Lately, I’d been a coward when it came to Troy. Except for yesterday, he was a lot easier to deal with—drunk, heavy and all, it was a walk in the park than the man I was dealing with right now. The man that had kissed me back like no one around us existed. The man who looked at me like he might have worshiped me at one point but didn’t know how to deal with it.

But he was hard. His expressions, his rebuttals, his stares, it was too intimidating, yet I kept showing up for the occasion.

“The angle…it looked like it might be from where you were sitting during Sunday's practice.” He casually changed topics back to the image.

“What else was I supposed to do while you kept me hostage during an hour-long practice? Sit there and stare?”

He raised a brow. “I imagine there was some staring.” He rubbed his jaw and winked

I shrugged as we neared another blinking Do Not Walk sign. “I had to keep busy.”

“Ever heard of Candy Crush? Or were you crushing on something else?”

“Don’t you have a game to get ready for, Mr. Suit?”

He glanced down at his clothes. His grin fading again. What the hell was up with that?

“You don’t like the suit?” he asked, looking down at me.

I was given the chance to scan him again. We were so close, I felt his breath on me when he spoke again. “Or did you prefer the outfit I was wearing when you snuck into my room last night?”

My eyes shot up as crimson filled my cheeks and he chuckled and winked. “I’m just messing with you.”

I started to walk before the sign turned and a firm hand gripped mine, sending electric heat through me at the touch.

A ringing phone broke our standoff and he reached into his pocket. It was clearly not who he was expecting when he released a heavy sigh. “What’s up Ryan?”

He listened for a moment and I could hear his tone switch as I stood next to him. Pedestrians started passing us when the light turned and people shoved past us. His hand still around my elbow, he pulled us to the side. “No, he’s not with me.” He released an aggravated breath. “That’s not my—Ryan.” He muttered the next words, but I heard him. “I’ll call him.”

He dialed whoever it was he was looking for and waited before pulling the phone off his ear.

8. August

8

“Get him here, or I tell the Coach tonight what’s been going on—his contract could be toast.” Ryan’s words echoed as I dialed Troy again.