Page 36 of Rookie Season
My head falls back against the bar, my eyes closing. I weigh a thousand pounds, and it’s glorious.
The music has stopped. I’m not sure when or what the last song was.
At some point, Ryan’s murmur comes from over me. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” I laugh, stretching both arms overhead. My fingers brush glassware as my eyes blink open.
The sight is a good one—Ryan silhouetted by the lights over the bar. His hair is spiky from my fingers, his million-dollar smile on full display.
“For how fast that was,” he admits. “I’m not usually… but you were…”
I chuckle. “That’s the best compliment I’ve gotten all night.”
10
RYAN
“Rookie!” Snow hits the back of my head. “You good?”
I adjust the tree in my grip to look at Miles. “Yeah. Why?”
“You stopped walking, and you have this dumb expression on your face.”
I force my feet to move again as we head back toward the cabin.
My mind is still back there in the snow.
Last Christmas, I was at the bar with the guys after the game. I did Sierra a solid, then on impulse doubled back to make sure she was okay. I was not expecting the hot-as-hell fever dream that went down after.
Had I imagined it more than once? Sure.
But the reality of Sierra was a thousand times better.
The past twelve months, I’ve been thinking about how right it felt to be with her but telling myself she promptly forgot our hookup, that it didn’t stick with her like it did me.
Now, I know that’s not true.
I’ve had a crush on the team’s unofficial bartender for a long time. Everyone jokes about players wanting to hook up, and sure, it’s easier than keeping a serious relationship going given the demanding schedule.
Somehow, though, all I wanted from Sierra was more.
More physical, but also more of her laugh. More of her smile. More of the kindness she thinks she hides behind toughness.
I kissed Sierra because hearing her talk about other holidays, seeing how cute she was, I couldn’t keep my hands off her.
When I touched her today, our chemistry was every bit as alive as it was a year ago. She responded just as enthusiastically.
But the moment I press for more, she pumps the brakes.
Probably because Sierra has a line of guys and girls every night who’d love to get with her. Why should she treat me any differently?
“You and Nova disappeared earlier,” I say.
“That a question?” Clay grunts.
“No. You got any tips?” I hear myself ask. “About women, I mean. Because you guys seem really good.”
Miles is on the other side, Jay behind me.
