Hard Limit (St. Louis Mavericks 2)

“You broke your spine?” He looked shocked, as if he’d had no idea what had happened.

“You didn’t know? It was all over the news for weeks. They didn’t think I would walk again.”

“I don’t watch news or social media. Sometimes for sports, but anything else, no.”

“Oh. Well, now you know.”

“How long did it take you to walk again?”

“Eight months.”

“And when did this happen?”

“About fourteen months ago.”

“You have only been walking again six months?”

“Yes. That’s why my back spasmed the way it did the last time we were together—my muscles and spinal cord are learning to work again.”

“You are very strong,” he said quietly. “Also very brave.” He leaned over to kiss me and, once again, I was swept away.

Chapter Twelve

Lars

* * *

Mavericks Group Text

Wes: Hey guys, I got a heads-up from my agent that an article by that sleazebag sports reporter Ronnie McIntyre will hit the news wires soon. Whatever it says, no one respond. Not to calls from reporters, not on social media, not even to your grandma. We’ll discuss it further this morning at practice.

Beau: It’s 5:15 bro! I thought this was an emergency of epic proportions.

Wes: Define emergency. Because this isn’t good. It looks like Keegan is giving us all the middle finger on his way out the door.

Nash: Fuck him.

Wes: No one responds. And get to practice early. My agent hasn’t seen the article, but from what he’s heard, it’s a smear piece about us.

Drew: We’ll handle it as a team. We’ve got your back, Wes.

Wes: Thanks.

* * *

I set my cell phone on the table beside Sheridan’s bed, rubbing my eyes. I hadn’t expected any texts when I woke up for my morning workout. When I scooted over to Sheridan’s side of the bed and curled my body around hers, kissing the back of her head, she moaned softly.

“Too early,” she murmured. “Still sleepy.”

“I have to go,” I said softly. “For my workout and practice. I’ll text you when I’m done.”

“Mmm, okay.”

“It isn’t leaving if I tell you I am going…right?”

She rolled over and I could see a hint of a smile on her lips.

“Right, you’re good. Thank you, Lars. It was really nice having your company yesterday, and I liked that you stayed the night.”

I brushed the hair away from her face. “Your bed feels good. I like it.”

“And your body feels good, so it works out for both of us.” Her smile grew wider.

I moved to kiss her, but she turned her face to the side and said, “I’m not ready for you to experience my morning breath yet.”

“I heard you snore and fart last night, though. Morning breath is not that bad.”

She gasped. “I did not snore or fart.”

“You did. And how would you know since you were asleep?”

“Lars.” She sighed with exasperation. “Go do your workout. Let’s pretend this conversation never happened.”

“It didn’t smell bad.”

“Oh my God.” She covered her face with a pillow. “End this humiliation and go. I’ll talk to you later.”

I slid out of bed and got dressed, smiling in the near darkness. Sheridan was cute when she was embarrassed. I didn’t see what the big deal was, though—I farted all the time.

Instead of going to the gym, I went for a run in Sheridan’s neighborhood, which was silent and still at this hour. I wondered what Keegan had said that Wes’s agent was so concerned about.

Keegan was just an asshole with a grudge. He’d stolen our teammate Konstantin’s girlfriend, the two of them cheating behind Kon’s back for months before he found out, and burned his bridges with the entire team. All of us were on Kon’s side. We’d been hoping since it happened that Keegan would get traded, and figured he’d prefer that, too.

Why would he and Svetlana want to be here, where everyone disliked them? They could start fresh in a new place, and Konstantin wouldn’t have to see them anymore.

I finished a three-mile run and drove my SUV home, where I found Rosalina cleaning the floor in my guest bathroom. She was an early riser, like me.

“Mr. Lars?” she said as I walked past the open bathroom door.

“Good morning,” I said.

She looked up, her brow furrowed. “Do you want breakfast?”

Loki approached me, rubbing against my ankle until I picked him up and petted him.

“I can get my breakfast,” I said.

“No.” Rosalina pulled off her rubber gloves, glaring at me. “I make breakfast.”

When I wasn’t on the road, she made me the same breakfast every day—four eggs over easy, two pieces of bacon and two pieces of whole wheat toast. I nodded my thanks, because I wouldn’t have been able to make it the way she did.

After breakfast and a shower, I said goodbye to Loki and Rosalina and headed to practice. Wes had said to be early, so I arrived about forty-five minutes earlier than usual. When I walked into the locker room, I was surprised to see my entire team there. Everyone looked at me, and a wave of unease passed through me.