Page 82 of Love at First Rep

CHASE: I still don’t understand how he predicted that!

JOSH: I got skills. Now what to do with all this cash…

HUNTER: Maybe we need a rematch. Double or nothing.

GARRETT: Judging by the ice packs currently covering mine and Rafe’s bodies, I don’t think we’re up for a rematch.

RILEY: The way you two rushed out of there, I would have thought ice was your last priority.

GARRETT: Definitely not the first priority. One of the top three, though.

COLE: Hey, let’s all respect our elders here. They’ve been through so much.

GARRETT: ::middle finger emoji::

COLE: Oh no, he’s confusing the symbols again. I know that was supposed to be a heart. Go to bed, old man!

CARSON: Easy, guys. Garrett has been through a lot today.

GARRETT: I think if I came in to work out tomorrow it would only be to kick Cole’s ass.

RILEY: Oooooh, Tobias, can we have another fight night but it’s Garrett vs. Cole?

HUNTER: YES.

CHASE: I support this idea!

TOBIAS: Absolutely.

JOSH: No, I don’t want Cole to die!

GARRETT: Don’t worry, I wouldn’t kill him. Only a bit of maiming.

COLE: I’m in! Garrett, I just need you to run it by Elena first.

GARRETT: Why do I need her permission?

COLE: Because my ass is her property, duh.

RILEY: Garrett, don’t do it. She’ll eat you alive.

GARRETT: No, thanks. I’ve pissed off that woman enough lately.

CARSON: If anyone wants to watch the replay of the fight, I can email you the video.

TOBIAS: I didn’t see you recording anything.

CARSON: True. I have no idea where this video came from, but if anyone wants it, let me know.

GARRETT: Fucking hell.

26

A MUSCLE IN RAFE’S back twinged. He fought to hide his amusement as he entered one of the terminals at the ports in Philly the next morning, heavy makeup covering his black eye.

The match with Garrett the night before left him with plenty of bumps and bruises, but it also helped them reconnect and put everything behind them. He thought Garrett might never forgive him for lying to him about the team and his past, but somehow he did. He understood how Rafe’s hands were tied in all of this. And most importantly, Garrett loved Rafe. The one thing Rafe had spent the last twenty years dreaming of. Perhaps they hadn’t yet completed the drug part of this mission, but Rafe already considered it a huge success.

When this case was over, Garrett and Rafe could have a real conversation about how they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. Rafe fought like hell with McHugh to get him to consider Garrett for their team. Rafe considered if Garrett wanted this life. Traveling from country to country helping others made everything unpredictable and dangerous. But Garrett had more than just a home in Cherrywood, he had a family, something he didn’t have as a kid. How could Rafe tear him away from that?