Page 44 of Through the Water

The girl had grit, but I doubted if she even knew it. It reminded me a little of my mama, just another one of many women who’d given up her backbone to become someone’s doormat. Maybe my sudden need to make her smile was nothing more than a knee-jerk reaction left over from childhood.

“Oh, I see. I gotta work for it,” I teased, tapping my finger against my lips. “Alright, I know it starts with an A—Alice?”

She wrinkled her nose and immediately shook her head, looking like she’d just sucked on a lemon.

I chuckled. “Give me a second—wait, I got it! It’s Adelaide. Can I call you Addy, for short?”

Her brows drew together as she rejected the name with another head shake, but the corner of her mouth turned up ever so slightly. It was all the encouragement I needed.

“Alright, now I know this doesn’t start with an A, but before you reject it, you should know I’ve actually grown kind of fond of this one. How about Girl?”

Okay. She exhaled softly, letting her mouth curve into a smile. It was small, even by the most generous of measures, but it was there.

“Yeah?” I beamed. “Well, alright then, Girl. I’m gonna run and let you get back to your morning. How’s that sound?”

The smile faded, and she pulled her lower lip between her teeth with a jerky nod.

“I’ll, uh, I’ll see you tomorrow, though,” I hastily added as I made my way to the door. Apparently, the filter between my brain and my mouth was on the fritz, letting just about anything through.

She lifted an eyebrow, back to clasping the necklace like a shield.

“What do you say we get you some food, Ariana?” Morgan asked as she led me out, fooling no one with her exaggerated wink.

“Ariana,” I repeated with a smile.

“Oh, whoops!” Morgan smacked her palm against her forehead. “Silly me, I sure messed up.”

I shook my head and was just turning toward my room when Morgan poked her head out into the hall.

“Hey,” she hissed. “Don’t forget to take the class. Okay—bye!”

There was something really not right about that woman.

After propping my knee up, I sprawled out on my bed with a relaxed sigh, feeling like I’d just sent one sailing over the fence. However, I imagined anyone else who’d witnessed my fumbled apology would have assumed I was now on strike two.

Still in the game.

I pinched the bridge of my nose with a low growl. There was no game—no reason for me to interact with her again beyond the usual pleasantries. My slate had been wiped clean. I could once again focus on my recovery and possible contract with the Hurricanes.

Case closed.

So, why did I want to see her again?

“Because you’ve temporarily lost your goddamned mind,” I grumbled. “And your judgment is shit. That’s why.”

I’d been down this road before. Women who didn’t give their names were typically married or otherwise spoken for. Pursuing Ariana would only end in one of us getting hurt, and my money was on it being me.

“Let’s not forget you assumed she was crazy right up until you found out about the brain injury either, chump.”

Exactly.

Regardless of what her sister wanted; I had no business being in a room alone with her—not with my track record. I’d said what I’d needed to, and now it was time to move on.

End of story.

Okay, maybe I’d let my imagination roam free when she’d covered my hand with hers, but it was just because she was an insanely gorgeous woman.

She was, I could admit it.

It didn’t mean I was going to throw away my career and what remained of my morals for a night with her, though. I didn’t negotiate on the field, and I wasn’t willing to give up my celibacy for anything less than forever.

Forever? My throat tightened painfully. Jesus, Reed. Get ahold of yourself.

Beautiful or not, I needed to rehab and get back to my team before they went looking for a replacement. I was here for one reason and one reason only—to get back on top.

Maybe if I said it enough, I’d start to believe it.

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