Chapter1
Paxton
Isat up in bed, and my head felt heavy in my hands—and not just because of the hangover from last night’s pity-party after I attended Naomi and Adam’s baby shower.
My teammate and mentor, Lennon Cruz, appeared in my doorway, as if conjured by magic.
“You stayed here?” I croaked.
I had a large house—four bedrooms, a media room, home gym—in the same neighborhood as a few of the other Wildcatters players. I kept two of the additional bedrooms stocked for a needy teammate or friend, but half the house sat unused. Sad.
“Yeah, man. Was worried about you,” Cruz said.
If I hadn’t broken up with Hana, like a damn fool, three years ago, maybe we’d have a kid in one of those unused rooms. My headache bloomed into a painful thrum as I conjured the sound of laughter bouncing off the walls.
“Thanks,” I told him. I owed Cruz about twenty favors.
“OJ and painkillers on the nightstand. Down ’em and hop in the shower.”
“Why?” I asked.
He raised an eyebrow. “We’re going to California.”
“W-what?”
“Because you can’t keep putting this off.”
“What?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.
“Hana.”
“What do you know about Hana?”
“You mean besides the sob-fest version from last night?”
“Icriedabout her?” My dry eyes disliked me widening them, but I was too shocked to control the reaction.
“On my shoulder.” Cruz patted his thick pec. “And not just about her—about your parents after I wondered why you were spending the holidays alone.”
“I wasn’t alone; I went with you to your family’s Thanksgiving.” Where I’d eaten the best tamales ever. Mama Cruz might be a tall, languid woman, but she turned into a three-star general in her kitchen.
“Here’s the name of the startup Hana’s working for.” Cruz let the paper flutter to my nightstand next to the glass of juice and pills.
“You know where she’s working? That seems like…stalking.”
Cruz scoffed. “Like I’d ever stalk a woman.”
“So then how did you get the information in like, seven hours?”
“We’ll talk about that on the plane.”
“No,” I said. “We’ll talk about it now.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You told me the story about Hana on your birthday.”
“I did? That was months ago!”
“Nearly a year now. You were all pitiful after seeing Maxim with Ida Jane.”
