Chapter 10
When Bodie woke up, it was still dark, but he felt better. He didn’t feel like a single huge throbbing tooth.
Thank God he hadn’t missed getting Cole to his flight on time. That would have been embarrassing as hell.
In fact, Cole was dressed in loose jeans and a sweatshirt, sitting in the chair, eyes closed.
Bodie sat up slowly and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. God, he was weak, but he’d take this over whatever hell he was in before his nap.
He swayed to the bathroom, trying to wake himself up, blinking nice and slow as he splashed water on his face.
Lord, everything felt like a long, psycho dream.
“Bodie?” Cole was suddenly in the doorway, one hand on his shoulder, the other handing him a towel. “You good?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I’m better. Not driving to Dallas, but I can get you to your flight…”
“I’ll get you more meds.” Cole wandered back to the nightstand. “And no worries about the flight, but can I ride with you to Dallas tomorrow?”
“Of course. Are you sure?” Thank God. The drive to the airport was a bitch. He could just chill.
“Very sure,” Cole grinned at him in the mirror. “It took off close to ten hours ago.”
He closed his eyes as he tried to figure out what Cole was saying. That was a lot of hours.
“Yeah, you’ve been out for a long while. Since late last night. Your fever finally broke a few hours ago, and then you slept even better. Here.” Cole held out two Tylenol and his prescription.
“Thank you. God, I’m so, so sorry. I don’t remember at all. I mean, it was a dream.”
“A nightmare, actually. You had nightmares. Your fever was high enough to scare me into calling Doc, and I’ve talked to him twice since. I brought your bag in and found your pajamas.”
“Thank you. So much.” He washed his face. He felt a little shaken, but he could breathe and his head didn’t feel like it was going to crack open, thank goodness.
“Are you hungry? There’s a little more chicken soup, or I was thinking about ordering something.” Cole seemed to be watching him with interest, maybe standing a little closer than usual.
“I could be hungry, yeah. What are you thinking on?” He wanted to reach out, take Cole’s hand, hold on.
“Tacos, of course.” Cole slid the back of one hand down his arm. “Everyone loves tacos.”
“You know it.”
That touch gave him goosebumps.
He wanted… wicked things. Good thing he didn’t feel good enough to do anything about it, right?
“I’ll order. If you want a shower or anything, go ahead. I’m glad you’re feeling a little better.” Cole’s fingers brushed over his right before he left the bathroom.
Oh, damn. That made him shivery. He licked his lips and fought the urge to get all revved up.
That touch wanted to get him revved for Cole.
“What do you want to drink? Something other than water or Gatorade, I assume.”
“Mmm… do they have Sprite?” He could use the bubbles.
“I’m sure they do.” Cole’s nose was in his phone, scrolling and tapping. “I also need to get a hotel room in Dallas.”
“You can stay in the suite with me, if you want. I extended the one that the league got me.” He owed Cole that, and besides that, he… he wanted to spend more time.
Cole looked at him and nodded. “I would like that.”
“I would too. Very much.” This felt… important.
Was it important?
“Tacos are on their way. You should either shower or come sit down.”
“I’ll—I think I’ll come sit down and chat with you.” He headed over, finding a sweatshirt to tug on. “So, this wasn’t on your bingo card, I bet. Deal with a feverish bull rider.”
“Nope. But things happen for a reason, and I think I’m starting to see this one.” It was a small hotel room, and it didn’t have a couch, but it did have a small table and two chairs and Cole sat in one of them, setting out two bottles of water.
He came over and sat, settling his bones and offering Cole a smile. “Is it a good thing that you’re seeing?”
“I probably shouldn’t say this, but yes, I think so. It has potential. Once you’re feeling more… you.”
“Yes.” He was right there with that. He didn’t want to be stupid. Hell, he didn’t have the time for any stupidity nonsense.
“You’re an incredible man, Bodie. I’d like to get to know you better… unprofessionally.” Cole held his gaze, bold as brass.
“Yeah?” Bodie found himself smiling. He couldn’t stop. “I could get to know the hell out of you.”
“Cool.” Cole broke into a big smile and shook his head. “I’m glad this is working out because I am the world’s worst flirt.”
“Oh, good to know. I’ve never really tried. So I’m out of practice.” They said he was a flirt to the ladies, but he thought they were just being nice.
“We’re a pair.” Cole opened his bottle of water and took a sip. “Your fever was about a hundred and one. Do you remember taking a cold shower? I don’t even know how long you were in there, but you were shivering when I finally woke up.”
“I sort of do? It’s—blurry. It was like being in a fog, but you were safe.” That was the important part. Cole was safe, like a bull fighter.
“I tried to be. You needed some help. Thank goodness Doc answered the phone because the idea of the ER… ugh.”
“I’d have just told you to put me in the tub with a bucket of ice.” He only went to the ER in the back of an ambulance.
Cole snorted. “And I probably would have, but I knew you needed antibiotics. You want to ride in four days.”
“I do. Hell, I really don’t. Dallas is harsh, but…” He winked at Cole. The bulls were fresh and mean because they didn’t have to travel, and a man had to be on his toes to ride, but it was a huge event.
“You want to win in Dallas.” Cole winked at him.
“I always want to win. Always.” He winked back.
“That’s the spirit.” Cole pulled out his phone, then hopped up. “Tacos are here. I’ll be right back.”
“Good deal. I’ll be right here.” He stared at Cole’s ass as he headed out the door.
So.
Damn.
Pretty.
The door opened and he could smell the tacos instantly. “Mother of God, I don’t know how I didn’t eat everything in the elevator. This smells so good.”
“Because you don’t want me to starve?” He fluttered his eyelashes, playing hard.
Cole looked a little horrified. “Whoa. You look crazy when you do that.” The tacos landed on the table.
“So no flirting. Got it.” He cracked up, the laughter making him a little breathless.
“Wait… that was flirting?” Cole laughed with him. “Jesus, it’s a good thing we skipped that part.”
“Right? It would be such a waste of good energy.” Okay, that made him feel almost clever. He’d go with it.
Cole put a Sprite in his hand. “You’re adorable as hell, Bodie.”
He tried. He sure as shit did.
“Excellent. Gimme a taco.”