Page 80 of Wicked Player

Her implication couldn’t be ignored and as they walked away, I faced Gage. “You don’t have practice today?”

“Coach Pomville gave me the day off and it’s our bye week so practices are limited anyway.” He pulled his eyes off me, looked to the sky. As he did, a heavy breath left him and he shoved his hands in his pocket. “I really need a nap. And I’d like you with me.”

My expression must have got his attention because he lifted one hand, palm out. “Just sleep. We need to talk, I know, but fuck, Beth. I could use some company today.”

What else could I say to the man I’d given my heart to despite the risks it meant? And who looked so shattered. Worse, he was also nervous and there was no reason to be. I took his hand and slid my fingers through his. “Of course. Whatever you need.”

Twenty-Seven

Gage

Letting go of Elizabeth’s hand as we reached her car caused almost more pain than the idea she’d refused to sit by me. I’d had four long days to think of how I treated her. A long conversation with Shannon who stopped by after she heard about Brandon that ended with her reaming my ass for being such a gigantic fucktwit.

Her words. Not mine. Because I used real words when I was angry. But the meaning was clear. I’d royally screwed up in a thousand different ways.

And I didn’t know if Elizabeth thought I wouldn’t know she was at the funeral home this morning, but if she did, she truly didn’t understand the depth of connection between us. For me, it singed my blood when I caught her ducking her head like she was avoiding me. It hadn’t taken much to get Shannon to get her to me at the burial site.

But now with her hand in mine again, the last thing I wanted was to let go.

“You’ll follow me?” I asked. My thumb ran against her inner wrist.

Sad, red-rimmed eyes blinked at me. And then offered me the best choice I’d had all week long. “I can leave my car here. You can bring me back later?”

There was no way in fuck I was returning to this cemetery later. Or tomorrow. Or ever. But I’d figure out a way to get the car to her.

“I’ll take care of it.” And because I couldn’t resist, I leaned down, brushed my lips over her cheek. “I know I’ve been a dick, but thank you, for today, for that offer.”

Her trembling hand pressed to the chest of my suit jacket. I covered it with mine and cringed at how cold she was. It was forty degrees and drizzling, miserable for this time of year, but not far outside the ordinary.

“Come on. I parked over here.”

The guys had helped carpool me to the cemetery earlier and I’d hopped in Powell’s Escalade where they drove me to the funeral home. Since I didn’t have practice today, but they were still going in, it made it so I didn’t have to figure out how to get home afterward too. Penny had asked me to ride in the limo with her family to the burial and while that had sucked, she appreciated my presence.

I’d been more of an uncle or friend to Brandon for the several years than his own dad had and not only was I honored to help take care of Penny, her parents had greatly appreciated it too.

Hell, my own mom had offered to fly in to be there for her even though they’d only met once in the last four years. But mom to mom, if anyone understood Penny’s pain, it was mine.

God. What a fucking, miserable day. Week.

“You okay?” Elizabeth asked as we walked. She stumbled and I looked down at her shoes. Black, pencil thin heels sunk into the soppy grass. I didn’t even hesitate.

“No. I’m not,” I answered as I bent. She pulled back, surprise on her face, but before she could react, I swung her into my arms and hers flew around my neck.

“What are you doing?”

“Faster I get home, faster I can sleep. Faster we can talk. You were taking a year in those heels.”

She huffed and I didn’t think I’d be able to laugh that day, but as she buried her forehead into my shoulders and laughed, slapped me on the back, I let loose the first quiet laugh I’d had all week.

“That’s not nice,” she finally said.

“Yeah. But we’re at the truck and now I can get you warm.”

Her head rose, sparkling blue eyes still bloodshot from crying crinkled at the edges. “Thank you.”

She had nothing to thank me for. I had a thousand things to beg forgiveness for. If anyone was going to be saying thank you, it should have been me. And I would after I heard that she forgave me for being such a world class asshole.

I opened the door and helped her climb into the Navigator. Then I hurried around the front, slid in, and while I started the ignition, I pressed the heat warmer buttons and cranked up the heat.

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