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

“Not you, specifically, Zenzero,” I say quietly, pulling out a tissue and
blowing my nose. Ren and Rob are basically the only thing holding the team
together. Maddox is still out sick—not that he was playing spectacularly—but he
also took down a few other key players, too, with whatever contagion gave him a
lung infection.
Ren glances over at me, rests a hand to my forehead, then cheek. “You
started sniffling in your sleep last night. You haven’t stopped this morning.”
“I’m fine.” I brush his hand away lightly and sip my coffee. “Seasonal
allergies.”
He makes a noncommittal noise. Turning slightly to face me, Ren sets one
leg on his knee and rests an arm along the back of my chair. His hand slides
around my neck and massages.
I hiss at the pain-pleasure of his touch. I ache everywhere, and while I don’t
have a fever, I’m thinking it’s only a matter of time. Not that Ren knows that.
Because if he did, he’d tuck me in and insist on staying home and taking care of
me. That’s not happening, not when tomorrow’s game five of the series, and if
he doesn’t show to practice today or the game tomorrow night, Coach will
disown him, and they’ll definitely lose.
When Ren slides his thumb up my neck toward the tender base of my skull, I
almost cry uncle and confess how shitty I feel, but for once, my mother’s
number lighting up my phone to FaceTime is a welcome interruption.
“Gotta take this,” I mutter, leaning out of his grip.
Ren makes no move to leave.
I lift my phone and raise my eyebrows. “You mind?”
He smiles, settling back into his chair with his coffee. “Not at all. Please take
it. I’d like to meet her.”
Sputtering, I nearly drop my phone. “I. What? Ren—”
“You’re going to miss her call, snickerdoodle.”
I roll my eyes and swipe to answer her. “Hi, Ma.” Ren’s mouth quirks. I
smack his chest. “My New York comes out when I talk to her. Don’t you dare
make fun of me.”
“Love bug, I would never.”
I practically growl at him.
“Frankie?” my mom yells. She’s staring down her nose through her glasses,
walking through the kitchen.
“Ma. Sit down. You make me nauseous moving around like that.”
“Nice to talk to you, too,” she says. “Glad you’re alive. It’s been a while.”
Ren lifts an eyebrow in censure. I stick my tongue out at him.
“Don’t stick your tongue out at me, young lady—”