Bonus Scene
Cooper
I’m digging through my bag for the third time when Owen finally looks up from where he’s stretched out on the other bed.
“You’re not gonna find it if it’s not in there,” he says.
“It’s in here,” I mutter, pushing a pair of gloves out of the way. “I remember packing it. I had it before we left.”
“What is it?”
“My compression shirt.” I sit back on my heels, frowning down into the bag. “The one I’ve been wearing lately. It’s not in here.”
Owen blinks at me. “You’re in a different state, man. I think you’ll survive.”
I shoot him a look. “It matters.”
Things have felt… better lately. Ever since they brought in Macklin Greer and made the head coach change, we’ve been playing better. I’d never admit it to Greer, though. I still can’t stand the prick, but I can’t deny what’s right in front of me.
And now, with playoffs here, I don’t really want to mess with anything that’s been working.
“Yeah,” he says, dragging the word out a little. “Pretty sure that’s not what this is about.”
I don’t answer. Just zip the bag and shove it off to the side harder than necessary. He watches me for a second.
“You’ve been like this all day.”
“Like what?”
“Grumpy,” he says.
“I’m not—”
“You are,” he cuts in. “And it’s not because of a fuckin’ shirt.”
I drag a hand over the back of my neck, exhaling quietly.
He’s not wrong.
My phone’s sitting on the bed, screen dark. I’ve checked it enough that I don’t need to pick it up again to know nothing’s changed.
“I’m gonna shower,” I say, pushing myself to my feet.
If I stay out here, I’ll just keep pacing or rifling through my shit, and I don’t want to hear Owen anymore.
He doesn’t say anything as I grab what I need and head into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me.
Brinley texted earlier as she boarded her flight back to Rixton. Said she’d message me when she landed, then she’d head back to the house and unpack.
That was a while ago.
It’s been ten days. Ten.
She decided to make the trip back to Kentucky for spring break to spend some time with her mom. Things have been better between them since their phone conversation that day, and I know she’s missed her.
I told her she should go, and I absolutely meant it.
Doesn’t mean that I like the thought of being away from her longer now that the Wolves are on the road.
We flew out to Denver this morning for Regionals. Everyone’s been riding that edge of energy that comes with making it this far, knowing the next game matters more than the last.
But every time things slow down, I catch myself reaching for my phone again.
I don’t this time, though. I stand there and turn on the water, climbing into the shower and letting the hot water pound over me like it’s going to scrub away this funk.
By the time I come back out, I’ve got on a pair of gym shorts, towel in hand, still drying my hair.
Owen’s in the middle of the room, thumbs moving across his phone before he glances up at me.
“You good now?” he asks.
“Yeah.”
His brows lift slightly. “Yeah?”
“Brinley’s flight landed, and she should be getting back to the house any minute now. She’s supposed to call me.”
“And?”
I glance at my phone sitting on the nightstand.
“And nothing.”
He nods once. “All right,” he says, pushing himself up off the bed. “I’m gonna go hang out with Kade and Talon for a bit.”
I glance over at him, feeling like shit now. “You don’t have to—”
“I know,” he says. “But I want to.”
He grabs his hoodie, pulling it on as he heads for the door.
“I’ll give you some space.”
I huff out a quiet laugh. “You’re acting like she’s coming here.”
“I’m just saying you’ve been waiting to see her for ten days, and you’re pacing around over a shirt when that’s not the problem.”
I don’t say anything.
He smirks a little, shaking his head.
“I’ll be down the hall. Try not to be miserable when she calls.”
The door clicks shut behind him, and the room falls quiet again.
As if he timed it, the FaceTime call rings from across the room. I round the bed fast, grabbing my phone before it can ring a second time.
Brinley’s face appears, and the second I see her, I let out a long breath.
“There you are.”
She laughs softly, tucking her hair behind her ear.
“Hi to you too.”
She’s sitting on my bed—our bed now—wrapped up in one of my hoodies she stole from me. Her hair’s pulled up in a messy bun. She looks tired, like she was half asleep before she decided to call.
“You tired, baby?”
“I am.”
Her eyes narrow slightly.
“You look grumpy.”
“Owen said the same thing.”
She smiles. “Oh, did he?”
“Apparently, I’ve been in a mood all day,” I say, glancing down for a second before looking back at her. “But I’m better now, so that’s all that matters.”
“And why is that?”
I flop down on the bed, leaning against the pillows with one hand behind my head and the other holding my phone.
“Because I haven’t seen my girlfriend in ten days, and I’m missing her like fuckin’ crazy.”
She softens at that. “I know, I miss you too.”
She starts moving around for a minute, and then I see her tug a blanket over her, curling against her side, and I realize she’s lying on my pillow. She inhales softly and smiles.
“Come here,” she murmurs even though we’re both staring at each other through the phone screen.
I mirror her position, adjusting my hand so my face fills the screen.
“Better?”
“Only a little.”
She rests her cheek on her hand.
“What do you need?” she asks quietly.
I stare at her for a second, taking in the glint of her green eyes and the freckles dusting her cheeks.
“You.”
The corner of her mouth lifts.
“That’s not very specific.”
She moves around again, and I notice she’s taking the sweatshirt off, leaving her wearing only her tank top underneath. She tucks the hoodie under her arm, like she’s hugging it.
“And how exactly would you like for me to take care of you from two states away?”
I raise an eyebrow.
“You’re more creative than I am. What sort of ideas do you have?”
She presses her lips together to fight off her smile.
“Well, I guess I’d start by trying to fix that grumpy mood.”
“Yeah?” I ask.
“Yeah.”
