Page 85 of Tough Guy and the Show Off

“I—” I sigh, faltering over what I actually want to say. I don’t want to go. I fucking hate this. I love you.

“I know. Me too,” he says, and I believe him.

“Fuck, okay, I really do have to go. I’ll call you later?”

He nods, bumping his nose against mine, his fingers digging harder into my hips before he reluctantly pries them off and sighs too.

“Yeah. Have a safe flight and we’ll talk later.”

It’s easy to get a cab, but getting in and leaving Beau behind isn’t. I let my head fall back against the seat and tell the cabbie which hotel I need to go to. I don’t let myself look back at Beau because I’m afraid that if I do, I’ll fling the car door open and jump out.

This fucking sucks, but maybe I can change things. Maybe we can play on the same team again and live in the same city. I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but I’m going to fight for this. I’ll do whatever it takes.

THIRTY-FIVE

BEAU

As soon as I turn the corner to my building, I remember that I have Trav’s bag in my car. Shit.

I haul ass to my apartment, grab my keys, and take off to the hotel, hoping I can catch them before the bus pulls out. Any second now, he’s going to panic when he realizes he doesn’t have his shit.

I’m right behind the team bus as I pull into the hotel parking lot and spot Trav pacing, his cell phone to his ear. Mine rings seconds later, but I ignore it, and instead pull up beside him, lowering my window.

“Missing something?”

His whole face lights up in a way that I’m sure anyone paying attention would know means we’re a lot more than friends, but I don’t care. It feels amazing to know he wants me as much as I want him.

“Bozy coming in clutch,” Harlson says.

“Thank fuck,” Trav says, shoving his phone into the pocket of the sweatpants he borrowed from me.

Seeing him in my clothes does weird things to my stomach, but I gotta keep my cool in front of all the guys.

I pop the rear door open, choosing to stay inside the SUV so I’m not tempted to hold him or kiss him again. Trav nods, circling around the back to grab his bag while Basilio sidles up beside me.

“Surprised you can drive with those hearts clouding your eyes.”

“What?”

Basilio chuckles. “Heart eyes. Like cartoons. You two are hilarious.”

“Don’t know what you mean.”

He searches my face with a smirk on his. “Okay, let’s go with that. See you around, Bozy.”

“See ya, Assilio.”

Bas just laughs as he walks toward the team bus and Trav takes his place.

“So much for me avoiding a weird goodbye.”

I chuckle in agreement.

“We’ll talk soon,” I promise him, because I can’t say what I really want to, not here in front of the guys.

He nods, exhaling slowly as his eyes cloud over with emotion. “Talk soon.”

I watch him walk to the bus, waving at me. Some of the other guys do too, and when my eye catches Coach’s, he nods somberly. I nod in return and drive off before I can throw myself on the ground and beg Trav to stay.