CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

WALKER

My head hurts like a son of a bitch, and I could sleep for the next three days if given the opportunity. With an early game on Sunday, it’s a short week as it is. Boston is a ghost town at this time of night, or rather, Tuesday morning.

I turn onto the ramp for my parking garage and roll down my window to punch in my code. I’ve only tapped in two numbers when I notice a figure curled in a ball on the ground. Security usually does a decent job of keeping homeless people away from the entrances and helping them find their way to nearby shelters and food pantries.

The faint glow from the streetlights allows me to see they’re wearing a Revolutions jersey. My jersey. Judging by the mop of hair covering their face and the stained sweatpants, I’m guessing it’s a woman. She could be violated out here on her own. I step out of my car and slide my phone from my pocket to call security to help her when she shifts and her hair falls to the side.

“Riley?” I drop to my knees and brush her hair from her face. “Baby. Are you okay?”

My hands work their way up and down her body, searching for what, I’m not sure. She stirs and mumbles something as I help her sit up.

“Riley?” I cup her face with my palms and brush my thumbs under her eyes until they open.

It takes a moment for her to focus. I can tell as soon as she’s alert. Her body stiffens and she reaches out to me, holding on to my wrists.

“Oh my God. Walker. Are you okay? I’ve been so worried.”

“ You’re worried? I just had a fucking heart attack. What are you doing out here? It’s not safe.”

“You were covered in blood.” Her eyes scan my face and settle on the bandage above my left eye. “Walker, what happened?”

“It’s just a scratch.”

“A scratch?” she screeches and rises to her knees. I’m glad to hear her full of energy after thinking she was injured, or worse, on the side of the street. “You couldn’t even see through the waterfall of blood over your face. And the stupid sportscasters didn’t even care. They carried on covering the game, not letting me know if you were going to be okay. I stayed up all night searching the internet for an update. I texted you and you didn’t respond. I’ve been so worried, nearly going out of my mind!”

“You texted?”

“A million times.”

The end of the game was a crazy mad house. Between cleaning up the blood, getting over our shitty last second loss, and the late-night flight home, no one was in a talking mood and we all pretended to sleep on the plane. There was no need for me to check my phone because I’m not used to people checking in with me or me checking in with them.

But Riley cared. She cared so much she texted. She came to my apartment to see me. Except... “Why the hell are you sleeping outside the parking garage? You could have waited in the lobby.”

Preferably in my bed.

“I’m not on your approved guest list so they wouldn’t let me. I guess they’re used to you having crazy stalker girls pretending to be your...friend and stalking you at all hours of the night.”

She’s not wrong. Some players encourage the ladies. Others brush them off. I pay no attention to them. I haven’t had any crazy fans yet here in Boston since I’m relatively new and not many people know where I live. It’s not like I entertain here. But that’s beside the point.

“I haven’t put anyone on my guest list.” It’s not something I’ve ever thought about before. I’ve never had the need.

“Oh.”

She lowers her eyes, and I want to kiss that pout off her lips. First, we need to get out of the cold and up to my apartment. “Come on.” I help her up and into the passenger seat.

When I’m parked in my reserved spot, we take the elevator to the lobby instead of my floor, and I keep my hand tight around Riley’s hand as I guide her to the security guard.

“Good morning, Mr. Bankes. What can I do for you?” He glances over at Riley and back at me.

“Roger.” I nod at him. “It’s not a good morning. We fucking lost our game, I have twelve stitches in my head, and my—” Fuck. I don’t care that we haven’t figured out what we are. In my mind, she’s my girlfriend. “My girlfriend was tossed out into the streets waiting up for me. This is not how—”

“Walker.” Riley puts her hand on my chest. “It’s not Roger’s fault. He was doing his job.”

How can she be so calm? Fuck. She could have been mugged. Beaten. Raped. My blood boils, imaging all the harm that could have happened to her.

“I apologize, Mr. Bankes. I wasn’t aware—”

“It’s okay, Roger. I’m thankful Walker has such a fantastic security team that keeps all the crazy people out. Even though I may fit the bill at the moment.”

I stare into her warm, chocolate eyes and relax the tension in my face, which was starting to pull at my stitches. This woman is the sweetest, most selfless soul. I’m not used to being at the receiving end of genuine kindness.

“What do I need to do to put her on the guest list?” I shake my head. “Not the guest list. The forever access list, or whatever you want to call it. Can I get an extra key to the elevator and my apartment?”

“I can take care of that for you, Mr. Bankes. If you come back in a few hours, I’ll have the keys and paperwork for you.”

“Much appreciated.” I tug at Riley’s hand and pull her toward the elevator.

