Page 26 of First Down Promise

Now or never.

I push the door open and gently close it behind me, resting my back on it for a split second. I’m actually doing this. In the dark, I see he’s lying down, probably still feeling the effects of drinking all evening. I step toward his bed, accidentally walking over his clothes strewn about on the floor.

“Abby?” His voice is coarse and sleepy. I sit on the edge of the bed next to him, my thigh touching his side under the covers.

“Why deny yourself me?” I whisper.

“Abby, what?” he asks, lifting his head off the pillow.

“Why are you denying yourself me?” I repeat a little louder, with extra enunciation on each word.

“Abby, I—”

“You are, and I’m tired of it.” I stand from the bed and turn for the door, then glance over my shoulder at him. “Night, Josh.”

As I leave, there’s no rustling noise or any indication he’s following me, and I quickly return to my room, carefully closing the door behind me. It only took four years to open up about my feelings, though he may not remember by the time he wakes up in the morning. For now, I’ll hang onto hope that it doesn’t take him that long to make the next move.

Despite the late bedtime, I’m still up by seven, and instead of scrolling my phone, I drag myself out of bed for a jog around the neighborhood while the guys sleep in. Last night’s events are still perfectly clear, and I didn’t actually admit my feelings to Josh. Just called a spade a spade. The only explanation is that he’s interfering. If he wants to manipulate my love life to keep me single, there has to be a vibe there. If not, I can go hide under a rock for the rest of eternity.

I jog back with sweat beading along my skin and my breath heavy, then walk through the front door where the guys are huddled around the kitchen island, carb-loading on bagels they must have had delivered. I immediately catch Josh’s eye as I grab my earbud case, pull the earbuds from my ears, and snap the case closed.

“Morning, Ab,” Pete mutters over a coffee cup.

“Morning. It’s so nice out!” I nearly squeal, a little peppier than my usual self in the morning. “I went for a jog. Did you know the neighbors down the road are renovating?” I ramble as I retrieve a pre-made protein shake from the refrigerator. I turn around to face them, and all four are staring at me as if they want me to shut up.

“That’s fantastic,” Pete replies and takes another sip of his coffee.

“Anyway, I’m meeting Sadie for lunch and a movie at the mall later. I might go early and do some shopping.”

“What the hell is with you?” Dane slowly asks. The room goes still as it does anytime he speaks up. “You’re acting like you got laid, and based on your date from hell, I highly doubt that’s the case.” I gasp, and Pete shoots me a wide-eyed look, but then stares his friends down.

“Maybe if you went for a morning jog, you’d be happier too, Dane,” I reply, not letting embarrassment creep in. Josh’s eyes meet mine again, but this time, I hold his gaze. Do you remember? I mentally ask.

“I’m too big for running,” Dane replies.

“Me too,” Coop agrees.

“For what it’s worth, only I get laid under this roof,” Pete jokes.

I wrinkle my nose. “I’m going to freshen up before this gets any weirder.” I grab my protein shake and start for my bedroom with whatever dignity I still have. “Save me a plain one!” I call over my shoulder on my way up.

But damn, I hope you remember.

Chapter Ten

Josh

“What the hell is with you? You’re acting like you got laid, and based on your date from hell, I highly doubt that’s the case,” Dane says to Abby. Pete gives us all a death stare in return, but the only person I look at is her.

“Maybe if you went for a morning jog, you’d be happier too, Dane,” she replies. She finally lets her eyes meet mine again, and she doesn’t divert them like she normally might. My mind goes blank, and I breathe out as I try to read hers.

“I’m too big for running,” Dane says.

“Me too,” Coop adds.

But, of course, Pete has to turn the conversation back to himself. “For what it’s worth, only I get laid under this roof.” I want to flick him between the eyes for making such a jackass comment, but I stay seated. I wasn’t lying last night. He needs to be humbled before his head gets any bigger.

She grips her protein shake and shudders. “I’m going to freshen up before this gets any weirder.” She brushes past us, and I keep my neck as is despite the urge to turn and catch another glimpse of her. “Save me a plain one!”