Page 46 of Instigator

Can we combine our online friendship with an in-person one? Can I spend time with him in person without his sister or teammates finding out? And fuck, what will the foundation say if we’re spotted together?

He yawns, and with a jolt, I realize exactly how late it is.

“You need to go to bed. You have a game tomorrow night.” Well, tonight, now. It’s already three o’clock in the morning.

“I’m not tired,” he says.

“You’re a dirty, rotten liar. Go to bed. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

“Yeah, we will.” Aidan gives me a tired smile. “Have a good night, Ceci. Sweet dreams.”

My mouth dries out. “You too.”

We log off, and I close up my house, making sure the door is locked and turning off all the lights. His flowers sit on my kitchen counter, and the sight of the fragrant blooms makes me smile.

Upstairs, I run through my nightly routine and crawl into bed. But before I fall asleep, I pull up the Grizzlies’ game schedule and let out a sigh of relief when there’s no game on March 26th. Crossing my fingers, I hope the boys are home that week as I send an email to my Bulldogs season-ticket-holder rep, reserving a box for opening day.

I don’t care if we pack it full of our friends or if it’s only the two of us. Come hell or high water, I’m going to be there. And I want him there by my side.

twenty

. . .

Aidan

Henry lets out a cheer when I walk into the team room for breakfast, and I cock an eyebrow.

“Hey, we can cancel the search party on MacGregor,” he calls out. “He’s alive.”

“Fuck off,” I mutter. Our plane got in late last night, and then I stayed up with Ceci for a bit, but I’m only a few minutes late.

I check my watch. Okay, half an hour late.

And yes, I’m usually the first one to the room. It’s my job as captain to show up for my team. To set a good example.

“You go out and get laid?” Jenkins asks. “You look… happy.”

“I am happy,” I answer easily as I head toward the breakfast buffet. Loading up my plate, I make sure to grab a bowl of oatmeal, too, doctoring it up with plenty of maple syrup, dried cranberries, and almonds.

“Who is she?” he asks as I take a seat beside him at one of the round tables. Ryan, Henry, and Gonzo are already halfway through their breakfast.

Why won’t he let this go?

“There’s nobody.”

Ryan raises an eyebrow. “You’re not usually this late.”

“Had a hard time falling asleep.”

Seeing Ceci’s picture all night… I was battling a semi our entire session, and after we signed off, I had to rub one out before I was able to fall asleep.

Except this time, instead of nameless, faceless fantasies, all I could picture was her. Imagine stripping her from her casual clothes, pulling her hair from her top knot, and making her come undone.

Fuck. My cock twitches, and I adjust my napkin over my lap. None of my teammates are about to look at my crotch, but if they do, I don’t want to be the team laughingstock. They’re supposed to look up to me, damn it. I’m supposed to be a role model.

Sinclair joins the table, exhaustion etched into his face and the set of his shoulders. “Morning,” he mutters as he sits beside me in the only empty chair.

“Good morning,” I reply. I try to be subtle in the way I look him over, searching for any signs of how he’s doing. Based on the intent way Ryan stares at me, I don’t think I’m successful.