Blindsided (Fake Boyfriend 4)

“And the hard-ass is back. I thought after last night he might’ve been killed off by the nice Talon.” On the inside, I’m thankful the hard-ass turned up. It means there’s hope.

Something falters in Talon’s smile. “No matter what’s going on between you and me, I’m still here for a reason, and that’s to whip your ass into shape.”

I smirk. “I’m not really into whips. Handcuffs on the other hand …”

Talon’s eyes flare with heat, but he tries to hide it. “Up. Now. Your mom is making us something to eat, so you’ve got five minutes to get up and get dressed or you’re going in your pajamas.”

“You’re assuming I’m wearing pajamas.” Probably shouldn’t poke him, but I want to show him where I’m still at. I don’t want to beg him or tell him he has to choose me, but I want him to know nothing has changed on my end.

Talon looks at the roof, muttering something about God giving him strength to keep his dick in his pants.

I don’t know where we stand, but that’s no different from last night. We’re probably not going to work this out immediately. It’s something we have to figure out for ourselves.

“I don’t see you moving,” Talon says.

“It’s too early,” I complain, trying to get a reaction out of him. It works.

“Don’t make me go over there.”

My mouth drops open to dare him to do it, but I think better of it. That might be pushing him too far this morning.

Talon shifts on his feet. “Say it.”

“Say what?”

“What you were going to say. Taunt me to come over there.” His eyes are soft, just like his voice, and it’s like he’s begging me to give him permission.

“Come here,” I say, my voice gruff.

His steps are tentative, but he does it.

When he reaches the bed, I move swiftly and pull him down on top of me. Our bodies collide, and he laughs, but it’s cut off when my mouth doesn’t know when to let shit go.

“I didn’t think I’d see you today.”

With our hips lined up against each other, chest to chest, we share a single breath. Talon stares down at me with his baby blues. “Like I said, nothing’s gonna stop me from keeping my promise to get you back in shape.”

The words neither of us want to hear go unsaid.

This might be too much.

It might be too hard.

It might not be worth it.

A little voice comes from the doorway. “Whatcha doin?”

Talon rolls off me so fast he almost knees me in the groin. I grunt, and he lands on his ass next to me and smiles innocently at my niece.

“Talon fell,” I say. “Silly, clumsy quarterback.”

I don’t think Gabby believes me.

“Your uncle pushed me,” Talon says.

She puts her little hands on her hips, and the scowl she gives kills me. She’s so freaking adorable. “Don’t be a bully.”

I try to keep a straight face. “Sorry. You’re right. I shouldn’t be a bully.”

“Breakfast,” Mom calls out.

We eat quickly and head out, and I can feel something brewing in my gut—a sense or need to do well and show Talon I appreciate him coming to get my ass out of bed even though things are weird between us after last night.

He thinks I don’t see the way he’s been looking at me during our training sessions. He knows my head’s not in it, and he’s worried. If I’m honest with myself, I’m worried too.

An athlete’s motivation always comes from the need to win—the need to fight. When I injured my leg, a little of that died for me. And then with the complication after surgery, it died a little more. I don’t know if there’s enough left to save my career.

Snow fell a few nights ago, but it’s all melted away today. The walk to Talon’s apartment building warms me a little but not enough, and it’s days like this I miss the sunshine and heat of California. I only lived there for four years, but it’s like those years erased my entire childhood love of New York winters.

Talon doesn’t talk, which is concerning in itself.

It makes me want to do better and show him I can get back on my feet, even if I don’t one hundred percent believe it myself.

So, I begin to walk faster. My leg’s good today, and I haven’t had any sciatic pain for over twenty-four hours now. I know not to push past my limits, but fear has been keeping me from pushing anything.

If I don’t test my limits, I don’t know what they are.

And shit, isn’t that an accurate phrase for all corners of my life right now. Instead of telling Talon exactly what I want, I’m still letting him lead this.

He asked me what I needed last night, and I lied to him. I said I needed space to think when all I want is for him to be confident in us. Which is unfair to both of us, because how can he be sure when he doesn’t even know if I am?