Page 33 of Lessons in Falling
Had they heard us last night?Impossible.Valentina had done so well, and—no matter how hard it was—I’d been unexpectedly quiet, too.An occasional groan could be anything.They wouldn’t immediately jump to the conclusion we’d—
By the fire?he clarified, and I visibly relaxed.I easily received his next pass, did some kick-ups, and passed it back to him.We left before you guys.How much longer did you stay out there?
Ah.I shook my head.Not long.Fifteen minutes, maybe?
Fifteen minutes, which wasn’t a lie, but I didn’t mention the hours in our room after that.There was a part of me that wanted to scream the fact from every rooftop on this island.Valentina Rhodes wanted me.
There was an entirely different part, though, that liked this—her, being my little secret.Me, being hers.
Having this thing between us nobody else knew… there was something so intimate about the thought.That we existed that way only for each other.That no one else knew how well we’d gotten to know each other—that I knew about the small mole on her hip, and the way her bare skin felt under my fingertips,and that she shuddered when she came.That she could make me come, apparently, just by batting those beautiful lashes at me, eyes watery and lips wrapped around my cock.I don’t think she would’ve had to move at all, and I still would’ve been satisfied by the end of it.
God, she was fucking spectacular.
Mike’s pass landed in the pool.I was not surprised that it was my fault.
Loser had to retrieve, those were the rules, and I groaned when I pulled the HBU jersey over my head.
Mike raised an eyebrow.Is she going to be a problem, Callahan?
I straightened, alert to his tone: captain voice.It was like second nature, really.Nothing I could do about it.
Curtly, I said,No.Of course not.I stripped out of my shorts, and didn’t let myself hesitate before jumping into the cold pool, if only to get some time underwater in which he couldn’t ask any more questions.
Was she going to be a problem?
Not for me.For my focus, though?Maybe.Which meant it was a problem for him, and for the team.When I emerged from the cold and threw the ball back to Mike, he’d already prepared a whole speech.
Listen, man,he sighed.I heaved myself out of the water, and he nodded toward the beach, to get started on drills and shots on targets, and whatever else he’d cooked up to get me back on my A-game, apparently.I followed.I want you to be captain because in the past four years, there was no one else more determined than you.You almost failed your classes first semester because you were so focused.That’s not something tobe proud of, I wanted to say.But I kept my mouth shut, just this once.And when you’re officially taking over after the summer, I want to have a good feeling about it.Right now, I do not.
Captain Thatcher had always been blunt.It’s like two people lived inside of Mike.One was this stoic, disciplined HBU captain, the other a thirteen-year-old boy.It had been a little disorienting at first, but you just had to separate Mike at practice from Mike in his personal life.
On this trip, I’d had the luxury of dealing with personal Mike.That had just changed.
She’s not going to be a problem, dude.
And I hoped I was right.
Two hours of a vigorous workout regime in the sand would leave anyone looking like this: sweaty, sand clingingtothe sweat, flushed and breathing heavily.By the time I’d stepped out of the shower, Valentina was awake, leaning against the desk next to the door.
I’d expected a lot, but not that look on her face.A mixture between guilty and unbelievably tired.She held her phone in her hand, and her gaze flicked between me and the device one last time.
At first I thought the look—the guilt—had been about last night, but she swallowed hard, then gave me an apologetic smile before she said,You got a call.
Which was when I noticed that phone in her hand wasn’t hers, but… mine?
What?I was still standing in the doorway to the bathroom.
Listen!She started justifying herself before she’d even said anything in need of a defense.I was asleep.A phone rang— same ringtone as mine, by the way.And it rang, and rang, and didn’t stop ringing.I thought it was mine, so I picked up!she cried.By the time I noticed it wasn’t, it was too late.
But after you noticed, you obviously hung up.Who was it?
She grimaced.It was answer enough, even before she said,Congrats, though!Pete from Anova offered you the job.
The beginning of that amused smile on my lips fell back into a straight line.I was still rooted to the same spot.I blinked at Valentina.What?
She could clearly feel the change in attitude, shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other.Pete… I-Forgot-His-Last-Name.From Anova.You got the job!She tried to sound chipper, and I understood, kind of.If this were a normal situation, it would be enough reason to celebrate.Should we get out the champagne?
The door into the hallway was open, just a crack, but I finally crossed the room to close it.To avoid anyone else overhearing what could cost me everything.It slammed shut, and my first instinct was to get as far away from it as possible—just to lessen those chances a little more.
