The Toughest Play

17. Autumn

CHAPTER 17

AUTUMN

T he night air almost always feels cooler near the shore, but it’s even more so when you live as close as Rogan does. Tonight’s the kind of evening that makes me want to linger outside and soak in every last bit of breeze.

“Want to take a walk on the beach?” Rogan asks, as if he senses the path my thoughts have taken.

The last time we walked on the beach he kissed me. As much as I’d like that to happen again, I can’t let it. If we start kissing, what’s to stop things from escalating further? “How about we walk on the street?”

“Okay. Let me drop your stuff in the house.” He grabs my bag and purse and then carries them inside. He steps back onto the landing with sneakers in his hand. Dropping them, he pushes his feet into them, grinning at me. “I love these things.”

For a professional athlete, he’s surprisingly down to earth. And it’s not just because he wears slip-on sneakers. I’ve never witnessed him being the least bit pretentious. His home is beautiful but it’s not extravagant. Even the breakfast place he took me to was a hole-in-the-wall diner I’d never heard of before.

He joins me in the driveway and we start down the street side by side, our strides naturally syncing. The sun’s descent has begun, giving the quaint neighborhood of charming beach cottages a golden glow.

“See, look at all the flowers.” I wave my hand, gesturing to the lush gardens overflowing with vibrant flowers. “And those big blooms right there”—I point to my right—“are hydrangeas.”

“Those are kind of cool. I like the blue color,” he says.

The sound of our sneakers against the pavement punctuates the quiet night. I hear the distant murmur of the tide rolling in and out, and it has the same relaxing effect on me it always does. One of the best decisions I ever made was to buy a home near the beach.

“What did Scarlett say when you told her you were sleeping over?” he asks, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiles.

“She was all for it until I told her it’s a friendly sleepover, not a sexy one.”

“You have my permission to change it to the latter.”

I scoff. “I’m sure.”

He catches hold of my hand, and there’s something effortlessly charming about the way he raises it to his lips. “I’m just teasing you. I’m glad you’re here and that you’re staying over. We’re going to have a great time. And when I say that, I mean a great time for real. Not a great time as in code for sex.”

“Thanks for clearing that up for me.”

We walk in silence for a few minutes. “Look at that house.” I point to a cozy cottage with a picket fence and a porch swing. “It’s so little and cute. It makes me want to curl up with a good book and an iced tea.”

“I don’t know who lives there. But if I get the starting position and the contract to go along with it, I’ll buy it for you.”

I aim a look at him that screams really ? “Like I’d accept a house from you. Don’t you know me at all?”

“I didn’t mean it would happen tomorrow.”

“Well, I don’t ever want you to do that. No matter what our relationship is like. I work and have a home of my own.”

He gives my hand a quick squeeze. “I know you do.”

As we continue our walk, the sky morphs into a canvas of pink, orange, and purple. It’s so breathtaking, I make Rogan stop moving so we can fully appreciate it. I hear the occasional sounds of children laughing and dogs barking as we stand there taking in the sunset. The soft breeze stirs the hairs on the nape of my neck. Closing my eyes, I pull in a long, deep breath through my nose, and take in the scent of the sea. After I exhale, I pop my eyelids open and find Rogan watching me. “God, I love that smell.”

He nods. “Me too. When the temperatures cool down some, my windows will be open round the clock. I love how convenient air conditioning is, but there’s nothing better than fresh air.”

“That’s one of the few things Scarlett and I argue about. She’s obsessed with air conditioning and wants it on if it’s above seventy degrees.”

“What else do you fight about?” he asks.

I hesitate for a second or two. “Brett.”

He lets out an ironic laugh. “I should’ve guessed that.”

“Yeah, she didn’t make it a secret how she feels about him. You might be her new favorite person, and she might be your biggest fan now.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because you’re about to take Brett’s job from him.”

“I like to think I’m going to. But ultimately the decision is up to the coach. I can play better than ever but my fate isn’t in my hands.”

“I can’t imagine they’re not going to do what’s best for the team.”

“Yeah, but Brett’s been with the team longer than me. And he was a first-round pick. It’s hard to demote someone when they have that behind them.”

“Well, I hope you get your shot soon.”

“Thanks. That means a lot. It must be strange for you to say that to me with you and Brett having so much history between you.”

“You know, if this was a couple of weeks ago, I would say yes. But I feel like I was blindfolded for the past seven years when it comes to him, and now it’s been removed. I’m finally seeing him for what he is—a manipulator.”

“I’m glad you’re gaining new perspective when it comes to him. He’s manipulative with us too, so don’t feel like it’s just you who falls for it. I watch grown men cater to him on a daily basis. But that only worked up until now because he was performing well. Dealing with his bullshit was a trade off for him doing well on the field. And now he’s no longer doing that.”

“You have a lot of support on the Silverbacks social media pages, that’s for sure.”

“I’ll have to take a look. I’m horrible about checking for tags.”

“You’d be at it all day if you did.”

“I can still manage to comment on some of them. It’s the least I can do to thank the fans.”

