It’s super frustrating, but it’s my life.
I tuck my phone into my back pocket, trying to remind myself that Dawson and DoesMyBreathStink60 are the same person. That I can’t continue to enjoy the latter, but it’s difficult to want to cut it off when I find that I’ve been smiling more.
What does that mean?
Could Dawson be more than what I’ve experienced?
Why is my life hard?
The grin that DoesMyBreathStink60 put there vanishes the moment I step out of the building.
Four football players have huge smiles on their faces, excitement in their eyes, and each is holding a sign. So many people have gathered, cheering me on and urging me to say yes, when I don’t even know what I would be saying yes to. There is so much yelling, random squeals, and laughter. Does someone have a cowbell? Why in the hell are people taking my picture? Shit, is she videoing me?
My whole body starts to vibrate, the embarrassment making me feel so small and worthless as they all grin widely at me. That’s the problem with having a learning disability. You instantly feel worthless after years of people telling you that you can’t do something or not helping you in the way you need.
Everyone is waiting for me, and I have no clue what the signs say. But everyone else does, leaving me to want to close in on myself and hide. I feel the tears prick my eyes as a guy I don’t know, since I don’t know shit about football or the team, tries to hand me the note.
I don’t take it. “Read it,” I say through clenched teeth, trying to hold back my tears.
He pauses, his brows pulling together tightly, but he does as I ask. “I have a ticket for my family’s box waiting for you at will call. I hope you can come to my game tomorrow.”
I swallow thickly, trying so hard to ignore all the people around us, watching and scrutinizing everything I’m doing. I can see the letters. I know they make words. But they may as well be in a different language since I can’t piece them together.
“What do the signs say?” I whisper, and I don’t know why, but compassion fills the dude’s face. He isn’t the normal jock-looking type. He’s smaller than the rest, with dark-rimmed glasses making his eyes shine. He has nice features and beautiful brown eyes. Without looking back, he tells me, “Come watch me play.”
I nod and take the note before I turn so he doesn’t see the tears flowing down my cheeks. The embarrassment is real, it’s overwhelming, and I know I said I wouldn’t give Dawson what he wants, but this can’t go on. Dawson Sinclair is about to feel my wrath. He thought I had balls to flick his nose. Well, he has no clue how big my balls really are—and how soon he’ll be tasting his!
CHAPTER
THIRTEEN
Dawson
The Rowe Report: Episode 1012: Boarded with the Sinclairs.
Jude Sinclair: Does love change your game?
There is a pause.
Jude Sinclair: I think it changes everything.
Claire Sinclair: It does.
Jude Sinclair: I was young, wild, and getting more action off the ice than I was on the ice. I had no intention of changing until a certain redhead caught my eye. One look, one little grin, and I was a goner.
Claire Sinclair: I lost my mom early in life and was thrown on to a bachelor hockey player who had no clue how to raise a teenager. I know he thinks he messed me up by falling for my dance teacher, but instead, he gave me a strong female role model, a person I call daily and love so much. Even watching my uncle fall in love with my aunt didn’t convince me that I’d find my person. I knew they were great together, and I felt loved by both of them, but I didn’t think that was in the cards for me. I think that’s why when Jude came along, I thoughtwe’d just hook up, that he’d never want me because no one did but Phillip and Reese.
Jude Sinclair: Meanwhile, I’m singing sonnets to her and paying my teammates to give her all tens when she tried out for the Bullies’ dance team.
Laughter.
Jude Sinclair: I wanted so badly for her to want more with me, and I swear it was payback for how I treated everyone before her.
Ambrosia Mercer: So you fought for her?
Jude Sinclair: Absolutely. My parents were in the middle of a nasty divorce, and I didn’t want to lean on my family because we were all going through the same thing. I didn’t want to add to their pain with my own, but I knew Claire wouldn’t give me the time of day if I didn’t show her I was more than my reputation.
Ambrosia Mercer: Did his past bother you?
