Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Kon took my hand and tugged on it, and I followed him back to the couch, my brow furrowed with concern.
“This is how it is,” he said, putting an arm around my shoulders. “It will get better.”
“And you don’t have to do this alone,” Sheridan said. “Sariah said she wants to come hang out tomorrow, too. She’s Nash’s girlfriend.”
“Tough love,” Kon reminded me. “We will get through this.”
I knew he was right. My only regret was that I’d waited this long to play hardball with my brother. The kind and hopeful approach I’d been employing was clearly a failure. It was time to do this Kon’s way.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Kon
I hated leaving Lucy to deal with Sawyer. She had Dr. Morales, Sheridan, Hadley, and Sariah helping out, but they wouldn’t be much help if Nate or one of his brother’s friends showed up. What if one of them pushed their way into the house? If they hurt Lucy—or anyone in our Mavericks family—I’d lose my fucking mind. Sawyer was lucid enough to at least be aware if something happened, but I wasn’t sure he was in any condition to defend the girls while we were away. Especially if there was more than one attacker.
“You look like a man with a lot on his mind,” Boone said to me as we got on the plane after kicking the snot out of the team in Boston.
We were headed to Philadelphia. We’d play there tomorrow, have a day off, and then go to Pittsburgh and Columbus after that.
Five more days until we got home.
Five days too many.
“Worried about Sawyer,” I said.
“And Lucy.” His eyes met mine questioningly.
I didn’t respond.
“You like her,” he said, no hint of humor in his voice.
“Yes.” There was no point denying it after what he’d seen the other night.
“Sawyer know?”
“There is nothing to know.” Yet.
“Looked like there was something the other night.”
“It’s complicated.”
“Isn’t it always?”
“We have to deal with Sawyer’s situation,” I said, hoping to redirect the conversation. I wasn’t ready to talk to anyone about Lucy and me. Especially since I didn’t know if there was a Lucy and me. We’d kissed a few times. I wanted her so badly I was jerking off twice a day, but I hadn’t even taken her out on a date.
“But do you like her enough to deal with Sawyer’s wrath or is this…casual?”
“I don’t know,” I grunted, pulling out my headphones. “I like her, but we’re just friends.”
“Friends don’t kiss.” He pointed out.
“We weren’t kissing,” I muttered.
He gave me a look that told me he thought I was full of shit, but apparently decided to back off. “If you say so.”
Glad that conversation was over, I put my headphones on and opened my laptop, scrolling through one of the streaming services I subscribed to, looking for a movie to watch. I really didn’t want to watch anything, so even though I left my headphones on, I pulled out my phone and texted Lucy.
Kon: How are things tonight?
Lucy: Sawyer’s sleeping, so I just took a shower while Sheridan and Sariah hold down the fort.
Kon: Does this mean you are naked?
Lucy: Maybe. But I’ll never tell. ;)
Kon: I would very much like to see this.
Lucy: I guess we’ll have to work on that.
Kon: The thought of you naked is very distracting…but this is why I texted.
Lucy: You were going to ask me if I was naked?
Kon: LOL no. I was going to ask if you would like to go out on a date with me. A proper date. Just the two of us. Away from Sawyer and the team and everything else. Maybe even go out of town or something. NOT to get naked. Just to be together. But naked would be okay also.
Lucy: LOL I’d love to go on a clothes-optional date with you. When?
Kon: We’re back in five days, but there is a game the following night. What about next Wednesday?
There was a slight delay before her response.
Lucy: My schedule is clear, but it kind of depends on Sawyer. Also, what am I going to tell him?
Kon: Is going out with me going to be a problem?
Lucy: No. I’m a grown-ass woman who can date whomever I want. I just…even in his current condition, he’s overprotective. And he’s always been clear that he doesn’t want me dating his teammates. Normally, I wouldn’t give a shit, but with everything going on…
Kon: I hate to suggest something so childish, but for now maybe lie? Say you are going to spend the day with the girls?
Lucy: That’s what I was thinking. I’m sure Sheridan will cover for me. Everyone is walking on eggshells around Sawyer right now, so they’ll understand me not wanting to upset the applecart.
Kon: Applecart?
Lucy: It’s a saying. We don’t want to upset him until he’s past the worst of this.
Kon: Okay. So next Wednesday?