Page 112 of Full Tilt
Yeah, she’s into me.
And because my girl obviously doesn’t mind others knowing where we’re at, I decide what’s the harm in talking to a few guys about matters of the heart?
“Jesus Christ, this is fucking weird for me,” I announce, pushing a hand through my sweat-soaked hair.
Sawyer looks confused. “You mean talking to people about emotions or just talking to people in general?”
I can’t help but laugh at my own expense.
“Oh my God.” Jack points at the center of my chest. “Did I just witness Tommy Schneider laugh?”
“You sure did, Jack. I’m still processing the phenomenon myself,” Emmett replies.
“Fuck off,” I volley back.
“Annnd normal service has resumed,” Archer quickly counters.
I fight back another laugh and reset my focus on Jenna. “I won’t bore you with the details, but?—”
“No. Please go ahead and bore us with the details. We want to know it all, from start to finish.” Jack steps forward.
Sawyer drops his head between his shoulders. “I say this with the greatest respect for my captain. But, please, shut the hell up, Jon, and let the guy speak.”
I offer Sawyer a thankful look.
“Jon?” Jack’s head darts to Sawyer. “My name is Jack.”
Sawyer just grins at him. “Sorry about that. I got the two of you mixed up for a second. You’re like the same person.”
Jack narrows his eyes at him, and, yep, I laugh again. What I’ve also come to learn is that while Coach Morgan may be Jack’s stepdad, they’re also like two peas in a pod, and this winds the hell out of my captain.
Handy to know.
“So, yeah, I have feelings for Jenna.” I cut to the chase. “I’m in unknown territory because I’ve never been remotelyinterested in a girl before. Trouble is, we didn’t get off on the right foot with each other, and now I’m trying to make up for being an asshole. We might’ve started out hating each other, but that changed over time. We’ve been meeting up …” I pause and rephrase to something more accurate. “Well, I’ve been showing up at her apartment because I can’t seem to stay away.”
I run a hand down my face, parting my fingers to eye my teammates, who stand, waiting patiently for me to continue.
“Up until I met Jenna, every person I’d ever known had been convinced I was an asshole.” I huff out a breath and flick my eyes to Sawyer. Bar Jenna, he’s the closest anyone has ever come to seeing beneath my bullshit. “I get why she hated me since I’d punched her brother and treated her like shit, but I think I know why I did.”
“Why?” Archer asks quietly.
I shake my head, remembering the way I told her that she was too old to interest younger guys like me. “Because she intimidated me, and conversely, I seemed to have zero effect on her. She stood up to my gibes.” I scratch at the back of my neck. “Planted surf ’n’ turf in my hotel room late at night so I’d stand in it when I got up and tried to work out what the fuck the smell was.”
“What?!” Jack bursts out.
I wince. “When we were in Boston, I kind of slid her dinner into her lap. The same surf ’n’ turf I then stood in later that night.”
I look around at the four of them, all red-faced.
“Go ahead. Laugh.” I motion around the group.
Raucous laughter fills the locker room.
I wait a few beats for them to gather themselves. Like fucking kindergarteners.
“For a long while, it was back and forth like that. We’d fuck, and then she’d flee, hating herself for being with me, but equally unable to say no.” I look down at the floor. “I was the same.”
When I lift my head, Jack and Archer are exchanging a glance.
