Page 25 of Can't Always Get What You Want

Only if you call chicken nuggets with your teammate luck.

I snort, which only makes him more suspicious.

"No one worth mentioning," I say with a shrug, trying not to sound as guilty as I feel. "The apps are full of people who can’t spell, don’t bother filling out the bio, or are so negative it’s an instant turnoff.”

I cross my fingers beneath the table.

Except Luca. “You sure you don’t want me dating anyone on your team?” I tease, hoping he’ll say yes. It would make life a lot easier…

“You’re not funny.”

Okay but… “Why?” Explain to me again.

“Nova. My team is not your playground. You don’t get to point a finger at one of the single dudes and have him. It’s not a game. I know what they talk about in the locker room. I know what they do when they travel, and how fast they get bored.”

I open my mouth to argue, but he cuts me off.

“And also—it’s complicated. If you fuck one over, that can mess with team chemistry. I have toseethem every damn day. I have todependon them.” He shakes his head, jaw tight. “I don’t want to be the guy who punches a teammate because he screwed over my sister. Or vice versa.”

He has said as much to me multiple times but the issue is…

It’s already too late.

My stomach falls. “Do you not trust me? Because that’s how it sounds.”

He blinks, thrown. “It’s not that. Of course I trust you.”

I arch a brow. “Really? Then why are you making it sound like you think I hook up with some guy for fun?”

I mean.

Sometimes I do, but that is none of his freaking business.

Gio rubs a hand over his face. “That’s not what I’m saying. It’s just—you deserve someone who isn’t in a constant state of exhaustion, pressure, and ego. And they deserve someone who doesn’t change their mind about everything every five minutes.”

My mouth opens.

Closes.

I flounder.

I DO NOT CHANGE MY MIND EVERY FIVE MINUTES!

“I’ve watched what this job does to guys,” he goes on, tipping his head back and looking up at the ceiling for a few moments. “I’ve been in that locker room after someone’s gotten dumped or caught cheating. It screws with their heads. With the whole team dynamic. I’m not trying to be a dick, Nova. I just want to keep the two most important parts of my life from ruining each other.”

Too late.

I already made it weird.

Gio levels me with a look. “There are plenty of fish in the sea, Nova. You don’t have to cast your net inside the Houston Baddies locker room.”

My mouth drops open again. “Did you just?—?”

“Plenty. Of. Fish,” he repeats. “Aim for a guy whose dick I haven’t seen in the locker room.”

I recoil. “Jeez,Gio.”

He shrugs, unbothered. “Saving you some emotional trauma.”

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