Page 128 of Caught Stealing

Deep down, this is something I knew. But his reaction in Nashville wholly contradicted that line of thinking.

“You made it sound like an ultimatum, though,” I murmur, my gaze darting away before returning to him. “You, or Holden. Bros before hoes, and all that.”

His lips roll inward and he nods, his expression immediately sobering. “And at the time, that’s exactly what I meant. But then someone told me that rule doesn’t apply if he’s the rest of your life.”

“Who told you that?”

“Holden did. Last week.”

My eyebrows might as well shoot through the roof, and I can’t help the way my heart stumbles in my chest at the sound of his name.

“You talked to him?”

He nods, smirking. “He cornered me outside the locker room and demanded ten minutes of my time. Wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

Yeah, definitely sounds like Holden.

I gnaw at the inside of my cheek, the question right there on the tip of my tongue before it finally breaks free. “What else did he want?”

Kason gives me a knowing look, a playfulness in his eye that I’ve missed more than I can describe. “I think that’s between me and Holden, don’t you, Phoe?”

“Jackass,” I chide, but there’s a smirk on my lips too.

“Consider it a taste of what it’s like to be on the dark end of the secrets.” Kason’s expression sobers again as he gives me a stern, analytical look. “So, does it feel like that with him? Like he’s the one?”

As much as it doesn’t make sense, and as much as I wish it weren’t the case, it does. He’s the person I want to talk to every waking moment of the day. The person I want to punch people for at concerts or curl in bed with and study the steadiness of his heartbeat.

When I look at him, I see what my parents have. The kind of love that negates odds or logic.

I nod, but there’s still a hint of guilt eating at me, and I can’t help the words from sneaking out. “I’m sorry.”

Compassion shines through Kason’s gaze. “Don’t be. You love him, and he loves you. That’s fucking rare, man. You don’t find it every day, and I’m jealous as hell you’ve managed to do this early in life. Not because I want Holden for myself or anything. More like I just wanna find it for myself.” He leans forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t sick of being alone when so many of my friends and teammates are coupled up now. It was bearable when you were single, ‘cause at least I had you…” He pauses to clear his throat before rerouting the topic away from me and Holden. “And I’m fuckin’ tired of being a virgin. Of being the butt of the joke because I haven’t had sex yet, even though no one out here feels worth giving it to.”

“That person could be right around the corner, you know.”

His head shakes, disbelief evident on his face. “At this point, he’s either fictional, straight, or isn’t alive.”

My eyes roll instantly. “I think you’re being a little over dramatic there.”

“Well, dramatic antics aside, there’s actually something I needed to talk to you about, too,” he hedges before leaning back in his chair. “I’m moving out when the lease ends.”

I’d have to be blind to not see this one coming, though it doesn’t make the ache in my chest hurt any less.

“What are you planning to do?”

“I took a page out of Holden’s playbook and answered an ad someone posted about an open room at another apartment down the road.” His teeth scrape over his lip before he lets out a wry laugh. “Who knows, maybe I’ll find a replacement best friend in the deal, too.”

I wince, once again hating the tiny barb sticking out of the joke. But I do my best to flick it free from where it’s latched onto me and give him a slight grin.

“C’mon now. We agreed we wouldn’t be like Ross.”

“I know, I know.” Kason’s penetrating gaze meets mine, and I can tell from the look on his face that my worries are clearly etched in my expression. “Me needing to take some time to get over this doesn’t mean you still aren’t my favorite person on this planet. It just means I need to put myself first, just like you are.”

Yeah, this is starting to feel more and more like a breakup all over again.

Emotion clogs in my throat, and I do my best to swallow it down before nodding. Lord knows I don’t trust myself to speak right now. Something Kason must realize, too, because he changes the subject.

“The real question is, if he makes you as happy as you’re saying, then how are you planning to get your guy?” The look of confusion crossing my face makes him smile before he adds, “You forget, I know you better than just about anyone. So I know you’ve already got a plan in place.”

---