Page 31 of Loaded Laces

I especially love that tomorrow is a holiday so that Quinn doesn’t have school.

What I don’t love isreciprocatingsaid sleepovers.

But I take the good with the bad.

“I think you need a shower first, kid,” Belle says wisely, “but if Jake’s parents say it’s okay, I’m good with it. I’ll go check with Jodi now.”

Quinn glances at me. “We were going to play games tonight, can we do that tomorrow instead?”

Smart kid. Sweet kid.

I reach out and muss his sweaty hair. “Works for me.”

“Jodi’s down for torture,” Belle says, rejoining us a few minutes later. “Though, we’re on for next weekend.”

I stifle my groan, but know she hears it anyway because her lips curve up.

The next hour is filled with driving home, getting Quinn showered and packed up, and then me dropping him off.

But it’s an hour that’s punctuated with great.

Because Belle greets me completely naked in the kitchen when I get home.

And I get to fuck her someplace I haven’t had the chance to fuck her yet—the kitchen table.

It’s great—of course it is—and when it’s time to get comfortable and chill, I carry her to the couch, cuddling her close as we watch an action flick on TV.

Between the explosions and car chases, the question that’s been eating at me for months now slips out. “Why’d you ask that in the locker room, baby?”

She stills.

Then reaches forward and flicks off the TV.

Her eyes are remorseful. “Why’d I ask you if you’re still a player who gives up on the play?”

Yeah.That.

It pissed me off, hurt like a bitch—even though I didn’t want to admit it at the time.

Because some part of me worried it was true.

I gave up on fighting for her.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers. “I know it was out of line.”

The guilt’s heavy in her eyes, her voice, her frame.

Damn. I shouldn’t have brought this shit up, not after all this time.

“Forget it,” I say. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It does, honey.”

“I mean it.” I brush my lips over hers. “That question brought us back together, baby.”

“It hurt you, and pissed you off, and I hate that I asked it. I gave up on us. You?—”

Shit. I can see her spiraling now.

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