Page 91 of In Your Wildest Dreams
“What are your plans today?” Ash asks us.
“Food and then a nap. By the way, Leo and Declan stopped by about five minutes ago to see if you wanted to go on a run. And Ty texted me to get a hold of you. He and Maverick were going to play on the outdoor rink behind Mav’s house. I told all of them that you were occupied.”
My face heats. I’m not embarrassed that his friends know we spent the night together, but it all feels very not casual.
“We should get going,” I say to Everly.
She shoots me a surprised, wide-eyed look, but nods. “Sure. I’m starving. Want to see if Grace will pick us up and we can find somewhere for brunch? Her flight got in about an hour ago.”
“That sounds great.”
Everly nods and picks up her phone.
“I can take you guys home,” Ash says as he brings his coffee up to his lips. He looks real good shirtless, and those sweats should be criminal. Another inch and I could see his dick.
“Already on her way.” Ev’s fingers tap quickly over the screen. “She’ll be here in ten minutes.”
Ten minutes? I snap out of my trance. I don’t even know where my panties are. I glance down, then up to find Ash smirking at me like he knows exactly what I’m thinking.
“I’m going to get my stuff together,” I say and hurry away.
My clothes are all over the place. I finally get a good look at his house. It’s cozier than I expected. In the living room is the big, gray sectional we had sex on last night. My stomach does a cartwheel at the memory. There’s also a chair and smaller couch on either side of the room. I bet half his team could comfortably sit in here.
A huge TV takes up the other wall, but there isn’t much else in terms of art. Still, it’s impressive and I can picture Ash in here with his friends.
Once I find all my clothes, I scurry back to Ash’s room as he continues to chat with Everly in the kitchen. I’m slipping back into last night’s dress when he comes in and wraps his arms around me.
“Running away?” he asks, voice still a little gruff from sleep.
Definitely. I slept with Ash.Manytimes. And, wow, I’m going to need a minute to freak out. Ash Kelly blew my mind. Instead of saying all that, I go with, “You have things to do. Your friends are looking for you.”
“They’re not as pretty as you. Stay and hang out. I’ll feed you and then we can chill. I don’t have anywhere I need to be until late this afternoon.”
“I can’t.”
“Fine,” he huffs playfully. “What about tomorrow? We leave for St. Louis around four, but I’m free after practice in the morning.”
My first instinct is to say no, even though I want to spend more time with him. I’m hesitant about jumping into a new relationship, even a casual one. But Ash has agreed to everything I’ve asked. He’s nice and funny, and I lost track of the number of times he made me come last night.
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
A smile takes over his face. “I’ll swing by and pick you up after practice.”
25
NOT MY BEST WORK
BRIDGET
I checkmy phone as I walk out of a patient’s room. The night has been slow, and I haven’t heard from Ash since earlier today before the game.
For the past week, we’ve been texting and hanging out when we can. His schedule is hectic, and they’ve been on the road more than home, so the hanging out has been limited.
But tonight he should be on his way back and the next two games are here. I never thought I’d be following a sport’s team’s schedule so closely. It’s all so fun right now and I want to soak up all the giddy and happy feelings.
I’m hoping he’ll text when the jet lands. I’ll be glad for him to be in the same state again, even if I’m stuck at work for the next seven hours. Maybe I can swing by and see him tomorrow after classes.
Sliding my phone back into my scrub pants pocket, I walk through the quiet hall and come up short when the man occupying my thoughts stands at the nurses’ station. He leans casually against the desk, one ankle crossed over the other as he talks to Hannah.
