Page 27 of Keep Me Close

Every fucking time.

Laiken’s gaze shifts to me again as he pops a brow.

Yup. He definitely suspects.

Maybe taking Chey to his place and introducing them wasn’t such a great idea after all. But what else was I supposed to do? There was no way I could let her wander around the city alone.

Not with her ex tracking her every move.

I finish unlacing my skates and pull them off before pushing to my feet and stripping out of the rest of my gear.

“Maybe you should have done us both a favor and taken her home,” I say evenly.

“Nah, we all know I have a thing for a feisty brunette with a sharp tongue and even sharper claws,” Jax says with a smirk.

The guys around him howl with laughter.

“I’d steer clear, Wilder,” River calls out from across the room. “Sloane will rip you apart with her teeth.”

“God, I certainly hope so. I got a masochistic streak in me a mile wide,” he tosses back.

River shakes his head. “You’re so fucked, dude.”

He only grins in response.

I grab my towel and head for the showers. Steam fills the air as water pounds against the tile. I let it hit the back of my neck as I close my eyes. Thoughts of last night roll through my head, and there’s not a damn thing I can do to turn them off.

Chey sitting on my couch. Flashes of her belly driving me to distraction every time she shifted. Her mouth parting slightly when I stared too long.

I exhale.

It’s fine.

No big deal.

It’s a temporary situation that’ll be over with before I know it. A couple weeks, tops, and then she’ll be out of my penthouse, out of my head, and everything will go back to normal.

At least that’s the bullshit I keep telling myself.

When I walk back out, I grab my clothes and check my phone, watching her location pop up. Looks like she’s at that boutique Kia mentioned last night.

Which means she’s safe.

My shoulders loosen. It’s as if an invisible hand reached into my chest and untied a knot I didn’t realize was there.

Under normal circumstances, I’d hang around after practice and lift or watch film. Maybe grab something to eat with my teammates. Today, I shove my phone into my pocket and pick up my bag.

“You taking off already?” Steele calls out.

“Yeah.”

“Hot date?” Jax asks.

“Nailed it.”

“At least something’s getting nailed,” he shoots back with a smile.

“It’s gonna be your face if you don’t keep your thoughts to yourself, Wilder.”