Page 86 of Never Say Never
“I’m glad you were with that guy you’re seeing when it happened.”
“Yeah, he acted fast. Got us out of there.”
“You go to Phoenix next?”
“Yes.” I brace myself for a rollback of the questions about why I’m not starting.
But they don’t come.
“You’ve been looking solid out there. I can tell you’re getting more comfortable with your teammates.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“I don’t know if we’ll be able to stay up for the west coast games, but we’ll watch the recordings the next day.” He sounds—I can’t believe this—apologeticabout not viewing the games live?
“Oh, no worries.” I’m kind of stunned where the whole conversation is going, and it’s pushing to the top of my mind the questions I have for my mom about Dad’s mellower attitude lately.
“I’ll let you go, but please do have someone from the security firm call me.”
“Okay.”
Once we hang up, I whip off a text to pass along my dad’s request to Aiden.
And then I spend the rest of the drive in disbelief over everything that just happened.
Yes, with my dad. But also with Rawley.
Ikissedhim. And then he made that dang shot to claim more.
There’s something about him though, and it’s not just his looks.
When we’re hanging out, he makes me feel…happy? I don’t know if that’s the right word exactly, but it’s a first, whatever it is.
Spending time with Jack was comfortable and safe, but nothing else. With other guys before him, I always felt too self-conscious to truly enjoy the other person, plus I was so much younger. And then Topher was Topher.
No need to overanalyze it, Avery.
If I follow through on our “wager,” it would just be a hookup situation, after all.
I can’t deny Rawley’s a great candidate to replace Jack, and God knows my body welcomes that.
Does it matter that he’s an athlete? Now that I’ve gotten to know him—I’m not sure it needs to be a disqualifier. Especially under the circumstances.
He hasn’t given me any reason to think he’ll break our vow not to sneak around with someone else. He doesn’t seem to be a player at all, in fact, based on what he said at our dinner at the restaurant. Nor is he allowed to be anyway during our arrangement.
We’re stuck together for the moment, and when we have our “break up,” things can end. Simple as that.
God, that kiss though. And thatbody. Sigh.
I’m not mad at the fact he made that shot.
“We’re here,” Mitchell says, breaking me out of my reverie. “I’ll come inside with you, just to be safe.”
He pulls the car into my driveway. I look around and don’t see any photographers or extra vehicles.
We don’t anticipate anyone broke into my house or anything like that. I do have a basic security system, and no alarms went off last night.
It’s just a safety-first thing.
