Page 122 of The Score

Chapter 39

Pen

The end of minicamp comes a few days later, bringing in the start of the last real break before the new football season. If it's been a tiring few days for me, it's been just as bad for Bear. While he's been busy training for way too long every day, I've been carting my parents around. I got my DNA test results— I'm all clear for genetic markers. On the other hand, my dad decided to get his surgery here in Seattle in a few short weeks, and we've been preparing for that.

In a rare opportunity to sit and breathe, I make myself an iced coffee and get on a stool by the kitchen island. Food is cooking on the stove, and I could use a second to slow down. Can't wait to wake up tomorrow and be on a break. Especially since it includes driving my parents back home again in a couple of days, giving Bear and I some much needed alone time before they're back for the surgery.

Just like Bear predicted a few days ago, we had to pause both bucket lists. It's okay. It gives me plenty of time to think, to imagine, and to remind myself everything Leon and I are doing has a deadline. It's important I don't forget.Like we said after the club that night, if we're doing this at all, it's because we're giving it rules. They will protect our friendship. That's what matters most.

It's thanks to those limits that I'll get to do things I've only dreamed of, and do them with my best friend. I'll get his mouth on me again. I'll get my mouth on him. One of these days, I'm going to get my way with his dick, too, and gah. It will be glorious. From just the one night together, I predict a sex marathon for the ages.

I. Can't. Wait.

"Is that Leon?" My mom enters the kitchen and puts water to boil for tea.

"What?" I straighten in my stool.

Seems my break involved daydreaming about my husband like a lovestruck fool. Well,lust-struck. If that's not a word, I'm making it up right now.

"I thought I heard the garage?" Mom adds.

She doesn't finish the sentence when the door opens.

Without thought, I jump from my stool and envelop Leon in my arms. He responds right away, dropping his bag on the floor and hugging me back. He kisses me and, though it's not quite the same kind of kiss we shared in the privacy of our room, it rocks me off my feet.

"Ay, los tortolitos," Mom says from behind me. "I love seeing you like this."

I pull back from the kiss, though I remain in Bear's arms. I blink at him. He looks at me with a glint in his eyes, like he enjoyed my mom's comment. And why wouldn't he? I doubt the wordtortolitosis bringing anything up for him. For me, it reminds me of a few years ago, when I saw him with Tamara. The one woman he almost married in pursuit of his happily ever after.

He kisses my temple, lets go of me, and greets my mom with a kiss on her cheek. "Hola, Tía."

I watch him go straight for the stove, where he spies on the simmering pot.

"Cazuela?" he asks and takes a deep whiff of the slow-bubbling soup.

I stay put, sighing on the spot. Talk about domesticity, and the kind of things that could get confusing. Thankfully, despite the excitement for what Leon andI will do, the lines between us are never far away from my mind. Especially in moments like this, when a simple word from my mom pulls them from my memory banks.

One day he's going to want to be a tortolito with someone who checks every single item on his romantic checklist. He's going to remember he wants the kind of love they write poetry about. He's going to go out and seek someone who's ready to scream her adoration for him from the rooftops, rather than someone who's spent her life telling everyone there's no romance there. She's going to be the kind to cry when he proposes, and take one good look at his True Wedding Vision Board and love every part of it. Hell, she's going to wish he had a breeding kink, because she has one too.

"Since you're driving us back home in two days," Mom says, "I wanted to make sure to cook all your favorites."

She's completely unaware of the dire negotiations going on in my mind, of course. Just like my husband, who gazes at her with true appreciation.

"You spoil me," he says.

"Of course! That's my job as your mother-in-law."

Well, to hell with it. Until he's ready to go find his tortolita, I'll enjoy him as my fuck buddy. Best fuck buddy? We'll be best friends who fuck. For a while.

He smirks at my mom. "You spoiled me before I was your son-in-law, Tía. You don't fool me."

She shrugs like she doesn't have a care in the world. "I always knew you'd be my son-in-law."

"Mmmh." Leon's eyes still glimmer. "No se juega con mi suegra."

He has an accent saying the words in Spanish, but the statement delights my mother anyway.No one plays with my mother-in-law.

Is the fact Bear and I will divorce one day playing with my mom?