Page 59 of Uniquely in Love

We won the game in overtime, 3-2, bagging our first official two points of the season against the Vancouver Warriors. I’d gotten my first assist of the season tonight, too, a pass to Maverick that he’d sunk in the net, and I was riding a high. Sure, I was exhausted—physically, at least—but I could never seem to fall asleep right away after a game.

“That was insane,” Ellie said, cheeks pink with excitement as I unlocked the door to the apartment hours later. “I can’t believe how crazy of a game that was. I was on the edge of my seat practically the entire time.”

“I’m glad you were there,” I said, stretching my arms out as I followed in behind her.

Had I played better tonight? Who knew. Though there was somethingcontagiousabout her presence that had me all amped up. I’d already showered at the arena before heading out and finding Ellie, but I knew exactly where I was going to end up the moment we said goodnight. Which waswrong.I definitely shouldn’t fist my cock while thinking about my ex-girlfriend and current roommate.

But when I’d seen her there tonight, wearing that smile just for me?

Fuck. I was all twisted up inside. I knew exactly what the guys would say. My phone would blow up with texts any time now. The next time we all went out for beers at the Penalty Box, I was sure I wouldn’t hear the end of how I’d dropped everything and moved Ellie into my house. But how could I not?

I could use the excuse that she was like family. That our mothers had been best friends since college, and I still remembered peeking over the baby stroller at a tiny, sleeping Ellie and feeling like I needed to protect her. It was different than the way I’d protected my own sister, Penny, though I’d kept plenty of assholes from dating her when she was in school too. I just hadn’t understood my feelings until I was much older. Until one day I’d blinked, and I’d realized she’d grown up. We both had.

Still, somehow, I didn’t think that reasoning would fly with my teammates. Not when that was too close to the truth.

She yawned. “I should probably get to bed. I’m just glad tomorrow is Sunday and I have a day to sleep in before I have to teach a bunch of rowdy elementary schoolers again.”

“Probably.” I rubbed at my forehead. “I should turn in myself. Lord knows my sleep schedule is going to change drastically once our road trips start.”

Normally, I looked forward to them each year. Sometimes it felt like we were spending every night in a different city, flying to our next stop after each night’s game. It took everything in me to crawl into bed those trips before I passed out. When we played back-to-backs, especially multiple in a row, it was grueling.

Now, it would be grueling for a whole different reason.

“Oh.” Ellie blinked. “I guess I forgot that you’d be gone.”

Though Ihatedthe sound of that. Her all alone in this big place? I knew how lonely it was. It was why I’d consideredgetting a dog all this time, though I hadn’t wanted to leave it alone multiple times during the season. Now, though… It was perfect. A way to make sure she wasn’t alone, even when I was on the road.

Filing it away for later, I focused on the woman in front of me, forcing out a laugh. “Yep. You’ll have the apartment all to yourself when I’m gone, Ellie baby.” The endearment slipped out before I could think better of it.Doing a great job of with beingfriends, Owen.I scolded myself.She set rules. Follow them.

“Yeah.” She gave me a small smile. “Don’t worry though, I won’t bring anyone home.”

A growl formed in my throat and I stepped closer to her.

“Owen.” Her voice was breathy. “I’m not going to?—”

Another step, and her back pressed up against the wall.

“No. You’re not. Because there won’t be anyone else. Not for either one of us.”

Ellie shook her head.

“Tell me.” I dipped my head, brushing my lips over her ear. “Tell me you’re not going to go out with anyone else while I’m gone.”

She bit her lip, her words coming out as a whisper. “I’m not going to go out with anyone else.”

“Good.” I nodded, and our eyes held for a moment. My gaze darted down to her mouth, and I watched as she ran her tongue across those soft, pink lips. It was impossible not to notice how she did the same.

I cleared my throat. “I should go to bed.”

“Right.” She let out a breath. “Me too.” Ellie slipped out, dashing towards her room.

Fuck. I rubbed my hand over my face as I headed into my bedroom.

What was I thinking? I had no right to control what she did. She wasn’t my girlfriend. We were just friends. But the idea of someone else taking her on a date made my bloodboil. It made me want to fight, and I’d never considered myself to be an aggressive person.

But Ellie was mine. She always had been.

I flipped on the light, surveying my room. It was pretty basic, but it was enough for me. No one else had ever shared my bed, slept on my sheets. All this time, there had only ever been one girl for me.

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