Just a Bit Unhealthy (Straight Guys 3)

Gabriel wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “I’m sorry,” he said into her hair. “Sorry for being so fucked up. I wish I wasn’t.”

She closed her eyes and let him hug her, trying to remember the good times. She couldn’t, and in all honesty, it was partly her fault, too. She shouldn’t have gotten pregnant to tie him down when he wasn’t ready. But she didn’t regret it— because despite the sleepless nights, despite the mess they were in, she couldn’t imagine not having her baby.

“All right,” she said. “We’ll try to make it work.”

He exhaled and kissed her on the temple. “Thanks. You’re the best girlfriend ever.”

Claire smiled grimly. Maybe that was the solution. She would become the best girlfriend in the world. She would be so amazing and understanding, Gabriel would adore her. She had one advantage over Jared: Gabriel was attracted to her. For men sex was important, and even Gabe’s weirdly intense attachment to Jared wouldn’t make him attracted to a man.

She could do this. She could. Despite everything, she wasn’t ready to give up on their relationship and her dreams. Gabriel was the father of her child. He was the man she’d chosen for herself. She wouldn’t give him up without a fight, Jared Sheldon be damned.

Claire turned her head and brushed her lips against Gabriel’s. “It’s been so long since we had sex,” she murmured, pushing him onto his back and straddling him. “You must be horny.” Claire kissed him, closed her eyes and let herself hope, no matter how foolish that hope might be.

PART III: HOME

Chapter 13: Back

England greeted him with rain, but Jared found himself smiling. He never thought he would miss the miserable English weather.

The meeting with Chelsea’s directors didn’t take long: he’d worked for the club for several years, so they knew him well and trusted him to pick up where he had left off. Jared hadn’t really thought he’d be able to get his old job back, but it turned out the doctor who had replaced him wanted to move to a German top club after the end of the season, and Jared agreed to wait until the position became available again. In the meantime, he was going to be responsible for the club’s rehabilitation center.

When the meeting was over, Jared found his feet carrying him to the training grounds. He hadn’t expected that the meeting would take place at the Cobham Training Center, but now that he was there, Jared couldn’t resist the temptation to seek Gabriel out. It had been almost a month.

The rain had stopped, and the air was clean and heavy with moisture. Jared breathed it in as he walked slowly toward the group of footballers training on the pitch.

A part of him still couldn’t believe he had really done this—that he was really going back to his old life in England. Maybe it was the wrong decision, but he was tired. Tired of fighting this. Tired of running away. There was no goddamn point.

Jared’s heart started beating faster when he saw the familiar dark-blond curls. Gabriel was dribbling past two defenders, lightning-quick and agile. Jared had almost forgotten how good he was.

As though feeling his gaze, Gabriel turned his head. He came to a halt, his eyes widening and lips parting. A beautiful smile stretched across his face that Jared couldn’t help but mirror.

And then Gabriel was running toward him, his blue training kit clinging to his skin. Jared tried not to stare, but it was difficult. Gabriel might be a little slim, but like most footballers, he was very fit without being buff. Fuck it, for Jared he was perfect from head to toe.

Jared barely kept himself upright when Gabriel collided into him. “You’re back,” he breathed into Jared’s neck, hugging him tightly. “You’re back.”

Acutely aware of the coach and other footballers watching them curiously, Jared let himself nuzzle Gabriel’s hair for a moment—just a moment—before pulling back and shoving his hands into the pockets of his jacket. The simple action was far harder than it should have been.

“Yes,” he said belatedly, his eyes on Gabriel’s beaming face.

Gabriel stepped closer again. Jared clenched his hands in his pockets and gave him a look of warning. Stay a few feet away from me.

Gabriel frowned and glanced at his teammates before returning his gaze to Jared. “When did you get here? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Jared!” Another footballer jogged toward them. Tristan DuVal. “You’re back! I mean—are you back?”

Jared smiled at him and shook his hand. He didn’t share Gabriel’s opinion that Tristan was the devil reincarnated; Gabriel wasn’t exactly an angel himself.

“Yes,” he said. “For the time being, I’ll be the senior doctor at the rehabilitation center. I’ll replace Dr. Boyle when she moves to Munich in the summer.”

“Great!” Tristan touched Jared’s arm, smiling. “You’ve been missed very much, Doctor.”