Page 23 of Friend Zoned

He stands and quickly gives me his back. He doesn’t respond right away. It’s as if he’s trying to get himself under control, and I can’t imagine what would have him out of control.

“Coach?” I walk up behind him and put a hand between his shoulder blades. God, he’s so hard. I press on him, but he takes a step forward, and I drop my hand.

“I have to go.” His voice is barely a whisper, but it sounds strained. A look at the clock tells me it’s nine o’clock, and I do need to be at work early in the morning, but that doesn’t ease my disappointment about him leaving.

“Oh, okay. I’m sorry I fell asleep on you.” When he doesn’t say anything, I put my hand between his shoulder blades again. “Literally and figuratively.”

He exhales and finally turns before giving me a tight smile. “It was my pleasure.” The words come out playful, but there’s an edge of seriousness to them. “I’ll have to return the favor. Next time, dinner is at my house, and I’ll get to fall asleep on top of you.”

A million filthy thoughts flash through my mind. Him on top, him from behind. Me on top. Sixty-nine. I’d love to see him in his naked glory in the shower, with hot water dripping down that hard body. I could combust just thinking about it.

“You might crush me.” God, yes. Crush me, please. Blow my back out. Crack my spine.

“I’ll be gentle, I promise.” He lifts his hand up, and I hold my breath waiting for him to touch me, but it never happens. His hand lingers in the air, but to my disappointment, he drops it. “How does Sunday sound? We don’t have a game, and I’ll be free all afternoon and evening.”

I can feel my mouth open in shock. I thought he was kidding or just making plans that would never happen. I didn’t expect him to offer me a day so near in the future.

“Sunday works for me.” If it didn’t, I’d make sure to make it work. “Do you know how to cook?”

I watch, disappointed while he buttons up his long black wool coat.

“Do I know how to cook?” He turns and faces me. The smile is wiped from his face. “You will be fed, Ms. Dubois. That’s all you need to know.”

I cross my arms and narrow my eyes. “The food has to be homemade. No Uber Eats or anything like that.”

“So, we have rules now? Sounds like you don’t trust me.” His smile returns, yet he still looks like a warrior ready to go to battle in my living room. “Home cooked meal. Got it. Here’s my rule, you have to rewatch that second episode, but you can’t go any further. We watch the show together. Got it?”

I picture that in my head. Every few days or weeks, getting together here or at his place to do something as simple as watching a show, and I can’t remember the last time I was so excited about something so mundane.

“Deal.”

“I’m sure we’ll talk before Sunday, but I’ll send my driver to pick you up. Come prepared to eat. Don’t think I didn’t notice that you barely ate anything tonight.”

“You sound like my mother,” I warn him.

He takes a step closer, putting him so close that I can hear his breathing and practically feel his heartbeat.

“I don’t want to sound like your mother.” There isn’t a trace of playfulness in his voice. He lifts his hand again, and I hold my breath. This time, he grabs an earlobe and gently strokes it. “Goodnight, Jeannie.” He bends down, kisses my cheek, and leaves my apartment all within the blink of an eye.

Chapter 11

Aiden

“Hey, Coach.” Chastain yawns loudly into the phone. “What’s up?” I hear a female voice in the background and still can’t bring myself to feel bad about disturbing him so early in the morning.

“Is your wife coming to practice this morning?” She goes to all his home games, but I don’t remember her ever coming to practice.

“Queen, you want to come watch me practice?”

“Um, no. That sounds boring as hell,” she grumbles. “Who is that?”

“Tell her I need to talk to her,” I tell him.

The line goes quiet for a while until he says, “Why do you need to talk to my wife?” The sleepiness is gone from his voice. Now, he sounds like a man marking his territory.

“Who needs to talk to me?” his wife asks.

“I need a woman’s opinion. Don’t make a big deal out of it. Just bring her.” Why is everything so damn difficult? He tells me to hold on, and I wait.

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