“Of course.” I nod quickly. “Just let me know what you need from me.”
“Basically, be ready to get the hell out of there. The minute I get a reasonable offer from another team, we’re gone.” He pauses, reaching down to lift my chin with two fingers, forcing me to look at him. “The thing is—it’s not always immediate. It could take weeks for a trade to go through. You have to trust me and be patient because we may not be able to see much of each other while I try to work things out.”
“I trust you,” I say softly. “You do what you have to do, and I’ll be ready to go the second you say so.”
“I’ll update you on what’s happening.”
“Okay.”
He stares at me with those beautiful blue eyes I love so much and then drops his lips to mine. I kiss him back almost desperately, anxious to bask in his warmth and touch, because it may have to last a while.
“I’ll call you soon, baby.” He takes one of my hands and brings it to his lips, kissing the back of it, the inside of my wrist, and then my fingers.
There’s a brief hesitation, as he continues to stare into my eyes, like he wants to say something else, but then he winks, backs out of the bathroom, and is gone.
I thought sure he would tell me he loves me, but he didn’t, and despite what I said, I’m a little worried.
I get home late. Kelly took me to dinner and let me vent for a while before driving me home. She offered to help me with learning to drive since I’m probably not going to be able to use West or Bodi in the near future, which will be helpful. She’s also offered to pick me up on the days I go in early. She’s become a good friend and I’m really grateful for her.
The light is on in my father’s den and though my goal is to slip past unnoticed, he’s with Lourdes and I can’t help but pause just outside the door.
“…you have to keep her away from Bodi and his sister! God only knows what Rome has told them about me. And us.” Lourdes sounds upset. “Youknowhow much he hates me.”
“I’m doing my best!” Dad huffs. “But you cheated on him—what do you expect?”
“I cheated on him withyou. So, what Iexpectis for you to protect me.
“Lourdes, I spend half my life doing nothing else. At some point, enough has to be enough. Enough with the spending, enough with the lies, and enough with the drama. If I can’t focus on the team, we’re not going to have shit.”
“You have your little hero-worshipping Blaze telling you everything going on, so we’re in good shape other than this Jayne situation. Can’t we just ship her off to graduate school somewhere in Europe? Keep her the hell away from what we have going on here? If she finds out about the money we stole…” Her voice trails and I press myself against the wall, heart hammering as I try to wrap my head around what she just said.
“Who’s going to pay for her to live in Europe?” he demands. “I know you have trouble with this concept, but I’m not made of money, Lourdes.”
“Which is why I’m doing interior design.” She says it like it’s a given.
“So far, I haven’t seen any money coming in from that.”
“I have to build a portfolio! You know that.”
“What I know is that I can’t keep going the way I’ve been. Someone is going to find out and if I can’t repay?—”
“Hugh. Honey. Relax.” Her voice turns sweet and sugary, dropping to a breathy whisper that I can’t hear.
Ew.
I hear my dad rumble out a laugh, more muttering I can’t decipher, and I’m pretty sure they’re making out.
Gross.
I can’t stay here another second and I quickly turn, and the floor creaks beneath my feet.
“Jayne? Is that you?” my dad calls out.
I slip out of my shoes as quietly as I can so I can pad across the marble tile and up the stairs without him hearing me.
I’m not sure what I just heard, but information is power.
If he and Lourdes stole money—I truly can’t wrap my head around that information.
