Page 62 of One Touch

My throat was clogged with emotion. I understood what it was like to hide who you were all too well.

“I’m glad I could be a part of it.”

Miller glanced to make sure the divider was up before he leaned over and kissed my cheek. It wasn’t lingering or passionate, but it might have been the best kiss I’d ever received. Miller being proud of me was worth more than I’d realized.

CHAPTER23

MILLER

The last placeI wanted to be tonight was the team Christmas party, but considering I was still the new guy, I needed to show I was part of the team. It was crazy to remember how when I arrived, I wanted nothing more than to ingratiate myself so deeply with the team. I wanted my teammates to love me so they couldn’t imagine the team without me on it. But now, the thought of being in a room with them where I couldn’t touch the man who’d captured my heart was pure torture.

“What are the odds there are any single guys here tonight?” Toby asked next to me.

“Huh?” I broke my stare with Lathan and turned to Toby. He smirked and flicked his eyes to Lathan. Why was he looking at my man? Wait. He wasn’t mine. Cool your jets. I took a sip of my seltzer water. The bubbles tickled my lip and calmed me slightly. “Oh, um, not sure. I’m not really focused on that now that the season has started.”

“Or because you have your eyes on someone else,” he said knowingly, flicking his attention to Lathan. He really needed to stop doing that.

“What? No. No interest there.”

“Hmm.” He leaned close and patted my chest. “I’d believe you if you hadn’t been eye-fucking the alternate captain since the moment he walked into the room.”

I gulped. Shit. “It’s nothing. Just a one-sided crush.”

His face morphed into one I didn’t like—pity. “Oh, honey. It’s cute you think that, but he’s been eyeing you right back.”

“You’re ridiculous. There’s nothing going on.”

“It’s not my business what’s going on, so I’ll leave it be, but if you’re trying to keep this under wraps, you both might want to work on the heated looks you send each other. I’m getting a contact boner from the sexual tension emanating from you two.”

I chuckled; the sound high-pitched and slightly deranged. “You need to get your eyes checked.”

“Sure thing, Miller.” Toby laughed, patted my chest once more, and leaned closer. “I’m going to go before I discover if laser eyes are real. I’m afraid I won’t have a hand if they are. Good luck, friend.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but it was no use. He’d already walked away, and my gaze swung back to Lathan of its own accord. We were like magnets, and I couldn’t fight the pull any longer. My feet took me across the room until we were standing across from one another. The woman he’d been talking to excused herself at my arrival.

“Enjoying yourself?” he asked. I didn’t miss the harshness of his tone or how my body relaxed at his proximity. This was a serious problem. I needed to distance myself before I got too addicted to him. Except it was already too late.

“Not really, no. You?”

Lathan’s expression shifted from anger to surprise. “Uh. But…”

“Toby is just a friend, so whatever your mind is conjuring, it’s not true. Besides, if you don’t know I only want you, you haven’t been paying attention. Excuse me.”

I left him gaping as I hurried out of the room. I couldn’t believe I’d just admitted that. I was losing control of my sanity. Any second now, I was likely to wipe the tortured look off his face with a kiss. It wouldn’t help, though. It would only make things worse. So, it was better to remove myself so I wasn’t tempted to blow everything up.

“Miller time!” one of my teammates shouted. I nodded and headed toward the group.

“Hey. How’s it going?”

“Good, man. Have you met my wife, Lexi?” Samson asked.

“No, I haven’t. It’s lovely to meet you,” I said, shaking her hand.

“You, too. How do you like Austin? You’re new to the team, right?”

“I am.” I smiled. “Austin’s lovely. I already feel more at home here than I ever did in Chicago.”

“Have you found a new place yet? Yours caught on fire, right?” Samson asked.

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