Execution (Off Balance 2)

"My sister."

"Oh." I paused, my smile fading. I hadn't expected that. "But you know about my secret, and it can't be worse than that. Please," I begged sweetly, batting my eyes. "Tell me what it is. Tell me why your sister is the reason we have dumb dating rules."

"Aid. Let it go."

Of course, I couldn't let it go.

"If it weren't for your rules, I wouldn't be in this mess."

His eyes flared. It was the wrong thing to say.

"I know you can't be fucking serious right now. You're in this mess because you had sex with your dickhead, possessive coach who has mental issues. This had nothing to do with me."

"Jeez." I pulled back, not expecting the severity of his voice. "I was only half-kidding."

Hayden sighed. "I'm sorry for snapping, but I'm not going to talk about it. Okay? So just drop it."

"Fine." I'd just ask Kova anyway.

"Want to get brunch before you leave?"

My stomach grumbled and Hayden lifted a brow. "I wish, but I'm going to see my mom soon. I need to be as thin as possible for her."

His forehead creased with lines of confusion and his eyes narrowed. "Thin? Have you looked at yourself lately, Aid?"

Hayden stood up and guided me to stand in front of my closet mirror. Standing behind me, he placed his hands on my waist. I wore faded denim shorts that sat extremely low on my hips and a simple buttercup yellow tank top. Few colors matched with my dark auburn hair, but this was one of them. Mom hated these shorts. She called them Daisy Dukes and said I looked like white trash wearing them. Naturally, I loved them.

Lifting my shirt, his calloused palm roamed over my toned stomach. Hayden tried to pinch the skin around my abs and hips, but he couldn't grab it.

"See what I mean? No fat."

I shook my head. "I know, Hayden, I know, but I can't eat. I want to, but I can't. My stomach is in knots as it is. I'm sorry."

Hayden wrapped his arms around my shoulders and tugged me to his chest. I leaned back, relaxing into him. He was a foot taller than me and a good hundred pounds heavier, yet we fit together like two interlocking pieces of a puzzle.

"I think you're perfect the way you are. I'm sorry you have to deal with a mom like that," he said apologetically, then dropped a kissed to the top of my head. If he only knew how nasty she could be. "What about physical therapy while you're away?"

I held on to his forearms as a smile tipped my lips. I stared at our reflection. After I strained my Achilles heel a couple of months ago, I had to alter my training schedule to fit in treatment three times a week, and water down my routines so I didn't add excess pressure and tear the tendon completely. The pain in my calf and ankle was mostly nonexistent now, but I wasn't naive to think it was healed. I knew my boundaries…for the most part, anyway.

"You're so thoughtful and caring. I don’t have an appointment set up, but I will when I get there. I already know who I'm going to call. It won't be an issue for me to get in."

And it wouldn't. My dad would make the call for me.

I patted Hayden's arm. "I need to get going. I have about a three-hour drive ahead of me."

He gave me one last squeeze and said, "I'll miss you." Releasing me, he bent down and grabbed the small suitcase I was bringing home. We turned off all the lights and left my condo.

As I was locking the door, Hayden shifted from one foot to the other.

"What is it?" I asked, pulling the key out.

"Is this considered the walk of shame?" He looked down at his clothes, then met my gaze. "I mean, I am wearing the clothes I came in, and I slept with you."

A smile spread across my face and a laugh escaped from me as I shook my head.

"I'm pretty sure the walk of shame is supposed to include more than just sleeping next to me."

We walked side by side to the elevator. "True, but I had a boner when I woke up," he said so casually, pressing the button to take us to the lobby.