’s someone I used to know and don’t anymore. I’m okay with this.”

“Is he going to be okay with this?”

“Probably not. But like you said, it doesn’t matter what other people think.”

His eyes flit back and forth between mine, and then his smile grows to where my heart skips a beat.

“Good.” He drops his head as he goes to stand, and his lips brush my forehead. They’re warm, and my skin bursts with tingles at the contact. Holy moly, I have it bad for this guy, but then again, maybe I always have.

Chapter 24

Team Chat