21. Guy
GUY
Something is going on with Nicole. She laughs at the right times and talks when someone asks her a question, but she’s not herself.
Every time I touch her, she tenses, like she’s reminding me without words that she doesn’t want anyone knowing about us.
I look around at my family. I was surprised when Skyler said everyone was going for pancakes.
I should have known it wasn’t Nicole’s idea.
Almost two hours later, Skyler pushes back from the table. “All right, we need to go get Grace.”
Bree yawns. “Yeah, I’m exhausted.”
Everyone starts getting up, and within seconds, they’re all arguing over the check.
Miller stands and holds up his hand. “Forget it. I already took care of it.”
That starts another round of complaints, but I barely pay attention. I’m hugging everyone goodbye and fist-bumping my brothers when I notice Skyler lean toward Nicole and whisper something in her ear. Nicole’s expression changes, and my stomach tightens.
What the hell is Skyler saying to her?
Grant stays behind as the others start filing out. He shakes my hand. “Guy, you’ve got a great family.”
“Thanks. So do you.”
He smiles and looks between Nicole and me. “So am I taking you home, or is—”
“I’ll take her.”
Nicole tenses again. “Are you sure? Dad can take me. He lives that way and will drive right past my apartment.”
I suck in a breath. My instincts were right. Something is definitely wrong. “I’ll take you. We need to talk anyway.”
She doesn’t argue. Nicole hugs her dad, and we follow him outside. After a quick goodbye, I open the passenger door of my truck for her.
The second I get behind the wheel, I turn toward her. “You know we fly out to San Antonio tomorrow, right?”
She nods, staring through the windshield. I put my hand on her arm. “Come with me.”
Her eyes widen, and I can’t tell if she’s happy with the request or not, so I continue. “I mean, I’m flying with the team, but I can get you there and put you up at the same hotel. I’d love to have you in the stands.”
She shakes her head. “I can’t. I need to start getting my classroom ready and—”
“You’ve got a few weeks before school starts. I can help you when I get back.”
She stares at me for a long second, then she asks, “Did you tell Skyler I’m the one?”
My eyes widen. Shit. “Is that what’s freaking you out?”
Nicole pulls her arm away from my touch. “Did you say it?”
I nod. “Yeah. I said it.”
She gives a small shrug, but there’s nothing casual about it. “Why? Why would you say something like that? And why would you tell your family?”
I turn in my seat so I’m facing her completely. “Because they’re my family. I don’t understand why it’s such a big deal. They already knew about us. It’s not like I went on television and announced it.”
She shifts away from me and crosses her arms over her chest. “Guy, I think we need to take a break.”
For a second, I’m sure I heard her wrong. “A break?”
She looks down.
“What the fuck are you talking about, Nicole? We’re not taking a break.”
The words are out before I can stop them.
It feels like my whole world is crashing in around me.
My chest tightens, and I can’t sit here pretending I’m okay with what she just said.
I start the truck and pull out of the parking lot.
Neither of us speaks the whole way across town.
When I pull up outside her apartment, Nicole is still staring out the window.
I almost expect her to jump out as soon as I stop, but I’m surprised when she doesn’t. “Talk to me, Nicole.”
She slowly turns toward me. “This is getting too complicated, Guy.”
I shake my head.
“I know you don’t want to hear that, but it is. This is too much.”
I put my hand over hers. “Nicole, you’re the one making it complicated. I love you, and you’re trying to hide us. You want me to hide how I feel about you. That’s what’s making this hard.”
Her eyes widen. “Love?”
I nod.
“You don’t love me, Guy Brody.”
I give her a small smile. “Yeah, honey. I do.”
She shakes her head like she can’t accept it.
“I think it happened the first night I saw you. Maybe I didn’t know what it was then, but I know now. I love you. I just want to be with you.”
“Guy… We can’t.”
My stomach drops. “What do you mean we can’t?”
She sits straighter. “You have a new series starting tomorrow. You should be focused on that, not this.”
I stare at her. “That’s what you’re worried about?”
“I’m worried about all of it.”
I get out of the truck before I say something I’ll regret and pace in front of it for a few seconds, then I go around to her side. I open the door and hold out my hand. She hesitates and then puts her hand in mine.
I walk her to the apartment and wait while she unlocks both locks. She steps inside and turns toward me. “I’m sorry, Guy.”
I shake my head. “Honey, this isn’t over.”
Her eyes widen, and I can see how scared she is of all this.
And that about tears me apart. I cup her cheek. “I’m going to San Antonio. I’m going to play some ball. I’ll be back in four days, and I’m coming straight here.”
Her hand goes to my waist, bunching my shirt in her fist.
“Guy, listen…”
I cup her face in both hands. “No. You listen. I love being with you. I don’t want this to be over. I know being with me scares you, and I’m willing to be patient, but I can’t just pretend you mean nothing to me because that makes you feel safer.”
Her hands slide up my chest and loop around my neck. “Good luck this week.”
I lean closer until her body presses against mine. “You going to watch?”
She rolls her eyes. “My dad is pitching.”
I laugh. “Oh, so you’re not watching me?”
Her mouth softens into a smile. “Yeah. I’ll be watching you too.”
I brace my hands on either side of the doorway. “We’re not broken up, Nicole.”
Her eyebrows lift.
“I don’t want to leave town with you thinking you’re suddenly single.”
She lets out a breath that almost sounds like a laugh. “Guy…”
“I’m serious.”
She tilts her head. “You can’t just decide we’re not on a break.”
“Fine.” I nod once. “Then I’m deciding I’m not on one.”
That finally gets a real laugh out of her.
I smile, but I don’t let her off the hook.
“You need four days to think? Take them. You need space? I’ll give you space.
” My thumb brushes over her cheek. “But I’m not going to date anyone else.
I’m not going to sleep with anyone else.
And I’m sure as hell not changing how I feel about you. ”
Her smile fades, and she looks at me like she doesn’t know what to do with that. Good. Maybe she needs to sit with it.
I lean down and kiss her forehead instead of her mouth. “I’ll call you when I land.”
“Guy—”
“I know. Space.”
I take a step back. Her hand slips from my shirt, and I hate the empty feeling immediately. “Four days, Nicole.”
She leans against the doorway. “What happens in four days?”
I look straight at her. “I come home.”
I let that sit between us for a second before turning toward my truck. I make it halfway down the sidewalk before she calls my name. “Guy.”
I turn.
She’s still standing in the doorway, arms wrapped around herself. “Be careful.”
My chest tightens. I nod. “Always, honey.”
Then I get in my truck and force myself to drive away.
She wants space, I’ll give it to her but only four days.
And then I’m coming back, and when I do, I’m going to show her how good it can be between us.