Page 106 of Drop Shot
If they want to, that is.
It’s strange for me though—this many months on tour not working as Elias’s assistant. Strangely, I miss it. I’m not the kind of person who enjoys doing nothing day in and day out and I have no desire to try to make social media my job the way Ebba has. I don’t think I could handle having random peoples’ criticism shoved in my face when I haven’t asked for it. Some of the comments I’ve received on the account Jackson forced me to create have been downright vile. Sure, there’s plenty of nice comments but those nasty ones stay with me. But it’s part of what I’m doing to help Elias—posting behind the scenes photos of our “relationship” to humanize him. The photo that’s gotten the most traction was one I snapped when we were still in Miami of him sleeping on my couch with Craig on his chest.
The hotel room door opens and I jump, startled at the sudden noise. I hope one day I won’t be so jumpy, but the thing with Keaton did a number on me.
“You look more tired than usual,” I comment as Elias strides into the room and sits down on the chair in the corner to pull his shoes off.
“I feel it,” he grumbles. “My team is working me harder than normal. They had me running sprints for what felt like hours.” He tugs on the curls of his hair in annoyance. “I know it’ll help me in the long run, but I hate it.”
He stands and yanks his shirt off and I’m gifted with the stunning view of his chest.
He’s so fucking beautiful. I swear he could be a model like his mom if he really wanted to. His skin is practically flawless except for a scar on his shoulder he told me once he got skateboarding as a kid. All that skin hugs a muscular and toned body that’s made for endurance. And the full sleeve tattoo on his left arm is drool worthy. I don’t mean to let my thoughts stray to the way those shoulders felt holding my thighs open as he lapped at my pussy, but I can’t seem to help but go there.
A sudden snapping sound pulls me back to reality.
Elias grins down at me, hands on his hips. His athletic shorts hang dangerously low and I find myself wondering if he actually has any boxer-briefs on underneath there.
“I’m feeling thoroughly objectified, Whim. I’m not a piece of meat, you know? I’m not here for you to ogle just for your viewing pleasure.”
I wonder if my face is as red as I feel like it is.
“I … uh …” Yeah, I’m all out of words and certainly have no excuse.
His smile only gets bigger. “I’m kidding. Look all you want. It feels good to have my fake-girlfriend appreciate me.”
Ugh.
There’s that dreadful word.
Fake.
I’m aware that I’m the one that redrew the lines and firmly reestablished that we weren’t going to try to make this serious, and while I do regret that decision, I did it for him. I don’t want to become a distraction for him. He needs to focus on his game. Being a professional athlete doesn’t last forever. The body wears out. I don’t want him to prioritize me—because I realize now he’s the type to spoil—and end up resenting me one day for it.
Not to mention there’s the pesky problem of Jackson.
I’m certain he would skin me alive if this turned out to be real. He’d be certain that I did some kind of magic spell on him or something. God forbid Elias like me for me.
“I was only teasing,” Elias sobers. “I didn’t mean anything by it.”
I wave my hand dismissively. “Sorry. I just got lost in thought is all.”
He doesn’t look like he believes me.
“You’re not thinking about him, are you?”
“Jackson?” I blurt guilty.
“No,” he says the word slowly, brows furrowing. “I meant Keaton.”
“Oh.” I shake my head. “No. I wasn’t thinking about him.” At least not right now.
“The offer still stands for me to hire you a therapist.”
The genuine concern in his voice makes my stomach feel gooey. It’s not fair that he’s so good looking, nice, and caring. Even when I was working for him and he could sometimes be a bit demanding there was always a genuine appreciation and acknowledgment from him when I completed a task.
“I’m okay, really.”
And I am. Mostly, anyway. Now that time has passed and he’s gone I don’t feel as fearful as I did right after the incident.
