Page 87 of Forever Offsides

He grunts, but there’s a little too much relief in his features. “Just a random girl. She was outside my room waiting for me. I know you won’t believe me, but it won’t happen again. I don’t know who came to you or what they said, but I know better. I’m trying to clean myself up, and I keep slipping back into old habits. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to let you or the team down.”

Well then. That’s a tough one to argue. “Okay then.” I smack his shoulder and get up to leave, only to pause and stop myself. I came to him as a coach, but I also have to know. “Is that because you’re serious about Quinn?”

He lowers his head and his voice. “I need Quinn.”

I squint at the way he says that. “You do? How?” Because it’s not the tone of a man in love or even desperate for a woman. It’s something else. A different sort of desperation. Almost a fear.

He lifts his chin. “Doesn’t matter.”

“Are you in trouble or is this⁠—”

“I’m fine, Dad,” he cuts me off. “I always am. I never needed you to fight my battles for me before, and I definitely don’t now.”

That’s a hit to the chest. He only needs me when he actually needs something from me. It used to be money—like his mother—or game tickets or brand-new gaming systems or whatever cool thing the teenager in him wanted. In college, I hardly existed to him until he decided he wanted Denver. But when that fell through, I became even less to him.

Until he decided to be on my team because Dallas was fed up with him.

I gave him a chance and Asher did as well as a favor to me.

I wanted my son to play for me and believed that a fresh start on a new team would be just the thing for him. I suppose as parents we’re always chasing our children, and they’re always running from us. I was hoping that this time he’d let me catch him. That we’d be able to develop a real relationship. One I never had with him and always felt cheated out of.

That doesn’t seem to be the case.

The sad part? We could have had an incredible relationship. I tried. I tried so hard. It’s been a source of constant heartache and disappointment for me. What’s worse is I feel used, and I hate that.

I stand and leave him, not sure what else to say or do with him. He wants me to treat him only as a player, fine. At least it’s something.

I head up the aisle toward the restrooms, needing a minute when I spot Quinn going in the same direction. Without thinking about anything but her, I come in behind her in the narrow hallway, and my fingers connect with hers. Her breath hitches, but she doesn’t turn her head over her shoulder.

She knows it’s me.

There are people all around us on the plane, and even though we’re tucked into the small alcove between a wall and the bathrooms, anyone could come over here at any time and see us.

My mouth lowers to her ear, my hot breath fanning against her sensitive skin, and goose bumps erupt. My cock pulses, and I breathe in, catching her fragrance and holding it in my lungs.

My entire life has been about sacrifice. And I was fine with it. Never thought twice about it. I’d do it all over again if I had to, no questions asked. But would it be the worst thing in the world if I were selfish like everyone else? Just with this one thing?

My body heats, warming me all over. “Come to my house tonight. I’ll make you dinner and eat you for dessert.”

Her breath hitches, and I reach into my pocket to pull out my keys. I untwist my house key from my car key and slip it into her pocket. I have some things to do when we land, but I want her there when I come home.

My fingers caress hers one more time, and I feel that touch like a bolt of static electricity. It’s sharp and tingly, and I never want it to stop. Without another word, with my demand still hot in her ear, I go back to the seating area. My hand flexes at the memory of how she feels, and a thrill runs through me.

It’s the thrill of a woman I already can’t get enough of. The thrill of sneaking around and having a secret. A secret that’s as alluring as it is dangerous.

27

QUINN

Sorel and Nolan pick us up. Crew catches a ride from a friend since he lives on the other side of the city, but Mason is on the top end of Beacon Hill, technically straddling Back Bay. I talk them into letting me off at the top of Beacon Street by their building since driving me home will add an extra ten minutes, even if it’s less than a mile, and since it’s already late for Nolan, they comply.

Anticipation wracks through me as I wind my way down the hill. Russel didn’t text me back until I got off the plane and into the car. He asked if we could talk in person and wanted to know what I was doing tonight. Answering your father is probably not the right move, but honestly, I don’t have much to say to him. I was clear about where I stand.

Whether he was serious about this friends thing or not, it doesn’t matter.

I have no clue why Rhett gave me his key. I would have come over after he got home. But when I get to his place, I feel weird using it. I ring his bell twice, and when he doesn’t answer, I let myself in. I was here for breakfast that morning, but that’s been it.

It’s pleasantly clean and smells like him.