Page 101 of Game Changer
“An orgasm under the Northern Lights.”
She laughs.“Yes.That was spectacular.So much beauty and fun.”
“You were supposed to go to Europe.”Fuck.Why did I bring up the honeymoon?
“Yeah.”She pauses.“Steve didn’t even want to go to Europe.”
“Why not?”
“Because people don’t speak English there.”
My eyebrows shoot up.“Um.Well, I think some do, but yeah, isn’t that part of the experience?”
“Exactly!”
“No offense but the more you tell me, the more it seems like you and Steve weren’t all that compatible.”
She wrinkles her nose.“Yeah.He doesn’t even like trivia.”
“See?”
She appears to sink into thought.
I clear my throat.“Anyway.You’ve given me a lot, too.”
She turns to me.“No, I haven’t.”
“Yeah, you have.The impetus to fix things with my dad.You listened to me go on and on about my contract.”I pause.“I can’t really talk to many people about that.”
She nods.“Blow jobs.”
I burst out laughing.“Yeah.Fantasticblow jobs.And lots of fun.I had a great summer.”
“I’m glad.I did too.”
Our eyes meet.I feel my heartbeat through my whole body.My breath quickens and my hands tingle with the need to touch her.Hold her.Keep her.
We agreed this is when it would end.She’s going back to Chicago.
I don’t believe in long-term relationships.I have this crazy fear that if I was ever in a relationship, I’d repeat my father’s mistake.So I avoid relationships and commitment.
And even if I did, if I thought I could take the chance that I could actually be faithful to one woman…she’s my teammate’s ex.The bro code that says that’s something you just can’t do.
I think about Baxter, who I played with in Philly, who had an affair with another guy’s wife.I think about the turmoil that caused for the whole team.If it gets out that Molly and I had an affair, I’m fucking doomed.I can kiss that contract goodbye.
Itwasa great summer, though.The best.
I almost laugh remembering how I tried to talk Molly out of coming to California with me.And then how much fun it was having her there.And how much better she made me feel about my family.
I see my own feelings reflected in Molly’s eyes.The same gratitude.Happiness, yet sorrow.The same longing.
We share a smile, a slow sorrowful smile.I lean in and she turns up her face so I can cover her mouth with mine.My lips cling to hers in an achingly tender kiss and my heart nearly beats out of my chest.
“It has to be this way,” she whispers.“Right?”
It takes me a few seconds to get the word out.“Right.”
We plod back to the cottage, holding hands, not saying anything.
