“You will, just not sure when. Maybe Monday? Before I leave.”

“You’re leaving again?”

“Yeah, for three weeks.”

“Ugh, now you suck.”

“I do, I know. Claire isn’t happy about it either.”

“I bet she isn’t. Do you want me to take her to the Chicago competition, or is Harper going to?”

Phillip paused. Fuck, he had forgotten. “Man, I completely forgot about that.”

He put her on speaker as he pulled up his calendar. It was programmed in there, how did he forget? He saw that he had a game that Saturday in Chicago, and then he would be free. He figured he could rent a car and drive Claire home from the competition. He might even get to watch her dance, which would be great.

“Yeah, can you? I’ll rent a car and drive her back.”

“Or we can all just ride back together. No big deal.”

He smiled. “That would be nice, but do you think you can keep your hands off me?”

He could tell she was smiling as she said, “Yes, I can, can you?”

He laughed as he fell next to Erik on the bench. “Maybe.”

“I don’t think you can.”

“We will see.”

“Yes we will,” he said, running his hand through his hair, a smile radiating off his face. She did things to him. Things he really liked. “Are you watching the game tonight?”

“Maybe,” she said, drawing out the word in such a sexy way.

He bit into his lip as he removed his shoes. “Just say you will.”

“No way.”

“Yes.”

“No, you’re so demanding.”

He chuckled. “You like it.”

“I do.”

“Good, so just say it.”

“Oh my god, yes, I will watch.”

He didn’t think his grin could grow any more, but it did as he said, “All right. Well, I got to go.”

She was still laughing as she said, “Okay, have a good day.”

“You too.” He hung up the phone and laughed as he removed his shirt. When he glanced over, he found Erik watching him.

“What?” he asked, throwing his shirt in his cubby.

“I’m curious. Did your new lesbian friend work?”

Phillip face broke into a look of satisfaction as he said, “Oh yeah.”

“So you two are together?”

“Nope, just friends… with incredible benefits. Super great ones. Mind blowing ones.”

Erik laughed as he shook his head. “And you’re okay with that?”

He shrugged. “I’m all right with it. I know that my charm and good looks will win her over, and we’ll end up being together for real. Just need a little time; she’s a tough nut to crack.”

“Okay, but what if you don’t?”

“Then at least I had her while I did. You only live once, Erik, and I’m gonna live life to the fullest.”

“But she is going to end up hurting you,” Erik said, lacing up his skates. “It’s your life, but I just don’t see this ending well for you.”

“It won’t end. I got her to sleep with only me, something she said she’d never do. She doesn’t want labels, and that’s fine. I’ll get her to fall for me, and then everything else will fall in place. She’s that forever kind of girl for me.”

Erik looked shocked as he pulled his girdle up. “What about Claire? I thought Claire didn’t want you two together.”

“She doesn’t, but she’ll adapt once it’s time to tell her. Right now, we are having fun. I know everything is going to be fine. I just know it.”

Erik shook his head, standing up and towering over Phillip since he was on his skates. “I hope you’re right.”

“I am,” Phillip said confidently.

“Fine, hurry up, don’t be late on the ice. Shea is in angry Adler mode.”

“Awesome,” Phillip said, but even that couldn’t dampen his mood. He believed whole-heartedly that things were going to work between him and Reese, and nothing could bring him down.

Nothing.

Not even Shea Adler screaming at him.

And boy, was he screaming.

“Anderson! Skate! Get that stupid grin off your ugly mug and skate!”

As Phillip restarted the play, and even with Shea and Coach Baxter still screaming at him, he was still smiling.

“Five, six, seven, eight!”

Reese leaned against the wall as Mallory and Brian moved perfectly together across the floor to “Endlessly” by the Cab like they always did. Chicago was coming up fast and as she watched Mallory and Brian, she knew they were going to be her winning couple. They were beautiful together. Even though their solos were breathtaking, too, Reese knew that Claire would probably take the title for the solos. She smiled at the thought of Claire, because thinking of Claire usually brought up the image of Phillip.

Mmm, he was so delicious.

Her body was still humming with afterthoughts of his touches and kisses. When she imagined him between her legs, her stomach clenched and she fought to find her breath. They left the club and went straight to her house, where they proceeded to have sex until the wee hours of the morning. He left around four and once he shut her door, she missed him. Her bed felt empty, but she quickly tucked those feelings away, refusing to think of them. Things could be light, could be fun, no reason to overthink. Like Phillip said, they were just going to have fun.