Chapter Four
Alexei
“Let’s go! Where’s the hustle, Ivan?” Coach yells from the edge of the field, and then blows his whistle.
I jog to the sidelines and take a deep drink of water. He’s right. I’m distracted as fuck and playing like shit.
My teammates notice it, as do the coaching staff, and there’s no excuse for it, other than Ryleigh. My mind is on her instead of practice.
I’m wondering if her heat got turned back on, if she’ll be okay—and not just today.
I find myself thinking about what happens next for her, which is crazy.
That baby’s not mine. I shouldn’t even care.
I’ve always taken great care to wrap my shit up every single time so I don’t end up knocking up some girl and be in the same situation as her roommate.
I’ve seen the huge responsibility of having a baby, and I’m in no hurry to become a father.
So why is my mind stuck on them both?
We finish practice, and I stomp off the turf toward the locker rooms.
“A word, Ivan!” Coach calls out from behind me.
Carrying my helmet, I jog back to where he waits.
“Something going on with you?”
I shake my head and try to move the knots that have settled between my shoulders. “Just didn’t get enough sleep last night.” At least that much is true. “I’ll be ready for the game Sunday.”
A vein throbs in his forehead as he runs one hand over the back of his neck. “You’d better be.”
“Yes, sir.” I nod and jog off, releasing a heavy exhale.
Frustrated, I move through my post-practice routine in silence, removing my pads and gear, stripping down, and showering under the warm spray.
By the time I’m done toweling off, I don’t feel any better, but I know what I need to do.
I need to see Ryleigh. Need to see with my own eyes that she’s fine, and then I’ll move on, let them live their lives and I’ll go back to living mine.
She said she had to work today, so I decide that’s where I’ll go first.
I dress in jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt. A few minutes later, I’m out the door and heading toward a certain topless bar . . . toward a certain woman who’s constantly on my mind.
When I arrive, I park my car, making sure to lock it, and then head inside.
Blinking to allow my eyes to adjust to the dim interior, I approach the hostess station, already looking around for Ryleigh.
I don’t see her, but a blond hostess smiles at me and grabs a sticky menu as she steps out front to greet me.
She’s in a skintight black dress that’s so short, I’m sure if she bent over, I’d see what color her panties are—if she’s even wearing any panties in this “upscale” establishment.
“Hi, handsome. One for lunch?” she asks.
“Sure. Is Ryleigh working today?”
The blonde nods. “I’ll seat you in her section. Right this way.”
Frustration blooms inside my gut as I follow her through the bar and toward the back where high-top tables and booths wait, mostly empty at this time of day.
The walls are painted black, and red silk sheets hang from the ceiling, dividing off the space.
Deep, seductive bass music thumps softly in the background.
After sitting in one side of the booth and accepting the menu, I still haven’t spotted Ryleigh. The hostess flounces away, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
Part of me knows I shouldn’t be here, but the other part of me won’t be satisfied until I see her.
I thought I was prepared to see her again .
. . until Ryleigh turns the corner and steps into my line of sight.
What I wasn’t prepared for is the heavily made-up version of Ryleigh wearing nothing but a tiny pair of glittery booty shorts.
My heart begins beating like a snare drum inside my chest. Fuck.
She stops in her tracks when she sees me, her eyes widening almost comically large, and something inside me twists.
For a second I think she’s going to run and hide, or at least try to cover herself. But then Ryleigh finds her composure, straightens her shoulders, and moves toward me.
As she struts closer, my mouth goes dry and my cock twitches in my pants.
Her skin looks so soft, and her hair is flowing in loose waves down to her shoulders.
Her breasts are perfect, not too large, but a nice handful that my palms ache to touch.
Her nipples are tight and blush pink, and I want my mouth all over them.
Now. Which is… a highly inappropriate thought to be having right now.
When she stops beside my table, I’m aroused, but also so irritated that I’ve forgotten how to speak. The tiny shorts she’s wearing are basically just a pair of panties, and there’s some kind of delicate chain necklace thing around her hips. It’s distracting as fuck.
“What can I get you?” she purrs, her voice low and seductive.
What the hell? Why is she acting like we’ve never met?
“I came to check on you,” I say, my voice coming out too tight. “You okay?”
She bats her dark eyelashes. “Just peachy.”
“Did your heat come back on?” I ask, straight to the point.
An annoyed look flashes across Ryleigh’s face, and then she smiles at me again, only this time it doesn’t reach her eyes, which have turned an icy shade of blue.
“That’s not for you to worry about, Alexei.
I’m not a charity case, and despite what you witnessed last night, I’m a big girl and I can take care of myself.
Now, would you like to order anything or not? ”
I fight the urge to roll my eyes at the tone of her voice. “Sure. I’ll take a burger, please. Salad on the side. And a couple glasses of ice water.”
“Right away, sir,” Ryleigh says before strutting away, her shapely ass taunting me as she leaves.
I squeeze my eyes closed and huff out a sigh.
It’s a strange and unexpected reaction, but it makes me angry to see her here like this, knowing that any Tom, Dick, or Harry can walk in here and get an eyeful of her.
I knew she worked here when we met, so I have no idea why it’s suddenly giving me heartburn to see her in this environment.
She’s beautiful and almost naked, and it’s pissing me right the fuck off.
Soon, she delivers two glasses of ice water, and I waste no time in drinking one of them in three big gulps. I’m usually dehydrated after such an intense workout and practice, but I’m pretty sure this is me attempting to quench my thirst for something else entirely.
Without another word, Ryleigh turns to go again.
“Wait,” I say, setting down the water as calmly as I can.
“Yes?” Her tone is clipped.
“How’s Ella? Is she with your neighbor?”
Ryleigh nods. “She’s fine, Alexei. Please stop worrying about us.”
The way she says my name is too intimate, like we’ve known each other for years rather than less than twenty-four hours, like we’re lovers and not virtual strangers. Plus, I just… like the sound of it way too much.
Ryleigh turns away to head back toward the kitchen, as if on a mission to get away from me as quickly as possible.
The next time she comes by my table, it’s to deliver my food, which she does without a word. Normally, I’m ravenous after practice. Today, I barely manage to take a few bites before I push my plate away.
I hate that she has to work here where strange men look at her. I hate that her apartment is in a neighborhood that’s so unsafe I don’t even want to walk around there alone. I hate that her roommate gave her more to worry about and take care of when she left Ella there with nothing.
Scrubbing my hands through my hair, I rise from my seat. I dig out my wallet and toss down a couple of bills, enough to cover my meal plus a $100 tip.
I need to leave before I do something stupid like beg her to quit.
And what would she do then, Alexei?
Come home with me, my brain says, answering the unspoken question.
Not a good idea, and I know it. Yet, I still wish there was something I could do to fix this.
I find her lingering by the bar, where she’s waiting as the bartender fills a drink order. I’d forgotten how much taller I am, but standing beside her emphasizes how petite she really is.
She spins to face me. “Your food come out okay?”
I nod and shove a piece of paper at her. “Here’s my number. Please text me if you need anything. You or Ella. Okay?”
Ryleigh looks surprised, her big blue eyes peering up at mine as she accepts the scrap of paper. “Okay. But I won’t need it.”
Without a backward glance, I walk out with a hollow feeling inside my chest. A feeling of loss for something that was never really mine to lose.