The Right Move (Windy City, #2)

by Liz Tomforde

“It could be negative twenty, and I’ll hold an iced coffee in my hand while I wear my winter gloves.”

Canada core.

I turn back to Zanders. “To answer your question, he made me cry.” “I’ll kill him,” Rio decides.

I LOVE RIO

She lightly squeezes my arm. “Can’t you forgive him? I want everything to go back to how it used to be. All of us spending time together.” “What?” I force out a laugh. “Maggie, he slept with someone else in our bed.” And he’s never once asked for forgiveness, let alone apologized. “He made a mistake.”

Fuck you.

“Shay, you are the luckiest man alive. Please tell me you’re hitting that.” My head whips around to my teammate. “Watch your fucking mouth.” “Well, if you don’t try, I will.” “Dom,” Ethan warns, trying to hold back his laughter. “Ryan is about to combust, so I’d tone it back there, buddy.”

I'm dying

“Stop looking at her,” I warn. “Go hit the showers or get to the airport or just about anything other than look at her. She’s not available.” “So, you are hitting that.” Dom nods in approval. “No, I’m not hitting that. And neither are any of you. Stop looking at her or she’ll be the last thing you ever fucking see.” “Ooooh. Protective Shay is here, and his sister is nowhere to be found. Someone write this date down. History is being made, people. Ryan Shay gives a fuck about someone other than Stevie and something other than basketball.”

Fuck, she’s pretty.

Shooting myself

“Oh, come on. If we’re going to be acting, we may as well go all in. Do you know how to flare your nostrils in anger?” My breakfast almost comes back up. “What?” “If you see me across the room, talking to another man, I need you to stare intently then flare your nostrils. Or grind your molars together and tic your jaw.” “Blue—” “Do you know how to growl?” “What?” “Yeah, I don’t really know what that’s supposed to sound like, but every one of my book boyfriends is big into growling. Oh! And can you darken your eyes?” “Darken my eyes?” “Yeah. When you pretend to get angry or act really turned on, can you darken your eyes?” “No, I can’t fucking darken my eyes. What the hell are you reading?” “Don’t hate on my books. You could learn a thing or two from them. And they’re much more entertaining than your shelves of masochism.”

IM DYING

I killed your flowers. My chest deflates with an odd sense of relief. He really is dramatic, but I’ll play into it. Ryan! I tried! I really tried to keep them alive, but I think I watered them too much and drowned them. Then when I went down to the flower stand today to buy the same ones in hopes you wouldn’t notice, they didn’t have them. So I bought you some called Black-eyed Susan? Which is the weirdest fucking thing to call a flower.

“Don’t.” Ryan sits forward. “Don’t you dare cry.” I suck in a breath, shaking my head and stopping any emotions before they really start. “Sorry. We’re at your work event.” “Indy.” Both his large hands cup my face. “I don’t give a fuck where we are. You could cry all you want at this fundraiser. You could scream, laugh, throw a temper tantrum in front of these people for all I care. I don’t give a fuck, but you’re not crying over him, here or anywhere else.”

I am not okay.

“I uh…” I rub my hand on the back of my neck. “I made you coffee before I left for practice and put it in the fridge to cool so it wouldn’t get watered down when you added ice.”

That's MY love languge right there.

Dammit. I know she’s going to think this is deeper than it is. She’s going to romanticize me buying fucking breakfast meats because that’s who she is, but it’s nothing. Really.

I'm gonna need you to look me dead in the eyes and tell me that it's not true. Really dazzle it so I'll believe it.

I want her here. I want her to want to be here. Fuck, when did that happen?

He didn't even need to look me in the eyes to figure out it's not true. Pity. Say it with me y'all... WHIPPED.

Zanders folds over his steering wheel in laughter. “Ryan, my guy, you’re so completely fucked, and you can’t even see it.”

People need to listen to me more.

“The female main character hooks up with her ex-boyfriend’s dad.” “What the fuck?” “Trust me. The little shit deserved it.”

BIRTHDAY GIRL?????

I’ve always found Indy’s Converse random and a bit strange, but now I find myself wondering what I have to do to get myself added to them.

Annie takes a long drink from her cocktail. “They’re not the only ones he’s convincing.”

I love this woman.

Wow. It feels claustrophobic in this open air.

Same girl. Same.

But before I can clean off the mess, he grabs my hand and takes my finger in his mouth to suck off the remnants.

My ovaries are shaking.

Ryan slides a forearm around the front of my shoulders, holding my back to his chest. He nods towards Alex’s jersey. “Oh,” Ryan says sweetly, patronizingly. “You’re a fan of mine.” I didn’t notice the Devils jersey he had on, but I especially didn’t pick up on the fact there’s a number five on the front and my fake boyfriend’s last name on the back. I have to bite my lip to keep it from curving. “Were you waiting for an autograph?” Ryan continues.

Hot and sexy.

“I know, right? She was batshit, wanting me to go with her to her grandma’s funeral, but I told her the day we met, Saturdays are for the boys. If you can’t get on board with that, I don’t want you, you know?”

Bro what

A content laugh rumbles in my chest. “There’s my girl.” What the fuck did I say?

I don't know. What did you say?

“But,” I begin, and Ryan’s eyes dart to mine, a bit of hope flickering through them. “It could be good practice.” “Right, and the wedding is coming up.” “Right,” I quickly agree. “So, we should pretend tonight? For practice.” “Yeah, that seems like the right thing to do.” Without further hesitation, Ryan’s hand is in mine, fingers threaded together, leading us into the main room.

Yeah, you'll just practice for the next fifteen years.

She giggles and it’s my favorite sound.

It’s too right, having her here. This is where she belongs, with me, in this apartment. And if she thinks for a second she’s moving out, she’s out of her goddamn mind.

Zanders squeals from the couch like a teenager.

I cannot

“But I spend a lot of your money.” “Someone needs to.” “And I’m messy. You don’t like messy.” “I like your mess.” “And I’m needy. I have no idea how to be alone.” “Good. I don’t want you to be alone. I want you to be with me.”

Now that's a confession.

At some point, I should probably tell her that my love language is whichever one she wants it to be so she can stop guessing. I’ll make sure that girl feels loved however she needs.

He nods towards my girl.

MY GIRLLLLLL

She’s taller too and I fucking love her in a pair of heels.

I'm Going feral.

Giving him a wink, my eyes are right back on my girl.

I'm Foaming at the mouth.

“I’m sorry someone let you believe you were hard to love, because, Blue, it’s the easiest thing I’ve ever done.” I shake my head. “God, I love you. I think in a way, I’ve loved you since our first breakfast together. You brought me back to life, Ind, and I will love you as long as you’ll let me.” “Promise?” Pulling her in, I take her lips with mine. “I’ll even add it to the fridge.”

“You know that jersey you’ve got with my last name on it? When you see it hanging there in your closet, let it serve as a reminder to you, that soon enough, it’ll be her last name too.”

Mrs. Shay is another I’d like to add to the list in the future.

Indy Daily update—I’m in love with your brother. Stevie Best daily update I’ve ever received.

“Say that again for me.” “I’m heading to Michael’s.” “And who the fuck is Michael?” Huh?

“I think that sounds like the right move.”

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