Page 114 of Imperfect Player

She looks down at the food—bacon grilled cheese and homemade french fries. “Are you kidding me? This looks amazing.”

We settle onto the stools at the island, my eyes fixed on her as she takes her first bite. I hold back the groan I desperately want to make when I hear her moan in pleasure.

“So good,” she murmurs before taking another bite.

“Glad you like it.”

Seeing her satisfaction, I begin to dig into my own food.

Silence falls over us as we eat, but it’s far from quiet. I swear I can hear my heart pounding in my ears.

“Next time I’ll whip up something better.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t think that’s possible. It was everything I wanted—and more.”

“I’m sorry. About dinner, about forgetting, about . . . me.”

“Don’t be. Just . . . don’t push me away.”

“I don’t want to. I just don’t know how to be a we, Everly. I don’t know how to rely on someone.”

“It’s not that hard,” she says. “You just take what’s in your head and your heart and share it with me.”

“That’s it, huh?”

“That’s it.”

With my head hung, I speak the words that broke me earlier today. “I’m not a match.”

“I didn’t realize you had gotten tested.”

“I did. Today. For . . . for you. So I can be the kind of man that you deserve. And I’m not even a fucking match.”

Her hand touches my cheek and I lean into it.

“It’s not your fault you’re not a match, baby. You can’t change your DNA.”

“Christ, you have no idea how much I wish I could.” I sigh. “I’m trying here, sunshine, but fuck if I can get it out of my head that I don’t deserve you. That you don’t need to be here fighting my demons for me.”

“Not for you—with you. I’ve seen the demons, Ethan, and still there is no place else I would rather be.”

Chapter 33

Ethan

My head rises from the pillow.

Everly’s gone. She had a meeting or something. Wished me luck on my game.

Fox: Hey, man, where are you?

Slade: Dude, you’re late. Coach is pissed.

Maddox: Where the fuck are you?

Coach: You’re done.

The messages came in hours ago.

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