Chapter 28

Chapter Twenty-Eight

DANE

W aiting on Lettie sucks. I thought I was overbooked, but Lettie has zero time for me. This trainer, Jasper keeps her on a tight schedule and when she gets back to the hotel, she barely has time to talk to me.

Last night, she fell asleep while we were video calling. She had her phone propped up against a pillow, and all I could see was her beautiful face squished up against her arm. When she yawns, her hand covers her mouth. "Sorry. Anything fun happen today?"

It catches me off guard, and now I have to tell her, and it's going to sound like I was hiding it. "Not fun, but I showed Daisy some places around campus."

Her head lifts slightly off the pillow. "Oh. What places?"

"The cookie place you love and The Stable."

"Why did you take her to your suite?"

"She want ed to see it. You know how people are about wanting to see the inside of the men's basketball lodge. I don't know why they don't give tours and charge an entry fee. It could fund the soccer team," I pull a Lettie and ramble on.

"You really are clueless. She's making a play for you when I'm out of town." She can't even argue with me because she's operating on half-capacity.

I lower my voice, "Baby, you're the only one I'm interested in. What can I say to assure you?"

"Talk dirty to me. No, don't. I'm too tired to get myself off. Can you sing to me?"

"Just don't hold it against me later."

"I love your voice."

As I listen to her pillow rustle around, I pull up the lyrics to her current favorite song. It's been less than a week since we've seen each other, and yet I feel the drain it's taking on us. Since we just started dating, we should be talking at all hours of the day and night, holding hands walking to class, eating lunch in the quad under the early fall sun and having sex every day. Instead, we message a few lines a day and talk at night on the phone, sometimes when we're both too tired to flirt.

I press my back against the headboard and when I sing in a low whisper, she hums in appreciation and damn, if that one sound doesn't make my heart swell. In this moment, it feels like we're together even though there's a thousand miles between us. I sing until I hear soft purrs, and I know she's falle n asleep. When Lettie is extra tired, she always snores at first. But wanting her to know I'll always be there when she needs me, I continue to whisper songs until the snoring stops, but I stay on the phone.

Waking up at my usual five a.m., the phone is still connected, but my girl is still dreaming, hopefully about me. I shoot off our morning text.

Me: I'm not hanging up until you do. Let's see who breaks first.

I'm an hour into my workout when I hear the ding of a notification through my Air Pods.

Lettie: Always up for a challenge. Thanks for last night. If you ever need a career change, you should consider Sleep Singer. People have made millions off of apps of rain sounds.

Me: I'll do it for you every night. It might not pay the bills.

Lettie: All we need is each other.

Me: And to be in the same city.

Lettie: Three more weeks.

Me: Twenty-three days to be exact.

Lettie: Is it Wednesday or Thursday?

Me: Wednesday

Lettie: Sorry, so is this your really busy day?

Me: Yeah, call me on your lunch break.

Lettie: Will do. Wait, is today the open team scrimmage?

Me: Yeah, tonight. Just one more thing on the to-do list.

Lettie: Good luck. Knock ‘em dead, Dane the Great.

Me: You know it. Ride like the champion you are today, and maybe Jasper will go easy on you.

Lettie: Not likely.

I park myself at our usual table in the Stallions cafeteria, balancing a tray of questionable food in one hand and a backpack in the other. With my ear pressing my phone into my shoulder, I listen for Lettie to answer. When she doesn't, I set the tray down on the white table and leave a message, "Hey, guess we don't have the same lunch. Miss ya."

My best friend on the basketball team, Devon, is already sitting there, scrolling through his phone. "Is Lettie already forgetting you?"

"Fuck off." I greet him with an eye roll, setting my phone face up.

"Wow, you're in a good mood." He raises an eyebrow, not convinced.

"What can I say? The dining hall's finest delicacies have put me in a great mood," I reply with a sarcastic smirk.

He pushes his phone to me. "Oh, I thought you were upset over this."

I give him a questioning glance before I take his phone, and it opens to the training center where Lettie has been tagged. It's a picture of her smiling while looking up and over her shoulder at a rugged, older man. There's no doubt he's a nice-looking guy. A twinge of jealousy rolls up my spine when I read the caption.

When trainers and riders are on the same page, it makes for a glorious ride. Olympic hopeful shines after a week with new trainer, Jasper Cole.

I never thought to look up Jasper's credentials, much less to see if he was Lettie's type. But hell, I don't even know if I'm Lettie's type. I check a few boxes, but we've never had a conversation about what kind of man she wants long term. We always shied away from those conversations.

Swallowing a mouthful of meatloaf proves harder than usual, I mumble, "I'm happy she beat her time. Just wish I knew before the world."

Mac Callaghan, with his hat on backwards, pulls out a chair, spinning it around, and straddles it. He crosses his arms over the chairback. "Hey, how's it going with Lettie? I just saw Reed, and Brooke hasn't heard from her."

Brooke hasn't talked to her either. I don't know whether to be relieved or worried. Is Lettie truly that busy, or is Lettie getting busy?

"She's working longer hours than we are. Working toward the Olympic Trials is no joke."

"That sucks. You just got together and have to do the long-distance thing. I tried it my freshman year and damn, I moped around until we eventually cut ties," Mac says with a hint of sadness lacing his tone.

Devon chimes in and smacks me on the shoulder, "It's this guy's own fault. When Lettie and I… umm.."

"When you and Lettie what?" I ask as a red wave of anger betrays me.

"Nothing, man. I told you she was into you back then. How did I know? Because when I made a move, she called me Dane."

Halfway pissed off that she was kissing, and his hands were on my girl, but the other half is fucking overjoyed that she was thinking about me. At least subconsciously.

"Greathouse, all I'm saying is you've never had to work for the ladies. Maybe it's time you put in some effort. You don't want to lose her now that you both finally see what the rest of us have known for a while."

Mac slaps the table. "And I wouldn't be photographed with the tall raven-haired volleyball player. That would not be good. Believe me, I speak from experience. Anyway, I heard the basketball team is being recognized at the football game on Saturday. Party at the baseball house after the win."

"We'll be there. Just make sure all the girls aren't taken," Devon says.

"Never st opped you before." Mac winks at Devon.

"I think you have me confused with every guy on the football team."

They go back and forth teasing each other, while my mind wanders to Lettie. What should I do to prove I'm serious about her and us. I've told my teammates, and I'm the one who urged the public display of affection in front of our friends. Two things bother me: her grinning at her trainer like he's a fucking steak. Lettie loves steak. And two, why wasn't I the first one to know about her beating her best time?

How long does it take to type? I just beat my freaking best time! Call ya later ?

Six seconds.