grunted and he smirked, standing. “And you know I’m right about this. You need your rest, so I’m gonna go. Hey, do you need anything from your house? I didn’t think about that. I could go get you some stuff if you want.”
“No, I’m fine. They’re discharging me tomorrow morning.” Sarah smiled despite the squirm-inducing conversation. Rob was one of the guys she loved to banter with and tease. “Should I keep the fact you’re a nice guy to myself? I’d hate to ruin your macho, studly reputation.”
Rob laughed and feigned innocence, his eyes wide. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. What reputation?”
“Let’s just say I’ve seen scantily clad women leaving your room on the road a time or two. Plus, walls are thin, my friend, and, well, you seem to cultivate screamers…” Sarah grinned as Rob colored, and then she snorted. “Like you’re embarrassed by that.”
“I’m not embarrassed by my behavior. I’m a stud. But I am embarrassed if you’ve ever, um, overheard things.” He shook his head, smiling. He went to the door then turned, waving at her as he departed. “See you soon, I hope!”
“Me too.” Sarah rolled over carefully. Rob was right. Marcy was right. She needed to get over Sebastian. It would be best for the future of both of their careers.
She groaned, cursing her predicament, and closed her eyes. They’d given her a pain pill with dinner. Hopefully she’d fall into a blessedly dreamless sleep.
****
Sebastian was staring at the television, but his mind was a million miles away when Rob got home. His friend must’ve read something in his expression, because Rob said, “You went to see her, didn’t you?”
“I had to know how she was.”
Rob snorted. “Yeah. I figured you’d been there. I stopped by to bring her some of her stuff from the rink.” Rob sat on the couch, shrugging off his light coat and tossing it toward the other end. “You guys need to stop this. I told her that tonight too. Rick mentioned something about how you were after the accident. Dude, that’s not good.”
Sebastian had half-risen, angry that Rob had interfered, before realizing what he was doing. He sank back down. “He did?” I hope Sarah didn’t freak. “What did she say?”
“She said there wasn’t anything to stop.”
“Well, she’s right. There isn’t.” He sounded defensive, but dammit, it wasn’t like they were actually a couple.
Rob shook his head. “You guys are both bad liars.”
“We’re not dating. I kissed her once. That’s it.”
“You kissed her? When did that happen?”
“A couple of weeks ago.”
“Well, it’s pretty obvious you still want her. If my guess is right, she wants you too, but that scares her, as well it should.”
Sebastian prayed Rob was right and Sarah wanted him too, but her mixed signals were driving him crazy. He began to argue.
Rob held up his hand. “Hear me out, man. You made the team. You got your dream. But don’t forget, if you play like crap, you’ll be sent down to Rochester in a heartbeat. Don’t take this chance for granted.”
“I’m not,” Sebastian grumbled, not wanting to admit the other man was right and his focus wasn’t entirely on his game.
“Sure as hell looks like you are.”
“Hey, I bust my ass out there!”
“Yeah, but what about your head? Is your head in the game?”
“Of course my head is in the game!” During the game, anyway.
Rob stood and walked toward the kitchen. When he reached the doorjamb, he pivoted and leaned against it. “Look, dude. I’m just trying to watch out for you. For her, too. She insists there’s nothing between you. I don’t know why she bothered to lie to me. I can see it in both of you.”
Rob sighed. “Just make sure if you do this it’s for the right reasons. If you think it’s more than just lust and you’re willing to do what it takes to have a real relationship with her, one with a future, that’s different. If you just wanna
“No, I’m fine. They’re discharging me tomorrow morning.” Sarah smiled despite the squirm-inducing conversation. Rob was one of the guys she loved to banter with and tease. “Should I keep the fact you’re a nice guy to myself? I’d hate to ruin your macho, studly reputation.”
Rob laughed and feigned innocence, his eyes wide. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. What reputation?”
“Let’s just say I’ve seen scantily clad women leaving your room on the road a time or two. Plus, walls are thin, my friend, and, well, you seem to cultivate screamers…” Sarah grinned as Rob colored, and then she snorted. “Like you’re embarrassed by that.”
“I’m not embarrassed by my behavior. I’m a stud. But I am embarrassed if you’ve ever, um, overheard things.” He shook his head, smiling. He went to the door then turned, waving at her as he departed. “See you soon, I hope!”
“Me too.” Sarah rolled over carefully. Rob was right. Marcy was right. She needed to get over Sebastian. It would be best for the future of both of their careers.
She groaned, cursing her predicament, and closed her eyes. They’d given her a pain pill with dinner. Hopefully she’d fall into a blessedly dreamless sleep.
****
Sebastian was staring at the television, but his mind was a million miles away when Rob got home. His friend must’ve read something in his expression, because Rob said, “You went to see her, didn’t you?”
“I had to know how she was.”
Rob snorted. “Yeah. I figured you’d been there. I stopped by to bring her some of her stuff from the rink.” Rob sat on the couch, shrugging off his light coat and tossing it toward the other end. “You guys need to stop this. I told her that tonight too. Rick mentioned something about how you were after the accident. Dude, that’s not good.”
Sebastian had half-risen, angry that Rob had interfered, before realizing what he was doing. He sank back down. “He did?” I hope Sarah didn’t freak. “What did she say?”
“She said there wasn’t anything to stop.”
“Well, she’s right. There isn’t.” He sounded defensive, but dammit, it wasn’t like they were actually a couple.
Rob shook his head. “You guys are both bad liars.”
“We’re not dating. I kissed her once. That’s it.”
“You kissed her? When did that happen?”
“A couple of weeks ago.”
“Well, it’s pretty obvious you still want her. If my guess is right, she wants you too, but that scares her, as well it should.”
Sebastian prayed Rob was right and Sarah wanted him too, but her mixed signals were driving him crazy. He began to argue.
Rob held up his hand. “Hear me out, man. You made the team. You got your dream. But don’t forget, if you play like crap, you’ll be sent down to Rochester in a heartbeat. Don’t take this chance for granted.”
“I’m not,” Sebastian grumbled, not wanting to admit the other man was right and his focus wasn’t entirely on his game.
“Sure as hell looks like you are.”
“Hey, I bust my ass out there!”
“Yeah, but what about your head? Is your head in the game?”
“Of course my head is in the game!” During the game, anyway.
Rob stood and walked toward the kitchen. When he reached the doorjamb, he pivoted and leaned against it. “Look, dude. I’m just trying to watch out for you. For her, too. She insists there’s nothing between you. I don’t know why she bothered to lie to me. I can see it in both of you.”
Rob sighed. “Just make sure if you do this it’s for the right reasons. If you think it’s more than just lust and you’re willing to do what it takes to have a real relationship with her, one with a future, that’s different. If you just wanna
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