Page 58 of The Coach

“You had to deal with Lincoln, and I understand, but I’m done.”

Her startled gaze meets mine. “Done?”

“Yeah, done. I’m done waiting around for us to make time for each other.” I lean down, teasing my lips over hers. Her hands rest on my hips, and I lean one arm against the wall, my other hand wrapping around the side of her neck and tilting her chin up to mine with my thumb. “You’re going to go out there, tell him you’re sick, tired, whatever. I’m ditching my table, and then we’re going back to my apartment.”

“You shouldn’t ditch, it’s rude.”

“I don’t give a fuck.” I catch her eyes, trying to portray how serious I am. “I give a fuck about you and me. I don’t care if Lee will be pissed. I don’t care if I hurt that girl’s feelings. I’m not available.”

Her eyes soften. “I shouldn’t love the sound of that.”

“But you do,” I tell her, pressing a hard kiss to her lips. “Now, let’s go.”

“Mick?” a voice calls from the end of the hallway, and we turn to find Lincoln standing there. He’s barely a shadow from where we are, and my heart rate ticks up at the thought of finally being found out.

“Linc, hey.” Mick moves out from under me and into the light. Lincoln’s shoulders sag.

“You were gone awhile. You okay?”

I intervene. “She wasn’t feeling well.” Lincoln frowns when he sees me. “I was making her take a moment before she came out, so she didn’t get worse.”

“Coach, hey, what are you doing here?”

“Just getting dinner.”

“Well.” Mick looks back and forth between me and her brother, worry creasing her brow. “Thank you, Tanner, for the help.”

“Anytime.”

Mick walks toward Lincoln, and he watches us both for a minute before shifting his focus to his sister. I watch them leave, giving them a couple of minutes before making my way out.

I see Mick and Lincoln leaving the restaurant and approach the table, making an excuse, telling my “date” I’m sorry and then leaving some cash for Lee.

He gives me a frown but lets me go.

I’m sure I’ll hear about this tomorrow.

But the fact of the matter was, I didn’t care. I was over this secrecy bullshit. I was over hiding that I was in love with this woman, that I needed this woman in my life.

I wasn’t sure what I was going to do, but I sure as hell would not placate anyone else and hurt her in the process.

twenty-four

MICK

I barely get through knocking once before the door is flung open, and Tanner is yanking me into his apartment.

His lips attach to mine in a brutal, but hot, kiss, and I match him step for step.

This week has been exhausting. Exhausting and tiring and so long, and I still have months to go before it would end.

The thought makes me want to break down in his arms and cry.

But this is a pleasant alternative.

I need this.

I need him.

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