“Keep her out of this? She’s an even bigger problem, don’t you think? What did I tell you about staying focused, huh? Getting involved with a woman—one you work with, I might add—is about the worst thing you could go and do at this particular moment.”
He took his father’s chastising, and when he’d finished, Flynn reassured him that he wouldn’t let a woman distract him from the most important games of his career. That promise didn’t appease his father whatsoever, so Flynn pulled over on the side of the road and sat there for another ten minutes, listening to the dangers of becoming involved with a woman and losing his sense of self, then finally hung up.
If Flynn’s mother ever heard that particular speech, what would she think? His dad’s words were insulting to women and his supposed sacred views on the institute of marriage. It made Flynn wonder if his dad, such a faithful guy all these years, was secretly miserable?
The guy was never flat-out happy. When had he ever been? As a kid, Flynn had loved making his dad proud when he’d accomplished something on the field. As he’d grown older, though, he’d realized his dad seemed to live through his every success. He pushed and pushed, not always because he cared, but because he wanted to look good and impress his friends.
He’s always controlled you. You don’t know how to live any other way.
Hell. The realization made him furious.
His father had always led him down the right path. Had supposedly always watched out for his best interests. What Flynn wanted, his father wanted, as well. His entire life had been about football. He’d been consumed with it. Knew nothing else but football.
He was starting to realize there was a lot more to life than just football. And he was missing out on all of the opportunity that surrounded him.
Like Aubrey. Like living a real life, with friends and a girlfriend and not having to think about football all damn day.
Within minutes, he was pulling into her complex’s parking lot, and he hurried to her building. It was dark, the night was quiet, and he was almost afraid someone was lurking in the shadows or behind a bush. He’d lost the paparazzi, who had been trailing him heavily all day, thanks to his new truck, which any average Joe could own.
That was exactly what Flynn wanted. Something that could help him blend in and not be obvious. He was tired of obvious.
So freaking tired of it.
Earlier he and Aubrey had stopped and posed for a few quick photos when they’d left the Hawks facility, just before they’d parted ways for the afternoon. When she’d gazed up at him, her expression all adoring, dreamy-eyed girlfriend, he’d dropped a quick kiss on her upturned lips. The buzz that had gone through him when their mouths had made first contact hadn’t gone unnoticed on his part. Though she’d seemed completely unaffected.
That kiss had been all he’d thought about since he’d left her.
Now he stood on her front step, after getting her exact address from Harvey. And he was worried that she hadn’t replied to his earlier texts. He needed to know she was okay, that she was safe. The two of them were now in this together, and he wanted to protect her.
And if she didn’t answer the door right this very second, he was going to break it down and make sure she was all right. Where the hell could she be?
“Aubrey!” He pounded on her front door, not giving a crap if he caused a spectacle for her neighbors to see. Not the smartest way to think, considering he didn’t want the media to find him, but damn it, what if she was hurt? Or hell…what if she was with someone else? Like another guy? “Are you in there? Open the damn door!”
Within seconds, it swung open, a very startled—and very sleepy looking—Aubrey stood in front of him. She’d changed into little white shorts and an oversize Hawks T-shirt. Clearly she had on whatever she usually wore to bed.
Considering it was around eight at night, that surprised him. And aroused him because, holy hell, there was a lot of skin on display.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice raspy.
“I was, uh…worried about you.” He scratched the back of his neck, feeling like an idiot. He’d overreacted when he should’ve just waited for her to text him back. Not come to her place and try to beat down her door.
“How did you know where I live?” She hid her yawn behind her hand, then smoothed her fingers through her hair, trying to tame it. He liked how rumpled she looked. Would like more than anything to be the one to get her all rumpled and naked in bed before they fell asleep in each other’s arms…
“Uh, Harvey gave me your address.” He shoved his hands in his jeans pockets, noticed that they were actually wearing the same T-shirt. Though it looked way better on her. “Can I come in for a minute?”
“Sure, yeah. Considering you’re my boyfriend now, I guess you’re entitled.” She laughed a little and opened the door wider, but he wasn’t in the mood for jokes.
He was wound up as tight as he’d ever felt. His skin itched and he felt ready to burst. Restlessness sizzled through him, making him want to find a way to channel all of that energy into something else.
Something like…Aubrey.
“Are you all right?” she asked once she’d shut the door, turned the lock, and then leaned against it, watching him with a wary gaze. “You seem a little…keyed up.”
“Keyed up” didn’t even begin to describe how he felt. And all the crap he’d been dealing with was coming at him tenfold, now that he was in Aubrey’s presence, with her looking as sexy as she did. Her feet were bare, her toenails were painted a bright red, and all he could do was stare at her long, pale legs.
What the hell was she doing wearing a pair of shorts like that? It was freaking January. She should not be walking around in little shorts that should be declared illegal. Yeah, she looked hot but damn, it was cold out here.
“I’m a little edgy, yeah.” He nodded, swallowed hard. How could he explain to her what was wrong with him, when he didn’t know himself?