Chapter 31
Trevor
One of my hands palms the back of Kenzie’s head, softening her backward motion, while the other finds the lock and clicks it. Someone probably heard the door slam, but I don’t care. I can’t wait to get home to kiss Kenzie. It’s that simple. This is happening right here, right now.
Kenzie’s eyes blow wide. Then surprise quickly shifts to blatant wanting as her focus falls to my mouth.
Good. Glad we’re on the same page.
I take my time with the final seconds, watching how her delicate collarbones rise and fall, how she licks her bottom lip before I capture it with mine.
Immediately, she opens up for me, and a chorus of gratitude sails through my mind.
Her tongue is tinged with the spices from dinner, but her lips are delectably apple flavored. An appreciative groan escapes me.
I freaking love apple.
Kenzie jumps, and I catch her one handed.
Her legs wrap around my waist as her hands come up to frame my face.
The way her fingers grip my jaw while she pours herself into the kiss sends euphoria sprinting down my back until the base of my spine tingles.
I’ve never felt so completely consumed, so helplessly lost in another person.
It should be terrifying, but it feels like easing into a warm bath.
“I’m going to make so many signs for you,” she says, sliding her lips over my jaw.
“I can’t wait.”
It feels like I’ve waited my whole life for someone like Kenzie, and now that she’s here? I’m not letting go unless she tells me to.
Kenzie giggles against my throat, and it’s the best sensation I’ve ever experienced. “You say that now, but you have no idea how punny and glittery these signs are going to be. I might even use stickers.”
“Like I said”—I use my hand behind her head to direct her lips back to mine—“can’t wait.”
Our mouths tangle for several thudding heartbeats before Kenzie allows me to slow the kiss. As much as I’d love to do nothing but this for the rest of the night, we really should head home. I don’t want the clubhouse staff to lock up with us still in here.
“We need to get going,” I tell her.
I set a soft kiss over her lips and then a slightly longer one, which quickly dissolves into a slow, deep kiss that neither of us break for a long, long while.
Kenzie plants both her hands on my chest, creating some space as she tries to catch her breath. “We were supposed to be doing something.”
The corner of my mouth quirks. I love that I can kiss the good sense out of Kenzie’s brilliant brain.
“You’re right.” I pull her away from the door, supporting her as she slides to the floor. “We were leaving.”
“Oh.” She blinks, her lips pink and swollen from my slight beard scruff. “Right.”
I run my thumb over her mouth with a frown. I should have shaved again after the game. But I was in such a rush to get everything done I hadn’t thought about what my five o’clock shadow would do to Kenzie’s gorgeous face.
“I’m sorry about your skin.”
“This?” Kenzie touches her lips with her fingertips. “Oh, I love this.”
“Doesn’t it hurt?”
The way her mouth slides into a smile that perfectly melds flirtation with confidence steals the breath straight from my lungs. “In the best possible way.”
I’m already pushing her back against the door when a knock sounds from the other side.
“Ms. Rogers? Are you done with that phone call?”
Kenzie snorts a laugh into my throat. “Yes, just give me a minute. I’m, uh…putting my shoes back on.”
“Uh…” Brianna stalls. “Okay.”
My beautiful girlfriend bites her lip before raising her face, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “It’s super important for feet to be free. They need a break from being confined in shoes for long periods. I honestly thought you all would know that because you’re top in sports and everything.”
“Top in sports?” I whisper with an eyebrow lift.
Kenzie lightly slaps me in the shoulder. “Could you please come back in two minutes? The lacing process is very extensive.”
There’s a pause on the other side of the door as the two of us shake from the effort of restraining our laughter.
“For the record, we encourage the players to remove their cleats as soon as they get off the field.”
“Good.” Kenzie’s answer is too high pitched. Any more of this and she’s going to break. “That’s good to know.”
Brianna mutters something to herself before saying, “I’ll be back.”
We wait exactly ten seconds before bursting into rib-squeezing cackles.
Kenzie pushes her forehead into my shoulder, squeaky sounds alternating with belly-deep guffaws.
One of my hands grips her waist while the other braces the door so I don’t collapse atop her as I laugh so hard I stop making sound.
When Kenzie glances up, tears stream down her face, and the two of us start up all over again.
“That was—” My sentence breaks off in a laugh. “How do you come up with this stuff?”
Kenzie shrugs, her eyes shining when they find mine. “It only seems to happen when you’re around.”
My thumb gives her cheek an affection sweep before I unlock the door. Then we’re glancing down the hall and running hand and hand, like two kids trying not to get caught stealing cookies from the kitchen. We swing through the clubhouse, grab my bag, and giggle all the way to my truck.
Kenzie smiles at me when I toss my bag in the truck bed and press her against the closed passenger door like she had the same exact thought.
I keep this kiss brief, though, because there’s a chill in the almost-midnight air, and I don’t want Kenzie to get cold.
