Page 68 of Fumble

“It’s never been as good as it is with you. Every bumbling inch of your body gets me riled up. I don’t know how to explain it so you’ll understand. I feel like the one who’s seeing things differently for the first time. Fuck. Just hearing how corny that sounds makes me want to punch myself in the face, but there you have it.” She lets my hand drop, her fingers finding their way into my hair, massaging my scalp the way only a lover would.

“You’re just saying that. I bet you tell all the girls they’re the best you’ve ever had.”

“I really don’t.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Have I ever lied to you, love? Why would I bother? You don’t exactly mince your words. You bring out the same in me.”

“I like that.”

“Me, too.” We sit for long moments without a need to fill the silence. A simple touch of her hand is enough for me to remain calm in the middle of the biggest shitstorm of my career.

There’s nothing I can do about it tonight. Well, that’s not strictly true, but I don’t want to do anything right now. Back in a bubble of our own, aside from the wild monkeys down the hall, I’m loathe to leave it for the torrent of abuse I’ll get when I have to deal with journalists. However, before I face them, I’ll need to pay a visit to Coach. Not to defend myself but to defend Faith. He can cut me off, never speak to me again, but he can’t shut her out for venturing outside the box he created for her, putting her on a pedestal so high, the inevitable fallout was always going to be catastrophic.

“I don’t know how to fix it. For you, for my folks, for your fans.”

“Love, you don’t have anything to fix. Close your eyes. Relax. I’m here, and I’m going to take care of it.”

“It’s not in my nature. You know that. I don’t want us to be about you stepping in to clean up my mess. I dealt with Malcolm. I can deal with this.”

“Then, we’ll do it together. I know you’re strong, Faith. It’s one of the reasons I love you, but we both created this situation. We knew it would cause problems. So, there are only two options.”

“What are they?”

“We walk away now, go our separate ways, and do damage control in our own lives.”

“Or?” Thank fuck she said that one little word.

“Or we double-down. You and me against the world. Together.”

“I’ll take option two.” I drop my head back against the edge of the couch, breathing a sigh of relief. We can do this. I’m not sure how, but I’ll figure it out.

As the hours tick by, my eyelids become heavy, succumbing to the exhaustion of the day’s events. I’ll just rest for a few minutes—Faith’s hand sliding inside the collar of my shirt, her warm palm pressed over my heart.

* * *

“Hey, lovebirds.”Coop’s voice startles me awake. Unfortunately, he has the same effect on my less-than-coordinated girl, all flailing limbs as she comes to with a bang! Throwing herself into a sitting position behind me, her leg comes crashing down on my hand, jarring the pins with a pain so acute I think I’m going to hurl.

“Jesus-suffering-fuck!”

“Oh my God. Hunter! I’m so sorry.” She wants to comfort me, but I’m scared if she tries to touch me, she’s going to rip my hand clear off.

“I’m begging you. Please, don’t try to help me right now. I love you, but you have the grace of a rhinoceros.”

Coop stands back, lapping up my agony, ready to throw salt on the wound.

“Did you just say you love her? Fuck me. This is worse than I thought. You’re whipped, hogtied, and completely fucked, my friend.”

“Shut the fuck up, Coop.” I take a moment to calm myself, each breath an attempt to curb the pain thrumming through my hand.

“Don’t get me wrong. Walking in here and seeing y’all so PG and cutesy on the couch is sweet and all, but have you seen the news this morning?”

I look to Faith, watching in horror as she grabs for her phone. The moment she sees whatever Coop is talking about, her cell falls from her hand.

“Shit. Faith, go get Zoey. I need to talk to Coop for a minute.” She stumbles off in a daze.

“How bad is it, Coop?”

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