Her voice drops just enough that I know where this conversation is heading, and my dick jumps at the thought of having her like this.
And for the first time all night, the knot in my chest starts to loosen.
As much as I’ve missed this side of us, that’s not what’s been getting to me. It’s more than that. It’s the smell of her hair, the warmth of her body, the peace I get from having her in my arms.
Still… maybe Owen knew what I needed after all.
“You said you needed me,” she says quietly.
“I do.”
Her eyes hold mine through the screen.
“Well,” she says slowly. “If I were there with you right now…” She trails off, like she’s deciding how much she wants to say.
I wait.
“Go on,” I murmur.
Her mouth curves. “I think I’d start by climbing on the bed with you.”
“Mmm,” I groan.
She brushes her hair behind her ear, suddenly looking less shy. “You’ve been traveling all day and then pacing around your hotel room for the past hour. I’d probably make you sit still for a minute.”
I lean away from the camera and narrow my eyes.
“Did you talk to Owen recently at all?”
She bites the edge of her lip.
“No.” I study her for a minute, and she presses her lips together.
“Okay, I might’ve called earlier while you were in the shower.
He answered because he knew you were expecting my call, and he told me you’d be upset you’d missed me.
When I asked him what he meant, he said you’ve been a little stressed, and that he was going to hang out with the guys so we could have some time together. ”
I drop my mouth open, and she smirks.
“So I guess I did have some of this planned out a little bit. I knew my sweet boyfriend needed me as much as I needed him.”
Something about the way her voice changes catches me off guard.
I shift slightly on the bed, letting out a quiet groan.
“I don’t want to talk about Owen anymore. Not if you’re climbing on the bed with me. Tell me what would happen next.”
She smiles, and her voice lowers a little, softer now.
“I’d probably move to straddle you because, well, you know that’s my favorite place to be. I’d start by kissing you,” she says. “And because you’re not wearing a shirt, I’d let my hands roam over every inch I could get my hands on.”
She watches me for a second through the screen.
“What about you? Would I be able to touch you too?”
She nods. “Always.”
I hum, and her grin widens.
“What would you do?” she asks.
“I’d take off your tank top so I could feel your skin against mine.”
My dick twitches at the way her breathing changes, her eyes growing heavy.
“I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off you either. It’s been so long since I’ve been able to touch you.”
“Mmm.”
“You know how I love all the ways your body reacts to me, so I’d be gripping your hips, grinding you over my cock, wanting you to feel how much I desire you. How bad I’ve needed you.”
“Coop—”
“I know, baby.” Her arm starts to move, and I don’t need to ask her what she’s doing on the other end to know she’s touching herself. I reach my hand into my shorts and beneath my boxer briefs, clenching my teeth to stave off the moan.
“Keep going,” she urges.
“After we both got rid of our pants, I’d pull you on top of me again so I could feel how wet you are as your pussy grinds over me.”
“Oh fuck—”
Her eyes flicker, and I let out another breath.
“Are you wet for me, baby?”
She nods, her movement almost jerky and frantic. I swipe my hand over the precum leaking from the tip, using it to glide my fist over my length. I normally like to use spit or lube, but the amount of precum dripping from my tip is enough to ease the friction.
“I’m so hard for you too,” I mutter, and she nods like she knows. Like she’s on top of me and can feel it as she grinds over me.
She tilts her head back, and I know from the sounds she’s making that she’s using her fingers to fuck herself now.
“Does it feel good, baby?”
She nods again, and I growl.
“Yeah, it does. Fuck, it feels so good.”
As much as I hate that it’s my hand wrapped around my dick, having her with me through this is enough to pretend it’s her.
“Are you gonna come with me?” Her eyes flicker, her breath coming out heavy.
“You close, Brin?” I grunt.
Just the thought of her getting herself off while on the phone with me is enough to send me over the edge. Add in the sounds she’s making and the heavy glazed look in her eye, and I’m a fuckin’ goner for this girl.
“Let me hear you come for me. Let me hear all those pretty sounds you make.”
The screen goes dark, and judging from the rustling sounds on the other end, followed by the moan, she’s coming. I tighten my grip and fist my dick so hard that I’m right behind her.
Ribbons of cum spill over my hand and soak my shorts. Probably not my smartest move, considering I only have one other pair to wear for the next couple of days. I guess I’ll have to make do.
There’s rustling on the phone again, and Brinley’s satisfied face comes into view. Her nose is red, and her cheeks are tinted a beautiful shade of pink.
We both stare at each other until our breathing starts to even out. Then she lets out a small laugh.
“Well,” she says, “you feeling better now?”
I nod. “I am.”
“No more grumpy mood?”
I huff out a quiet laugh, dragging a hand over my face.
“Not even a little.”
She smiles at that, settling deeper into my pillow. “Good.”
I watch her for a second, the way she’s curled up in my bed, still holding my hoodie like it’s something she doesn’t want to let go of.
“Still miss you, though,” I add.
Her smile softens. “I know. I miss you more.”
Her eyes start to drift, heavier now.
“I’m gonna let you get some sleep, sweetheart,” I say. “You look like you’re about to pass out.”
She nods. “Call me tomorrow.”
“Yeah,” I say. “I will.”
I start to pull the phone away, but she stops me. “Wait.”
A small smile spreads across her face.
“What’s up, baby?”
“Do me a favor?” she asks, and I nod. “Tell Owen thank you for me.”
I let out a quiet laugh. “I will.”
She presses two fingers to her lips, then taps them gently to the screen before ending the call.
The room goes quiet again. I stare at my phone for a second longer before dropping it onto the bed beside me.
Fuck, I miss her.