Page 32 of The New Guy
“That’s what I just said. Henry put a couple of road trips into my contract so he could remind his pregnant wife what he looks like.”
Well, fuck. I search my brain for something useful to say. But it’s mostly just static in there now. I’ll see Gavin on the jet. At the stadium.
In thehotel.
“Can I ask you a favor?” he says in a low voice.
“Anything.” After I say it, I want to slap myself.
“If you see me messing up on game night, will you tell me? I’d rather be told than just keep screwing up.”
“Sure,” I say quickly. “You won’t, though. It’s just the usual stuff in another location. Except Henry brings snacks. He’s always got a few boxes of protein bars in addition to all his medical crap and over the counter drugs.”
“Right. Protein bars. That’s on his packing list. Cool.”
He runs skillful fingers down my calf, probing for tightness. “You still having charley horses at night?” he asks.
I should have never mentioned those, because now he’s massaging my lower legs.
“They’re better now,” I lie.
“Awesome. Want to share a car to the airport tomorrow?” he asks. “We’re leaving from the same place.”
He digs his thumb into the arch of my foot and I fight the urge to moan. “Sure,” I gasp. “Great idea.”
* * *
No, it’s a terrible idea. I’m in a dark mood as I pack the following afternoon. Just what I need—more alone time with Gavin. It’s hard to look a guy in the eye after you’ve had dirty dreams about him.
When I walk out onto the sidewalk, though, I’m surprised to find Jordyn standing beside him.
“Hey, Hudson!” she calls happily. “Are you going to win in Florida?”
“I’m going to try. Are you coming, too?”
She shakes her head. “No. I want to, but it’s a work trip. And Daddy promised he isn’t going to Disney World.”
I meet Gavin’s eyes, and it’s hard not to smile. “He’s right—there’s no Disney on this trip at all. Just the rink and the hotel.”
She looks up at me with a disbelieving squint. “Does the hotel have a pool, though?”
“Um, probably not,” I lie. “We’d be too busy to go to a pool anyway.”
“Bummer.”
“You know it.”
Just then, a shiny SUV pulls up and a driver gets out. I think it’s our car, so I lift my bag.
But nope. The back door opens to reveal a silver-haired woman in pearls and a dress. “Jordyn! There’s my girl.”
“Hi, Grandma!” she rushes over for a hug.
“Careful,” the woman says, stepping back. “This coat is camel.”
“Camel?” Jordyn asks, her eyes wide. “I didn’t know you can make a coat out of that.”
The woman smiles, but I’m not a fan. Who wears a fancy coat to hang out with a little kid? “Darling, where is your overnight bag?”
