Always Only You by Chloe Liese (z-lib.org).epub

He visibly relaxes. “Oh. Okay. You know, I’m not delicate, Frankie. You can
say you have cramps and you’re getting your period.”
I smile at Ren, delighted by his attitude and somewhat surprised. It’s a
natural bodily function. I don’t see why we have to wrap it up in euphemisms.
But long ago, I learned that’s what’s expected, especially from men. It’s nice to
know that with him, I don’t have to play that game.
“Okay. Yeah. I have horrible cramps, so bad that I’m nauseous. I’m heading
home.” Holding his eyes for a brief moment, I slip my fingers inside his, careful
that it’s hidden from anyone’s view in the hallway. “Good luck tonight. Hat trick
or bust, Bergman.”
He grins. “As always, I can only promise my best.”
Isn’t that true. It’s all anyone can do. And so few of us are comfortable
admitting that. When I release his hand and start to turn away, Ren calls my
name.
“Yes?”
Stepping closer, he drops his voice. “Can I come over tonight?”
“I mean…like I said, I might be out of commission.”
“I know that. I just want to stay with you.”
My heart does a pirouette inside my chest. “Oh. Well, sure. But let’s be real.
My bed sucks compared to yours. How about I’ll meet you at your place after
the game?”
Ren opens his mouth to speak, pauses, and smiles politely at one of the team
coordinators as she passes. When she’s gone, his eyes return to me. “Just go
there now. Use the soaker tub in my room, relax. Okay?”
“Okay.” We hold eyes, and Ren’s jaw tics. I know he wants to hug. Kiss. He
has this habit of swaying me in his arms when we hug that’s not only dreamy but
soothing. “Bye,” I whisper.
He squeezes my hand, then releases it. And I walk away with a sinking
feeling that grows with each step. I don’t like leaving him without kissing him
goodbye.
Who the hell are you?
Good question. Something’s shifting inside me, a mere week into this little
experiment. One in which I’m prying open the ironclad doors of my heart and
letting someone in. Something inside me doesn’t just want to creak those doors
open oh-so-slightly. It wants to fling them wide open in welcome. It wants to
trust love and tell the universe, do your worst.
Because there’s no arguing, eventually the universe will.