“I think the guy who overreacted out there reminds me a lot of the boy I knew eight years ago. The one who was the first to step in to defend someone else. The one who wasn’t scared of anything or anyone.”
I smiled as a memory rippled through me. “Do you remember what you used to say to me when I was terrified that a wild animal would emerge from the woods to eat me?”
“No.”
“You would say, ‘Do you want to eat a mountain lion?’ And when I shook my head, you would reply with, ‘Then why would a mountain lion want to eat you?’ Or whatever animal was your choice of the day.” I laughed lightly. “You were so matter-of-fact about it, I believed you. Because you weren’t afraid of anything, and you made me want to be as brave as you.”
I’d thought of his words often over the years, even when I hadn’t wanted to think of him.
Leo’s chest shook with laughter. “That’s the worst advice I’ve ever heard.”
“Yeah, but the advice isn’t the point. The point is that maybe you don’t need to change. Maybe you just need to remember who you always were. Remember that jumping in to defend others is a good thing.” I ran my thumb over the knuckles in his right hand and looked directly into his eyes. “Except, next time, you should probably avoid using your fists.”
Those eyes, now as warm as a summer day, dropped to my lips before moving back up. “Speaking of memories, do you remember what I said before the first time I kissed you?”
He latched one hand around the back of my neck and the other to my waist, tugging me between his legs. Legs that were encased in what had to be the tightest fabric known to man.
I gulped. “No.”
“I told you, ‘you should really make me stop wanting you.’” He lowered his head, brushing his mouth over mine as he said, “But, the truth is, I hope I never stop wanting you.”
I gripped the front of his jersey, preparing for Leo to ravish me. Except, what he did was so much better. His kiss was slow and sensual, every brush of his lips and tongue against mine a show of worship.
It made me want to dive into him and never come up for air. Hell, it made me not even care that we were in the locker room with the lingering scent of sweat.
But, eventually, he released me, and I took a step backward. “I should probably go before someone catches me in here.”
“Probably.” His gaze dropped to my chest, and a wide, satisfied grin stretched over his mouth. “Did I mention how much I like your shirt?”
“Oh, you haven’t seen anything yet.” Then, I turned and displayed the back of my damn sweatshirt for Leo freaking Sharpe.
Like the game. Love the player.
Perhaps, there was a nugget of truth in that, after all.
Chapter Ten
Thea
I awoke Sunday morning with a smile on my face. That had to be a first.
And it was all because of Leo freaking Sharpe. Something had changed between us last night. Before those moments in the locker room, I’d wanted to believe that we could be more than friends with benefits. But there was significantly more want than belief in that equation.
Not anymore.
Now, I got it. I got that we were more than lighthearted banter. We were more than physical attraction. We were more than our past converging with our present.
Because we made each other better. He made me laugh, and he somehow brought out the silly teenage girl in me. And I brought out the thoughtful grown-up in him.
Together, we worked.
I reached for my phone on the nightstand and checked the screen. One new text message.
Leo: I’m meeting with Coach this morning and didn’t want to wake you. Want to go out to lunch after?
The smile that was still lingering on my lips grew wider. I liked starting the morning knowing I wouldn’t have to spend the day alone. Another first.
Me: Good luck with your coach.
Me: I’ll be ready and waiting.
The only thing putting a damper on my mood was the reason for the meeting with his coach. I knew next to nothing about the rules when it came to starting a fight. But I had to assume something worse than a lecture was in order.
I’d planned to ask Leo last night, but he hadn’t gotten in until I’d already gone to bed.