Page 41 of Playing Rough

I push his shoulder so he’s twisted and rub his shoulders. He groans and I wish I could absorb some of the burdens weighing him down. "You'll get there. And you know I've got your back with Coach."

London relaxes against me. "I know. Couldn't do this shit without you, Ri." He grins at me over his shoulder. "Enough about me. You break your squat record?"

My pulse quickens, but I make myself hold his gaze. No more lies. "Nah, just cycled with Deck. We got some laps in together."

Something in my tone seems to catch London's attention. He sits up straighter and turns back toward me, searching my face. "What’s up? You seem off."

I nearly laugh at his perceptiveness. I've gotten too used to the openness between FallingDown and me. My walls don't hold up nearly as well around London anymore.

"Just stuff on my mind," I hedge. "Family, school, the game this week. Just the usual grind."

It's not a total lie. But the omission sits bitterly on my tongue.

London frowns, clearly unconvinced. But he simply drapes his arm around my shoulders and tugs me against him. "Yeah, I feel that. This term's gonna be a bitch, huh?"

I let myself sink into his warmth, the steady thump of his heart calming my earlier agitation. He smells amazing, like the cinnamon gum he’s chewing and his woodsy cologne. "Nothing we can't handle, though. We'll keep each other sane."

London's chuckle rumbles through me. "Sanity's overrated, dude."

I smile against his chest, the lightness of him easing some of the vice around my lungs. Maybe everything’s gonna be okay.

We order takeout and spend the evening wrapped up in each other while we watch sitcom reruns. London's fingers comb idly through my hair as he laughs at the cheesy jokes. Gradually, the knot in my chest loosens.

Curled here in this bubble, away from expectations and obligations, things feel simple. Easy. No risk of our secrets unraveling and destroying this delicate balance we're building, brick by fragile brick.

"You falling asleep on me, Golden Boy?" London's amused voice cuts through my drifting thoughts.

I blink sluggishly up at him. "Maybe. Long day."

His eyes soften, thumb rubbing the furrow between my brows. "Yeah, I know, you're stretched thin lately. Come on, let's get you to bed."

Too tired to argue, I let him tug me up and propel me toward my bedroom. I face plant onto the blankets with a groan while London chuckles.

"At least take your clothes off first, dude."

I make a half-hearted noise of protest, but London's already pulling my shirt over my head and wrestling my jeans off. His hands move with both tenderness and confidence as they touch my skin. I give up the fight and let him maneuver me under the sheets, wearing nothing but my boxers.

"Get some rest, okay?" London murmurs, brushing the hair off my forehead.

The moment he starts to pull away, I'm hit with a strong sense of longing. I catch his wrist, pulse skittering. "Stay. Please."

London pauses, searching my face. I hold his gaze, hoping he reads the depths of my need for him to stay close tonight. After a moment, he nods and moves to turn off the light.

In the dark, I hear the whisper of his clothes hitting the floor before he slides in beside me. The heat of his bare skin against mine sends a shiver down my spine. I shift back against him and London wraps an arm around my waist, molding himself to me.

"Thank you," I breathe into the shadows, the warmth and strength of him loosening the knot inside my chest. "For staying."

London presses a kiss to my shoulder. "Anytime, Ri. Get some rest."

I lace my fingers through his where they rest over my heart, anchoring myself to him.

The tension seeps from my bones. With London all around me, my nagging doubts retreat to the shadows. There's only his sweet scent and the feel of his body wrapped around mine.

Tomorrow my secrets will still be there, but right now, I let go. Surrendering to the safety of London's embrace, I finally drift into untroubled sleep.

16

LONDON

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