Page 116 of Man Advantage

“I know,” he murmured. “But it’ll keep the lines clearer. And you won’t feel like you’re trapped with me if things go south.”

I wanted to insist that would never happen. For all I’d been afraid it could, Trev wasn’t Daniel; he wouldn’t do shit to make me feel unsafe, and he wouldn’t leave me out in the cold. But after Daniel, I couldn’t take that for granted. Not even with Trev. I hated that.

I moistened my lips. “I, um… I think I might look for a job locally. At a gym or something. Not even because of the financial side of things—I want to have my own income and all, but also… I miss it. I love looking after the boys, but I miss training, you know?”

Trev nodded. “I get that. And there’s tons of gyms around here, so I’m sure you could find something. Or—” He hesitated.

“What?”

He chewed his lip, then looked at me through his lashes. “I don’t want more of your life to be tangled up with me—more than you’re comfortable with, I mean. But there are always people at the team’s training center who are looking for trainers. Especially strength trainers. And I’m pretty sure the team has an open position for one too.”

I straightened. “Oh. That could be interesting.”

“I can get you in touch with the right people if you want to talk to them.” He carded his fingers through my hair. “If you’re good with a job that’s with my team.”

“I wouldn’t be working directly for you, though. I can live with that.”

Some interest sparked in his eyes. “Yeah?”

“Sure. But what if you don’t stay in Pittsburgh?”

“It’s always a possibility. If that happens, we can do the long-distance thing during the season, and I’ll come back here during the off-season.” He gestured around us. “You’re welcome to stay here, too.”

I had no idea what I’d done to deserve this man, but whatever it was, I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.

I curled closer to him. “You’re amazing. You know that?”

He stroked a hand down my back. “I know. I’ve seen my stats.”

I snorted and bumped him with my knee.

Chuckling, Trev kissed my forehead and held me to him.

Eyes closed, I sighed into his embrace. Everything about this was perfect. Even all the messiness that had apparently had to happen for us to get here. I’d never wish the aftermath of my breakup with Daniel on my worst enemy, but for the first time, I was genuinely glad it had happened. All of it. Though there’d been a lot of hell and fear during those weeks, that shitstorm was the tornado that had miraculously deposited me here. In Pittsburgh. In this house. In Trev’s arms. In love with my best friend.

We’d lost a lot of years, and I hated that we’d missed so much of each other’s lives, but maybe that had been a blessing too. Immaturity and figuring ourselves out had stood in the way of us connecting when we were younger. Maybe we’d needed to go our separate ways for a while, grow up, and become the people who could give this relationship the chance it deserved.

One way or the other, we’d made it back to each other.

And I hoped we never let each other go again.

EPILOGUE

TREV

A yearand a half later

“Oh, hey! He does clean up!”

I turned around to see Mike, Don, and Jake, my old friends from back home, walking into the room where I’d been getting ready. “Hey, guys! And what do you mean I clean up? I wear bespoke suits all the damn time!”

“Yeah,” Don said, “but you don’t usually gothisfancy.”

He had a point. While I wore suits regularly, tuxes were reserved for very special occasions. The League awards banquet. The team’s casino night.

My wedding.

As I exchanged hugs and handshakes with my friends, I asked, “How does Cam look?”

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