Finding a small notebook and a pen in the drawer next to the fridge, I scribble her a note.
Joey,
Thanks for dinner. Breakfast is on me.
Check the oven.
Brock
I place the note on the center of the counter before placing foil over the cast iron pan and sticking it in the oven. The oven isn’t heated up, but it will help contain the heat of the pan. Hopefully, it’s still good by the time she wakes up.
“I looked at some houses last night online,” I tell Caleb once we’re in his truck and on our way to the stadium.
“Yeah? Find anything?”
“Not really.”
“You don’t have to rush into finding a place. I thought you were just going to stay with me until the season was over?”
“That’s still the plan. I just feel… unsettled.”
“That’s to be expected moving cities and starting a new team in a matter of forty-eight hours. You’ve been thrust into this huge life-altering change. You need to give yourself some time to adjust.”
“Maybe.” I know he’s right. However, what I don’t tell him is that I feel different. It’s as if this move and the trade changed me somehow. I’d never admit it out loud because it sounds crazy enough in my head.
“I can hook you up with the realtor I used to buy my place. Maybe you can give her a call, tell her what you’re looking for, and she can keep an eye out,” Caleb suggests.
“If I knew what I was looking for, that would be a great plan,” I tell him.
He laughs. “You’ll get there, man. For now, my home is yours. Take all the time you need.”
“I appreciate that.” Caleb is the brother I never had. Growing up, I would beg my parents for a brother. I was even desperate enough to tell them a sister would be fine too. It never happened. As I got older, I learned that my parents tried to give me siblings, but it wasn’t in the cards for them. They would have had a house full if they were able. I might not be settling down anytime soon, but if and when I get there, I definitely want at least two kids. The only child in me says I want more than that, but that’s something I’ll have to discuss with my hypothetical future wife. If and when I ever find her.
Two hours of film, two hours of practice, an hour lunch, followed by two hours in the weight room, and I’m dead on my feet. I want to go home, shower again, and fall into bed. Caleb must feel the same because we’re both quiet on the way home. When we pull into his driveway and I see Joey’s car, I perk up a little. Just the thought of seeing her has the exhaustion lifting, and is that hope welling in my chest?
Grabbing our gym bags, we head inside. The house is quiet, as if no one is home.
“Joey!” Caleb calls out.
“In here!” she calls back.
I follow him as he makes his way to the huge living room. There is where we find her. She’s sitting on the couch, under a blanket I’m sure to ward off the chill of the air conditioning. She’s in some kind of shirt that’s hanging off her shoulder, exposing her bright red bra strap, and her hair is in a messy knot on top of her head. She has on a pair of glasses that do nothing to hide her gorgeous chocolate eyes. In fact, they’re sexy as fuck on her. I can’t stop staring at her, and I know this image of her is one I will never forget. She’s relaxed, casual, and without a doubt the most stunning woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.
“Hey, I didn’t expect the two of you home so soon.” She places her reading device down on the couch and stands.
I clench my fists at my sides when I see the tiny skin-tight shorts she’s wearing. Are they even shorts? Her shirt is cut off and shows off her toned belly, and my cock twitches in my pants. I swallow hard. I have to get out of this room.
“I’m going to shower and take a nap.” I don’t wait for either of them to try and talk me out of it. With long strides, I make my way upstairs into my room, shutting and locking the door for good measure. It’s not like she’s going to come into my room and try to seduce me. My cock swells, liking that theory.
Dropping my bag, I strip out of my clothes and head to the bathroom to take a cold shower. Closing my eyes, I let the ice-cold spray do its job, but then thoughts of her creamy skin on her exposed neck and shoulder pop into my mind, and I could be sitting in the waters of Antarctica, and it wouldn’t help.
Turning off the water, I towel off, slipping into some boxer briefs, a pair of gym shorts, and a T-shirt. I unlock the door because the idea that she would come to me is crazy. I don’t know why all of a sudden, she’s got me twisted in my feelings.
Lying down on my bed, I try to take a nap, but all I do is toss and turn. An hour later, I’m still wide awake, and I know it’s time to stop hiding. Quietly, I open my bedroom door, and the house is silent. I take a deep breath, slowly exhaling as I make my way past her bedroom door. It’s open, but I refuse to look. Holding strong with willpower I never knew that I possessed, I’ve almost made it when I hear her call my name.
“Brock?”
I freeze. I debate on ignoring her, but let’s be honest. There is no ignoring Josephine Henderson. Instead, I take two steps backward and turn to look into her room. She’s sitting on the bed, in that same tempting outfit, same glasses, and same messy hair, and her reading device in her hand.
“Hey, I wanted to thank you for breakfast.” She reaches over into her nightstand drawer and pulls out the note that I left for her. My heart thunders in my chest. She kept it? “This too. It was sweet of you.”
“You’re welcome,” I reply, my voice gravelly.
“I wanted to text you, but I don’t have your number.”
“You want my number?” I ask her.
“Is that weird? I mean, I know you’re Caleb’s best friend, but we’re roommates, at least for while I’m here. Makes sense, right?”
“Caleb gave me yours this morning,” I confess, just to see her reaction.
The hint of a smile tilts her lips. “Yeah? Well, then I think it’s only fair that I get yours as well.”
Reaching into my pocket for my phone, I swipe the screen and type out a message.
Me: Hey, it’s Brock.
I hit Send, and her phone pings with an alert. She grins as her fingers fly across her screen.
Joey: Thank you for breakfast. It was delicious.
I laugh out loud when I read the message. “You already told me that.”
“I know, but if I had your number, that’s what I would have sent you.” She shrugs.
I nod, trying to think of something else to say just so that I can keep talking to her. “What are you reading?” As soon as the words are out of my mouth, a blush coats her cheeks.
“Romance.”
“Yeah? Is it any good?”
She nods, her blush growing redder by the minute. “You’re blushing.” She covers her face with her hands, and now I’m even more intrigued. So much so that I take one, two, three steps into her room. “What are you reading, Joey?”
“There is nothing wrong with my choice of reading,” she defends.
“I didn’t say there was. I just asked you what you were reading.” She doesn’t answer, so I step farther into the room, and I’m able to grab her reading device before she can stop me. My eyes skim the pages, and I read aloud. “I beg for his hard cock, as he thrusts inside me for the first time.” Letting my hands fall to my sides, I lock my eyes on hers. “Joey?” My voice is gruff.