Quarterback Keeper (Fall Lake Ballers #1)

Chapter Eighteen

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

GIA

I cracked an eyelid open and peered at the clock. I had to blink a few times and shove my hair out of my face before I could read the time. Eight in the morning. Kylian had left a half hour ago and told me to stay, that he would drive me back to the boat after his class. I stretched, luxuriating in his bed with the addictive scent of him all around me. Two weeks had passed since the reporters had followed me and the dinner with his mom when we’d told her we were engaged. Warmth filled me at the memory of how happy she’d been. What Kylian was doing—the fake engagement—it was so worth it to see the joy shining in her eyes.

Last night, we’d stayed at his place. The time Kylian and I spent on the boat wasn’t enough, and we often alternated between there and the condo. If it worked with his schedule, we went on the boat, which usually ended up being a few times a week and after we had dinner with his mom. It’d become a pattern, and I wasn’t sorry about it. I tried not to read too much into how easy things were between us, but it was hard not to.

Another half hour passed before I dragged myself from bed, showered, and ventured into the condo’s kitchen. I ran my hand over the gorgeous, lightly veined white quartz countertop. I’d been dreaming about cooking in there. It was my chance. I suppressed a squeal.

The condo was quiet, and I wasn’t sure if Kylian’s roommates were sleeping or in class. It was hard to believe that three guys lived there, given how clean everything was. I expected the kitchen to be a pigsty with used dishes in the sink. I opened the dishwasher and found a mess of dirty plates. I guessed that was the extent of their being slobs—they’d forgotten to run it the night before. A grin curved my mouth. I could work with that. After cooking breakfast, I would just start the load for them with my dishes inside. No one would know I’d even ventured in there or eaten their food. Not that it was a big deal, since Kylian said I could help myself to anything I wanted, and that had been in front of Ares and Liam. Neither of them had protested.

I pulled out eggs, veggies, a package of shredded cheddar cheese, and a loaf of whole wheat bread. I got to work chopping the vegetables then heard the shower turn on in one of the bedrooms. A door closed, and another opened. Liam appeared. Ares must be the one in the shower, then. I bent my head and continued my task while he helped himself to a cup of coffee.

I risked a glance when he sat across from me on one of the island chairs. I wasn’t sure what to make of Liam. I was comfortable around Ares—I related to his sincerity and the sadness that sometimes swam in his eyes—but Liam seemed like more of a player.

He took a sip of coffee before setting it down. “You cook?”

Heat flooded my cheeks. The kitchen was my happy place, but I wasn’t sure I was genuinely welcome in their domain. “Yeah, did you want anything?”

He snorted. “Turn down food? That’s not gonna happen here. If you’re offering, I’m eating.”

“Me too!” Ares shouted from somewhere near his room before appearing beside the island, hope on his gorgeous face.

The tension melted from my shoulders, and another spark of excitement added speed to my knife skills. With two skillets heating on the burner, I beat the eggs to make omelets. Bubbles rolled to the surface in a pot of water I’d set to boil, and I carefully placed a few eggs in before setting a timer for a soft boil.

When the omelets were ready, I slid them onto two plates. Bread went into the toaster, and I snagged two ripe avocados.

Ares and Liam chatted in the background, making it impossible not to listen. A phone buzzed, vibrating on the counter as I turned for the shredded cheddar. I sprinkled a little on the omelets then set the plates before the guys.

“Oh, wow. Gia”—Ares shoveled another bite in his mouth— “this is amazing.”

“Thanks.” I grinned then got to work on the soft-boiled eggs. When they were ready, I peeled and sliced them in half. The toast was done. Avocado went on a few pieces, then the egg halves, and finally, I sprinkled seasoning and pine nuts over the top. I took one for myself and left the other two for the guys if they wanted more.

“Are you eating these?” Liam paused, his hand halfway to the plate of avocado toast.

