Page 64 of Body Check

“Where’re you going?” he slurred.

“It’s late,” Dakota said with a laugh. “I think I can still catch the last train if I leave soon though.”

“Let me get you a car,” he said, pushing himself up on one elbow, but before he even finished, Dakota was shaking his head.

“I can drive?” Gavin offered, though he knew Dakota would turn him down.

“It’ll be a miracle if you can stand.”

And damn it, he was right, but that still annoyed Gavin.

He made a disgruntled noise and tried to get his limbs to cooperate.

“I’m gonna go clean up and grab my clothes,” Dakota said.

“Help yourself to whatever you need in the bathroom,” Gavin called after him.

He’d made it to a sitting position by the time Dakota re-appeared, fully dressed, his hair neat and tidy again.

“Ugh,” Gavin said as he heaved himself to his feet.

“Told you,” Dakota said with a smirk. He turned toward the front door.

“Don’t forget to take your fruit!” Gavin said, catching his hand and threading their fingers together.

Dakota turned back, studying his face for a moment before he said, “Or I could come over in a couple of days.”

Gavin grinned. “Even better.”

Dakota slipped on his coat and laced his boots. They kissed by the door until Dakota gently shoved him away. “I really do have to go,” he said.

Gavin wished Dakota sounded more reluctant, but he swallowed his protests and let him leave.

And then he locked the door, tucked the fruit in the refrigerator, staggered toward the bedroom, and passed out.

THIRTEEN

“Soooo,” Violet said as she sipped some water, casually glamorous in a beautiful one-shoulder dress, her jewelry discarded on the kitchen counter, her heels strewn across the tile floor. “Whoisthis guy you keep sneaking out to meet.”

Dakota had a bite of Jeff’s kick-ass macaroni and cheese in his mouth at the moment, but he knew once he chewed and swallowed, he was screwed. He’d been granted a temporary reprieve when the team had a short road trip to Washington D.C. but there was no way he was going to get away with dodging his sister’s questions any longer.

Dakota stretched the moment out by taking a sip of water, then aimed for nonchalance. “Just some dude. And I haven’t beensneaking.”

“Mm-hmm.” She shot him an unimpressed look and took a bite of her own food. “And how did you meet this dude?”

“Uhh, okay, so it’s not a big deal, but he works for the team,” Dakota admitted, because he’d never get away with flat-out lyingto his sister and claiming it was someone he’d met on an app or in a bar or club. She’d read it on him in a minute.

Violet’s eyes widened and she made a sputtering sound into her water. “He’s with theHarriers?”

“I’m serious! It’s reallynota big deal,” he protested. “He’s not a player or anything, just works for the franchise, you know?”

He was hoping she’d assume it was one of the athletic trainers or like a security guard or something. Not, you know, the general fucking manager. And, oh yeah,his boss.

God, he really was stupid.

“And do I know him?” she asked with a lift of her eyebrows.

“Maybe?” Dakota said, shrugging because he didn’t reallyknowhow much interaction they’d had. “I don’t know who you’re tight with in the organization. Based off the way people gushed about how much they loved you when I got hired, it’severyone, but how the hell should I know who you’re chummy with?”

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