Page 63 of On the Breakaway

“Already? You’re the one who asked me to come.”

Right. I did that. Why did I do that?

He tilts his head, still watching me. “And now you want me to leave?”

Yes. No.

I don’t fucking know.

It’s like my body has decided she’s into him, but then my brain reminds me of his personality.

But we don’t have to talk or get along to have sex. And after nine months of my brain being in charge, my body is finally taking the reins. I haven’t felt my skin heat like this in months, so I’m not about to ignore it, even if it is him.

Except then he opens his mouth again.

“I’ll take that as a no.” He leans closer, a smug grin tugging on his lips.

I contemplate slapping it off his face, but before I can respond, he plucks my cup from the bar and inspects it.

“I wasn’t lying.” I yank it out of his hand, turning back toward the bar, our shoulders brushing. “Also, we won tonight, so maybe you could try ‘congrats’.”

“I was getting there.” He pauses to thank the bartender and pick up his beer. “Congrats on the win and the goal.”

That throws me for half a second.

“You watched?”

His shrug is casual, but I catch the faintest hint of defensiveness in it. “Nathan had it on in the training room.”

“Right,” I say slowly. “I’m sure you spent the whole game critiquing the people who know how to play soccer.”

He sets his beer down and crosses his arms. “Why would I do that?”

“Because you always think you know best.”

“I do not.”

“Yes, you do.”

His eyes flash, and he lets out a loud sigh. “Here we go.”

And just like that, we fall into the same back-and-forth that always escalates until one of us storms off angry.

“You’re also the guy with a hero complex,” I add.

“I don’t have a complex.”

“You do.”

“It would be easier to make a list,” he mutters. “Of all my flaws, since you’re so prepared.”

“There’s not enough time in the world.” I turn toward him.

He mimics the movement, neither of us leaning on the bar anymore. “Well, that and we know you prefer to spend your time throwing up in bushes or irresponsibly leaving your car in random parking lots.”

“Both of those things happened once.” My eyes narrow.

“One time too many if you ask me.”