Page 34 of Force Play

She rolls her eyes, probably expecting me to say something crass.

“I’ll drive you home and take Brianna to the airport. That way, you two can do what you need to do, but neither you have to suffer through the awkwardness of the drive or drop off.”

“Why?”

It’s a single, loaded word. “Why not? It’ll make your life easier, and I don’t have to be at the stadium for a few hours.”

“Such a boy scout.”

“Do you want to see the merit badges I earned from eating your pussy? Camping and Geocaching.”

“You were actually a boy scout, weren’t you?”

I wasn’t, but it’s too much fun messing with her. “One for camping between your legs all night—best campsite ever, by the way. The view was better than anything I’ve ever seen. Twelve out of ten, would return. The other for finding that spot that makes your back arch and your eyes roll back.”

“There’s actually something wrong with you.”

“But you’re still going to let me help you because you know I’m right. That car ride would be brutal.”

“Fine. Yes. But not because I want to.”

“I got that.” Laughing would only irritate her more, so I roll my lips together to stop it. As much as I love annoying her, I’m making progress. Not that she would admit it, but this is the second time in twelve hours that she’s let me help her. And I did it all without the help of my dick. Which, up until yesterday, was the only thing she’s ever wanted from me.

With her clothes from last night folded up in her lap, she sits stiffly in the passenger seat of my truck.

“Your apartment isn’t in the city,” I say as I drive towards her apartment building. It’s not far from mine, something I immediately noted when I helped her move in.

“And your point is?”

“Coming from downtown Chicago, I just thought you might want the convenience of city living. But it makes sense, you’re closer to the mountains, with adventure right outside the door.”

“I guess.” She glances at the mountain range out her window.

“It’s okay if you tell me I’m right. It won’t kill you.”

“It might.” Like I’d hoped, the corner of her mouth pulls up in a grin that she quickly hides before she turns to face me head on. “My life would be a lot easier if you stopped trying so hard to make me like you.”

“For who? Maybe you haven’t noticed, but I like your claws. And I can take anything you throw at me. But enough about me. What thrill are you going to chase down first? Besides me, of course,” I deadpan before I continue trying to pry her shell open. “Climbing the 14ers, backpacking the Colorado trail, or mountain biking black diamonds?”

“You remember what I told you about my adventure bucket list?” That gets her to look at me.

“I think about that night every day. I couldn’t erase it if I tried.”

Her eyes flick over me carefully. “I haven’t decided yet,” she says, giving me her back again as she faces the window. “Turn here.”

“It’s a vault, remember,” I tell her, tapping my temple with my pointer finger. “I’ll wait in the car while you two talk.” Going in with her seems invasive, and I’m not sure I can handle seeing it if they decide to reconcile. Or kiss goodbye. Just the thought has my knuckles screaming as I grip the steering wheel.

“Yeah, thanks.” She doesn’t look back as she walks to the front door of her apartment.

I’m distracting myself by scrolling when a shadow passes over my screen and I look up to find Brianna reaching for the passenger door. She pulls herself into the truck and drops a bag into the back before looking at me.

“So the ex is taking the ex to the airport. This should be entertaining.” There’s no malice in her statement and she looks no more broken up about it than Indie did last night.

“Yeah, I’m not sure she would consider me an ex. But when you say it like that, I’m not sure this is less awkward than her driving you.”

“It’s only weird if we make it that way. And you’re right, ‘ex’ probably isn’t the right word for you.”

“I don’t know how I feel about you knowing so much about me.” I rub my palm over my jaw.

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