Chapter 54
TYLER
After I felt Rain shatter in my arms and released inside of her for the second time that night, I pulled out gingerly and rolled to my back, my chest heaving.
Damn. I was never going to get better sex than this. I already knew that, because it was Rain. It was because of the way I felt about her. That terrified me. Something was happening to me, but I couldn’t face it. I wasn’t ready yet. Once I did, nothing would be the same.
Because of that, I forced myself to get up.
Rain looked over at me. “You’re leaving?”
I smiled at her, brushing a thumb over her forehead and smoothing her hair back. “I don’t want to rock the boat. Better if I don’t stay. This way, we can get a little sleep.”
Her face fell, but she nodded. “Oh. Okay. Yeah. Good call.”
I went to the bathroom to clean up. When I came back, she hadn’t moved except to pull the blanket over herself.
I tried to tell myself that was okay. It was normal for her to cover herself. Maybe she was cold. But my gut flared. I didn’t like that she’d hidden herself from me. Not me. I pulled my clothes on, and she didn’t say a word as I dressed. When I turned to her, she wasn’t looking at me.
Concerned, I approached the bed. There was a vacant look in her eyes. “You okay?”
She blinked, and it was gone. “Yeah, yeah. All good. I’ll see you on the plane tomorrow.”
I cocked my head to the side.
She was too…something. I didn’t know. Closed off? No. That didn’t feel right. I couldn’t tell.
I took her hand in mine and sat on the edge of the bed. “I can stay? Fuck what Coach says. No one will know. Maybe I should stay.” The more I said it, the more right it felt.
I regretted that I’d even said I was leaving in the first place.
“Let me stay.”
She blinked again and shook her head, her hand cupping the side of my face. It was such a gentle touch. “You were right the first time,” she said. “We shouldn’t sleep together. Further complicates things."
I frowned. My gut screamed that I shouldn’t walk out that door. “Rain? What just happened?”
She smiled. “Nothing happened.” After a moment, it bloomed over her face, filling her up.
My chest eased.
She shoved me, grinning. “Leave before I change my mind.”
I stood. “Are you sure, though?” I was still tense. Something still didn’t feel right.
She harrumphed a laugh. “Go. I’ll see you on the plane.”
Right. I started for the door but paused before opening it.
Looking back, she yawned and her whole body stretched. When she finished, her grin turned sleepy.
I made sure I had everything before reaching for the door handle. “Tomorrow.”
She waved at me. “Ugh. Just go. We don’t need to do a whole Minnesota goodbye. I’ll see you tomorrow. Text me in the morning.”
That helped push away the last of my uneasiness, and I sent her one last grin before slipping out into the hallway.
Checking my phone on the way to my room, I found a text from Zoey.
Zoey: Isn’t this your friend? The shrink mom mentioned?
Oh no.
I clicked on the TikTok link.
My heart sunk.