Page 124 of Arrogant Puck

Later, she grabs my dinner plate and we settle on the couch watching Love Island. Her legs are draped across my lap, and I rest my hand on her stomach, feeling the rise and fall of her breathing.

Everything about her is fucking perfection. I love the hell out of this—this domestic shit with a girl I love. It feels unreal, like something I never thought I’d have or even want.

“You’re staring,” she says without looking away from the TV.

“Can’t help it. You’re beautiful.”

She turns to look at me, her eyes soft with contentment. “This is nice.”

“Yeah, it is.”

“I never thought I could have this,” she admits quietly. “Feel safe enough to just... exist with someone.”

I squeeze her ankle gently. “You can have whatever you want with me.”

When we finally head to bed, she follows me into my room without hesitation. There’s no discussion about where she’ll sleep—we both know she belongs here, with me.

In the darkness, I hold her tight against my chest, her back pressed to my front, my arm wrapped around her waist. It’s intimate and genuine in a way that has nothing to do with sex and everything to do with trust.

“Slater?” she whispers into the darkness. “Thank you. For listening. For not running when you found out how fucked up I am.”

“You’re not fucked up,” I say firmly. “You’re perfect, baby. Just the way you are.”

I kiss her ear. “I have an away game tomorrow. Are you gonna be okay?”

She turns and kisses me. “I wish I could come.”

“Me too, baby. But I’ll be back the next day.”

She nods. “Okay.”

She relaxes against me, and eventually her breathing evens out into sleep. But I stay awake, staring at the ceiling, refining my plan. Because tomorrow I leave for an away game, and when I get back, things are going to be very different.

All walls are broken now. We’re stronger than ever. And I’m going to make damn sure nothing threatens what we’ve built.

Chapter 43

The airport is busy this morning, and I’m operating on pure adrenaline and determination because our next game is in fucking California.

Let’s fucking go!

I pull out the burner phone I use for my drug dealer and copy the number that Sage definitely doesn’t know that I have from my regular phone.

Slater: Are you busy tonight?

I wait, my leg bouncing with nervous energy. Twenty minutes later, my phone buzzes.

FUCK YOU: Who is this?

Slater: You know who this is.

I share my location, then quickly type.

Slater: I’m getting on a plane right now

FUCK YOU: Sage?

The fact that he immediately assumes it’s her makes my blood boil. This sick fuck has been expecting her to reach out, probably hoping she’d come crawling back.

---