Page 132 of Offside Rules

My eyes sting, and I kiss him before I start crying again.

He holds me closer.

There’s too much I should say. Too much we’ve both left until the night before I’m supposed to pack my things.

I open my mouth, but he rests his forehead against mine, his eyes closed.

"Just stay with me tonight, Bay."

I slide my hand behind his neck.

"I’m here."

This time, he’s the one who reaches for another kiss.

By the time Wolf turns off the shower, my fingers are wrinkled and I’ve stopped crying.

He reaches for a towel and wraps it around me, then kisses my forehead while I hold it closed.

"Do you feel better?"

I nod.

"Yeah, a little."

He gets another towel for himself while I squeeze the water from my hair. We move around each other in his bathroom the way we do every morning. I open the drawer where I’ve been keeping my things, and he steps aside without looking.

I put on my pajamas.

He pulls on clean sweats, then follows me into the bedroom.

I move the pillow into place for his shoulder before getting under the covers. He settles beside me and reaches for me as soon as he’s comfortable.

I tuck myself against his good side.

For a while, neither of us speaks.

Then I look up at him.

"I should get my things out of your apartment tomorrow, huh?"

His eyes come to mine.

"Why?"

"Because that’s when we said…"

I glance toward the bathroom, where my toothbrush is still beside his.

Wolf follows my gaze, then looks back at me.

"Our agreement about dating is over. That doesn’t mean our friendship has to be."

"I know."

"I still care about you, Baylor. I’m not going to stop because your kitchen’s finished."

I press my lips together.