Page 41 of The Run Option

“Yeah, I’m not a fan of it. The idea of keeping any secret is foreign to me. I’m more of an open book kind of guy.” I say with a half-hearted laugh.

Willow’s expression shifts, a look of worry taking over.

“Don’t stress about it though,” I say, trying to soothe her concerns. “Let’s just have fun tonight.” I glance down, noticing the sea turtles have disappeared into the water. “Want to see if we can find any more babies?”

Her smile is not as bright as before, but it’s something. “Yeah, that sounds good.”

We turn to head toward Miles and Ellie. Willow slips her hand in mine, intertwining our fingers. I glance down at her in surprise.

“Your friends are very affectionate. I don’t want them to think we aren’t,” she explains.

I smirk. “I have a few ideas that would dissuade them from thinking that.”

She bumps her shoulder into mine, knocking my arm into my side. I hiss at the unexpected pain.

“What’s wrong?” she asks, stopping in her tracks.

“It’s nothing.” I try to keep going, but she stays put, tugging me back. I could pull her along, but I don’t think she’d appreciate that.

“Are you hurt?”

I sigh. “I took a hit during the game and have a little bruise, that’s all.”

“I remember that hit. It looked pretty rough, but I thought you’d say something if you were hurt.”

Willow doesn’t know me that well, then. While I may hate keeping secrets, I’m not one to whine about any injuries. I tend to go home and deal with them in private. My physical therapists have scolded me for it, but I don’t ever want to seem like a crybaby quarterback.

“It’s really fine,” I say, but she shakes her head.

“Let me see.”

“What?”

“Let me see,” she repeats, letting go of my hand to grab at the hem of my sweatshirt. I put my hand over hers to stop her.

“If you wanted to see me shirtless again, all you had to do was ask. Though it might be dangerous, since we’re not officially married yet–”

She cuts me off with a glare. “I’m worried about you and you’re teasing me.”

My smirk softens into a smile. “I’m fine, Lo.” I let go of her hand. “But if you want to check, I won’t stop you.”

She lifts up my sweatshirt, pointing her phone light at my side. A gasp escapes her lips. A large bruise is beginning to form across my rib cage. What’s currently an angry red color will surely turn a nasty bluish-purple by tomorrow.

“It’s not as bad as it looks,” I try to reassure her.

“Have you been in pain all night?” She lowers my shirt. Her cool fingertips graze my skin, making my abdomen tighten.

“I’ve been a little uncomfortable, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.”

Willow crosses her arms over her chest. A flicker of uncertainty crosses her expression before hardening into determination. “You said your wife doesn’t carry bags, right?”

I raise a brow. “I did say that, yes.”

“My husband doesn’t hide injuries.” Her tone is no-nonsense, as if she expects me to protest. But I couldn’t deny her, not with how utterly and ridiculously happy it makes me that she called me her husband.

“Noted,” I say with a grin.

“Now that everything is settled, let’s go look for more sea turtles.”

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