Page 55 of Tight End

“Guess you shouldn’t believe everything you read.” I huff a laugh, trying to break some of the tension settling around us, ignoring all the turmoil inside me.

Ryan doesn’t mellow. He doesn’t laugh with me. Instead, his expression hardens. “You’ll wear my jersey or nothing at all. If I see you with his name on your back again, I’ll rip it off your body myself. Clear?”

I swallow again, my pulse hammering in my veins. “Crystal.”

So why do I want to wear it again to see if he’ll follow through with his threat, his promise? And even worse, he doesn’t have a girlfriend. It meant he was off-limits. It meant I had to keep my distance. It freaking meant keeping him at the forefront of my thoughts, thinking inappropriate things was not okay. But it’s fine. She’s just a friend.

What am I supposed to do now? How am I supposed to protect myself?

How can I go on this date tomorrow knowing Ryan is the man I’ll go home and think about as I touch myself?

I’m in trouble.

Big trouble.

TWENTY-FOUR

Ryan

June’s been unusuallyquiet today. I don’t like it.

Especially when I’m sure it’s all my fault. I came on way too strong when I saw her in Silas fucking Brooks’s jersey, but in my defense, she was in Silas fucking Brooks’s jersey. I didn’t think. There was no time for logic or reasoning—there was only anger.

And an almost suffocating need to claim her in front of the world.

So if you think about it, I managed to hold myself back, managed to hold on to some modicum of control. I did good.

Unfortunately, I’m sure June doesn’t see it that way.

I’ve been waiting for a chance to talk to her, but she’s spent most of the day at her studio with Oliver, and since she’s been home, she’s been in her room. She thought I had a girlfriend. Fuck me. Why does that bother me so much?

“Can you read me fis story?” Oliver scrambles back in his tent, and as I sit up, he hands me a book with a happy green dinosaur on the front.

He settles down next to me, takes the book back out of myhands, opens it, and gives it back to me. I guess I’m a little too slow. So I don’t waste any more time, diving into all the things you could do if you found a dinosaur in your living room, including using it as a nutcracker.

I’m about halfway through when there’s a light knock on Oliver’s bedroom door.

“Are you expecting company?” I glance at him, brow raised.

He tosses his head back and laughs like I’m the funniest person in the world. “It’s your house. Are you specting company?”

“Let’s see, shall we?”

I crawl toward the opening, sticking my head out the front of the tent, and nearly fall on my face. Oliver joins me, running out as soon as he sees his mom. While I know I should join them and not loiter in this child’s tent, I’m not so sure I can.

Because holy fucking shit.

June’s wearing a little black dress and not just any black dress. This one has a deep V in the front, showing off her ample cleavage. It tapers in at the waist and then flares out around her thighs. It’s sexy, showing off all her perfect curves, and I want nothing more than to explore each one of them. In great detail. For hours.

“Hey, Ryan, I have a small favor to ask you.” She’s hovering at the doorway, her fingers clasped in front of her, twisting around each other.

“Of course.” I attempt to stand, but my shoulders hit the top of the tent, and I lurch forward. Luckily I’m able to catch myself before I face-plant onto the carpet.

Oliver tugs her hand, swishing the bottom of the dress. “You look berry pretty, Mommy.”

“Thank you, Oli.” She smiles down at him, running a hand through his head, that smile dropping from her face as she meets my eyes. Her teeth come down on her bottom lip, and my fingers twitch, longing to touch her. “Do you think ... well, I ... Are you okay babysitting Oliver tonight for a few hours?”

I take a step toward her, nearly tripping over my own two feet, but because of my athletic abilities, I’m able to play it off. Mostly. “Babysitting?”

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