Page 37 of Gridlocked on the Gridiron

“Yes, totally agree, I hated him, and now I don’t and all that. Can we focus on the fact that I spent a seven-year relationship thinking I couldn’t come unless my hand was involved, only to learn from one encounter that Colton can do it without his hands or tongue or dick? And because of that, I’ve been avoiding him for a week because I’m scared if I don’t, I’ll jump his bones?”

“God, you need dick more than I realized. He never made you come?”

Lucia groaned. She hadn’t mentioned this to Isa before because she was, quite frankly, embarrassed. Isa was always talking about how good things were with her partners in the bedroom, and Lucia just nodded along, believing something was wrong with her. The further removed she became from her relationship with Max, the more she realized how bad it’d been and how much better it could be.

“Isa, please, not the point.”

“What am I supposed to say? Do you want me to tell you that this is a good idea? Because I’m not sure I think it is. I’m sorry, osita. I want to be happy for you, and I do think you need to get laid, and maybe he’s the best person for that for the time being. But I also think that’ll get messy, especially if feelings get involved.”

Not exactly what Lucia wanted to hear, but that was why she’d called Isa. She needed honest advice.

Isa continued, “He offered to do this to get back at Max. And at the end of the day, you guys will have to stop whatever this is in January, and then where will you end up? I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“But what if it’s just sex? What if I get the perks of this weird, friends-slash-fake-relationship-with-benefits situation and don’t let feelings get involved?”

Isa made a whoosh noise, like she let out a big puff of air. “That’s pretty advanced for somebody who’s only ever been in one serious relationship, mi cielo. I’m not sure you know how to not let feelings get involved.”

A knock sounded on her door. “Shit, I have to go. Can I call you tomorrow? We need to talk about something other than my sex life.”

“Of course. I’m planning a trip to see you soon, so we can figure out when would be best for that. Kisses.”

“Kisses.” That put a smile on Lucia’s face. She was so thankful to live in an age where her best friend was just a quick call away, but she needed to see her friend in the flesh. She needed a hug.

Lucia unlocked the door and opened it slowly, breath catching as she took in a dejected-looking Colton. They’d lost the day before, and it showed all over his face and in the set of his shoulders.

“I can’t today, Luc. I’m too tired, and I don’t wanna watch film, and I don’t wanna go out on the field. I just wanna…” He stopped talking, eyes pleading with her.

“Okay, okay, no worries.” She thought for a moment, trying to find a way to distract him, while also apologizing for being somewhat MIA since The Night. “Will you show me Charleston, instead? Apparently, Coach Turner likes me too much to fire me just yet, so I need local spots to enjoy.”

She grinned, hoping Colton might smile with her. It was innocent enough, right? Isa might not agree, but Lucia believed in her ability to keep her feelings removed from the situation. What could go wrong? It was just dinner. Plus, she’d hopefully be gaining a new restaurant to enjoy in the area.

The surprise on his face only lasted a second before he smiled. It wasn’t the goofy one she’d been hoping for, but it was better than the frown he’d been sporting before.

“Of course I will.”

Chapter fourteen

Colton

Colton had many hats when it came to Lucia, and the moment she’d asked him to show her Charleston, he’d donned his tour guide cap. He’d noticed all week the way she’d run out of their sessions as soon as they were over, likely as confused as he was about where they stood. It was nice that she’d chosen him to take her out into the city. Now that she’d met Jenna and Leigh, he knew she could’ve asked them, but she’d chosen him. There was something in that gesture that made him feel special and wanted. Something in it that eased the tense feeling in his chest that was normally reserved for losses. And he was thrilled to show her the city he loved to call home.

He knew it had been wrong, knew he never should have gone up to her floor to see her after that win. He had been high off of it, and he’d known the only reason he was getting back to his game was because of her. She was probably the smartest person he’d ever met, and he was slowly beginning to regard their sessions as sacred. Required, if he wanted another championship win. He wondered if she might actually know more about football than him, and the thought made him grin. Really, he’d gone up to convince her to celebrate with the team.

But the moment he’d seen her with her hair down, her eyebrows knitted together as she glared at her laptop screen, all of that had left him. Reason itself had gone out the window, taking a swan dive from those tall, glass walls of her office. And sure, it had been wrong, but it’d been the best fucking kiss of his life. He’d almost come undone at just her touch, something he hadn’t even known was possible.

Colton decided to take her to his favorite restaurant in all of Charleston—Saltwater Cowboys. Rudy had brought him there his first year with the Sabertooths, and it’d quickly become his favorite spot to be at sunset on a free day, rare as they were.

He placed his hand on the small of her back and led her to a spot outside, pulling his baseball cap lower. Luckily, it was so busy that nobody seemed to notice them, and if they did, it was because of Lucia, not him. The woman knew how to drive a man right out of his mind.

“Colton,” she breathed out, her eyes wide as she surveyed everything around them. “This is beautiful.” She sat in the chair he pulled out for her, her smile reward enough.

“Rudy brought me here years ago, and since then, I come every chance I get.”

Her eyes scanned the horizon, watching the sky sink from blues to pinks and oranges.

“This might be the best sunset I’ve ever seen.”

“Wow, that’s saying something since you lived in LA for years.”

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