Page 17 of Reckless Love

I’m in love with my best friend.

And I have been for a long, long time.

CHAPTER SIX

ROLE REVERSAL

RHODES

Now

Elle

I can go to the wedding, but I’m supposed to stay away from you and the rest of the guys.

I wantto sayfuckthat, but I don’t.

I type:

You do what you’ve gotta do.

Delete. Delete. Delete.

Then:

Okay.

Nope. Delete.

Finally:

Bree will be glad you’re there.

I press send and walk into the locker room after practice and a long workout afterward. I needed to work some of this tension out.

The guys are there waiting for me, looking a bit thunderous.

It’s quiet for a second when I walk in.

“Can I just say, if the roles were reversed, you would be giving us so much shit right now.” Bowie leans across the table to grab my shoulder and points at me when I meet his eyes.

“What are you talking about?” I mutter.

“Thank you for saying it!” Penn says, throwing his hand in the air. “I’ve wanted to say it at least a dozen times, but he’ll listen to you more than he’ll listen to me.”

I frown. “Are you guys talkingtome or about me?”

I turn around to see if anyone is behind me, and nope, it’s just the five of us. We at least had the kids with us the other day to help with distraction.

“You seriously left with Levi as soon as you threw outthat revelation the other day about kissing Elle feeling all kinds of right and then ghosted us. We’ve barely talked outside of the game!” Bowie’s normally low, growly voice rises to a level that surprises all of us, and I sit up straighter as he sags back into his bench.

“He’s not wrong,” Weston says, scowling at me.

“Since when do you ghost us?” Henley adds and I shoot him a guilty look. “I don’t think you’veeverghosted me.”

“You doing okay, man?” I ask him quietly. “I’m sorry I’ve just been keeping my head down, trying to focus on the game and forgetting about…all that with Elle.” I look around the room. “We played well last night.” I point at Henley. “You being on the sidelines is not the same as you playing with us, but it’s the next best thing.”

“Don’t try to distract me with your sweet talk,” Henley mutters, but his lips quirk up. “You guys did play well last night. I think you’re turning the season around, but let’s get back to Elle.”