Page 25 of Off the Mark
Blinking away the tears from earlier, I swallowed a few times and fixed a polite smile on my face. Cameras were already swarming the winner—it wasn’t Riley, but one of her Archer’s Angels teammates this time. Her team celebrated all the same, gathering around as she beamed—triumphant, surrounded by her people, waving to their fans.
I caught the attention of Riley and her girlfriend, Quinn, who were mixed in with the crowd and taking pictures already. Their expressions were open. Friendly. I raised my hand to wave, got too nervous, pulled back, then winced when I realized how bruised and bloody my knuckles were.
They exchanged puzzled looks. My face flushed, the back of my neck growing hot.
I had the distinct feeling that I was being swallowed by a patch of quicksand that I couldn’t escape.
Until I swung off my bike and came face-to-face with Rowan. He wore a white T-shirt, a frayed Phillies hat, and a half grin that had the breath catching in my throat.
I hadn’t realized how much I needed a friend.
“What are…what are you doing here?” I stammered.
“I came to see your race. You were brilliant, by the way. Lookin’ extra strong on those triple jumps.”
I blinked, dazed for a moment. Then shifted my attention toward the track. “I wish… I should have won. But I was too late out of the gate.”
He made a sound of sympathy that had me turning back. “Losing sucks. Every fucking time. I get it.”
He always did, always had. It made talking to Rowan at Jolene’s…easy. Not having to explain the vicious ups and downs of being a pro athlete.
“If I’d known you were in the crowd, I would have shown off more. Busted out a few of my special tricks.”
His smile was indulgent. Almost lazy. “Maybe next time? I’ll come prepared with better signage too.” He held a torn-off piece of notebook paper, where in pen he’d writtenI’m Charlie Maddox’s #1 Fan!
The sight of it startled a laugh from me. “I’m not sure it can get better than this, O’Callaghan.”
Then his eyes fell to my right hand. A muscle ticked in his jaw. He lifted his own palm, seeking permission, and I set my hand in his. A spark of awareness burst through the pain, sending a shiver along my spine that was deeply annoying. Because if I admitted it to the cocky redhead in front of me, he’d likely claim that was the effect he had on a lot of people.
“You hurt yourself again.” It wasn’t a question. He ducked his head and his breath caressed along my skin. “What’d you do, get in a fistfight out on the track?”
I lifted a shoulder. “Slammed my hand into another rider’s tire.”
Hetsked. “You’re lucky it isn’t broken. Do you have a first aid kit in your truck?”
“Sure, but there’s a medic tent over there. I can just…”
I trailed off, because he’d taken a step closer, forcing my gaze to meet his. “I’m a former pitcher, Maddox. I’ve bandaged up more split-open knuckles than anything else.” He tipped his head toward the parking lot. “Come on. Let me fix you up.”
“Fix meup?” I asked, standing still when he was clearly trying to get me to follow.
He rolled his eyes playfully, like I was being difficult in a way he found adorable. I was suddenly aware of interest in us—not much, but an added scrutiny.
Rowan hovered his mouth close to my cheek. “As it turns out, I don’t know shit about being a boyfriend. Never been one before. But I think agoodboyfriend would patch you up.” He paused. “Right?”
Electric heat flooded my veins. I swallowed hard but forced my own confident grin. “Possibly. Though you’re not a medical doctor last time I checked, O’Callaghan.” I held up my hand. “This baby could be fully broken. And now, just because you’re myboyfriend, I follow along without using my deductive reasoning?”
He seemed to consider this for a moment. Then shrugged his massive shoulders. “Yeah, but you didn’t request a smart boyfriend. And we both know it’s not broken.”
“How the hell do we know that?”
He nodded down at the hand in question, where I’d been gesturing a moment ago. “You wouldn’t be able to flutter it around. And you’d be screaming. Or at least wailing. I’ve never broken a hand myself, but I’ve seen plenty of them happen in my storied career.” He tossed me a wink. “Trust your boyfriend.”
Rowan turned towards my truck, and a full ten seconds later I realized that I was following him. Obediently. I planted my feet, stunned, but that only placed me directly in front of the crowd of fans. I brightened, starting to move towards them. But a heavy arm landed on my shoulders, spinning me back to the truck.
“She’ll be right there,” he called, voice smooth as silk. “I need to check that hand of hers first.”
I resisted the urge to scowl at him—just barely. “What the actual fuck are you doing?”
