Page 136 of Tangled with the Tight End

“Wait,” Nico McBride says. “It’s your nurse?”

“Winona,” Delaney says for me. “She’s got a name.”

I propel the rest of the way to the therapy table. The guys settle down.

I don’t dignify their curiosity with an answer. I just say, “You are worse than a salon full of seniors with your hunger for gossip. Get a life!”

“Someone’s gettin’ a life!” Jaxon shouts with a series of whistles. “Injured but still making the moves, O’Connell!”

This gets everyone riled up again. My therapist enters the room, making a beeline for me. The team might love to joke, but we also know when to be serious. Once Lynn’s at my side, the heckling subsides.

I answer her questions. No pain. No swelling. No issues since last time. When I finish in the therapy room, I meet my trainer in the weight room, and then I wrap my cast and shower.

I text Winona from the locker room.

Declan: Just getting dressed after my shower. Meet me in the cafeteria in ten?

Winona: Yes! My stomach is literally growling. Should I tell you that? Maybe that’s not the sort of thing I should say to the guy I’m dating. It’s not exactly sexy.

Declan: Cheesy as this is going to sound, everything you say is sexy. Let’s get you some food.

My phone pings and an image of her smiling fills the screen. I save it to my camera roll and set it as my lock screen.

Linc comes out of the showers and walks over to his locker next to mine. He glances down at my cell.

“Lock screen updated? This is serious.”

I smile because I can’t help myself.

“Yeah. It’s serious. She’s different.”

“She definitely is,” he agrees. “I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks. So, you’re not going to give me grief?”

“Oh. No. I’ll be giving you grief. I just wanted to be nice first.”

I chuckle. “Yeah. That’s what I figured.”

“I give my stamp of approval on Winona, though,” Linc says. “She’s the real deal.”

“She is.”

I don’t say anything else, but Linc’s approval means the world to me. My team watched me go through devastation over Ginger. I wasn’t broken up over her so much as the way she dragged my name through the mud. I did like her before she pulled her stunts. But if I knew then that I could ever feel what I feel for Winona for a woman, I wouldn’t have given Ginger the time of day.

I dress quickly, throwing my towel in the hamper and heading out to the cafeteria.

Winona’s already waiting for me when I come through the doors. Her face lights up with a smile that’s more expressive than usual. I’m struck with the realization that we both were holding back. No more of that. I propel over to her and place a kiss on her lips.

When I step back, she’s blushing. She glances around the cafeteria and then back at me.

“Sorry,” I say. “I’m just really happy to see you.”

I run my hand down her arm.

I’ve never felt such an insatiable craving to spend time with someone.

She stares up at me. “I’m happy to see you too. How was therapy and your workout?”