Page 84 of Resilient Love

My body burns under his touch, and my voice comes out rough and raw. “Is this the part where you teachmea lesson?” I ask.

He grips my jaw, pushing my head back against the door, and his lips descend on mine again, his tongue flicking at the seam of my lips before delving in and taking.

Our tongues tangle, heat licking up my spine as I moan into his mouth, sagging against the door.

He breaks the kiss, his dark eyes boring into mine. I watch in awe as his expression shifts from feral to amused.

“This,” he says, unlocking the door behind us, “is how I teach you a lesson.”

In the next second, I'm standing in the bathroom, mouth agape as I stare at the door swinging closed behind him.

CHAPTER SIXTY

FRIDAY, MAY 30

I swear to god,leaving her when she sounded so goddamn needy and ready for my cock was nearly impossible, but I've got a team to lead and a promise to keep.

I make my way over to the bar, unable to contain the smirk I’m wearing as Elise strides by me with daggers in her eyes. I have the good sense to cower away, ducking my chin.

“Just a water, please,” I tell the bartender, sliding a five to him as a tip when he hands me the large glass.

I feel the familiar buzz of my phone vibrating in my back pocket before pulling it out and glancing at the name on the screen.

I open the message thread when I see that it's Carlos. There's a video loading, and the moment it starts playing, my heart is bursting out of my fucking chest.

Carlos is in the middle of a room surrounded by equipment as he pushes himself out of his wheelchair, wobbling slightly as he makes his way into a standing position. He turns his attention to the camera and with a broad grin says something that I can't make out with how loud it is in here. He's got side rails bolted to the ground beside him, and he’s gripping them tightly.

My pulse hammers against my skin as I watch him put one very shaky foot forward and then the next before Dad runs up behind him to grab him under the arms and help him back into his seat.

I don't make the conscious decision to do it, my body just drags me to her, abandoning all sense. I find myself dashing to where she’s seated, gripping Elise’s shoulders with wild eyes meeting her frightened ones before releasing her and shoving the phone in her face, playing it from the beginning. My chest heaves as I watch the range of emotions fall over her features, and when the video stops, her bright eyes swing to mine. She jumps from her seat, swinging her arms around my neck. I slide a hand around her waist and the other behind her head, pressing our mouths together in a frantic kiss before dropping my head to her shoulder. Relieved laughter spills out of us as we embrace, and the tight sensation coiling within me loosens slowly as we release one another.

My smile falters as I peer up, meeting the confused and shocked expressions of our teammates. My heart stops beating, plummeting to my toes as my jaw unhinges from how utterly stupid of a mistake I just made.

Worry simmers in my gut before they break out in applause, starting with a slow clap that turns to whistling catcalls and cheers.

Jelani smacks Nakoa on the shoulder. “Pay up, big guy. I called it.”

Nakoa rolls his eyes, pulling his wallet out of his back pocket, and tucks a wad of cash into Jelani’s hand.

I let out a loud huff, relief flooding me. “I'm glad we can all stop pretending to not notice. It's exhausting,” Adhira says, sliding back into her chair and swirling her straw through her lemonade.

CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE

FRIDAY, MAY 30

Of course,they knew all along, and leave it to Adhira to point it out so bluntly.

It’s not like we were particularly good about hiding the sidelong glances and smirks, and frankly, I spent a lot of time on the field staring at his ass. I’d kind of convinced myself they really didn’t realise we’d been together though.

“Yeah, it was honestly becoming painful to have to pretend we didn’t know you guys were fucking each other. I mean,we get whyyou couldn’t tell us, but it was difficult nonetheless,” Chelsea chimes in, twirling a strand of blue hair around her pointer finger.

“I think we get it,” I say, rolling my eyes at her, sliding into my seat. Rafael follows beside me, wrapping a thick arm around my waist and tugging me close before pressing a tender kiss to the top of my head. It feelsgoodto be like this with him, out in the open with our friends. And even better not to have to lie to the people that matter most to me.

Save for my dad anyway. The reminder that I’m still lying to him leaves my gut twisting.

“If it makes you feel any better, we’re telling Coach soon,” Rafael tells our friends as they all get seated around us, his thoughts mirroring my own.

“And how are you guys feeling about that?” Jelani asks, suddenly a bit more serious than he usually seems. From my limited time spent with him, I’m already gathering that he’s someone who lights up every room, brightens the mood, and would give you the shirt off his back. Andapparently,he’s also able to match vibes and take things seriously when needed. I think I like him.

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