More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
Sometimes, it’s practically stomach-turning. I still get queasy when I remember the time Ren sat with a young cancer patient. Turning white as a sheet, given his fear of needles, he told her the world’s lamest knock-knock jokes while he donated blood and she had her bloodwork done. So they could be brave together. Cue the collective female swoon.
I mean I used to find it gross when I saw people in public looking so in love. I always thought, ‘Is it that hard to keep that kind of hanky-panky for home?’” She takes a big bite of burger and says around it, “Then I met Ryder and realized, yeah, with the right person, it’s that hard.”
So happy. So carefree. What’s it like to live like that? To be so unburdened?
Back home, people treated me like a problem, not a person. And so, I came to two conclusions. First, it was time to move away, and second, for the sake of protecting myself from repeating that humiliation, my heart is best left alone, safe under lock and key.
Archaic male demonstrations of protectiveness are not sexy. Archaic male demonstrations of protectiveness are not sexy. Archaic— Dammit, this is sexy, and my body knows it. I can’t deny it any more than I can deny my Harry Potter panties are now as wet as a rainy day at Hogwarts.
Because as Ren looks at me, as I process his words, I can’t recall a single moment Ren’s ever acted or spoken like he thinks I can’t take care of myself. He’s never hovered behind me like I’m going to take a tumble. He doesn’t talk to me like I’m an invalid. Saying that Maddox could have hurt me isn’t a reflection on my weakness. It’s an indictment on Matt’s misuse of his strength.
“I have heard rumors that you’re a closeted Shakespeare dork, Bergman.” “They got it all wrong.” He straightens and smiles. “There’s nothing closeted about it.”
You like her, don’t you? It’s why you haven’t dated anyone since you joined the team.” I stare at the road. Why does it take this long to drive a few miles to Manhattan Beach? Willa sighs dreamily. “Gah. It’s romantic as hell. You’re pining for her.”
Every day I pinch myself that this is my job. That I get paid to play a game I love, to be a role model to little kids, and to contribute to my community. I also pinch myself that I get to see Frankie every day I work.
