Page 21 of Beg Me

I just hope I haven’t missed too much of his life to fit into his world like that. I hope it’s not too late for us to fashion that kind of a relationship, one that survives more than a couple of months together, max. And I really hope that I don’t insert myself into their lives and fuck it up.

You don’t change things that work. That’s Game Planning 101.

“How are you liking Sugar Creek?” Gray asks.

“It’s unlike anywhere I’ve ever lived.” I chuckle softly. “But I like it. Gus seems to be having a good time, too, so that helps.”

“It’s a great place to grow up. I mean, I know he’s not growing up here, but it’s a good place to spend a summer when you’re that age.”

“I can see that,” I say. “This is what I wanted for us. Just a moment in time when we can forge a bond—just the two of us. Last summer felt so rushed and unsettled, and I just wanted us to have a home base this time.” I gaze across the fields. “You know, I’ve lived in Tennessee for a few years now, and this is my home. I really love it here, and I guess I wanted Gus to get a taste of this life, too.”

Gray nods as we turn up a driveway toward his cabin. “I get that. Once you fall in love with a place, it’s hard to get it out of your blood.” He peers at me out of the corner of his eye. “Where are you thinking about landing once you retire?”

I blow out a breath. “Fuck if I know.”

We make our way to the cabin, and the only sound is the crunching of our shoes against the rocks. Wind sweeps across the fields, carrying a lonely sort of whistle with it. But the home in front of us—small, with a chimney, porch swing, and another goose beside the door—is warm. Welcoming. Like something you’d love coming home to.

I can imagine living in a place like this with Gus. His bike on the front porch and a rugby ball on the swing. The idea causes a wave of warmth to swell in my chest, and I shove it back down because I’m not sure what to do with it.

“Nice place,” I say, tapping the top of the pirate goose’s head as I follow Gray inside.

“Thanks. Astrid is having her way with it. I’ve been trying to get her to let me add on a little bit, but she’s refusing. It’ll fuck up the charm, she says.” He shrugs. “As long as she’s happy, I’m happy.”

“Spoken like a man who’s as whipped as they come.”

He laughs. “Fuck you.”

I laugh, too, taking a seat across from him at a small kitchen table. “How have you been?”

“Good. Just decompressing and trying to find a new normal. It’s weird not having to count my macros every damn meal.”

“That’s one part of retirement that I haven’t considered.” I lean back in my chair and yawn. “Have you seen Drake lately? I was hoping to run into him while I’m here.”

He stretches his arms overhead and groans. “Yeah. He was here last week. I think Gianna might be staying with Audrey. Something tells me that Drake had to visit his parents or something, but I could be making that up.” He rests his forearms on the table. “Do you know Brooks Dempsey by any chance? Used to be an MMA fighter, if the name is ringing a bell.”

“I don’t think so.”

“He’s marrying Audrey in a few weeks.” He pauses. “Do you know who she is?”

“Nope.”

He sighs. “Astrid has a cool friend group, and somehow, they’ve all wound up here in Sugar Creek. There’s Gianna, who is with Drake, who you already know. And then there’s Audrey, who’s marrying Brooks.” He taps a finger against the table. “The girls have more or less gathered Hartley’s wife, Mira, and her sister, Markie, and added them into their circle.”

I fight a smile. But when you’ve played ball with a guy, you learn to read them like a book. And Gray sees right through my attempt at hiding my amusement.

He lifts a brow, fighting a grin of his own.

“Yeah, I met Markie,” I say, licking my bottom lip. “A couple of times.”

“Really? You met her as in someone introduced you in line at the grocery store, or you met her like you met that girl when we were playing in Detroit?”

I snort. That was a wild night. “Neither, really. But we’ve chatted a couple of times, and I’ve known her brother since college.”

“That guy is an asshole.”

Gray’s not completely wrong. Miles can be a bit self-absorbed, and there are times when I wonder if he can see beyond himself at all. Even Markie seems to agree with the sentiment.

“I can see how you could come to that conclusion.” I laugh. “But, yeah, I know Markie a little bit.”