“Easy,” Cage whispered as I got in the back seat.
He made his way around to the other side, exchanging a few words with Flint that I couldn’t hear, and then got in next to me. Camera flashes sparkled in the night as Flint pulled away from the curb.
“Your truck is at your house.”
Cage didn’t respond.
“Your team lost. Bennigan threw five picks, two that led to touchdown conversions.”
Still no response, but the grip he had on my leg tightened a fraction with Flint’s words. I looked over at Cage, but he kept his eyes trained to the window, watching the road pass by.
When we pulled up in front of Cage’s house, he helped me out and led me toward the door without a word or glance in Flint’s direction. I stopped.
Cage narrowed his brow. “You okay?”
I turned, pulling away from his protective arms and walked back to the car where Flint still stood by the driver’s door. Flint shared the same confused expression as Cage had.
I looked up. “Thank you,” I whispered as best I could, but not loud enough for Cage to hear.
Flint just stared at me for a few moments then nodded once.
As I walked back toward Cage, I could see the look of betrayal in his eyes, but he didn’t say anything.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
ALL THE WRONG WORDS
The strawthat broke the camel’s back wasn’t just a clichéd saying. There was truth to it.Oneseemed insignificant until it was the one that was one too many. My relationship with Cage felt invincible, until all of our ones began to multiply.
He didn’t quit. In fact his coaches and the whole team supported his decision to miss the game to be with me even though they did lose. Cage said it wasn’t the worst thing ever. A lot of pressure came with being undefeated. He said they were able to refocus on the bigger goal instead of worrying about the loss that could take away their undefeated record.
I only half-believed him. Nobody liked to lose.
Jamie went from embarrassing male nanny to brute hero in both Everson’s and Cage’s eyes. The guy ended up taking out four drunks all from the opposing team’s fans—another bonus—before the police had him in handcuffs. Jamie still had a court date scheduled, but he was out of jail and Cage’s attorney said getting the charges dropped would be a chip shot.
Flint Hopkins got his job back after I insisted Cage forgive him. I knew it was hard for Cage because he wasn’t there, but I would never forget watching Flint save Shayna. He would have to do something far worse than suggest Cage play instead of go to the hospital for me to justify Cage firing him.
My parents stayed through Thanksgiving. I felt it was overkill for a sutured lip and a couple of missing teeth, but I kept that to myself because football players didn’t get the holidays off. Their presence took the edge off only getting to see Cage for a few short hours on Thanksgiving. Those few hours were heartbreaking. Cage confessed it was the anniversary of his father’s death. I found it hard to be thankful that day.
Thad was fine going solo to our scheduled interviews. I’m sure he was secretly thrilled to not have to deal with my personal drama. Me? I watched my face go through a rainbow of colors as my lip healed. The day I got my implants was the best day ever. It was easy to take teeth for granted until the two most prominent ones got busted out. Not pretty, and talk about feeling insecure… I didn’t feel that insecure when I woke up missing part of my leg.
Crazy.
Lake:CHAPTER TEN– Hope I’m allowed to declare the beginning of new chapters too!
Lake:Cheese!
I sent a photo of my new smile as I left the prosthodontist’s office. Cage was busy. I knew and fully understood that, but he didn’t reply at all, not even a smiley face.
“Seriously, who doesn’t have time to push the damn smiley emoji?”
Penny chuckled as I refilled her glass of red wine. We watched the early December flurries dance in the air from the grand wall of windows in Cage’s dining room overlooking his deep wooded lot.
“I can ask this because I’m a woman so you can’t get mad at me, okay?”
“What?”
“Are you having your period?”
