Page 70 of Cross-Checked

“That’s...” I gulp, racking my brain for the right way to explain how I’m feeling, and coming up short. “...new information.”

“Yeah, well, I can’t stop thinking about you, and the guys are starting to notice. I get why we need to keep it a secret for now, but eventually, we’re going to need to talk about where this is going. Us together is achallenge. Us sneaking around and potentially getting caught is aproblem.”

“Uhh...” What is he talking about? We flirted until the flames of sexual tension turned into an inferno...but that doesn’t mean this is...whatever he thinks it is? “I meant what I said last night. I don’t see how this could ever work.”

I at least halfway believe what I’m saying.

He clicks his tongue in disagreement. “AndIdon’t see how it could evernot.”

“You really think that a relationship between a player and his GM is ever going to fly?” There’s no way. It’s a level of unprofessionalism that I can’t even fathom myself, much less expect anyone beyond the two of us to understand.

“I don’t give a shit what anyone else thinks, AJ. And the sooner you can let go of maintaining this perfect image, the sooner we stop sneaking around. I want a shot at a real relationship with you.”

My mind races at his declaration. This is too fast. This is too sudden. How could this ever work?

“But . . . it’s been, like, two days . . .” I stumble over the words.

His eyes narrow, like he’s reading my mind and knows I’m wrong. “Have you ever in your life connected with someone like we’ve connected over the last few days?”

I close my eyes, hoping that if I can’t see him, I’ll be able to lie to him. To tell him,sure, all new relationships are like this. But it’s just not true.

“No.” There’s almost no sound as the word rolls off my lips, but I know he hears me, because when I open my eyes, he’s looking at me with the self-satisfied smirk of someone who thinks he’s won. “But that doesn’t mean this can work.”

“Of course it can. We just need to figure out how.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

AJ

AJ

I’m exhausted, so I’m going straight to bed. Let’s make plans for dinner one night this week.

Ishoot the text off to Nicholas as I ride the elevator up to my floor, feeling anything but exhausted. There’s excitement, because after another win tonight, we’ve tied our series 2-2. And there’s the thrill of seeing McCabe again once Nicholas leaves.

I click over to my text thread with McCabe and read the messages we exchanged on the plane.

McCabe

You’re coming over tonight, yes?

AJ

Is that an invitation, or an assumption?

McCabe

Yes.

AJ

You’re getting a little cocky, assuming that I can’t go a night without you.

McCabe

If there’s one thing I am, it’s a realist.

AJ

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