16
For the second morning in a row, I awake to find Bailey’s soft body plastered against me and my arms wrapped around her. Today, our legs are even tangled together, which makes slipping out that much more difficult.
There’s no doubt in my mind that if she wakes up in my arms, she will be livid, and all the progress we’ve made toward a ceasefire will be firebombed to hell. It won’t matter to her that we’re on my side of the bed, which means she had to have been the one to cross the invisible line dividing the mattress down the middle.
Nope.
She’ll just use it as another reason to spit daggers at me from her eyes.
In between the moments when she’s looking at me like she wants to devour me, that is.
I swear, this infuriating woman has my head spinning in circles. Most of the time, she hates my fucking guts. She won’t listen, she purposely goes against me at every opportunity, and she finds any reason possible to snap at me with that damn sassy mouth. But other times, I can tell she wants me. Craves me. Craves the way I make her feel. Because I do know how to make her feel good, and she can’t deny it. I see the memories burning in her eyes when she thinks I’m not paying attention. But I’m always paying attention, even when I don’t want to be.
Last night messed with my head more than I expected. It was never the plan to let her meet my mom; the situation is just too complicated, and I didn’t want to have to explain Bailey to my family. When I suggested we could use the kitchen at my parents’ condo, I was prepared to feel a little off-kilter, having her in such a personal space. I didn’t even think we’d see my mom, but when she woke up, I suddenly wanted Bailey to meet her. I wanted her to meet Bailey. Having her in the home where I grew up was an intoxicating kind of intimacy, and I craved more of it. When Bailey met my mom, though, I wasn’t prepared to feel so fuckin’ bulldozed. There was something strange about seeing them interacting, getting along, joking. In another life, Bailey and my mom would have been friends. If I had met Bailey sooner, if I hadn’t fucked up so royally, she could maybe even be more, and then they would be more.
I change into a pair of joggers and a hoodie, then grab my bag, which is full of freshly laundered gym clothes, thanks to the hotel guest services. I slip on my shoes and glance back at Bailey one more time. She’s out cold. I don’t know how this girl snuck out on me so many times when she sleeps like the dead herself. The nights that she stayed at my townhouse, she must have never fully relaxed. One eye must have always been open and trained on the door. The only reason she’s sleeping now is because she has no other choice. But before, there was another choice. A better one. And it wasn’t me.
I shake my head.
No wonder it was so easy for her to hate me. She never even let herself like me.
The realization is a line-drive straight to the fucking chest.
I shut the door softly on my way out.
I sendmy workout videos to Coach Elbin after my shower, and he gives me a call the minute they go through.
“Sup, Coach?” I say into the phone.
“Stanton. Reps are looking good. How’s your arm feel?”
“Feels good. The tension bands are helping, but I’m ready to throw again.”
He grunts. “You’d be throwin’ plenty if you hadn’t fucked off to the city.”
“Yeah, I know. I’ll be back on it after the holidays.”
“Neal was asking about you.” His voice is leading. Fuck.
“Yeah? What’s Coach Neal want?”
“Wanted to know what you were up to and why you weren’t at practice.”
Double fuck.
“I got the feelin’ he was askin’ for your dad,” he adds.
I grunt. “What did you tell him?”
“That you had family shit.”
I stay quiet.
“Any reason your dad would be asking after you if you’ve got family shit?”
“He’s outta town until Christmas.” I shrug it off, even though he can’t see me, and I hear him huff on the other line.
“Lies always come back to bite you in the ass,” he states clearly. I don’t respond to that either. He sighs. “Take care of your shit, kid. I’ll keep Neal off your back.”
I let out a relieved breath. As long as I’m keeping up with my training like I’d promised, Elbin will cover for me. “Thanks, Coach.”
“Right. You looked like you had more in the tank yesterday. Do another arm set tomorrow,” he says, referring to the workout videos I sent him yesterday.
“Yes, sir.”