up on his hand, his eyes on the television screen.
Andie went to work unpacking her things, glancing at him every few seconds as he watched the game on television. He was so handsome. After all this time, there were still days she would catch herself marveling at him. She had missed him. She really had. And that acknowledgement put her frazzled mind somewhat at ease.
After she unpacked, she laid next to him on the bed. “Did you eat?” she asked, snuggling into him.
He absently draped his arm over her. “I had a big lunch. The room service menu is on the table if you want to order something,” he said, nodding in the direction of the table, his eyes still on the screen.
Andie turned to follow his gaze. It was only the start of the second quarter; this game would be on for a while.
“Do you want to rent a movie or something?” she asked, running her hand over his side.
“Hmm?” he asked, glancing down at her. “Oh, um, maybe after this game, okay? I have money on it,” he said, kissing her forehead before bringing his eyes back to the television.
“Okay,” Andie said softly.
“How was the drive? Besides the traffic.”
Andie bit her lip before she said, “It wasn’t bad.”
Colin ran his hand over her hair, his eyes still on the game. “You sound tired. Why don’t you eat and then rest a little bit?”
She nodded, lying next to him for another moment before she finally sat up and pushed herself off the bed. She sat on the windowsill as she looked through the room service menu, finally deciding to order a Greek salad and a glass of wine. As she called and placed her order, she found herself wondering what Chase was doing—if he was still at the bar, whether or not he had eaten yet. She should have just gotten something to eat with him downstairs, she thought. Colin wouldn’t have missed her for another hour or so, not with the game on. And then she was immediately chagrined by her line of thinking, sitting four feet away from her boyfriend as she tried to figure out how she could have spent time with someone else.
About ten minutes later her dinner arrived, and she sat up against the headboard, her salad balanced delicately on her thighs as she stared without seeing at the game, sipping her wine, her mind a million miles away from first downs and extra points.
Somewhere around the start of the fourth quarter, Andie showered, changed into her pajamas, and brushed her teeth before settling under the covers next to Colin. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been asleep before she felt him snuggle up behind her, pressing the length of his body against the back of hers. His hand came to her hip, squeezing it gently, and as he nuzzled her hair, his breath fanned hot across the back of her neck.
She knew what would happen next. She could script it. He would start by kissing her neck, and when she began to respond, his hand would move from her hip to her lower stomach, sliding up the length of her abdomen until he reached her breasts. He would spend some time there, first with his hands, and then with his mouth, before his hand made its way back down her body and settled between her legs. And after she climaxed, he would make love to her, beginning below her but ending on top of her. And then she’d rest her head on his chest, and he’d wrap his arm around her shoulder, and they’d fall asleep.
Yes, with Colin, she always knew exactly what to expect.
And for the first time in their relationship, she suddenly found herself wishing she didn’t.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Another?” the bartender asked, and Chase turned his attention to the man standing behind the bar.
“Yeah, thanks.”
“Seven and Seven, right?” the man asked, reaching for Chase’s empty glass.
“Yeah,” he said, watching the bartender begin to mix the third one Chase had consumed in the past hour. He knew he should probably slow down, but he needed something to keep him occupied. Certainly nothing else so far that night had succeeded in doing so. Not the ceremony. Not the onslaught of people he had talked with and been introduced to since the reception began. Not the music blasting from the DJ’s booth or the dance floor full of people. Nothing could keep his attention for long. He’d be in the middle of a conversation with