Page 8 of Restricted List

Oh fuck, that’s worse.

Because that’s exactly where I want her.

Fuck fuck fuck.

Wereallyshouldn’t do this…

So,technically, nothing happened. But it sure as fuck almost did.

Rory lets out a breath. “I’m sorry about that. Clearly, I’m very forward, even with my friends, but I shouldn’t have offered to literally blow you in the fucking showers.”

My traitorous dick twitches at the memory.

Down boy.

You’re still not going to be seeing more than my hand anytime soon.

“We just got, uh… caught up in the moment. Right?” I ask, no conviction in my voice.

“Right,” she mutters. “Just lots of adrenaline running wild after the win.”

“Yes,” I agree, lying through my teeth because I know that’s far from the only reason it happened.

Iwantedit.

And I think Rory might have, too.

“So, uh…,” she starts before taking a deep breath. “Are we good now?”

I shoot her a soft smile. “We’re good, Aurora.”

Rory cocks her eyebrow in confusion. “Aurora?”

“Rory’s gotta be short for something, right?”

“Nope. It’s just Rory.”

“Shame. Aurora seems like a fitting name for you.”

“It sounds more like a name you’d see for a mermaid, Cole.”

I squint, pretending to inspect her legs. Well, technically, Iaminspecting her legs, but not at all in a friendly way. “Huh. Guess you are lacking a mermaid tail.”

She throws her head back as she laughs, and the sound is just as sweet as it was the day I first met her. “Then I guess you’re safe from my siren song.”

We’re both happy and smiling now, seeming to be back to our usual banter.

“I missed this,” I admit.

“Yeah,” Rory replies, a look of contentment on her face. “I did, too. We’ve been friends for more than three years. I’d hate for a lapse in judgment to come between us.”

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that.” I lean back against my seat, hands folded behind my head. “You’re stuck with me. I’m not going anywhere.”

Her coffee-colored eyes sparkle as the sunlight hits, and I can feel the warmth they radiate. “Good. I like having you around, Pierce.”

A smug sense of pride washes over me. Nothing more can happen between us, but I sure as hell enjoy that she wants me around.

“Yeah, you’re not so bad yourself, Fisher,” I smirk.