“No”—I lifted my toast—“I have some already. That’s for you guys if you want it.” I knew they needed to consume a lot of protein. More eggs wouldn’t be turned down.

“You’re an angel,” Liam moaned around a bite.

I froze at the term of endearment. Even innocently said, it made the blood drain from my face, and my food-holding hand trembled.

“Are you okay?” Ares zeroed in on my reaction.

“Oh, um. Yeah, I just don’t like that term of endearment.”

“My bad.” Liam never looked up. His eyes closed in bliss as he finished the last bit of toast.

Ares smacked him in the shoulder.

“What? I saved you a piece,” Liam groused.

Ares rolled his eyes, giving up and looking back at me. “Sure, you’re all right?”

“Yeah, I am.” I took a deep breath and tried to brush aside the unwanted memories that the term of endearment brought. It was what Dayton liked to call me. It had become more of a curse than anything and set my teeth on edge if I heard it about me.

But that was then. I was safe. Two giant ballers who I was starting to care about were sitting opposite me, and the building had a doorman. With that reminder, I relaxed again, knowing Liam hadn’t meant anything by it. He was pretty oblivious with food in front of him.

“Anytime you feel like cooking, we’re down for it. This is amazing.” Liam licked his fingers before gulping coffee.

“It was.” Ares grinned before stacking our plates and taking them to the sink, where he rinsed them then put them in the dishwasher. “Thanks, Gia.”

Liam’s phone vibrated with a call, and his easygoing mood vanished. His brows pulled down, and his lips pressed into a tight line. “Fuck.”

Ares rounded the counter and glanced at his phone. “Brittany again?”

“That girl can’t take a hint.”

“I told you not to sleep with her. She has professional-athlete-wife goals, and you’re her latest target. You know how long it took Craig to shake her?”

Liam continued to frown, shifting the glare he’d given his phone to Ares.

“A year and a half. It wasn’t until he graduated and went into the NHL that she gave up. And that was just because he’s in another state.”

I reached for the phone. “Do you mind?” I grinned, wanting to help and loving that I could mess with a stalker from a safe distance, where it wouldn’t come back on me.

Liam shrugged. “Go ahead. Just don’t tell her I’m here.”

I pressed the button to accept the call. “Hello?”

“Who’s this?” Brittany’s high-pitched voice rose at the end. “I’m looking for Liam.” She didn’t even wait for a name.

“He’s in the shower. Hold on a sec. We only just woke up.” I semi-muffled the phone. “Hon, you have a call.” I looked at him expectantly.

Lips twitching at the corners, he stood and moved to the other side of the room before saying, “Don’t care. Get your fine ass in here. I’m not done with you.”

I played along. “Babe, I’m so tired. You kept me up most of the night. Let’s go to breakfast first. We can have a repeat after classes.”

Liam slapped his hand over his mouth, muffling his laughter.

I waited another second before fumbling with the phone like I was picking it back up. “Hey, sorry. He’s busy. I’ll let him know you called.” I hung up and put down his phone.

“Holy fuck.” Ares grinned. “If I ever get a stalker, I want you on my team too.”

Liam joined us back at the island, slapping Ares on the shoulder. “You had one last year.”

“Dawn. Wow, I forgot about her.”

“She gave up on you because you never date and showed zero interest in her because, as you claimed, you were too busy.”

Ares shrugged. “Speaking of busy, we have class in fifteen minutes. Are you gonna be around after, Gia?”

“Kylian’s driving me back to the pier after he’s done with class, so probably not.”

“This has been a fantastic morning.” Liam grinned. “I hope to see you around a lot more. Later, Gia.”

“I agree.” Ares smiled before picking up his backpack and following Liam out the door. “You’re good for Kyl. It’s nice having you around.”

I couldn’t stop smiling, even after they left. What they’d said meant a lot, even if my relationship with Kylian had an expiration date. I could still enjoy my time with him and the guys while it lasted.