“I’m going crazy, Walker. I can’t just sit around all damn day. I’m going out of my fucking mind.”
“You just have to be patient, Jude. You can’t risk compromising the healing process of your knee, or you’ll completely ruin your chances of ever playing again.” He says it in that annoying older brother tone he used to take with me when we were kids and I tried to do something stupid.
“I know,” I grunt. I do know, and that’s why this is all so infuriating. I feel like I’m trapped inside a broken body. A body that’s not even mine. There’s so much I want to do physically, but this body won’t let me.
“Just take your time. Listen to the doctors. Follow the therapy, and soon, you’ll be back to your old self.” He speaks carefully. Walking the fine line between being optimistic and giving me false hope. Still, it’s nice to know this brother hasn’t written me off completely. He’s open to the idea that I might be able to pull through this thing.
He reaches over to hand me a beer. I shake my head. “I’m not supposed to mix alcohol with my meds.” I’m still on painkillers. “And besides, I’ve got my tea.”
He shakes his head. “You and your weird-ass tea.”
“Bro, do you know how many people have avoided an ass-whooping from me over the past few months because of my tea?” I take a sip and look out over the lawn just as the automatic sprinklers flick on.
Walker leans back in his chair and laughs. “All thanks to the calming effects of chamomile, huh?”
“Damn straight.” I grin.
My brother and I recline and talk shit as the evening wears on. It isn’t lost on me how much I appreciate his company. My time in Crescent Harbor has been quiet so far. Much more quiet than I’m used to. Aside from hanging with my family, I’ve pretty much spent all my free time by myself. Which is good for a little introspection, I guess.
After leaving half a dozen messages for Kirk, I finally got to speak to him yesterday. The conversation was short. After a few minutes of small talk, he asked when I expect to be back in the game. And because he and I used to be damn close at one point, I let my guard down and confided in him. I told him I may never play football again. The conversation fizzled out quick-fast after that. He claimed he had papers to grade or some crap. It was a slap to the face after confessing to him something I haven’t even told my parents. When I invited him to grab a drink with me, he sort of gave me the brush-off, saying he has a lot on his plate right now. All right. Be like that, Fucker. I can take a hint. At least now I know where he and I truly stand.
I really wanted to have a man-to-man with him and let him know I’m Iris’s new roommate but if he can’t make an hour to shoot the breeze with me, then so be it. What happens happens with that shit.
Anyway, Walker is cracking his third beer open when the back screen door creaks open. I don’t have to look in that direction to feel Iris’s presence.
“Hey, Walker,” she greets my brother, offering him a friendly voice. “How’re you doing?”
He matches her tone. “I’m good, Iris.”
I keep my gaze straight ahead as they chat. I’m not in the mood to face all the things I feel when I look at her.
The uncomfortable things. The inappropriate things. The forbidden things.
And there’s no way I can look at her right now without my brother reading all of that in my expression.
“You look really fancy tonight.” Walker takes a sip of his beer. “Got any plans?”
But despite my attempts to remain indifferent, at the next words out of her mouth, the green-eyed monster in my belly gut-punches me from the inside.
She hesitates. “I have a date, actually.”
My head snaps in her direction. I can’t help it.
One look at her and my cock is a fucking brick.
Her glossy blonde hair is in a high, twisty knot that catches the afternoon sun. Her cheeks are rosy, her eyes twinkle, and her skin is glowing. She looks…different. Ethereal, maybe.
Ethereal? Jeez. I don’t think I’ve ever used that word to describe a woman before.
“You’re beautiful,” I blurt out, not realizing I said the words out loud until all eyes swing my way.
A small smile teases Iris’s lips, as she self-consciously smooths down her flawless hair. And she’s wearing this dress. The thing clings to her curves like it’s begging to be torn off with my bare hands. Fuck—if I don’t get a hold of myself, I just might.
“Thank you,” she says, chewing on her lip. “I’ll let you boys get back to it. I have to go finish getting ready.”
She flees back into the house, leaving me to try and figure out what the hell just happened.
I don’t have to look at my brother to know that he’s watching me with a shit-eating grin on his goofy face. “Enjoy your date, Iris,” the traitor calls after her. “I hope it goes well.” I can tell he’s saying it just to fuck with me. The bastard.
I’m practically vibrating in my skin.
Walker tosses me a look and smirks. “No chemistry, huh?”
“Shut up.” I sip my tea.
Before long, Walker has reached his quota for socializing and he’s ready to go home.
I walk him to the front door, relieved to get rid of his ass and tired of having to face myself in the mirror he threw up in my face. I go up to my room and drop down on my bed.
Trying to tell myself I don’t care about Iris and her stupid date, I mindlessly flip through channels on the TV.
