Page 41 of Wright Kind of Trouble

So, I let our lips smack one last time, a little drool bridging the tiny gap between us. Her eyes were still closed as I withdrew after giving her the memorable kiss she wanted, but nothing more and nothing less.

“Good-bye, baby girl.”

She shivered at the words. Her fingers still fisted in my shirt. Her body limp and pliant.

It took everything in me to wait there and let her eyes flutter open. To see the want there, open and blatant, and know I couldn’t give it to her.

So, I walked her to the door, took my jacket back from her, and said good-bye forever.

12

Harley

April

“Nice job today,” Annie said, bumping me on the shoulder as we walked off the pitch.

“Be real,” I said with a laugh.

“What? You’re good!”

“I’m mediocre, but thanks.”

There was a soccer team that Julian played on called the Tacos. It was a rec league that all of our friends rotated to play on at some point. Since Nora was out of town with West, they’d needed one more girl, and I’d agreed. I wouldn’t be leaving for Seattle for another week, and I could fill in since it was the lull before finals. Somehow a serendipitous meetup.

Even if I sort of sucked.

Annie just rolled her eyes at me. “You’re too hard on yourself.”

“Perfectionists usually are.”

“Well, from one perfectionist to another, you were doing great out there. I’m glad that you came and helped out. You could be a regular if you wanted.”

I waved her off. “Nah. I can only be so-so at something for so long. And since there’s no ice skating here, just going to focus on school.”

“Ice skating?” Annie gasped. “You can ice-skate?”

“I’m from Seattle. Absolutely yes. Whitt even played hockey, growing up.”

“Whitt! You played hockey?” Annie yelled into the bleachers.

Whitt glanced around as everyone stared at him. “Uh, yes, for a few seasons.”

“Hot!”

Jordan just shook his head, striding toward his wife and pressing a firm kiss to her lips. “You’re going to be the death of me.”

She smacked his ass. “Only if you go down with me. Till death do us part and all that.”

“Romantic,” he said with a laugh.

“Speaking of till death,” Annie said, “I need to check on Chase.”

Jordan’s eyes clouded over. “Do I even want to know?”

He might not, but I sure did.

“His parents are divorcing.”

---