Page 100 of Beyond the Stroke

Every spare second, I’m back on my couch holding Summer during that thunderstorm. Recalling how she’d looked at me like I was the safest place in the world while the rain pounded against the roof. And then, she’d told me about her ex, how heused to hate it when she touched his hair. How he made her feel like she was too much in even the small way she wanted to give love.

So, I’d let her run her hands through my hair.

The way she’d started out so careful, so tentative, before she got bolder. Her fingers finally threading deeper through my hair, tugging, and exploring. I’d loved watching her confidence grow. Not to mention how amazing it had felt to have her hands on me. Even the softest touch from her had wrecked me.

Now, I notice everything about her.

The way she hums when she’s sketching in her notebook. The way she tugs the sleeves of my hoodie over her hands when she’s cold. The way she kicks her toes against mine under the table like she doesn’t even realize she’s doing it.

She’s driving me crazy without even trying. Every small, unguarded thing she does just makes me want her more.

And lately, it’s getting harder to pretend I’m not dying to be the one she turns to foreverything, not just comfort after a storm. I want to be the one who shows her exactly how much she’s wanted. How much she’s already mine.

“You good, man?” Eli asks. “You’re awfully quiet today.”

He’s right. He’s typically the quiet one, while I go full podcast mode on him. But today, Summer’s presence in my head has me turning inward.

“Just tired.” I try to play it off.

“That’s never stopped you before.” He smirks, drying his hair off with a towel.

I meet his assessing gaze. “I’m fine.”

“I know that look. This is about yourwife.”

“Don’t say it like that.”

“Like what? Likewife? ‘Cause that’s what she is.” He studies me a moment. “It’s only been a week. Is there already trouble in paradise?”

Eli is my best friend and he’s the one who understands me the most. He also understands relationships. He was set to propose to his college girlfriend, Blair, but they ended up breaking up instead. Even though he hasn’t dated anyone seriously since, he’s more knowledgeable about relationships than Logan and Charlie.

“You know that we’re not really together, and our arrangement has rules.”

“Yeah, you told me.” He dries his hair with a towel. “You also told me it wouldn’t be a problem.” He shakes his head. “You’re so fucking screwed.”

“I was expecting a more motivational pep talk. You know, something along the lines of ‘You got this, man. I’ll help you through it.’”

“You got this, man. Yourhandwill help you through it.” Eli grins.

We look up to see Connor exiting the showers. He’s kept to himself since that first day, and for my part, I’ve done my best to ignore him. We’ve got a meet in Fort Lauderdale in a few weeks and I’m curious to see how Connor’s presence affects the team’s results.

How his presence affectsme.

We get dressed, then Eli and I head for the locker room exit.

On our way out, we run into Charlie. “What are you guys up to tonight?”

“Rory here is in need of a distraction.”

“From what?” Charlie asks.

Eli smirks. “Longingly staring at his wife’s lips.”

Charlie nods knowingly. “How about you have people over tonight? Do a bonfire on the beach.”

I nod at Charlie’s suggestion. “That could work.”

We’re on our way toward the front door when we run into Vivian.

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