Page 107 of Trust Me Always

“Hi,” I laugh lightly, looking at his wet hair. I want to smooth it from his forehead, run my hands along his fade, and see how it feels when it flits across my palm. So I do exactly that, smiling at how soft it is against my fingers. “Good game today. Still leading in stats, my badass baller.”

He rolls onto his stomach, propping himself up on his elbows. “You watched?”

“Of course I watched. You know we always watch.”

“Yeah, but no one was here with you, and you’re sick and…yeah.”

I narrow my eyes teasingly. “And yeah, what?”

Brady shrugs his massive shoulders, the depths of his muscles somehow looking even more defined, but there’s a hint of tension tugging at his brows that gives him away.

“Brady?” I push.

“Nothing, it’s just Mason was back in the game tonight and whatnot, so…” Another shrug.

“Whatnot so…what?”What’s he getting at?

He nods, slowing bringing his eyes back to mine, and when they lock together, his gaze pins me there. “And Alister was sidelined the entire game.”

I push up on my hand, tugging his hair a little harder than necessary. “Are you for real right now?”

He holds my gaze, a steady blankness to his own, but he can only manage it a solid three seconds and then he’s laughing, his head dropping to the blankets before looking back up with a grin. “Sorry, couldn’t help it.”

“You’re an ass.” I shove him but he doesn’t budge, flipping over and laying his head on my lap as he snags the remote.

“Movie to watch or movie to fall asleep to?”

“Aren’t you exhausted?” I ask.

“I slept on the bus but can pass out if you just want to turn it off?” He looks up at me from his place in my lap.

I never noticed how long his eyelashes are. And dark compared to his dirty-blond hair color. “Nah, let’s watch something. I’ve basically slept for two days.”

A small crease forms between his brows. “The medicine help at all yet?”

“I think so. The shower definitely did.”

“Good.” He nods, looking over my face.

“Did you bring the medicine with you?”

He nods. “Grabbed it at the gas station on the bus’s last stop.”

Warmth flows through me at his thoughtfulness, and I settle back onto the pile of pillows. Brady turns to the TV and hits Play on a movie.

“Should I order something to eat?” he asks, getting comfortable.

“I don’t think I can eat much right now, but I did have something earlier.” When he looks up at me, I tell him, “I hadto call in at the day care, and Granny Grace made me some soup. Twice actually.”

“That was nice of her.”

“Yeah, I’m her favorite so…”

Brady scoffs playfully. “Course you are. You are a notorious teacher’s pet.”

“Hey, all you gotta do is smile a little, give a compliment here and there, and bam.”

“Pretty sure if I did that here, they’d think I was hitting on them.”

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