Page 16 of More Than I Can Bear

“Had an amazing time.” I smiled then, feeling the second wave of pleasure that came from remembering it. “Really amazing. As peen in vag sex goes, it was kind of incredible.”

“A straight guy that knows how to give good dick? Damn, girl…” She grinned, but that quickly gave way to concern. “So why did you take off like your arse was on fire? I’m sorry I couldn’t make a quick getaway with you because of work shit. The team was losing it when Adam didn’t turn up to accept the medal and I was forced to go into damage control mode, but I’ve sorted that now.” She wrinkled her nose. “Sort of.”

“I…” It felt stupid saying it out loud, so my throat closed over. “I…” I let out a sigh and Jack squeezed my arm in sympathy. “I think he wanted more than I was prepared to give.”

“So it wasn’t just a hit it and quit it thing for him?” she said. “I kinda guessed that when he came busting into my room, demanding your number.”

“You didn’t give it to him?”

I wanted her to say yes and no in equal measure, which was confusing.

“No, I didn’t give it to him,” she replied. “And I won’t, not unless you say so. Ride or die, right?” She held out her pinkie finger and I locked mine around it, just like we used to do at school. “But…”

She let out a sigh, which let me know I wasn’t off the hook yet. I pulled away and grabbed a bottle of tonic water from the fridge, pouring out a healthy measure of gin for both of us and handing her the other glass.

“If he was good… He seems really sweet… I wondered—”

“There’s no future for us,” I said way too sharply. Her eyebrows jerked up but I forged on. “I can’t be a WAG. You know I don’t like the spotlight.”

“And he’s shoved you right into it,” she said, then nodded. “I get it. Adam’s… a lot. He’s sweet, so much sweeter than the others. It’s like somehow all the blokey bullshit of footy hasn’t rubbed off on him. But that makes him a target for the media. Girls throw their panties at him, guys want to be him, and any woman that stands by his side will get a lot of scrutiny. You could probably keep things on the down low for a while but…”

I came back to the cafe with a blink, still hearing Jack’s words in my ears.

“But if you’re ready to let a guy in your life, finding someone a bit more low key is probably your best bet. Life as a WAG can be a living hell and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”

“You gotta give us all the details afterwards, girl,” Katie said, bumping hips with me as she carried the coffees out.

“Allof them,” Gloria said with greater emphasis. “That man looks like he’s capable of doing bad, bad things to you and I wanna hear all about it.”

“Stop gossiping like a bunch of old women,” Amber said as she appeared behind us from the kitchen, “and start clearing some tables.”

The regular boring rhythm of work helped settle me somewhat, but as I moved around the room, picking up discarded cups and plates and cleaning the tables, I felt eyes on me the whole time. Something glittered within the depths of Kaine’s gaze when I looked up and I wasn’t completely sure I wanted to know what.

Chapter9

Adam

“Hello, love,” Mum said when I walked in the door. “You look all flushed.” She rushed over with a frown on her face, hand raised to touch my forehead.

“The smelly prick’s been running,” my dad said, stopping her in his tracks, before turning to me. “How’s the 2023 Magarey Medal winner doing this morning?” I grinned then, feeling some of the joy I should’ve felt the night of the medal count. Dad moved forward, grabbing me in a big bear hug, right before he ruffled my hair. “Though next time have a fucking shower before you come around. Bad enough you and your brother made this place stink like footy socks when you were kids.”

“Kenny…” Mum growled. “Now, Adam, did you want some breakfast? We’ve just finished but—”

“Ah, no thanks, Mum.” I dropped a kiss on her cheek, watching her beam in response. “I wanted to catch up with Nan if I could.”

“Why?” Mum’s bullshit-ometer went through the roof as she went into alert mode. “What’s wrong? Is it about that girl? She’s your mate, isn’t she? You’re searching for your mate?”

“Yes, yes, and yeah, I need to talk to Nan and the other aunties. I think I dream walked last night.”

“Dream walking?” Barry, one of my other dads, was walking out into the living room, and he grinned when he saw me. “That’s my boy! Chip off the old block, he is.”

“Hasn’t got your hands,” Kenny said with a roll of his eyes. “Wouldn’t have even made it past nipper’s league for footy if he did.”

“Shut up, you.” Barry shoved him out of the way. “So you dreamt of your girl? Did you see where she was?”

“I…” How did I tell them that the only thing I remember seeing was Freya’s sweet tasting pussy? But as my cheeks flushed bright red, my parents laughed.

“One of those dreams, huh?” Mum said, then flicked Barry with a tea towel. “Heisa chip off the old block.”

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