The Friend Zone (Game On 2)

Gray lifts his head. “My fantasy?” He looks blank, but he doesn’t fool me.

“I know what it is.”

“Oh, you do?” Gray smiles yet his tone holds a note of caution, as if he doesn’t want to believe me.

“Yeah, Cupcake, I do.” I kiss the tip of his nose. “You take care of everybody. But who takes care of you? That’s what you want, isn’t it? To be cared for.” My palm smooths down his cheek as he stares at me with wide eyes. “That’s my job now, Gray. I’m always going to be the one there for you.”

His throat works on a swallow, and when he speaks, his voice is husky. “How did you know?”

I rub my cheek against his, drawing in his familiar scent. “Because I know you.”

Gray is very still for a breath. Then he eases back. His hands settle on either side of my neck, his fingers so long they bracket my jaw. Gently, as though I’m suddenly breakable, he presses a kiss to my forehead, my cheeks, my closed eyes, the tip of my nose, and finally my lips.

“Every inch, Ivy,” he whispers against them.

I open my eyes and smile. My arms wind around his neck, holding him close. “You said that once, before your last game. But you never really told me what it means.”

Gray’s hands move to my waist. “Before you, it meant I’ll fight for every inch of yardage, never give up until I’m in the end zone. But now?” His blue eyes meet mine. “It means I’ll fight for every inch of you. That I love every inch of you.”

For a second, the air between us goes heavy and still. His words settle on me like a warm blanket. It sinks beneath my skin when he slowly smiles, as if he’s realized what he’s said and likes it.

“I love you, Ivy Mac.” His smile grows and he cups my cheek. “I really do. So much.” A husky laugh leaves him. “It feels good saying that.”

He loves me. No man has ever said those words to me. I’ve never wanted to hear them from anyone else but Gray.

I draw in a tremulous breath, my heart swelling within my chest. “I love you too.”

The corners of his eyes crinkle. “Yeah?”

Standing on my toes, I softly kiss his forehead, his cheeks, eyes, his smiling mouth. “Every inch, Cupcake.”

Gray sighs and hugs me close, his lips skimming along my neck. “I’ve never been in love before.”

I have to smile as I snuggle closer. “Neither have I.”

Gray breathes in deep. “Drew was right. It’s better than football.”

A shocked laugh bursts out of me. “Oh, wow. That’s huge.”

Gray pulls back to look down at me. The love in his eyes comes through crystal clear. “Huge as in, ‘Oh Gray, let me give you a celebratory blow job’ huge?”

I give him a look. “You’re killing the moment, Cupcake.”

But Gray grins, his big hand caressing my side. “It’s turning you on. Just admit it.”

I snicker, leaning into his touch. “Yeah, okay,” I whisper. “A little.” Sexy stranger Gray was exciting, but this is the Gray I love with all I am.

He chuckles low, contented, and gently cups my breast. “I knew it.” He palms me, moving in a slow circle. “Let’s go home, and we can celebrate properly.”

I’m about to agree when he hits a spot that is tender. “Ow, careful.”

Gray frowns. “That hurt you?”

“Yeah, it’s a little sore.”

His face grows eerily blank as he gently touches the spot, then draws a sharp breath. “What the fuck?”

“What?” I ask, alarmed.

“This,” Gray hisses, wrenching my shirt further down. With a grim look, he bends close and prods at my breast. “This…lump.” The word comes out like a curse.

Frowning, I bat his hand away and feel for myself. Okay, there’s a small lump on the fleshy side of my breast. “Huh. I’ve never noticed that.”

“Never noticed?” he cries in outrage. “Jesus, Ivy. Don’t you check your breasts?”

Normally I’d laugh, never expecting a guy to even know about that. But this is Gray. He’s seen his mom die from breast cancer. So I keep my voice low, calm. “Of course I do. This is new.”

“New?” He presses his fingers to his eyes. “Fuck. Fuck.” His hand falls and he levels me a blue-eyed glare. “You have to get it checked. Now.”

“I can’t go now. It’s late at night—”

“We’ll go to a clinic.” He paws at my breast again, moving it this way and that, angrily prodding it as if he can will the lump away.

“Gray,” I snap, pushing at his hand and trying pull up my shirt. “Would you stop?”

“No.” He’s beside himself, his voice almost shrill. “Are you even listening to me? You need to get this checked.”

My temper breaks. “Calm the fuck down. Someone is going to come in here any second.”

As if timed, there’s a knock on the door and a tentative, “Uh, is everything okay in there?”

“Fine,” I shout, just as Gray yells, “Go away.”

“Not helping,” I snarl at Gray. But the distraction lets me get my top up and my breasts covered.

“I give a fuck what that guy out there thinks,” Gray snaps back. “You’re not taking this seriously. You have a lump.” He’s shouting now. “A goddamn lump. Do you even care?”

I’ve never seen him like this. His skin is ashy, his eyes wide and wild. He’s shaking so hard now, I’m afraid for his health. “Gray, baby, you need to calm down. It’s okay—”