Page 25 of Bad Call
Her cheeks heat, her coy expression making me hot all over. “I do. I acted like it was such a hardship, but I secretly liked it. Waking up to you inside me, not knowing how long it had been going on, was so hot. And almost getting caught riding you in your front seat while we waited for Jackson’s baseball game to end…what an adrenaline rush.”
I pretend to be shocked, but I already knew all of that. Stella and I were a perfect match when it came to sex. I may have been the one suggesting new things most of the time, but she was always down to try them. The months before we went off to school were full of exploration, and I haven’t forgotten a thing. Hopefully, we can continue learning about each other, not that I’m any different. I was obsessed with fucking her any way she’d let me back then, and after having her just once, I know I still am.
“Good to know,” I say, pressing another chaste kiss to her lips before I stand from the bed and extend a hand in her direction. “Let’s get you in the shower. I’m guessing Austin will be back from Theo’s soon. All he has to do is look back here, and he’ll see my truck, so we should probably be dressed, just in case.”
She blows out a breath, allowing me to pull her up. “We have to tell him. I’m sure he’ll be supportive ofwhatever happens with us, but this is his house, and I don’t want him to feel like I’m taking advantage or sneaking around.” Her gaze lowers to the floor, hands immediately clasping together nervously. “And we should probably…talk. I know we can’t fix everything overnight, but I want you to know that I’m in this. I’ll do whatever it takes to prove that I’m not going to hurt you again.”
I curl my pointer finger under her chin, lifting so she’s looking up at me. Her eyes fill with tears, and I shake my head reassuringly. “We’ll take it one day at a time. If something scares you, let’s talk it out instead of acting on impulse. I want to trust that you won’t leave when shit gets hard, and I want you to trust that you have nothing to worry about. But that can’t happen if we don’t communicate, right?”
“Right,” she replies with a sweet, watery smile.God, I’m still just as gone for her as I was when I was eighteen. “One day at a time.”
TWENTY-THREE
STELLA
The chimeof a text notification wakes me from a deep sleep. At first, I consider ignoring it, but when my brain catches up, still foggy with exhaustion, I realize where I am.
After our shower last night, Emmett and I returned to the living room with every intention of watching one episode of my favorite show before he was supposed to leave. The plan was for him to go home, then come back over when Austin was awake, so we could tell him what’s been going on. But here we are, on the sofa with his warm arms wrapped around me, the morning sunlight bleeding through the curtains.
“Shit,” I whine. Maybe he never looked back here when he returned. He could’ve checked the security system and seen that Emmett used his code to get through the front gate—or the cameras to see his truck driving in—but he generally doesn’t do that without a reason. It’s not that I care if he knows his teammate was here, since hetold me that I was welcome to have visitors any time, but still. It’s awkward.
I reach forward, swiping my phone from the coffee table and clicking on the home screen. Sure enough, it’s Austin.
AUSTIN:
When you’re up and ready, could you come over here? I have something I wanted to talk to you about.
My anxiety skyrockets. That’s a phrase no girl ever wants to hear, even if it’s not her boyfriend saying it. Is he mad at me for sneaking around with Emmett? Did Theo tell him what happened in Jett’s hallway? Is he going to fire me right before our time is up? My stomach roils at the thought. Austin is more than a patient to me. He’s a friend—one I don’t want to lose because I let a small omission go on for entirely too long.
“It’s too early to be thinking so hard, Wild Girl,” Emmett rasps, the sleepy gravel in his voice doing all kinds of things to me. It reminds me of the weeks he’d spend away at football camp, calling as soon as his eyes opened to say he missed me. Only now, I don’t have to settle for poorly-lit photos and videos of his morning wood, because it’s pressed right to my ass. My anxiety fizzles out as I back up, wiggling against it while his arms tighten around me.
“Mmm,” I hum as he leisurely thrusts his hips, the slide of his erection along my panties pulling me out of my own head for several seconds before I tell him about thetext I just received. “Austin wants to see me in the main house. I’m guessing he knows you’re here.”
“So?” he replies, his warm lips coasting along my neck. “We have to come clean at some point. Why not just get it over with now?” His words take a moment to register with the way he’s working me up, teeth scraping over the sensitive skin under my ear. My eyes flutter closed, almost falling into his trap right before I think better of it.
“Stop trying to downplay this, Em,” I groan. “I’ve been lying to him since the moment I found out that he played for the Renegades. I was trying to keep my past separate, so he didn’t feel like he was caught in the middle. I figured I could avoid anything that had to do with the team and be out of here without him—or you—ever finding out.”
He pulls away, so I turn, meeting his dubious expression. The space between his brows is scrunched, his upper lip curled in question. “And you really thought that would work?”
“Yes—no.I don’t know, Emmett!” I exclaim, trying to stand from the couch, but he only holds me tighter. I slump into the cushions, and his low chuckle rumbles against my back as I consider elbowing him in the junk. “He didn’t have anyone to take care of him. I couldn’t just saysorry, can’t help you, and leave him to find someone who might have been a bad match. For whatever reason, I was pulled to be here. So, I trusted my gut, even though it led me to leave out some information.”
“I’m glad you did,” he replies, kissing the back of my head. “And I’m glad you’re shitty at hiding. We needed this, Stell. Whatever happens, we had to close the door on the past so we could move forward.”
I exhale a slow, contented breath. “Me too. I need to just go in there and lay it all out for him. Hopefully, he doesn’t kick me out for being a dirty liar.”
He laughs, finally allowing me to stand. I rush to my room, throw on a pair of leggings and a thick hoodie, toss my wild hair into a messy bun, and slip on my shoes. I look atrocious, but it’s fine. The longer I wait to have this conversation, the more I’ll drive myself crazy about it.
“Let me get some clothes on,” he says when I return, sitting up and shoving his hands through his perfectly messy hair. He stands, stretching his arms above his head as every rippling muscle in his shirtless torso pulls tight. My mouth waters, my brain short-circuiting while I stare like an obsessed stalker. I’m so entranced, I don’t even realize I’m busted until my eyes make their way up to the cocky smirk that’s stretched across his face.
“Huh?” I ask, brows pulling tight. I need to stop being so fucking horny right now, especially since I’m about to have a very serious talk with Austin. But godfuckingdammit, this man is a specimen.
“I’ll go with you,” he replies with a nonchalant shrug. “I’m part of this, too. I’m not going to make you do it by yourself, Stella. We’re a team.”
I shake my head, a thick lump forming in my throat. “No, you don’t have to. I’ll be fine.”
He reaches to the floor, pulling his pants up his legs before covering the sheer perfection of his abs with a thick hoodie.What a shame.“I know you’ll befine.You’re always fine. But I’m still going with you. Come on.” He slides his shoes on before walking past me and pulling open the door.
I toss my head back in exasperation, dragging my feet as I trudge toward him. I’m not used to having a supportive partner, since I’ve been on my own for years. But I guess I’d better get used to it, because Emmett seems to be falling right back into his old role without hesitation. He should be sneaking out right now, leaving me to explain everything to Austin. Instead, he takes my hand and leads me toward the main house.