“I’m sure they’d love that. And it would make me look good too.”

“Then I’ll be doing it for sure.”

I smile up at him. I’m enjoying the peaceful rhythm of our conversation. We’re never short on things to say and our banter is on point and stimulating. We fall into easy laughter, which is something I’ve only ever experienced before with Scarlett. He notices my gaze on him and returns my smile.

“This was a great idea. It’s so nice to just wander around the neighborhood without any pressure or distractions. There’s no practice, no game, no weight room… only you. Although, you’re the biggest distraction of all.”

My expression turns serious. “Is that a bad thing?” I worry I’ll take away his focus.

“Not for me.”

“Good.” I squeeze his hand lightly, feeling a flutter of happiness.

Rogan has set up an air mattress on the back porch for me. He said he’ll sleep on the couch if I want him to. As of now, I’m not sure what to do. I know what would be the smart choice, but that’s not necessarily the one I want to make.

The air is cool and inviting. It’s the perfect weather for lingering outside, soaking in every last bit of peace and tranquility on a summer night. Rogan turned on the lights around the ceiling and they’re casting a magical, romantic glow, or maybe that’s my imagination getting the best of me. I’m suddenly having fanciful notions I’ve never had before.

I watch Rogan finish arranging pillows and blankets. He’s very deliberate in the placement of everything, as if he’s trying to make it look perfect for me. His attention to detail is endearing, and it fills my heart with a warmth I haven’t experienced in so long, I’d forgotten how it feels.

“This looks amazing,” I say, taking in the charming setup. “I didn’t expect it to look so cozy and inviting.” It’s a lot of work to go through for a friendly sleepover.

He grins, clearly pleased with himself. “I figured I had to impress you somehow.”

“You impress me plenty,” I confess.

“Whoa. You complimented me. I better make note of the date and time.”

“Ha. I’m not that bad.”

“Are you sure about that?” he asks, nodding at my pajamas.

“Oh.” I laugh. “I guess it’s kind of ironic that I’m wearing these.” I pluck at the hem on my Grumpy Dwarf boxer shorts. “They’re my favorite. The material is so soft and comfortable.”

He sinks down onto the air mattress beside me. One of the straps on my tank top slips down my shoulder. He reaches over and lifts it back up, his fingertips skimming along my skin. I shiver.

“Are you cold?” he asks, but we both know damn well that’s not why I reacted.

“Maybe a little,” I say, continuing the charade.

He grabs a small blanket from the arm of the couch and drapes it around my shoulders like a cape. Holding on to both sides, he uses the material to pull me forward and tenderly presses his lips to mine. When he draws back, he smiles. “Why don’t you get some sleep.”

That’s it? I find myself disappointed at how brief his kiss was.

“Okay. Where are you sleeping?”

“On the couch.”

“There’s plenty of room down here.” I pat the nest of blankets beneath me.

“Are you asking me to sleep with you?”

“Yes, sleep, as in catch some z’s.”

He laughs. “What would I do without all your clarifying?”

Laughing, I shove his chest. “Shut up. I just don’t want any mixed signals.”

“I know. I can’t resist teasing you. You’re so damn cute.” He taps the tip of my nose.

“Which side do you want?” I ask.

“I’ll take the left or the right depending how you’re facing.”

“That was no help at all. When you’re lying down, which side do you prefer?”

“The right.”

“Really? I’ve always been a leftie myself.”

“I like to wake up on the right side of the bed. Ba dum tsss.”

“Oh Lord.” I fall down onto my pillow. “Death by cheese.” He flops down beside me. The soft bounce beneath us adds a playful touch, making us laugh. “I haven’t gone to a sleepover since I was a kid.”

He nods in agreement, his eyes twinkling in the soft light. “Me either. I forgot how fun it could be.” He adjusts the blankets, covering us both. His touch is a warm and gentle brush against my arm. I can’t help noticing how comfortable this feels. I’m lying in a bed with a man I haven’t known that long, and it’s so natural.

“Can I ask you something?” I say, my curiosity getting the better of me.

“Of course. Ask me anything.”

I turn on my side to face him, and he does the same, propping himself up on one elbow. “What made you choose this for your prize?”

He smiles, reaching out to tuck a lock of hair behind my ear. “It wasn’t something I’d planned out ahead of time. It was a spur-of-the-moment idea. I remembered how much you enjoyed this room and that you said it would be great to sleep out here.”

“Yeah, but this is really romantic. You put a lot of effort into setting everything up when you could have thrown a blanket and a pillow on the mattress. It seems like a lot of effort for a girl who’s an admitted grump.”

“I guess I wanted to do something nice for you. Something out of the norm that you’d appreciate. And I can’t think of anyone else I’d want to share this kind of simple, peaceful moment with me.” He smiles, and I feel butterflies rush from the pit of my stomach to fill my chest with a fluttering sensation.

I scoot closer until I’m pressed to the front of him, and his arm folds around me. My eyes fall closed, and I whisper, “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”