Page 32 of Rule 5: Never Crush on the Captain
I’m silent. “Well, the mattress company probably is glad you think it’s better.”
More rustling sounds, then Stella slides away. “I’m going to my room.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Sleep well, Daddy.” Then she zips open the tent and scurries out. Her feet patter over the hardwood floors, then I hear her move over the steps.
Vinnie and I are alone.
“She, um, left.”
“So it seems,” Vinnie says.
“I guess we could go back upstairs, too.”
“Yeah.”
He doesn’t move though, and I don’t want to either.
My heart thumps, and I turn over, facing him. I feel him shift, then he moves over to his side. His form, obscured in the darkness, is across me.
“Remember when we shared a room as rookies?” he says.
“Yeah,” I say softly.
“It was fun.” I hear him smiling. Memories of us in the past bring him joy.
“What happened?”
I sense him stiffen across from me. He pulls away, and I instinctively grab his wrist.
“Evan?” He uses my first name, surprise evident in his voice, and my heart thuds. How often does he use my name in his mind?
His pulse jumps beneath my hand, skittering at a quick rate.
Well, he’s not alone.
I should let go.
But somehow, I find myself marveling at the warmth of his wrist. It’s larger than that of anyone else I’ve ever been with, but of course, that makes sense, because Vinnie is a man, of the pro athlete variety... And then I chide myself, because Vinnie and I are of course not together.
I shouldn’t be thinking of that.
“Evan?” Vinnie’s voice roughens.
I’m still clutching his wrist and I drop it. “Sorry. I—”
“I’m sorry I haven’t been around more,” Vinnie says.
“I missed you.”
Silence fills the air, then I hear Vinnie swallow. “I missed you too.”
“Then why...” My chest clenches. “Did I do anything? Because if I don’t know, I might do it again, and—”
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” Vinnie says. “Nothing at all.”
His words are fierce, like a warrior’s vow, the sort he was pretending to be just hours ago with my kid.
