Chapter Twelve
Thomas
My heart pounds in my chest as I walk away from Lainey, waiting until I’m around the corner to call an Uber. Where the hell did that come from? I can’t kiss Lainey. I shouldn’t even be here. But I couldn’t stay away.
The second I got to Luke’s party, I sought her out. She was the first person I wanted to see, the only person I wanted to tell my news to, knowing she’d share in my joy. And yet, the moment we locked eyes, all that changed, and I realized I’d rather know about her. I wanted to hear about her summer. About her life. Anything. I just wanted to hear her voice.
But then she mentioned that guy and… Fuck, that guy. I’ve never felt jealousy like that before.
I had a stunning woman on her knees in front of me, unzipping my pants, and I told her to get up. I. Told. Her. To. Get. Up. What the hell was that?
I can’t explain it. I didn’t even know I wanted to kiss Lainey.
Yes, I’m aware of how beautiful she is, and I think about her all the time, but she’s Lainey. My friend’s little sister, my best friend, my girl… Jesus. God, I’m such an asshole. Lainey and I are supposed to be friends, and I had to go and kiss her.
I had to.
There was no way I was walking away without tasting her lips.
Again… What the hell was I thinking? And more importantly, why the hell did I run?
A vision of our kiss comes back to haunt me, but I don’t push it away. Instead, I let myself sink into the memory of her touch, the feel of her lips pressed against mine. Her moan. Singular. Because that moan made me run for the hills.
She was with me, she wanted it too, and that made it so much scarier than if she’d told me to fuck off.
I’ve never wanted anyone in my life. Football is my only long-term relationship, and I have no plans to veer from that notion. I don’t want to. I have it good. No strings works for me.
But Lainey isn’t a no-strings girl. Nor should she be. She’s incredible. She always knows what I need before I know it, and even though I have no clue how, I always seem to know what she needs too. It’s like we’re two halves to a whole and…
Holy shit. When the fuck did I fall for Lainey?
This is so much bigger than I realized.
No wonder I felt like shit all summer.
I’m such a dick.
I ran. I fucking ran.
But maybe that’s for the best.
Now, more than ever, football needs to be my priority. I don’t have time for anything else. I can’t.