Page 35 of There's No Us Without You
Jesus Christ. Does he have no faith in me at all? It’s been three whole days since our conversation, and I’m not about to forget it anytime soon.
“We have separate rooms, if that’s what you’re asking?” I shove the bib over my head, then find the full extent ofCoach’s heated glare directed at my face. “Her dickhead fiancé cheated on her—on their wedding day, might I add. She needed somewhere to crash.” I bend down to slide my shin guards into my socks, then fold the socks over at the top. “Besides, it was Will’s idea—he’s the one who invited her to live with us.”
The words come out as though it’s an inconvenience she’s living with me. I mean, it is, but only for one reason—I’m not allowed to touch her.
Christ, do I want to. The number of times I’ve stopped at her bedroom door, hovering like a damn creep, has me questioning my sanity.
“That doesn’t explain why she’s here.” Coach eyes the clipboard in his hands, flipping through paperwork as though he’s not interested in what I have to say.
“We just picked her things up from her ex’s house. I didn’t have time to drop her back.” I punch Carter in the arm when I catch him staring at her. “It’s not her fault these dumb-arses can’t keep their eyes to themselves.”
“What the hell, Cap?” Carter frowns while rubbing his arm. “Who tied your knickers in a knot?”
I blow out a breath, ignoring Carter’s glare. “Are we done here?”
Coach nods, then points to the equipment set up on the field. “I don’t have time for this shit today. Just get moving—the lot of you.”
Most of the boys jog off, leaving me with Carter and Sam—the two youngest players on our team.
Their age is nothing on their talent, though.
“What sort of idiot would cheat on her? And with who?” Sam says, rubbing his forehead, his eyebrows pulled in. “I mean, look at her. She has great child-bearing hips.”
I jerk back to glare at him, my jaw going slack.
Is he serious?
Who says shit like that?
Carter snorts, throwing his head back, hysterical laughter erupting from him as he struggles to breathe.
“What?” Sam shrugs, his shoulders almost reaching his ears. “It’s a thing, you know? Maybe you should have paid more attention in anatomy class.”
Carter sighs dramatically and wipes his eyes. “I know plenty about anatomy, Sammy. Don’t you worry about that.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I say as I snatch two soccer balls from the netted bag by my feet and throw one at Carter, the other at Sam. “You have other things to worry about, like not getting yellow-carded every game.”
That’s an exaggeration, but still. Sam’s the one with the most yellow cards to his name.
He ignores my comment and continues to stare at Eden, his mouth now hanging open as though he’s never seen a beautiful woman before.
I slap the back of his head. “Stop thinking with your dick and get your head in the game.”
“What the fuck?” Sam says, rubbing the back of his head as he narrows his eyes on me. “What was that for?”
“For being a creep. Now get moving. Last time I checked, you need to work on your passing game.”
“Dick,” he says. “Who died and made you boss?”
“You did, idiot. When you voted me Captain. Now move.” I shove him towards the centre of the field where Terry, Aidan, and the other guys are warming up with some hip opening exercises.
“Maybe I should ask her out,” Carter says, grinning at her like a fucking idiot.
Jesus, not him too.
I swear I’ve never seen him grin so wide before. If he keeps going, he’s going to split his pretty head in half.
Groaning, I push my fingertips into my eyes and rub them until they water. “Don’t even think about it, Carter.”
