Page 35 of Waiting for Redemption

“What are friends for, right?” She lets out a soft laugh, and while her voice and laughter will always be one of my favorite things, the words leaving her mouth set my soul on fire.

I burn for her in a way that is getting harder and harder to conceal, while she’ll always remain just out of my reach.

Because even though I’ve placed myself in a friends-only position with her, I never let it cross my mind that maybe that’s all she sees in me anyway. That the feelings I’m harboring for her may not be mutual.

“Hey, Tank?” She whispers, bringing my eyes back to hers.

“Yeah?”

“Who were the guys you were talking to? Before you came back here?” Of course, she was around to hear that. Because the magnetic pull I’ve felt with her since we first met seems to keep us in each other’s orbit, and like a moth to a flame, she always knows where to find me.

“Asher, Dominic, Mike, and Keller. The team I had to leave behind after the fall.” I can’t get much more out without starting to spiral again, but with Ruby that’s never an issue. She doesn’t requiremore, she takes what I give her at face value and heals little broken pieces of me with her touch. Or at least that’s how it feels when she wraps her arms around me in an embrace, without uttering another word.

* * *

The plan to go out to dinner after the event atThe Gallerytonight sounded like a great idea at first. But running into my old team has thrown my mind completely off track. It just reminded me of the life I left behind and how much they need me out there, while I’ve been back home serving gimlets to old ladies, having panic attacks that drain me, and falling for a woman who may see me as nothing more than a drinking buddy or a soccer coach for her kid.

Lovely.

Here goes shot number five. Because if there’s one thing I know about myself, it’s that drinking to forget is my specialty.

CHAPTER14

RUBY

Taylor

I think I’m going on a road trip with Tucker

Me

Interesting…

Lauren

Leah

Are you on something? Are you taking drastic measures to avoid Zander? What’s happening?

Shane

I’m very confused, but very invested in your answers.

Taylor

I don’t know. He just asked and I said yes. It will be nice to not see Zander for… however long it takes to drive from San Fran to Nashville. Oh god, was this a mistake?

Me

No, not at all. Enjoy the time away. Clear your head. Just keep us posted so we know you’re alive. BOTH of you.

Shane

Ruby’s right. You deserve a little road trip vacay. Have fun. But not like, TOO MUCH fun.

Taylor

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