Page 54 of Tight End

“What?” My jaw crashes to the floor. I know it’s not the most ladylike, but I can’t help it.

“I got a new car. A Volkswagen ID.4. Their safety rating is impeccable.” He swipes a hand down Oliver’s back, and I just continue staring at him like a slack-jawed idiot. Safety rating? What? He’s not driving the muscle car he loves because he bought a Volkswagen with an impeccable safety rating? Why would he do that?

Come on, June, you know why.

Because he wants us to be safe. Oliver. He wants Oliver to be safe.

Fuck. Why is that so hot? I think my ovaries may have exploded.

No, June. Don’t get sucked in. You have a date tomorrow, and this entire evening will be put behind you.

But how can I even think about going on a date with another man when he bought a new car because of its safety rating?

He doesn’t wait for me to reply—I’m still not sure I can—before he turns and interjects himself between our friends. “I hate to pull June away, but it’s getting late, and we should be getting little man ready for bed.”

Poppy’s brows raise. “Are you sure? You don’t need a ride?”

“Doesn’t look like it.” I glance to Ryan, who is rigid beside me, his stony expression giving nothing away. “I’ll text you guys later.”

“You better.” She pulls out her phone, waving it to Gunner. “Can I get a picture of you guys? My dad is going to be so mad he had to leave early.”

“No problem.” Gunner smiles, giving me a wave. “Nice to meet you, June. Sorry this guy is a Neanderthal. We’ll have to get together soon.”

“Absolutely, I—bye.” I manage to get a few words out; then Ryan’s hand is at my lower back, guiding me out of the building and into the parking lot.

He doesn’t say anything, but his entire body is still radiating hostility. I’ve never seen him so worked up, and I’m not sure whether there’s anything I can say or do to get him to calm down. I could joke about the bulge watch or tell him about the reporter I saw taking pictures of the studio, but I can’t manage to break the silence.

He stops next to a silver SUV, and I stand there in awe ashe pulls the keys from his pocket, turns on the remote start, pulls open the back door, and straps Oliver into a brand-new car seat. The popcorn goes into the seat next to him, and Ryan hands him a plush dinosaur before the door shuts, breaking whatever spell was hanging over me.

After taking a deep breath, I scramble past him to the passenger seat, but as my hand hits the handle, Ryan turns me around. His breaths are heavy, his eyes wild. His hands rest on either side of me, and he leans forward, his chest rumbling with another growl.

I’m caged in, my feet cemented to the asphalt beneath us. I can’t move. I’m not sure I want to.

Ryan inches closer, his voice rough, gravelly, and he grits out, “I don’t like it.”

“Don’t like what?” I whisper, struggling to keep my hands at my sides. The last thing I need to do is touch him right now. Especially when I’m afraid I won’t be able to stop.

“I don’t like seeing you with another man’s name across your back.”

For the second time tonight, my mouth falls open. “Is that why you were pissed at Silas?”

“Why did you pick his jersey and not mine?”

The air leaves my lungs in a whoosh, and as his head tilts closer to mine, his lips mere inches away, my heart leaps up into my throat, and I struggle to swallow it back down. “I ... well, I didn’t want your girlfriend to get the wrong idea.”

His jaw tics, working back and forth. “What girlfriend?”

“She was in the box. You’ve been photographed together a few times at different events and the first preseason game She’s blond, young.” When his eyes narrow, I add, “In one of the pictures she was wearing a gold dress. It was a children’s charity event.”

You also smiled at her and had your hands all over her.

She was young, beautiful, and I guarantee doesn’t have stretch marks marring her perfectly tight body. She seems nice, and I absolutely don’t feel any sort of irrational jealousy when I think about her. Not at all.

His eyes light up with recognition and his lips twitch. “That’s Gunner’s sister. We’re friends.”

“Oh.” My stomach hollows out, and I feel relieved yet panicked at the same time. It’s like my safety net has been pulled out from beneath my feet and I’m left with no choice but to free-fall. To where? I’m not sure.

“Oh?”

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