Page 49 of The Stud

“But what?”

“But then I…” concern as well as what appears to be embarrassment cakes her vision, “can’t really…hear…you out of that ear.”

“Are you completely deaf without it?”

“Not completely,” she confesses, pausing my movements. “But like enough.”

Swallowing my own apprehension is difficult yet done. “What is…um…your condition exactly?”

“I’ve got otosclerosis.” Additional shame shades her beautiful brown stare. “Abnormal bone growth in one ear which can – or in my casehas– led to significant hearing loss.”

“Anything they can do?”

“Surgery.”

My mouth lowers to speak only nothing comes out.

Perhaps because I don’t know what to say?

Or what Ishouldsay?

Shouldnotsay?

Verbally sparring with Arden is one thing, getting her to believe anything remotely real from me is next league up shit.

And currently?

I just left the beer leagues.

“Hand it over,” I command with an open palm. “I’ll keep it on the bar while the food cooks.” Offering her a crooked grin mindlessly occurs. “Play a little D in case Bear mistakes it for a snack.”

“He’s never done that before.”

“Doesn’t mean it can’t happen.” An almost shy snicker precedes more hesitation, an action that pushes me to add, “Letme lace up, Arden.” I instinctively lean over the couch’s edge and plead, “Just this once.”

Chapter 8

Arden

First official home game in the books, which means it’s now time for the first official post-game dog walk.

Bear’sleastfavorite.

“Don’t look at me like that,” I fuss while reaching for his harness that’s dangling on the key hook beside the front door. “Off-season is over.”

Bear turns his face up towards the ceiling on an unhappy woof.

ForFuhrssake,I get it.

He wants to be in bed.

Legs over my legs.

Chewing on his bedtime bone listening to me chirp the announcers on STN or quotingA Knight’s Taleto sleep.

I want that too!

But if I don’t walk him now to burn a little excess energy, he’ll invite himself into the backyard to run chariot race circles at two in the morning and nobody likes that.

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