Off the Record (Off #3)(54)

And then it hits me all at once. It’s like the light got turned on in a pitch black room. Linc is looking at me with gentle eyes and I rear back slightly from the sympathy. “Because...I’m afraid he left because we weren’t good enough for him.”

There’s a long pause of silence, at least it seems long to me. I think my words are too shocking at first for either of us to comprehend, and then Linc is pulling me face first into his chest. “No, Ever! Don’t you think that. Don’t you f*cking think that. This is all on your dad. His leaving had nothing to do with you and everything to do with his own shortcomings.”

Linc’s words are sweet. They are caring and protective. But they bounce off of me. I know, without a doubt, the reason I cannot let go and truly open my heart up, is because I believe I am the one that is unworthy. Why else would a father leave his daughter?

Linc rocks me back and forth. He holds me for what seems like forever, but we don’t talk any further. Finally, he lays back on the bed and takes me with him.

He kisses me and it’s chaste. A kiss to say goodnight. But I need a connection. I need some type of lifeline thrown to me that shows me that I’m desirable in some way. I need him to show me that he wants me, even if it’s only sexually and for the here and now.

I turn the kiss hotter, reaching my hands down to grip his ass. I move my hand around and grab his hard flesh, and his hips pump forward into my soft grasp.

There...he needs me. I’m needed.

I know, at least for this moment, Linc isn’t going anywhere.





My heart is aching for Ever. She seems lost.

Last night, Ever proceeded to shower my body with the most sinfully erotic touches I’ve ever had. Her hands, her lips, hell...even the way her hair moved across my body about had me coming all over the place.

She was merciless when she took me into her mouth, and I know...deep down...she was trying to prove to herself that she was worth something.

I didn’t need her to blow me to prove that. I tried to pull her off of me, intent on making love to her again, but she was having none of it. Finally, I succumbed to her lips and tongue, groaning out her name when she finished me off.

She then crawled into my arms, kissed my chest and fell asleep.

I didn’t follow her until several hours later, thinking about how my girl was hurting and I didn’t think there was a damn thing I could do about it.

And that’s when I realized...I was in love with Ever. There was no choir of angels singing the epiphany, and it didn’t come to me when I was dazed by lust. It was just a general understanding in my heart that this girl was made for me.

Ever is in the shower as we have just come back from our run. She was unusually quiet today but I decided not to push her. Ever isn’t the type of person that can be forced to see the light. She has to find it on her own.

My phone rings and I look down at it. It’s my agent. I sigh, because I know this phone call is probably going to change my life radically.





Ever and I are lying in bed, watching TV. Well...I’m watching TV and she’s reading her book. She has her glasses on and she looks smart, adorable and edible. I want to rip the book out of her hand and strip her naked.

But instead, I need to have a serious talk with her and I’ve been sitting here for forty-five minutes trying to work up the courage to start.

“Why are you staring at me?” she says with a mischievous look.

“Because you’re beautiful.”

She sits the book down and takes her glasses off. “Nice try. Something is on your mind. So tell me what it is.”

She’s too f*cking perceptive about me, a thought that pleases me as much as dismays me. “You are beautiful,” I grumble. “But...there is something I wanted to talk to you about.”

She sits up and turns toward me, crossing her legs. She’s wearing one of my t-shirts to sleep in and the move causes the edges to expose all of her leg. I’m in danger of getting side tracked so I try to maintain eye contact with her.

Clasping her hands in her lap, she says, “Shoot.”

“My agent called today. I’ve been traded.”

Ever sucks in a breath of air and her eyes show disappointment. This gives me hope, because that means she is sad I’ll be leaving.

“I’ll have to move in a few weeks so I can get settled into a new place before training camp starts.”

Ever chews on her bottom lip and picks at her nails. “I’m sorry. I know that’s not what you wanted.”

I run my hand through my hair. “No, it’s not what I wanted.”

We are silent, and it’s taking all of my guts to say what’s truly in my heart. I decide to just take the plunge. “I want you to go with me. I want you to move to Phoenix with me.”

Her eyes snap to mine, and now they are bewildered. In fact, she looks close to full blown panic. I press ahead. “Ever...I love you. I am insanely, madly, head-over-ass in love with you. I want you to come with me because I don’t want to be without you. You’re like the very air I breathe...I need you to survive.”

I had hoped those words would cause her to melt. To throw herself into my arms and proclaim her undying love for me. Instead, the look of panic intensifies.

“I can’t,” she blurts.

“Can’t or won’t?” I ask, my anger starting to rise. She’s withdrawing from me, and it’s because of her shit of a father.