Chapter 8 #3
“Okay.” My heart lightened, and a grin played on my lips. “But you’ll need your sleep at night, right?” These guys were all about nutrition, hydration, and recovery. It was how they performed at an elite level. They were discipline on steroids.
“Yes, so how about letting me catch some sleep now?” He placed a hand on my cheek and kissed my mouth softly.
I didn’t want to leave. I wanted what we’d shared last night. Plus, it would be nearly impossible to sleep in my bed knowing he was right next door. I bit the side of my lower lip. “Can I, uh, would you sleep better if I slept here with you?” What a way to ask the question.
“You want to sleep together again?” His lips curled into a lop-sided grin. “I guess…I slept better with you in my bed, and recovery is important.”
I glanced at our entwined hands. “Yeah?” This might be trouble, but I didn’t care.
“Okay, then let’s slip beneath the covers.” He shifted and lowered the covers on his side. “Guess we’ll need to change our arrangement to fuck buddies who sleep together on the road.” A quick chuckle sprang from his throat.
“Yeah, guess so.” I shimmied under the covers and rolled onto my side. I’d mess my bed up in the morning so it would look like I slept in it. Then, if someone paid me a visit, there wouldn’t be questions.
He pressed his front side into my back and wound his arm around me. “Goodnight, Julian.” He kissed the back of my neck.
“Goodnight, Alex.” I settled in and closed my eyes, his warmth surrounding me, soothing something inside me.
The next morning, when Alex’s alarm had gone off, I’d snuck into my room and showered.
I’d mess up the bed before I headed down for breakfast. As I dressed, pulling my team joggers up my legs, a knock sounded at my door.
Was it Alex? As my heart skipped a beat, I smiled, sauntered to the door, and swung it open.
“Good morning, Julian.” Dad, wearing his typical grey custom suit, stepped past me and into the room. “I tried texting you, but you didn’t answer.” He examined the room, brushing his fingers along the foot of the bed.
Fuck, I should have thrown the covers down before answering the damn door. Stupid, Julian. You know better. And…what was he doing here? “Good morning, Dad.” I grabbed my athletic shirt from my bag and slid it over my head. “Are you here to watch the game tonight?”
“No, I had other business in San Jose, so I came by to see how things were.” He peered at me. “Where did you sleep last night?”
“M-me? H-here, why?” I glanced at the bed. What excuse could I give him? Fuck.
“Come on, Julian. You can’t fool me. Did you meet someone?” He smirked. “Don’t think I don’t know how you are.” He faced me, his brow arching.
“No, I…” What could I tell him? “I worked out early at the gym this morning. The maid must have visited while I was out.” It was sort of plausible. “I left that little hanger on my door to clean my room.” I freed a stuttering chuckle. “The service here is impeccable.”
“Yeah, okay. Listen, I’m meeting with the travel logistics team this morning, and I’d like for you to come with me. The staff informed me you didn’t have a reservation in Las Vegas and had to share a room with Alex Volkov.” He pursed his lips. “That kind of sloppiness is unacceptable.”
Would he fire someone over that? How the hell had it risen to his level? “Yeah, the hotel gave us a suite, so it worked out.” My pulse rose.
“Hey, Julian, I’m going down to—” Alex stood in the open doorway, staring at my father and then me. “Breakfast.” He stepped into the room. “Nice to see you here, Mr. Mercer.” He stuck his hand out.
Dad shook his hand. “Likewise. I hear you rescued my son from having to sleep in a hotel lobby.” He huffed a chuckle.
With his jaw falling open, Alex said, “Uh, yeah, I let him bunk with me in Vegas.” He worried his lower lip. “Anyway, breakfast is starting downstairs and I need to be there.” With a glance at me, he said, “See you there?”
“I’m bringing Julian to a special breakfast with the logistics team so he can meet them.
” He raised his brows at me. “Then, if they mix up reservations in the future, he’ll have a name to call.
” He lifted his chin. “We always book a few extra rooms for odd circumstances, and somehow, management didn’t communicate it properly. ”
I studied Dad. How had the hotel room bullshit escalated this much?
“Well, it was the first day of the preseason, so I’m sure everyone was a little rusty.” Alex stepped toward the door.
“Even you.” Dad smirked. “I hope to see you in top form tonight.”
“Yeah, it was an off day. Thanks, Mr. Mercer. I’ll play hard for you tonight.” With a wave, Alex left.
Dad’s attention drew to me. “That’s interesting. I heard you weren’t getting along with Alex Volkov.” He stepped toward me, looking me up and down. “Sharing a room with him might have offered you an opportunity to understand each other better.”
I eyed Dad. Why was he so interested in this? “Yeah, we’re best buddies now. So, don’t fire anyone over the room mix-up. It ended up being helpful.”
“I wouldn’t fire anyone over something like that.” With a sigh, he twisted and strolled toward the door. “Collect your things, and I’ll take you to breakfast.”