After helping her into her seat, I jog toward mine.
As I drive, I listen to Kenzie’s version of tonight’s adventure—from getting kicked out initially to being upset that her jersey and sign are still in the trunk of Mallory’s sports car.
“You’re going to have to wait a few days to make another sign,” I tell her, bringing our joined hands to my lips so I can kiss her knuckles. “I’ll need to submit a formal appeal in writing, and it’ll probably take a few days for approval.”
“I’ll write an apology letter and promise that I’ll never disregard the rules of the stadium again.” Kenzie chews on her bottom lip. “I can also volunteer character witnesses to testify that I’m usually a law-abiding citizen. Former teachers. My pastor. Whatever they need.”
A soft chuckle leaves my mouth. “I don’t think it’ll come to that.”
We ride in silence for a few minutes while I gather the courage to tell her the rest of the information that Patrick told me.
I squeeze her fingers. “We also need to talk about Aaron. One last time.”
“Okay.” Kenzie tucks a knee onto the seat, turning toward me.
“The only reason Aaron is still on the team is because Patrick convinced him not to press charges against you tonight.” My gaze darts toward Kenzie’s stunned face before I force myself to focus on the road.
“Apparently, he’d been planning on trading Aaron to Memphis for a while.
Tonight’s abysmal performance had cinched his decision, but… ”
“But then I tried to knock his teeth in.”
A chuff leaves my nose as I smile. “It’s more like he suffered the consequences of his actions.”
“Patrick has a handshake agreement with Aaron that if he puts in his best effort, stops shaking me off, and actually acts like a teammate instead of a massive tool, he can finish out the season with the Waves. However…” I pause, turning into my neighborhood.
“If Aaron doesn’t follow Patrick’s strict guidelines, he’ll get shipped to Tennessee overnight. That also means that Aaron might come after you. Though he’d be hard pressed to find a witness to corroborate his story since none of the other guys would turn on you.”
I kiss Kenzie’s fingers again, helpless not to. “I know you like to consider yourself the unofficial personal accountant of the Waves, but after tonight, you’re officially a Wave.”
“I didn’t think anyone except the players were Waves.”
My head shakes. “The team is so much bigger than the nine of us on the field. There’s the coaches, ball boys, and clubhouse staff. Also front office personnel and people like Jerry, who’s been serving hot pretzels on the concourse for the last thirty years.”
“I had one of those at my first game! The way he toasts them over an open flame and tops them with parmesan? Perfection.”
“Jerry is the longstanding MVP of culinary delights,” I say through a smile.
“One hundred percent.”
I pull into the garage, putting the truck in park and turning off the engine before shutting the garage door behind us.
It’s the only way to keep Jet from trying to escape now that she has free range.
Once we open the door to the house, she’ll run a quick lap of the garage before darting back up the stairs.
Banks sits in the open threshold, almost shaking his head at her exuberant antics.
Then they nose each other and trot off toward the kitchen, knowing that us being home usually means snack time.
“Stay put a minute,” I tell her before jogging to open her door.
“Why, Mr. Chapman.” Kenzie sets her chin on her fingertips and bats her lashes. “Such a gentleman.”
A smile quirks my lips. She’s acting like I haven’t done this every single time she’s exited my truck.
After helping her down, I box Kenzie against the side of the truck and continue my train of thought.
“The most important Waves are the family members who sacrifice their time and energy so we can do what we love. What you did tonight…” I shake my head.
“I’ve never felt like I had someone on my side before. ”
Kenzie grins up at me. “Get used to it because you’re stuck with me. I’m ready to cheer, or answer media questions, or do whatever is necessary. If it’s important to you, it’s important to me.”
“You’re important to me,” I say, wrapping my arms around the small of her back. “Kenz, I…”
Doubt rushes in now that it’s just the two of us. She’s had a heck of a day with deceiving security, punching her ex, and going in front of the media for the first time. Maybe I should let Kenzie get Banks snuggles and a good night’s sleep.
I’ll still feel this way in the morning.
I’ll still feel this way for the rest of my life.
Kenzie’s fingertips trail up my neck until they trace over my jaw.
That adorable wrinkle settles between her brows—the one she gets when she’s working through a complex problem.
She traces my cheekbones, the laugh lines around my lips, and my temples before shifting her fingers firmly into my hair.
A puff of breath leaves my mouth as my eyes fall half-closed.
Almost nothing is better than Kenzie’s fingers in my hair.
Her gaze darts all over my face as that little smirk settles over her lips—the one she gets once she’s solved something complicated. Before I can ask, Kenzie kisses me, and all thought falls away. Somewhere in between distracting sweeps of her lips, I remind myself I have tomorrow.
Or the next day.
Or any day in forever.
Because there’s no way I’d ever let Kenzie go.