Page 107 of Fair Catch

“You look quite pensive,” he muses, his thumb running over the back of mine beneath the blanket. “Something on your mind?”

Truthfully, my head is full of so many thoughts, I don’t even know where to begin.

“You’re not like I expected you to be.”

His lips quiver. “Dare I ask what you mean by that?”

“I guess what I actually mean is, I’m glad I get to see this side of you.”

“You mean the side of me that isn’t a complete dick?” he asks, his tone playful and teasing.

“Well, I wasn’t gonna say it likethat.”

The half-grin turns into a face splitting one, but it’s the sound of his laugh that has my stomach doing gymnastics. “I hope you know I’m just messing with you. Though, I wouldn’t be offended if you thought that. You would’ve been right. But for whatever it’s worth, I’m sorry I was so standoffish in the beginning.”

“Yeah, you wanna tell me what was up with that? Because I honestly thought you hated me,” I recount, arching a brow.

Hayes grins sheepishly, a little pink tinting his cheekbones. Then again, it could just be the light bouncing off the snow. “I mean, not in so many words. But in case you haven’t noticed this about me, I don’t really like people.”

“Really? I had no idea,” I say, sarcasm lacing my tone. “That might be the most shocking thing I’ve learned about you in the past few months.”

“Okay, smartass.” He gives me a playful nudge with his shoulder. “I mean, I just kinda tolerate the existence of people. There are veryfewI can actually stand being around for long lengths of time, who I’m willing to share my space with, and Q was the only one I ever had to do that with.”

“And I was some stranger coming in and fucking with your vibe.”

When I glance over, he nods, teeth sinking into the side of his cheek. “Pretty much, yeah.”

It’s crazy to sit here and think about where this all started; the rocky and tumultuous beginning of what we are now. Moments that could have ended us before we ever began, full of awkwardness and tension. Days where we would inevitably end up in a weird, uncomfortable place whenever a disagreement would arise or mistakes would be made.

But that’s not how it is anymore.

We can talk about the hard shit. The things that aren’t so pretty, and share the deepest secrets and most out-there dreams. And even as we continue exploring each other—both naked and otherwise—there’s no pressure, no insecurities, no shame; only guidance and laughter and fun.

He makes me feel safe. In every way possible.

And to see him finally start showing me I do the same for him? It means more than getting drafted ever could.

“I’m glad you gave me a chance,” I whisper, my hand tightening in his.

“I am too.” His cobalt eyes take on a softness around the edges, almost like sorrow. “Though it doesn’t excuse it, I have a hard time trusting people’s intentions. I’ve been fucked over by enough people in the past who’ve only seen me as a bunch of dollar signs or a way to get to my parents. But you’ve done the opposite at every turn.”

“Because that’s not what I see when I look at you.”

His jaw tics, glancing away briefly before his attention returns to me. “I’m so sorry for making you feel like I didn’t want you here. That I didn’t treat you the way you deserved.”

It’s impossible to miss his word choice or the way it echoes the conversation we had about my life growing up or the abuse from my father. There’s a heaviness to them, a weight of more than just one meaning that’s reinforced in the way he looks at me.

Like he’d move mountains to change the past or take away the pain.

Like he’ll stop at nothing to make sure it never happens again.

Swallowing roughly, I whisper the only thing I can think of. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”A soft, remorseful smile lifts his lips at the corner. “Are we done with the heavy shit now? Because I’d really like to kiss you.”

I barely have time to nod before his fingers wrap around the back of my neck and he pulls me in. The first brush of his lips is soft; sweet and gentle enough to have those damn butterflies swarming in my stomach with a vengeance.

And if I didn’t already know I’m falling in love with him, I sure do now.

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