Page 109 of Breaking Away

“Go to her,” says Hughes. “I got this.”

“You’ll burn the meat.”

“And risk our team turning on us? I’m too sexy to get trampled.”

I put another burger on the grill, and then I check on her again.

“Have you told her how you feel?”

My head snaps back. “What? It’s not—” I glare at Hughes.

He smirks.

“Too many concussions is your problem.”

He chuckles. “Sure. That must be it. It’s not that every time she comes into a room, you mark her with your eyes. Not that you’ve been reading her body language obsessively this last hour, watching over her.”

My face twists. “That’s not love.”

Hughes raises up both eyebrows. “I didn’t say it was.”

Fuck.He didn’t. I stare at the grill, not seeing. Actually, I want to knock my head into something. Or root around my chest until I grab it—this damn misery—to pull it out. I didn’t ask for this. I need to keep it from spreading.

Earlier today she asked about my knee.

The thinnest thread of control kept me from telling her everything. That “sharing” problem almost kicked in, before I stopped myself. Partly because my pain can’t be her burden, but also because the conditioning in me runs deep.

Tell no one, son.

My eyes close.

I’m remembering the morning. Her backing away from me… I almost dropped to my knees. Did I fuck up? Did she regret what happened last night? Was it not what she wanted? But then, she said it was perfect. Kavi also said she wants nothing to change between us.

I promised her it wouldn’t.

I’ll keep my word, and that means continuing like this, pretending we’re… temporary roommates… friends…?

Misery spikes harder in my chest.

“Can’t be me,” drawls Hughes, “but it looks like you have a real problem.”

“Fuck off.”

I ignore him—and the rest of the party—focusing on feeding everyone so they leave.

This lasts for two minutes.

When I turn around, I see Kavi approaching us.

Hughes tears off a piece of cheese and offers it to her.

“Thanks,” she mumbles.

“Thankyou,” he replies cheerfully. “Have you seen the numbers on our social media page? That’s worth way more than cheese.”

“I… I haven’t looked.”

“Speak to Tim,” says Hughes. “He’ll tell you.”

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