Page 66 of Play Maker

I opened my mouth to provide whatever reassurance she needed, but she pressed her fingers against my lips. “Think about it. Please. We’re so far past friends with benefits, and I’ve never done this before. Everyone leaves. You stayed. It’s terrifying—the hope for the future next to the fear it will all crumble.”

Her hand slipped away, but I caught it and brought it back to kiss her palm. “I don’t need to think about it. I have my priorities straight. Football and music are opportunities. I’ll jump on them given the chance, but if I miss something, another chance will come along. There’s only one you. My friends understand when to back off, even Eva, as evidenced by her current disappearance. Her and I need to talk at some point and see if our friendship withstood the power of my dick, but none of that comes before you. I love every colorful, blunt, sexy part of you. Don’t leave me.”

I’d never in my life begged a woman for her affections, but I’d do anything to keep Blue.

She sighed. “I’m not leaving you, but I’m moving out. Noah needs his room back, and honestly, I want something I did for myself for once.”

There it was. I hadn’t spared much thought for what would happen at the end of the summer, but I’d sort of assumed she’d simply transition across the hall to my room. I wanted her there with me all the time, and it had never occurred to me she might not feel the same way. A familiar shaft of pain split my chest.

“Am I holding on to you too tight?”

Blue shook her head with a smile. “No, I love the way you hold me. I love that you always reach for me and make me feel wanted.”

“But you’re still leaving.”

“This was never supposed to be a permanent solution. My moving a few miles away shouldn’t break us. You run that distance every morning for fun. Shaw and RJ are great, as I’m sure Noah is, but I hate feeling transient. I hate the constant change and uncertainty of where I’ll be living next week. I’m moving out so I can give myself a level of stability, and so you can focus on other aspects of your life deserving of attention. I am in no way breaking up with you.”

I cupped her face, and she kissed my thumb. Blue was so beautiful and earnest, trying so hard not to push me away while telling me what she needed. She wanted me. In her life as well as her bed. The vise around my chest loosened, but I needed to be sure.

“I don’t want to let you go,” I murmured.

“Then don’t. Hold on tight. I’m not going anywhere you can’t easily find me. Plus, I’m only a couple of blocks from Whataburger.”

I laughed and stroked her hair, feeling lighter than I had since waking up. “Thatisa bonus, but I think I’m going to enjoy the privacy more. Another set of kitchen counters to test out.”

Her blue-green eyes darkened with need. “I get the keys this afternoon.”

“Let’s get you packed then.” I dropped a quick kiss on her lips, resisting the urge to linger there and prove my devotion until she couldn’t remember anything except my name.

I let her go when she pulled away to grab the closest box, but the clothes reminded me why I’d laid down on the couch in the first place last night. She’d wanted to keep her outfit a secret, so I’d thought I had a little time before heading to Johnny’s without her.

“Wait, I have one more question.”

Blue raised a brow, waiting.

“What was your costume last night?”

A slow, wicked smile spread across her face. “I can show you at my new place.”

God, I loved her.

* * *

I spentthe next several days exhausted because my girlreallyliked her new house, and hell if I’d choose to sleep when I could have her naked and writhing underneath me. Shaw and RJ went with me on a special trip to Dallas to grab Blue’s stuff between practices, Chloe helped Blue unpack, and Noah grumbled about having to clean two apartments now.

With surprising speed, we settled into yet another new normal, then the inevitable happened, and Eva came home.

She surprised me after practice when I’d been about to head over to Blue’s. I wasn’t proud of it, but my first reaction was to close the door in her face. My bedroom door, because being Eva, she’d walked right into my apartment like she lived there.

“I deserved that,” she said as she barged through a second time, leaving the door wide open behind her.

I eyed the hallway. Probably a good choice. I’d been worried all summer she wouldn’t come back, but with her in front of me looking like nothing had changed, the fear of losing her was replaced by anger.

Eva didn’t seem to have the same reaction. She flopped on the bed, tucking her legs under her, while I went searching for a shirt.

“Blue’s not here,” I told her from the closet, pulling a random tee from the pile.

She snorted. “I know. I went by her place first. Cute. It reminds me of her.”

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