“Roger didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you so angry?” she asks as we step into the elevator.

I don’t respond until we’re stepping out and walking down the short hall to my apartment door. “Because I never should have put you in that situation.”

“ You didn’t. It was just a situation. I shouldn’t have acted so brash. I should have gone back home or waited in my car.”

“Riley.” I toss my keys on the kitchen counter and pull her into my arms, cupping her cheek to my chest and resting my chin on her head. “Thank you.”

“Thank you? For what?”

“For caring. For texting. For risking your life by coming over here in the middle of the night to check on me.”

“No need to be so dramatic.”

“Um. Waterfall of blood?” I chuckle. “It was a head wound. They always bleed a lot and look worse than they really are. That’s why the media didn’t cover it. Boring news.”

“I was scared.” Her arms tighten around me and my heart nearly bursts from my chest.

No one has ever worried about me before. Maybe my coaches or teammates if I get hurt, but that’s only because they worry about our game, not about me. I can be replaced with another running back.

I’m still worried Riley will replace me, but her actions tonight make me think we can work through our problems. Whatever this woman wants, I’ll give it to her. Whatever fear or worry is holding her back, I’ll get rid of it.

I’ll do anything for her. She yawns against my chest, and I kiss the top of her head. “You’re exhausted, Riley. Let’s get you to bed.”

She lifts her chin and stares up at me. My cock stirs in my suit pants and wants desperately to come out and play, but we’re both dead on our feet. I pull away so my erection doesn’t spook her, and guide her down the hall.

It’s the first time she’s been to my apartment, and I’m not sure where we stand with each other. I stop halfway down the hallway.

“I’d drive you back to your apartment, but we’re both too exhausted to get behind the wheel.” I tuck her loose strands of hair behind her ears. Her bun is a mess of a nest on top of her head, and I’ve never seen her look more adorable. “You can have the guest room or...”

I’ve made it more than clear I want her in my bed. In my life. But I won’t take advantage of her tonight when she’s running on empty.

Riley pokes her head in the guest room. It isn’t anything fancy. The apartment came furnished and the spare has a queen size bed, a dresser, and chair in the corner. There’s some basic artwork on the wall and curtains for privacy.

“What’s my other option?” She turns to me and lifts her brow.

Is she flirting? Is that a spark I see in her tired eyes?

“The couch is comfortable. I’ve taken a handful of naps on it.”

“Hm.” She taps her finger to her chin. “What else you got?”

“Just this room over here.” I lean my shoulder against the doorframe to my bedroom.

Riley brushes past me and runs her hand along the edge of the dark-gray bedding. “I feel like goldilocks.”

“Except you haven’t tested out the three sleeping options.”

“Hm. True.” She pulls back the comforter and crawls between the covers. “I’m gonna test this out for a minute.”

She snuggles into the pillow and curls on her side, closing her eyes with a smile on her face. I don’t move from the doorway and watch her pretend to sleep in my bed. On my side. Her face on my pillow.

My cock stirs again in my pants. Riley opens her eyes, as if she could hear the twitching behind my zipper.

“This is nice. I think I’ll sleep here.”

“I can sleep in the guest room.”

The line between her brow deepens. “No offense, but your guest room doesn’t look very inviting.”

“Maybe because I have no plans to invite guests over.”

Riley sits up, a frown dragging down her lips. “I’m sorry, Walker. I didn’t mean to overstep.” She swings her legs over the side of the bed, and I rush to her side.

“Riley.” I squeeze her shoulders and stop her from running away. “You’re not a guest .”

“Oh.” She blinks those dark, long lashes at me. “What am I then?”

The corner of my mouth quirks. “That’s a conversation that’s too big for three-thirty in the morning.”

“I can sleep—”

“Right here.” I lift the comforter for her.

“Are you sure?”

I skim my knuckles across her jawline. “Without a doubt.”

She reaches up and strokes my bandage. “I’m sorry you got hurt.”

The pain in my chest, around my heart, has hurt like hell since I lost Riley, but that’s not what she’s talking about.

“Can I do anything to make it feel better?”

I close my eyes and keep my groan to myself. We’re both exhausted and need sleep more than anything. As much as it pains me, I nod.

“Climb into bed and sleep.”

When she’s snuggled between the covers again, I give her a soft kiss on the temple.

“You’re leaving?” she calls to my retreating back.

The concern in her voice has me smiling. “I’m changing and locking up. I’ll be back in a minute. If that’s okay.”

“Yes.”

I strip down to my boxers quickly and quietly, and by the time I crawl into bed behind her, she’s already snoring softly. Pulling her into my chest, I drape my arm around her and spoon my body around hers.

Within seconds, sleep takes over.