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"The biggest," Reed says with a wan smile "It's been almost thirty years since there's been a three-peat Cup champion"

"But they have you," I say with a bright suaranteed"

All of the stress that see my hand, he pulls me across the couch as he lies down and I coo to my ass and he presses me into his pelvis and, well, hello there

Reed is definitely excited to see me

My eyes drop to his ht now But his words stopseason, Josie The pressure will be intense and travel is hard on relationships You need to know that"

I frown at hi my forearms on his abdo to say out of the blue like that"

"What? That the season is going to be stressful?"

I shake my head "No That it will be hard on relationships It sounds like a dire warning Or a self-fulfilling prophecy Or even some type of setup for you to lead into a deeper conversation"

Because Reed has never gotten this serious on h it off and tell me that's not really what he meant But instead his expression turns somber and he stares atthe season"

I push up on hiry "And I never once expected you to or even asked you to"

My anger isn't returned His voice is soft and sy "I know you didn't I didn't say that It's just that we've had a great summer and it's been very carefree"

"So by definition and the pessi to be awful Is that what you're trying to say?"

He shakes his head, his eyes turning tender A hand cooing to be different And I want both of us to acknowledge that and be prepared for it"

I stare at hi his frantically for so but just won't say it This goes nowhere fast, as Reed just holds aze, his expression so neutral I can't tell what he's really thinking

Finally, he s his hand around the back of ry?"

I give a tiny shake ofat the hospital"

"Well, let's get you to bed I know you're exhausted, and so am I after all of this shit with Marek today"

"Actually," I say as I push all the way off his body and come to stand by the couch "I'm a little wired from my shift and need to unwind I'll just work on a puzzle for a bit until I get tired"

Reed rolls off the couch, straightens, and then pulls ood, yet I still feel unsettled I feel inally better when he frames my face with his hands and presses his lips to ht Don't stay up too late"

"Promise," I say, and then he kissesfurther from me

Reed turns towardout the chair to work on an awesome puzzle of the Manhattan skyline when Reed says, "You knohat?"

I look over my shoulder at him "What?"

"If you're going to stay up awhile, I think I'ot to be up early to to be a bit lazy tomorrow and sleep in"

Sounds legitimate on its face In fact, just before I'd walked in the door tonight I wouldn't have thought twice about hi to stay at his place so he could sleep in and I wouldn't wake him up

But so is off

I know it

By the look on Reed's face right now, I know he knows I know it