Page 49 of Stick Fight

She sits close and her warm scent washes over me as I show her all my favorite places. “This.” I zoom in on Gina’s café. “This is the Nook. Best food and remember I was telling you about the cinnamon rolls.”

“I really didn’t know you had such a thing for cinnamon rolls.”

“Maybe,” I shrug. “I mean, if you want, you could stop in, and say hello to Gina. Maria and Avery also work there. They’re all really nice. Avery is a friend of Taylor’s. You remember Taylor and Elias from last night?” She nods and bites her lip. I put my hand on her shoulder, smoothing her hair back. “Just a thought, Gabs.”

We go back to looking at the downtown core, and after a while a knock comes on my door. “Pizza.” I hurry to it, and give the delivery guy a tip. Back in the kitchen, Gabby is going through my cupboards looking for plates. “Top left.” She opens the cupboard, and goes up on her toes to pull them out. “We can put them lower.”

“Got them.”

I grab two water bottles from the fridge as she opens the box and serves up the pizza. I only have two chairs at the kitchen island so we sit there, side by side and dig into our food. “Hmm,” I mumble without thinking.

“What?” She wipes sauce from the corner of her mouth. “This is delicious by the way.”

“Right.” I take another bite as she watches me. “I was just thinking, I never sat at this counter and ate with anyone before.”

“Really? Not even one of the guys.”

“We always go out.”

“I can’t be the first person you’ve ever had in this place.”

I look away, trying to seem nonchalant. “Well, no.”

She laughs and leans into me. “It’s okay, Roman. What you did before me, and what you do while I’m here even, is not my business. I understand you had a life before me, and I want you to keep that lifestyle while I’m here.”

“I was thinking, though. Do you want to, you know…” I toy with my crust, as my body stiffens. “Maybe just you and me while you’re here.”

Fuck, what am I doing? She arches a brow and my stomach clenches. Shit, I shouldn’t have suggested that.

“I’m just thinking,” I continue, scrambling. “Rebound with benefits, but hey, that’s stupid. You should see other guys if you want. Live your life.”

I have no fucking idea why the thought of her with someone else makes my stomach churn. Maybe it’s because guys are dicks and after seeing what she just went through, the pain in her eyes, I don’t want her hurt again. Plus, I made it clear that I’m not looking for anything serious. She’s not going to get the wrong idea about any of this.

She sets her slice down and brushes her hands together, like she’s washing away the crumbs, and all the men in this world. “I’m not interested in a relationship with anyone, Roman. It will be a long time before I date again. If I ever do.”

“We’re not dating,” I point out quickly.

“I know.”

“I like having sex with you,” I finally blurt out and a grin tugs at her lips. “I want to keep doing it,” I add, realizing this is going downhill fast. “If you do. I mean you’re living here, and that’s…”

“Convenient?” she offers.

Shit.

That’s not how I wanted this to sound. But what the hell am I trying to say? I open my mouth, close it, then open it again like I’m a malfunctioning robot. “I’m not sure any of this is coming out right. A wordsmith, I’m not.” I wink. “I’m better with my hands.”

She laughs, shaking her head. “Convenient works for me,” she finally says, swiping her tongue over her bottom lip, her gaze soft but confident. “And you’re good with your words, Roman. You said all the right things when you found me at the pool and all the right things back in your room. You made one of the worst nights of my life a little bit easier.” She pauses, and I hold my breath. Is she letting me down easy? But then she winks. “But yes, you might be better with your hands.”

I push my plate away, suddenly hungrier for something else entirely. I lift my hands, wiggling my fingers like I’m about to give a magic performance—even though we’re not in Vegas anymore. “Then what do you say to another demonstration?”

14

Gabby

Iopen one eye and then the other. As the unfamiliar room comes into view, I sit up, my brain racing. I glance around, memories of the last few days coming back in a whoosh when I realize where I am. I turn to my left and my heart beats a little fast when I find the bed empty. The clock on the nightstand lets me know it’s near noon and I shake my head. I don’t remember the last time I ever slept so late. I guess the last few days have caught up with me and my body needed recovery.

I reach for my phone and there’s a message from Roman. I grin when I read it. Apparently, he didn’t want to wake me before practice, so he snuck out. He also left me his credit card, and some cash if I wasn’t comfortable using it. Dressed only in one of his T-shirts, I throw the covers off, I press my feet to the floor, and even though I slept well, I push to my feet, my body still tired.

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