Page 98 of False Start

She pursed her lips, turning back to me. “How about a bath?”

I nodded dumbly, my tongue sluggish as all my blood traveled straight to my dick.

“Last night,” she mumbled low enough that I wasn’t sure if it was for her benefit or mine.

THIRTY-TWO

KIT

Trent collectedour bags out of the back of the car he hired to drive us home from the airport. I’d readied myself with a firm handshake and a quick goodbye, but he had other ideas. And honestly, after the last five days, I didn’t have the energy to argue.

“Aren’t you going home?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

He plowed ahead with a shake of his head. “I want to check on Derek and make sure he didn’t miss me too much.”

The hand I’d extended to take my bag fell. I planted it on my hip instead. “You thinkyou’rethe person he wants to see?”

“I figured he’d want to see both of us. I’m sure he’s eager to find out what he missed.”

“There is nous,Texas.”

The sex was great, but the rally was over, and, by extension, Trent and I were over. I had to make the differentiation now before I risked my feelings over a guy who’d be dating a supermodel come fall.

He grinned before feigning a hurt expression. “I can’t believe you’d say that to your favorite teammate.”

“I have a whole kickball team full of teammates. Don’t get cocky now.”

Despite the post-coital conversation the night before, we did not seem to be “going back to normal.” I followed him into the elevator, ignoring when he listed into my side, knocking me off balance with a lopsided grin.

“We’re back,” I called into the empty living room, disappointed not to find Derek. “You here?”

Trent slid into the apartment behind me, setting our bags by the door. A solid thunk toward Derek’s bedroom sent me scrambling toward the closed door, visions of Derek laid out on the floor, hurt.

“Derek, what’s going on?” I called, slamming open the door and immediately regretting that decision. “Oh, no. I didn’t mean…”

I swept an arm over my eyes to block out a very naked Gavin standing beside Derek’s bed. Gavin hit the floor as Derek flailed, letting out a shout of pain. Palm fused to my face, I stumbled back, missing the door completely and slamming back first into the wall.

Trent’s arm wrapped around my waist as he pulled me out of the room. “Sorry, man. We should have called to let you know what time we’d be back.”

Only when the door slammed shut did I uncover my eyes. “What the hell was that?”

Trent marched to the kitchen, grabbing two sodas from the fridge. He popped the tops and handed one to me. “Well, when two people really like each other?—”

I grimaced. “No. Not that. Gavin?! I didn’t even know Derek liked him.” I slugged down a gulp of soda, setting the can on the counter. “They’ve known each other for years.”

He shrugged. “Weird things happen when people spend a lot of time together.”

My cheeks burned at his observation. I shook my shoulders, slaking off the insinuation. “Yeah, fine, maybe.”

We finished our drink in silence, waiting until Derek and Gavin emerged from the bedroom, fully dressed this time.

“Welcome back,” Derek greeted us with a smile as he hobbled into the living room. A black contraption made of metal and fabric covered his leg from ankle to thigh.

Gavin held Derek’s arm, taking most of Derek’s weight on his hobble to the couch.

He carefully lowered Derek onto the couch. “Do you need anything?”

Derek beamed up at Gavin. “A water?”

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