Page 65 of Overtime
“No time. I gotta get up and get food. Practice.”
I groan. “This is the downside of fucking athletes, isn’t it? Amazing fucking bodies but they have to spend all their time on upkeep.”
“Something like that.” Another laugh rolls free from him and then he grips me tight and pulls me out of bed with him, setting me on my feet.
“I don’t have practice.” I look at the time on the clock and debate getting back under the covers for a few more hours.
“No, but if I have to walk out and greet Ben and Violet this morning, so do you. You can do all the talking if they have questions.” He gives me a look as he slips his clothes back on.
“What are we telling them?”
“That you have an insatiable appetite and I’ve fallen victim to it again.”
“How dare you! Like this is allmyfault?” I toss a pillow at him, giving him a mock pout.
He tosses it back to the bed when it lands on the floor and then stares at me, his eyes going soft for a moment before he runs up and grabs me, pulling me up into his arms and pinning me against the wall.
“You are so fucking sexy. I just want to stay here and watch you come over and over all day.” His lips are on the side of my neck, kissing a trail downward, and I slide my arms around his neck.
“So stay and do that.” I tighten my legs around him.
“I think they’d notice the guy who throws the ball is missing.”
“Nonsense. Just have a decoy. Ben can put your jersey on and say Farm Boy things. It’ll be fine.”
He laughs and slaps me on the ass as he puts me back on my feet again.
“Come to my place tonight?”
“I suppose I could be convinced.”
“This morning didn’t convince you?”
“It was a good start. Some dirty texts throughout the day could seal the deal. A few shots of you in the locker room showers. That will get you anything you want.”
He shakes his head at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Put some clothes on and let’s go get breakfast.”
* * *
When we walk outinto the kitchen, the smell of coffee and pancakes is already permeating, and Ben adds blueberries to the top of the latest batch while Violet sits at the counter on her phone. He looks up from his task to see the two of us but doesn’t bat an eyelash at the fact that we’re slinking out together.
“Pancakes, Benny?” I run up to his side. “Enough for me and my gentleman friend here?”
He grins. “Yeah, I can make a couple extra. Your gentleman friend needs to eat fast though because we’re gonna be late for practice.”
Colton reaches into the cabinet to grab us two extra mugs and plates, acting like this is a completely normal routine for all of us. And a few moments later we’re sitting down to fresh blueberry pancakes with real maple syrup and a side of bacon.
“Is there a way to stay at this B&B permanently?” I ask as I take a bite and the pancakes practically melt on my tongue. It’s not the white chocolate raspberry cake I was dreaming about, but it will do. “Your food is so good, Benny.”
“Hey! What am I, chopped liver?” Violet looks up from her inbox.
“Your food is good too, Vi. Delicious in fact, you just have the unfortunate fate of being married to someone who is also magic in the kitchen so like I said. Do you have permanent move-in options?”
“It’ll cost you. Especially if you’re gonna sneak gentleman callers in the place in the middle of the night.” Ben teases me.
“To be fair. You technically called him. I just took advantage of what was available last night. I thought he was part of the turndown service.”
Colt makes a scoffing noise as he puts a plate in front of me. “Where’s my tip then?”
