Page 89 of Full Tilt
“The sex didn’t mean anything, and I spent most of my time frustrated at myself for letting him in my bed. Then …” I walk back over to the bench and dump myself down.
“Then it wasn’t just for fun anymore?” Holt’s soft voice asks.
I shake my head to no one. “No, it wasn’t. Or at least it wasn’t for me anyway. I started to see a different side to him, and Tommy started to chase me. He turned up at my apartment last night after I basically decided, for the final time, that I couldn’t keep sleeping with him.” My heart sinks an inch in my chest.
“Anyway,” I continue, “last night, he told me some stuff, and like the idiot I am, I believed him when he said he wasn’t the asshole everyone thought he was. We shared a night, which was …” I scuff the floor with my sneaker, tears falling to the ends of my lashes. “It was the kind of night I’d never thought I’d have with a guy. It felt like we were …” My voice fails when I try to finish my sentence.
There’s a stretch of silence, one we both need to gather our thoughts.
“This morning, I woke up, and he was gone,” I continue. “No note, no phone call or text. And what’s worse, he isn’t answering mine.”
A sob splutters out of me just as the same woman on the treadmill pushes through the door before she registers me crying and turns on her heel.
The door slams behind her, leaving me alone again.
“I’m going to fucking murder him.” Holt’s voice reminds me of Tommy’s when he pinned Ethan against the wall outside my apartment.
Panic floods my insides. “No.” I shake my head. “This is my fault. You, Kendra, Darcy, Collins—you all told me to keepaway from him. I didn’t listen, and I have to deal with the consequences of that now.”
Not bothering to shower, I shove my used towel down the laundry chute and grab my bottle, phone, and bag, throwing it over one shoulder.
“You don’t need to murder him because I’ve finally woken up and I’m never going to go there again. I told him on voicemail this morning that he’d never hear my voice after I hung up, and he won’t.”
When I reach the changing room door, I grip the handle so tight that my knuckles turn white. A small part of me hates myself for thinking this, but it’s time I faced facts and woke up to everyone else’s reality. The Jenna from last season was right, as were her instincts to turn Tommy down the first time.
“He’s just like his dad, Holt. Only worse.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
TOMMY
“Yeah, seven at our place. Kendra and I are going to cook for everyone, so make sure you bring empty stomachs and nothing else.”
Stepping into the locker room before practice, I ignore the conversation going on between Jack, Sawyer, Emmett and Archer and head straight for my bench, dumping my kit bag down with a thud.
“Why do I get the feeling there’s a surprise lined up for us on Saturday night?” I hear Archer ask.
“I’ll be there, but I’ll be alone,” Emmett adds, wincing and scratching at the back of his neck. “And probably not for the whole night. I’m sorry.”
I turn my back to the rest of the room and begin stripping down to my underwear.
“Holy SHIT.”
Jack’s raised voice causes me to partially turn around to face him, although I wish I hadn’t since he’s standing there, pointing at me. Jaw agape, eyes bugged out.
Archer’s, Sawyer’s and Emmett’s expressions aren’t any different, and as I scan the rest of the locker room, I realize I have the attention of most of the guys.
Archer reaches behind him, pointing to his back. “Jesus Christ, Tommy. Did you have a fight with a bear last night?”
Jack snickers from beside him, edging closer to get a better look. His lips tip up when he registers the marks. “That’s no bear, Archer. They’re fingernail tracks.”
“Holy HELL,” Emmett declares, stepping forward to get a better view.
Turning back to face my bench fully, I snatch up my Dri-FIT top and pull it overhead.
“I mean, I thought Sawyer was into kinky shit … but … fucking wow.” My captain continues talking, much to my annoyance.
With my top half now covered so they can’t see the marks Jenna left on my torso, I take a step toward my teammates, offering a glare to all those eavesdropping. They get back to their own conversations.
