Happenstance(56)

Gabe: I don’t need stamina for that. ??



* * *



I’m actually giggling into my pillow, afraid to wake up Shayna on the other side of the apartment. I don’t know how to tell Gabe I’m not going into work tomorrow or if I’ll even have a job going forward. This is enough. It’s enough that they’ve reassured me just by being themselves. We all sign off with various goodnights. I tell Tobias I’ll see him at the rugby game tomorrow and wish Banks good luck.

And somehow, after the upheaval of the afternoon, I manage to fall asleep smiling.





Chapter Sixteen





When I agreed to attend this game on a Tuesday afternoon, I didn’t realize it was in New Jersey, so I run late. And of course, so do the trains. Tobias texted me this morning to meet him outside of the stadium and it’s not until I’m jogging down the moderately populated street of Hoboken do I start to get nervous. I’m going on a date with my go-to adult film star. A date where the plan is to watch my other love interest coach a rugby game?

Today’s agenda is weird.

Stranger things have happened. Surely. Just not to me. Not romantically, anyway.

I’ve been naked in front of these men, but this is broad daylight and I no longer have my shield erected. I’m no longer able to reassure myself that I’ll probably never see them again, so might as well enjoy it. No, now we’ve established rules. A relationship. Admitted feelings.

Today is different.

Frankly, I’m grateful to have an activity to occupy me. Normally I would be working. I planned to find someone to cover my shift, anyway, so I could attend the game. That became even more necessary once Karina told me to lay low. I only heard from the managing editor briefly this morning via text. She informed me she is meeting with Alexander today to formally question him about a potential connection with Crouch. She is going to keep my name out of it. But now I’m worried about her.

I’m worried I’ve prematurely ripped the Band-Aid off the story before Karina could lay her own groundwork and made her an enemy of someone with bad intentions.

Perhaps it’s this anxiousness that makes me feel like I’m being watched.

I cross an intersection and glance back the way I came, noticing there’s a black SUV idling on the opposite curb. The windows are tinted, so I can’t see anyone inside the vehicle. I’m probably—no, definitely being paranoid, but when the light turns green and the SUV makes no move to go through the light, goosebumps prickle my skin.

You’re being ridiculous.

With one last glance over my shoulder, I turn and keep going. I take a deep breath for calm, shake off the heebie-jeebies and round the final corner of my route to the stadium—and I don’t have to search the crowd very long to spot Tobias. He’s a head above everyone in jeans and a fitted white cashmere sweater that very few men could pull off successfully. And bad news for my hormones, he’s wearing one of those newsboy caps, his hair sort of curling around the edges. He’s unshaven for once. Utterly, painfully hot.

Oh, I’m pretty sure he knows exactly what he’s doing. And I’m suddenly feeling very underdressed in leggings, a sleeveless turtleneck and ankle boots. My purse is beat up and oversized, because I wanted to bring my laptop with me. While I’m waiting for Karina to let me know if I’m in the clear with Alexander, I feel compelled to keep my notes with me, which is probably ridiculous, but I decided to follow my gut.

My heart is racing as I approach Tobias, but it has nothing to do with my impromptu jog.

He’s even more magnetic up close.

“Hey,” I say, pulling my jacket tighter around my body. Not because it’s cold—it’s not. It’s a refreshing sixty-five degrees. But one second in his presence has my body under a sensual attack and I can’t stop remembering the way he tented those silk boxers. I went back to look at it so many times this morning that I finally gave up and saved it to my camera roll.

“Hello, Elise.” He wraps a huge hand around my elbow and pulls me closer to kiss my cheek. “You’re looking as fuckable as ever.”

A passerby chokes on his giant street pretzel, obviously having overheard.

“Could you lower your voice?” I hiss, poking him in the ribs.

“Message received.” He eases closer until our bodies meet, his lips brushing over mine. “You want me to whisper in your ear how fuckable you are—”

I shove him away, slapping the hand still holding on my elbow. “Stop.”

He holds up his hands in surrender. “Sorry, love.” When I can only stare up at him and attempt to replenish my lungs with oxygen, he says, “I’m a lot better at expressing myself physically than verbally, but…” For once, he looks serious. Like, he’s really concentrating on it. “I’m very glad you’re here. With me. I wasn’t sure you would show up.”

“I told Banks I would come.”

“Yes.” He clears his throat. “Is that the only reason?”

My knee-jerk reaction is to say yes, because he appears so cocky. I know better now, though. He’s more than what meets the eye. I’ve seen beneath the surface to the wound he’s hiding. If he can make himself vulnerable, so can I. “No,” I say quietly, feeling his energy skyrocket with that single word. “No, it’s not the only reason.”