The Game by Vi Keeland by Vi Keeland

“Why don’t you guys stay at my place? I have three bedrooms, and I’m leaving tomorrow to go to California for Sunday’s game.”

“Oh gosh. I didn’t even think about the game this weekend being away. I’ll either have to watch it on TV, or I suppose I could bring Wyatt after his game on Saturday. But I don’t want to impose on you. We’ll just stay at a hotel. Thank you for the offer, though.”

“It’s not imposing at all, Bella.” I put my hands on my hips. “It’s what couples do—they help each other out, rely on each other.”

She didn’t look sold. So when Wyatt walked out of the bathroom, I figured I’d go at it another way. “Hey, kid?”

“Yeah?”

“Would you rather stay at a hotel for the next couple days or at my place? I have three bedrooms, an eighty-inch TV, and the Eastern Conference MVP trophy you can take selfies with.”

Wyatt’s face lit up. “Your place.”

I put my hands in my pockets and smiled at Bella. “Sounds like Wyatt prefers to stay at my apartment.”

She gave me the evil eye.

I lifted my chin to Wyatt. “Pack a few days of clothes. What time does practice end tonight?”

“Usually by five.”

“Mine is over by four. I’ll pick you up and take you to see your mom before going over to my place after.”

“Awesome.” Wyatt smiled, grabbed some clothes, and went back into the bathroom.

Bella was still staring at me. “Umm… I’m perfectly capable of picking him up from practice and taking him to visit Talia.”

I put my hands on her shoulders. “Of course you are. There’s probably not much you aren’t capable of handling by yourself. But you’re not by yourself anymore. You have me. Plus, you don’t get out of the office before six or seven usually. So do what you need to do, and I got this. Besides, you’ll be on your own tomorrow when I have to fly out.”

It looked like she was considering arguing, so I dipped my head and kissed her until the fight was gone from her face.

“We good?” I stroked her cheek with my thumb.

She nodded and sighed. “Thank you for having us.”

“No thanks needed. But I do have you, Bella. You just need to accept it.”



***



Later that night, Wyatt and I rolled into my place after his practice and our stop by the hospital. I’d told Bella the doorman would give her a keycard to let her in if she arrived first.

I found her standing in the kitchen at the stove, and the apartment smelled freaking delicious.

“Dinner is almost ready. I thought you guys were going to be home an hour ago,” Bella said.

Wyatt answered. “We would’ve been, but Christian got mobbed by a bunch of women nurses.”

Bella’s eyes narrowed. “Is that so?”

“Uh-oh.” Wyatt looked at me. “I got you in trouble. Sorry, man.”

I chuckled. “I’m not in trouble. Bella knows I was just being polite. Why don’t you go wash up for dinner? Your room is the first one on the left.”

Wyatt tossed his bookbag and wallet on the counter and took off running down the hall. Bella was back to stirring something in a pot on the stove. I wrapped my arms around her waist, pushed her hair aside, and kissed her neck. “It smells good in here. I could get used to this—coming home to you making me dinner.”

“Or you could have one of the nurses make you something…”

I turned her in my arms to face me. “Is that jealousy I hear in your tone?”

“No, but you could’ve called to let me know you guys were going to be late.”

I nodded. “You’re right. I should’ve. I lost track of time. I apologize. Now give me a kiss.”

She was still talking when I sealed my lips over hers. I loved that I could feel her melt into me after only a few seconds. After a minute of getting my fill, I let her go before I started mauling her and the kid came back.

Bella cleared her throat. “I was thinking, I should sleep in the other guest room tonight.”

My eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”

“Well, Wyatt’s here, and, you know, we just started dating. I don’t want to give him the impression that you should jump into bed with someone so fast. I don’t think he’s even had a girlfriend yet. He’s impressionable.”

I’d seen the girls on the bleachers waving at him with googly eyes when we were leaving practice, not to mention, a few of the young nurses had been friendly to him, and he’d been chatting them up.

“He’s seventeen, Bella.”

“So? He’s a young and innocent seventeen.”

“The boy is getting laid, sweetheart.”

Her eyes widened. “He is not.”

Wyatt’s wallet was on the counter, so I lifted it and spread the leather on one side tight. I’d been guessing, but sure enough, there was the familiar ring from a condom inside. “Hate to break it to you,” I said, holding it up. “But he’s not innocent. You’re sleeping in my bed.”

Wyatt came back down the hall, so Bella stepped back, and our conversation was momentarily tabled.

“Dinner is going to be ready soon,” she said. “Why don’t you two set the table?”