Page 14 of There is No Try

“You’re going to ruin me for all other men, aren’t you?”

“That’s the plan, pup. I’m yours now. You’re stuck with me.”

CHAPTER 7

LUCAS

Imake a mess with the spare ribs, including a few unavoidable drops of sauce on my shirt. It makes Bridget laugh, and it’s worth it to see my girl smile.

Through the rest of dinner, Bridget relaxes. It could be her cocktail, but considering I’ve seen her polish off half a bottle of wine before and still be stressed, I choose to believe it’s her accepting everything that transpired over the past two days.

The ride home feels more like our normal banter than it has in days. I can’t help wishing with all of my being that nothing will change when the season starts.

Except, it absolutely will.

I’ll be gone all day during the week, then away more than I’m home on the weekends. I’ll miss most of Gavin’s matches, just as I did last year. I’ll have leftovers for dinner Bridget insisted were extra, despite knowing she made enough for me. I’ll miss her so fucking much. My heart will likely try its best to escape my chest the moment I see her after several days of passing each other in her kitchen…

Is this going to be our life? No, I refuse to accept it. We’ll find a way to make it work. My career is coming to an end and we both know it. I was never supposed to be a hooker; my height is a disadvantage. I’m not built for it. If I don’t constantly work on strengthening my neck and shoulders, a scrum could easily snap my neck. Still, I only have one, maybe two years left, then I’m all Bridget’s.

As soon as we’re home, it takes everything in me to not maul her like a wild animal. She’s fragile—this is fragile. I’m a man of my word, and keep my promises... Even if every ounce of me is craving to touch her, kiss her, be in her space. I resist.

“I meant what I said, Bridge. Go get comfortable.”

She nods, biting her lip, and I want nothing more than to take it between my own teeth. All of this is proving to be more difficult than I anticipated. Turning on her heel, she saunters off to her bedroom, and I rush into mine. After a quick change into light grey joggers and nothing else, I make my way back to the couch, attempting the most nonchalant but seductive pose I can muster.

It’s an epic fail, obvious to anyone who could walk in.

Should I wear a shirt?

Hurrying back to my bedroom, my second attempt isn’t much better, but even without a shirt, at least I’m wearing underwear this time around. The shower is still running, and I can’t help being a fucking creep listening in to hear if she’s touching herself. I love and hate that she’s not.

Several minutes later, she emerges in her atrocious black and white pyjama pants and a solid black tee that still hugs hercurves beautifully. I sit up straighter but she stops before sitting beside me.

“All of the times you sat here without a shirt on, was it intentional?”

Her question takes me off-guard, but I admit, “Yes, but I was hoping to get a rise out of you and it never happened.”

Bridge smirks and folds her arms over her chest. “If you truly want a movie night, you’ll put a shirt on.”

“If you’re truly not affected by me, you’ll take yours off,” I counter.

“I never said I wasn’t.”

Touché. Bridget - 1.

Lucas - 0.

“It’s a good thing you’re not climbing on my lap to find out exactly how much you affect me.”

Bridget looks away, attempting to hide the break in her stoic expression. She returns her gaze to me and asks, “What movie are we watching?Empire Strikes Back, again?”

“How can you beat ‘I love you, I know?’ You can’t!” I insist, reaching for the remote.

Bridget takes a seat beside me, remaining rigid. The movie hasn’t even begun and she blurts out, “Are you really not going to put a shirt on?”

“Am I distracting you, Bridget?” I chuckle, loving how easily she’s flustered.

“No.” She scoffs, but her voice is no less than an octave higher than normal, giving her away. “I’m not distracted.”

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