Chapter 13 Lucia #2
Tim’s face still held that appalled expression as he spoke. “I must remind you of the disclosure agreement you both signed. You are not permitted to have relations on team property. Do we need to get you a chaperone for each time you meet? If this is how your sessions have be—”
“It’s not.” Colton cut him off. “Our sessions are very professional, as you’ll see from each of the reports Lucia puts together afterward. She’s the reason I played as well as I did today. Her sessions have been invaluable to me.”
Lucia’s heart flip-flopped at his praise.
Then she remembered his lips on hers and then on her throat, and she had to clench her legs together again.
She felt movement near her waist, like Colton might reach out to steady her, but he must’ve thought better of it.
Probably for the best, considering their predicament.
“I’m very sorry, Tim, Coach Turner. It won’t happen again.” At least her voice was starting to even out.
Coach Turner gave a curt nod as Tim walked out of her office. “If you need anything extra…” His voice sounded pained, but he followed Tim.
With both of them gone, Lucia turned back to face Colton. He smiled down at her, the ghost of a dimple in his cheek.
“You’re gonna be the death of me, Moretti.” He pushed his hands into her hair, massaging her scalp as he pressed a feather-light kiss to her forehead. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Her stomach dropped as she watched him go. She knew what they’d done was wrong, but that didn’t change the fact that it’d felt so, so right. She knew, just by looking at his face, that he felt the same way.
She hadn’t had time to call Isa in the previous weeks, so busy with the season that she’d barely even had time to sleep. Luckily, they were both free for a few minutes before her next meeting with Colton.
It was their first time talking since The Night, and she just let the words tumble out of her, making sure to shut and lock her office door before she divulged anything too juicy to her colleagues.
Isa was, once again, shocked into silence.
“Isa, please. Colton will be here soon, and I really need your thoughts.”
Silence.
“Isa…” She drew out the last syllable for a few seconds.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought my best friend just told me that she dry-humped the man she was pretending to date, whom she also claimed to hate the last time I saw her.
But that can’t be right. I must’ve misheard.
So say what you just said again, but a little clearer, please.
” Lucia heard the edge of Isa’s accent, a tell-tale sign of her distress.
“Yes, totally agree, I hated him, and now I don’t and all that.
Can we focus on the fact that I spent a seven-year relationship thinking I couldn’t come unless my hand was involved, only to learn from one encounter that Colton can do it without his hands or tongue or dick?
And because of that, I’ve been avoiding him for a week because I’m scared if I don’t, I’ll jump his bones? ”
“God, you need dick more than I realized. He never made you come?”
Lucia groaned. She hadn’t mentioned this to Isa before because she was, quite frankly, embarrassed.
Isa was always talking about how good things were with her partners in the bedroom, and Lucia just nodded along, believing something was wrong with her.
The further removed she became from her relationship with Max, the more she realized how bad it’d been and how much better it could be.
“Isa, please, not the point.”
“What am I supposed to say? Do you want me to tell you that this is a good idea? Because I’m not sure I think it is.
I’m sorry, osita. I want to be happy for you, and I do think you need to get laid, and maybe he’s the best person for that for the time being.
But I also think that’ll get messy, especially if feelings get involved. ”
Not exactly what Lucia wanted to hear, but that was why she’d called Isa. She needed honest advice.
Isa continued, “He offered to do this to get back at Max. And at the end of the day, you guys will have to stop whatever this is in January, and then where will you end up? I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“But what if it’s just sex? What if I get the perks of this weird, friends-slash-fake-relationship-with-benefits situation and don’t let feelings get involved?”
Isa made a whoosh noise, like she let out a big puff of air. “That’s pretty advanced for somebody who’s only ever been in one serious relationship, mi cielo. I’m not sure you know how to not let feelings get involved.”
A knock sounded on her door. “Shit, I have to go. Can I call you tomorrow? We need to talk about something other than my sex life.”
“Of course. I’m planning a trip to see you soon, so we can figure out when would be best for that. Kisses.”
“Kisses.” That put a smile on Lucia’s face. She was so thankful to live in an age where her best friend was just a quick call away, but she needed to see her friend in the flesh. She needed a hug.
Lucia unlocked the door and opened it slowly, breath catching as she took in a dejected-looking Colton. They’d lost the day before, and it showed all over his face and in the set of his shoulders.
“I can’t today, Luc. I’m too tired, and I don’t wanna watch film, and I don’t wanna go out on the field. I just wanna…” He stopped talking, eyes pleading with her.
“Okay, okay, no worries.” She thought for a moment, trying to find a way to distract him, while also apologizing for being somewhat MIA since The Night. “Will you show me Charleston, instead? Apparently, Coach Turner likes me too much to fire me just yet, so I need local spots to enjoy.”
She grinned, hoping Colton might smile with her. It was innocent enough, right? Isa might not agree, but Lucia believed in her ability to keep her feelings removed from the situation. What could go wrong? It was just dinner. Plus, she’d hopefully be gaining a new restaurant to enjoy in the area.
The surprise on his face only lasted a second before he smiled. It wasn’t the goofy one she’d been hoping for, but it was better than the frown he’d been sporting before.
“Of course I will.”