Page 50 of Crossing Lines

“Yeah, I know.” I was used to it. It was what we were doing now, traveling with the team. But in the fall, we wouldn’t be traveling together. My heart pinched. We’d figure it out. All sports players did. But it would be better if he lived at my home base. “Who knows if I’m going to get that far.” I forced a grin. “I haven’t even gotten the invite to the first camp.”

He slid his gaze to mine. “Jonah, you’re good enough. Especially the way you’ve been playing this year. And tonight, you showed a lot of maturity in your playing. It wasn’t all about you. You were part of the team, even though you knew Shannon was watching you.” He tapped the tip of my nose. “That’s one of the things Shannon will be wanting to see.”

I slowly nodded, keeping my gaze on his. “Well, we’ll see what happens.” Right now, I was here in his bed and the world outside us could go to hell. I lowered my cheek to his chest and hugged him to me. I loved him, and no contracts or team schedules were going to interfere with that.

We lay in silence for a few minutes, both of us hanging on tothe other. The steady thumping of his heart filled my ear. If only I could sleep here with him, maybe set an early alarm and?—

“Jonah, you should probably go back to your room now.” He pushed on my shoulder. “Don’t you think?”

Holding him tighter, I brushed my cheek over his chest. “No.” I probably wasn’t going to win this argument.

He kissed my head. “Come on, Jonah. Get up.” He shimmed out from under me and rose to sitting in the bed, then gave me a warm smile. “Get. Up.”

“Okay.” I scoffed and sat up, rubbing my eyes. “You know I’ll be back again tomorrow night.” With a coy grin, I peeked at him.

“Uh-huh. Wouldn’t expect anything less out of you.” His smile turned wry.

“Yeah, you’re not getting rid of me. Even if I make the Leafs.” I held my head high and climbed off the bed, then found my clothes and tugged them on.

“You know if you do go to the camps up there, I’ll be there with you.” He chewed his lower lip. “Well, I’ll be up in Toronto this summer.”

“You will?” I picked up the cleaned dildo from the nightstand and stuffed it into my pocket. I’d never thought of where he’d go this summer. It was too fucking hot to stick around the Phoenix area if you didn’t have to.

“I was planning on going home to spend time with my mom.” He tilted his head, his fingers toying with the folds in the sheets.

“Cool.” I nodded my head a few times. If I didn’t make the camp, would he invite me to see her? Too soon to be asking things like that. “Anyway, I’ll, uh, get going.” I stepped to him and pressed a lingering kiss to his mouth. He wasn’t dressed, so I wouldn’t ask him to walk me to the door. “See you in the morning.” I squeezed his shoulder. “Sweet dreams.”

“You too.” With a sigh, he relaxed against the pillows.

I strolled to the door, then set my ear to it. Was anyone outthere right now? No sounds came through. Opening it, I looked down one side of the hallway. All clear. I stepped out, facing my room. My gaze snagged a leg as someone stepped into a doorway and the door clicked shut. Shit, I’d just missed whoever that was.

Puffing out my chest, I strode down the hallway. Whose room was that? It was right next to Ryan’s. Maybe he’d know.

After ducking into my dark room and shutting the door, I fished my phone out of the pocket of my joggers and held it to my face.

Jonah

Hey, do you know who’s in the room next to yours?

Rhonda

Yes, it’s Coach Finley.

Three dots popped up on my screen, flickering at me.

My heart lurched. Fuck, had my coach seen me coming out of Ryan’s room? If he had, he’d surely know there was something going on between us.

Rhonda

Why?

I swallowed, then licked my lips. It was nothing. He was probably already in his room before I stepped into the hallway.

Jonah

Just wondering. Nighty night.

Rhonda