Page 96 of Catching Feelings

“Fucking Christ.” He shoves me and I nearly headbutt my locker, but I right myself, laughing. It’s been too long since I’ve had an honest-to-God laugh. “Get your shit together before the next game. We’ve got a tough three games on the road and we need you out there. You’re the best tight end in the league.”

“Knew you liked my ass.” I toss my duffel over my shoulder and follow Bankes down the hall, and for thirty seconds, I forget that Rowan won’t be there.

Since Bankes didn’t mention her, I take it she never said anything to Riley or Kendall about us, which makes me fucking sad. Hell, I’d have posted our relationship status on a billboard in Times Square if she’d let me, and if I knew what it was during the short time we were together.

But despite what she thinks of me for deceiving her, I respect her privacy and won’t mention it, even though it pains me to keep quiet.

The wives greet their husbands with kisses while the single guys hit on the few single women waiting around. It’s a friends and family area so it’s not like there are horny women hanging off our arms—save that for the bars.

Riley and Kendall give me hugs, because they’re cool like that, and I try to act nonchalant when I ask about Rowan.

“You’re missing your third wheel. Rowan got a hot date or something?” Fuck, that hurt to squeak out. Not that I want to know if she does, but it would be nice to have confirmation that it’s not why she missed today’s game.

“No. She really wanted to come but she’s been busy taking care of her sister,” Riley says.

“Her sister?” She’s said very little about them to me, but she toldAdamthe details of her dysfunctional family.

Their relationship isn’t good. It’s toxic. Rowan might not have used that word, but I could read between the lines. The family centers around the sister, Natalie, I think her name is. Rowan always got pushed aside and was responsible for raising her brother while keeping house.

Even now, with them grown up and living on their own, they only reach out to her when they need something. And because Rowan is the peacemaker, the one who wants to make everyone happy, she never argues with her family and does whatever they ask.

I have another name for her—pushover—but it’s not something I’d say to her face. She wants to please people, but she often does so at her own expense.

“Yeah. I guess she had surgery, her ACL, I think, and is staying at Rowan’s so she can help take care of her.”

“Doesn’t she have to work?” I ask defensively. And why can’t their mother care for her?

“Rowan says she sleeps most of the day and they have dinner together at night. She’ll help her sister with PT and appointments when she can get up and move. She’s such a good person.”

The fuck? Rowan has a tiny apartment on the third floor and works long hours. The last thing she needs to do is play caretaker to her selfish sister.

Riley and Kendall don’t seem upset about Rowan’s sacrifices, so I take it she hasn’t told them about her toxic family. The women are close. Best of friends, so Rowan should feel comfortable being open and honest with them, but it’s another secret she’s held close to her chest.

The many layers of Rowan McDaniels.

Dec drapes an arm over my shoulder. “We hittin’ up Whiskey Buckle tonight, kids?”

The last place I want to be is at a bar. While thinking of an excuse not to hang out with the team and sneak off to Rowan’s, my phone vibrates in my pocket. Only four people outside of the team call me on the regular. My aunt, my sister, Rowan, and my agent. None are people I want to ignore.

I slip out my phone and am disappointed when I see it’s not Rowan. “Hey, Auntie.”

“There’s something going on with you, Miles, and you’ve been keeping it from me. Get your butt over here right now and be prepared to tell me what’s going on in that steel noggin of yours.”

“I’m on my way.”

“Booty call?” Dec waggles his eyebrows.

“Not my fault the ladies can’t resist.” I smirk, rather having him think that’s why I’m ditching the crew tonight than know I’m about to get my ass chewed out by my aunt.

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