Page 54 of Fumbled Beginning

“I don’t think that’s it. It’s just a feeling and he said some things in passing that didn’t make sense.”

“Like what?”

“He said, ‘I have you for now.’And ‘You make me want for things I shouldn’t.’”

She frowned. “Why didn’t you ask him what he meant?”

“I was caught off guard and didn’t want to bring too much attention to it.”

“Hmm.”

“Do you think he sees this as just temporary? Does it sound like he was trying to tell me something?”

She shook her head. “No, I’ve gotten to know JP pretty well, and I’ve never known him to date anyone until you, but it doesn’t matter what I think. What’s important is howyoufeel.”

“I feel like he’s going to break my heart.” I let the confession slip without a second thought.

“Rylee, are you in love with him?”

“Not yet, but I can see it happening.” Somewhere between all the dates and sleepovers, things changed. When I was with him, I felt happy and content. He felt like everything I’d wanted and wished for but never knew I needed. The smiles, the laughs, the bantering, the lovemaking, was more than I ever thought possible. No one else has ever or could ever compete with that.

“Then I think you should give him the benefit of the doubt. I don’t think he would risk his friendship with Maverick if this was just temporary for him.”

I took a huge sip of my drink. “Did you miss the part where I said he would probably break my heart?”

She raised an eyebrow at me. “If anyone is going to get their heart broken, it’s most likely him.”

“Yeah, okay,” I said, letting her know that I didn’t believe her.

“Rylee, that man has gone and caught feelings for you. Whatever it is that you think is happening is not one-sided. Now, tell me why you are so convinced that he is going to break your heart?”

I knew she meant well, but there was a twist in my stomach that wouldn’t go away. “Kinley, he has gorgeous women throwing themselves at him all the time. How long before he gets bored or realizes that he doesn’t want to be tied down?”

She let out a laugh, and I looked at her like she had lost her mind. “Girl, you must be blind. That man only has eyes for you. He doesn’t even notice anyone in the room when you’re around. You have nothing to worry about in that regard.” She sat up straighter in her chair. “As for him getting bored, if anyone can keep that man on his toes, it’s you. I really think things will work out for you guys.”

God! I hoped she was right.

CHAPTER16

JP

“Gotta say,your girl is cool as hell. I don’t know many women that would tell their man to go hang with the boys,” Rhett smirked, “unless you pissed her off and she wanted you out of her hair for the night.”

I rolled my eyes. “Just because we’re dating, it doesn’t mean we have to spend every second together.”

I was trying to play it off like it was my idea when it was Rylee who insisted we do things with our friends tonight. We’ve been spending every second together for the last two weeks, watching reruns ofFriends, eating takeout and doing simple things like playing cards and board games. Spending the evenings with her and Oakley curled up at my side had become my favorite part of the day, but she felt bad that I’d been blowing off my boys and insisted we needed to balance our friends and our relationship.

“You look happy, man. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look so relaxed.” Morris took a bite of a chicken wing and smiled at me.

“I am happy.” I took a sip of my beer. “Rylee is different. She’s down to earth, cool as fuck, and makes me laugh. I don’t want to jinx what I have going on, but things are going pretty well.”

Beckett’s eyebrows arched. “Sounds serious to me.”

“You plan on putting a ring on it?” Rhett asked while giving the cards a good shuffle.

“The only ring in my future is the Super Bowl ring,” I said, picking up my cards as he dealt them across the table. “Right now, all I’m planning on is kicking your ass at poker tonight.”

“Unless my memory is off, you suck at poker.” Morris smirked and tossed ten dollars’ worth of chips into the center of the table.

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