Page 12 of Offsides

Provoking her wasn’t my plan when I decided to do this today, but I’m not sad about it.

I just give her another shrug, though. “If you want to.”

“If you want to,” she mimics in the dumb sounding voice she uses when she thinks I’m being an idiot.

I’m grateful that I have to turn my back on her to get in position, because it gives me a second to hide my smile before forcing it off my face.

Ignoring the fact that she’s the source of my frustration—or at least one of the sources—I lie back, place my hands on the bar, set my feet, then lift my ass. Dani helps me get the bar off the pins, balanced above my face.

Back arched, I bring my ass back to the bench, breathe out, then pull in a deep breath, brace my abs, and lower the bar to my chest. With my gaze focused on a spot on the ceiling, I’m peripherally aware of the position of the bar and Dani’s hands hovering nearby, ready to help if I get stuck.

The bar touches my chest, and I push it away again to return to the starting position. There’s a moment, a half a second, where the bar pauses on its path, and I grunt with the effort of getting past the sticking point. But I make it. My arms straighten, the bar back between my eyes and the ceiling.

Dani lets out a whoop behind my head, then her hands are on the bar, guiding it back to rest on the pins again.

When I get up from the bench, she throws her arms around me. “You did it! Eli! You just got a new personal record!”

I hug her back, enjoying the return to normalcy and the way her body feels pressed against mine. It’s different than last night, since we’re in a gym dressed in workout clothes and she’s got her tits strapped down in a sports bra, but this is what I’d really like to have. With her. All the time.

Easy affection, supporting each other, and kissing. Is that really so ridiculous?

But if her reaction last night is any indication, yeah, apparently it is.

“Alright,” she says, pulling away. “I need to finish my workout. Good job, man.” She holds up a hand for a high five, and I give her one. “Proud of you.”

“Thanks, D.” I grin, hopeful that maybe we can return to normal. I still feel like we need to clear the air, though. “When you’re done, can we grab a snack or something? And talk?”

Her expression immediately shutters. “What do you want to talk about?”

I busy myself with the weight plates so I don’t have to look her in the eyes. “I just want to clear the air. About last night.”

“That’s not necessary.” Her words are clipped. Rushed. Like they’re stumbling over themselves to get out of her mouth.

Uh-oh. That’s really not a good sign. Maybe I was premature in my thinking we could get back to normal so easily.

She takes a step back. “I just … I need a minute, you know? I can’t …” She looks away, her eyes blinking rapidly.

Shit, did I make her cry?

“Dani—” I reach out a hand, but she steps back, farther out of reach. I let my hand drop back at my side, my fist clenching in frustration.

When she looks at me again, the naked pain there has me sucking in a breath. “Right. Okay. You need a minute. Well, I’ll … I’ll go, then. Let me know when you want to hang out again.”

I don’t even bother wiping down my bench. I can’t. I have to get out of here right now, because apparently me being here is making Dani want to cry, and that’s the last thing in the world I want.

Motherfucking hell. How did I manage to fuck everything up so badly and so fast?

CHAPTER SEVEN

Dani

It’s been almost a week since I talked to Eli. I think this might be the longest we’ve gone without speaking in … maybe ever? Even in the early days of our friendship, we saw each other in the weight room several times a week and would talk there. Since we started hanging out, we’ve talked almost every day. Summer break and Christmas time being the only exceptions, and even then there’s usually only a day or two where we don’t at least text and check in with each other.

God, he’s been more like a boyfriend than my actual boyfriend all this time.

That thought stops me in my tracks. Literally. I’m walking from my car to the grocery store, and I stop in the middle of the parking lot.

Eli’s been acting like my boyfriend. For years.

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