The Red Zone (The League, #2)

by Meg Reading

I maximized her moment of contemplation by taking a minute to observe her features. Button nose. High cheekbones. There was a reason she’d previously been one of the highest paid models in the world. Even when she was pissed off, she looked gorgeous.

“That’s not true,” I replied curtly. “You can continue making me the villain in your story all you want, but you’re done being the villain in mine.”

At checkout, I caught October staring at me out of the corner of my eye. He had a subtle smirk on his lips and not a single brain cell behind his eyes. “Stop looking at me like you’ve seen me naked.” “I have seen you naked,” he said matter-of-factly. “The good shoppers of Publix don’t need to know that, though,” I scolded with a whisper.

“It’s brand new… I wouldn’t give you a jersey someone else has worn. You deserve better than that.”

“You’re gorgeous, Mae. More gorgeous than my thoughts from the last seven years led me to believe.” He ran a thumb over his bottom lip slowly as he looked me up and down. “Like it or not, I’ll never apologize for admiring how beautiful you are.”

I managed to open my eyes just enough to see him bending down in front of me before wiping a warm rag over my face. After wiping my left cheek, he gave it a quick kiss before doing the same on the other side. “You’re so beautiful,” October whispered against my lips before pressing them against mine. I hummed my appreciation as I kissed him back. “Alright, let’s get you up.” October scooped me up and carried me over to the warm bath, and much to my surprise he stuck his feet in first, holding me firm against his chest as he lowered us both into the tub. “Come here.” He placed his hands gently on the sides of my upper arms and helped me lean back against his chest once again. “No, I can’t.” “We’re done for the night, baby. Let me clean you up.”

Abel walked into the living room right around the time I stood up from the couch and placed a quick kiss on Scar’s cheek before tucking the blankets in a little tighter at her sides. “Doesn’t Scar look so cute when she’s sleeping?” I whispered, coming over to stand side by side with him as we both watched her chest rise and fall. Abel gave me a clipped nod, twisting his head and looking at her longingly. Almost like he missed her even though she was right in front of him. There was a pulling sensation in my gut. I wanted that. What the two of them had. Someone who would look at me the way that he looked at her and wouldn’t hesitate to call a friend on my behalf when I needed some girl time to decompress. Was it possible that October could be that person for me? “Thanks for calling me. You know… she’s lucky to have you.” “Yeah?” “Yeah.” I forced a smile, rubbing a friendly hand on his upper arm before heading for the front door.

I hated how she could be in the same bed, two feet away from me and I still felt like she wasn’t close enough. Was it even fucking possible to miss someone who was in the same room as you?