Page 109 of Against The Rules

He clutches the roses to his chest. “Are you inviting me into your bedroom? Good grief.”

Laughing, I take the bouquet from him, and he follows me into the kitchen, flicking the light switch. We both blink in the brightness, and I find a dusty vase, filling it with water and the flowers.

“These are lovely,” I tell him, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath.

“You didn’t seem very pleased with the last rose I gave you.”

I laugh, pushing a hand against his chest. “Ah yes, from the Hot Dams’ favorite wanna-be Bachelor. Come on Ty, you had to know that was a terrible idea and you did it anyway. What did you expect me to do?” We’ve had this same conversation over text, but it definitely feels good to say it out loud.

He groans, scrubbing one hand down his face. “God, you know, Jacob showed me some of those TikToks after the game? I looked like the biggest idiot.”

“And I looked like… what did they call me? Bitch Barbie? Icier than Elsa? And I told you how pissed Rebecca was, that I was quote-unquote leading an athlete on.”

“I never thought I’d be so glad that Daniel Harrison tackled a reporter on the sidelines. Can you imagine how bad it would have been if the Hot Dams hadn’t been distracted by those two?”

“Amen,” I say. “Kelsey got hit so hard.” I wince at the memory. “I can’t believe how long it’s been since I’ve seen you. I’ve seen her more than you lately.” I don’t mean for it to come out sad and slightly accusatory, but it does.

Instead of looking disgruntled though, Ty just smiles even more broadly. “You really did miss me. You know, I saw Kelsey tonight. Daniel brought her to poker night, and she absolutely wrecked. She took down most of the team.” He shakes his head.

“Poker night?” I echo, and then pout. “With the whole team?”

That sounds a shit ton better than sitting and working in my room until midnight.

“Yeah, Darius hosts it, he’s one of the linebackers, and his wife and kids are there, you know, the whole family. It was a good time.”

“And everyone brought their significant other?” A pang goes through my chest, and I bite my lower lip.

“Well, Peaches,” he says, finally setting the cardboard box on the counter, “I would have brought my wife, but she’s forbidden from being seen with me in public.”

“At the moment,” I say.

Ty blinks, then does the most comedic double take I’ve ever seen. I snort, pulling him into a hug. “Hey. I’m glad you’re here.”

His arms go around me, and I sigh, burying my cheek against his shirt, inhaling deeply.

Ew. I cough and let him go, waving a hand in front of my face.

“You smell terrible, like spilled tequila and cigar smoke.” I cough again. “That is pungent.”

“Yeah. Sorry.”

“You smoke?” It surprises me that I didn’t know that about him. Of course I didn’t, though. We might be married but…

“No,” he says firmly, shaking his head and cutting off that train of thought. “I walked into the wrong room. Cigar smoke—” he pauses and shoots me a meaningful look, “this stays between us, Peaches, but cigar smoke makes me sick.”

I mime zipping my lips. “Your secret is safe with me. Although…” I squint at him. “If you’re getting sick from cigar smoke, you might spoil that secret yourself. And your shoes.”

“Gross,” he says, but he laughs. “Can I shower? Now that you mention it, that’s about all I can smell.”

“Of course. I can throw your clothes in the washer too,” I offer, wrinkling my nose.

He gapes at me.

“What?” I can’t help laughing at his expression.

He presses a hand to the collar of his shirt. “If I didn’t know better, I might think this was some plot to get me naked, Peaches.”

“Well, I would say maybe if you played your cards right, but it sounds like you lost at poker tonight to Kelsey Cole.” I poke his chest and raise an eyebrow.

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