Page 26 of Learn the Play
“I… I need to go to the restroom.” The words are barely out of my mouth before I’m bolting away from them. I don’t worryabout the scene I’m causing. I just need to get away. I need to breathe. I need air that I’m not sharing withhim. Air that’s not thick with desire and memories of a night that was supposed to remain in my past.
Finally, I spot the bathroom. Slapping my hands against the door, I push inside. Thankfully, it’s empty. My legs shake as I make my way to the sink, resting my hands there, and bowing my head.
“Fuck my life,” I mutter, just as the door opens. I snap to attention, standing to my full height, trying to pretend like my world didn’t just tilt on its axis. Looking in the mirror, I watch for the newcomer, and when I see him, my breath stalls in my lungs.
He takes a few steps but stops short of being within touching distance and holds my gaze in the mirror. “Are you okay?”
“W-What are you doing in here?”
He tilts his head to the side. “You’re here.”
“Reid,” I groan.
“I see those people every day. I just found you again. You were as white as a ghost when you ran off, and I needed to make sure you were okay. Amanda and the girls are outside, but I made them let me come in first.”
“Why?” My voice cracks at the question.
My eyes never leave his in the mirror as he steps closer. His steps are soft and slow, as if he’s afraid I’ll spook, and I’m not so sure that I won’t. When he finally reaches me, he wraps his arms around me from behind, pulling me back into his chest. His eyes remain locked on mine.
“I needed to know you were okay,” he finally answers, his voice low and soothing.
“It was one night,” I remind him.
“Was it? That’s not how I remember it.”
“Your memory is lacking.”
“Hmm,” he says, burying his face in my neck and breathing me in. “I don’t think so. You smell the same. Your body feels the same wrapped in my arms, and look at us, Bell, you still fit me perfectly, just like you were made for me.”
I open my mouth to argue with him, but he’s right. His messy, dirty-blond hair, those vibrant blue eyes, and his inked-up arms look good next to me. I can admit that to myself, but not to him. Before I can form a response, there’s a knock at the door, and then footsteps as the door opens.
“Everything okay in here?” Amanda asks, stepping into the bathroom with Corie, Rowan, and Sloane on her heels.
“I’ll leave you ladies to it.” I watch in the mirror as Reid presses his lips to my temple. “Take care of my girl, yeah?” he asks as he drops his arms from around my waist and steps back. He hesitates before finally walking out of the bathroom.
I exhale a heavy breath. Damn, that sexy, infuriating, intoxicating man.
“Wow,” Amanda says, fanning her face with her hands. “You said wedding guy was hot, but you didn’t tell me he wasthathot,” she says, making the other three laugh.
“Are you okay, Bellamy?” one of them asks. She steps next to me, placing her hand gently on my arm. “I’m Rowan, Landry’s wife.”
“I’m sorry,” I mumble.
“What? Why on earth are you apologizing?” she asks, her brow furrowed.
“For acting like a fool and running off like that. I just needed a minute.”
“Corie.” One of them raises her hand. “Knox’s wife,” she adds helpfully. “First of all, you didn’t act like a fool. Secondly, there’s no crime in needing a minute to catch your breath. It’s obvious that you didn’t expect to see Reid here today, or at all.”
“No. I didn’t expect him to be here, and not at all,” I agree with her.
“I know that you don’t know us,” Corie says. “I know we’re strangers to you, but I promise you, Reid’s a good man. He came home from that wedding defeated. He’s always happy and smiling, but that spark has been missing over the last month.”
“Until today,” Rowan adds. “The moment he saw you, we had the old Reid back.”
“I gotta be honest here,” the third one says. “I’m Sloane, by the way, not married to any of the Rampage hotties, but besties with this one since we were kids”—she points at Corie—“and this one because we said so.” She laughs as she points at Rowan. “She did marry my pseudo brother, which is her brother, after all.” She nods to Corie. “Anyway, back to what I was saying. Honestly, it’s hot as hell to see Reid chase after you the way he did. You should have seen that man’s face when you jogged off. It was a mix of concern, fear, and determination.”
“What?” I shake my head, trying to process her words.
