“We locked the door,” I say, shrugging.
“Oh, well, thank god for small favors.” Dex laughs again and then leans forward. “So, tell me something, what does all this mean? Why are you cornering her in locker rooms so that you two can fuck? Or taking her home from the bar to make love to her? Letting her brother take shots at you that you haven’t earned so that, what, she sees you as a good man? Or are you just hoping that if you grovel enough and eat enough crow that you will in fact one day get the girl?”
I take a long sip of Scotch, almost draining the glass. “What if I’m sick and tired of being the one who goes home with the bimbos? What if I’m tired of them leaving and then feeling so damned empty inside? I don’t want to constantly disconnect anymore. I want something real and raw like I had all those years ago. Is that so wrong?”
Dex looks at me, really looks at me, and then shakes his head. “No, it’s not. But you are forgetting one thing, dear August. You have to have a consenting party to this little fantasy that you aretalking about. And while she may just be having your back in front of big brother, there is no way that she will come back to you. The woman is really good at hating you, or pretending to hate you.”
“You think she hates me?” I ask.
“Based on the way that she takes you down in public. That’s why I think that.” He takes a sip of his own drink and looks at me. “But you let her, which has told me for so long that you are still carrying that torch for her. And the one thing that I know about torches is thatifthey get knocked over, they tend to burn down the whole damn world.”
I nod. “I know.”
“Your father—,” Dex starts to say. I hold my hand up, silencing him.
“I know he will not approve of this thing I am doing. It’s not a good look. She’s a member of the team that I own. How can anyone think she has any merit if she’s sleeping with the owner of the team,” I say, shrugging. “Expect that she has been nicknamed by the papers as ‘The Wall’ and I think she has proven herself time and time again. So, half of that shouldn’t matter.”
“You’re really trying to do this, aren’t you?”
I shrug again. “I think I just might be.”
“You are a stupid, stupid man,” Dex tells me. “But I like it. I like this stupid decision because at least this one has a brain in her head and also is not a bubbly blonde who just wants you for your money.”
“What do I do?” I ask him. And I actually mean it. I need to figure out how to get some time with her when we don’t end up naked or half naked. I need her to see me as a man. An actual person who she would like to spend her time with.
“It’s going to be tough with the brother who hates your guts hanging around.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, he really does. I wonder why he hates me so much.”
“You made his sister cry. Wouldn’t you do the same thing if someone hurt Drew that way?”
I laugh. “No, I wouldn’t because Drew doesn’t date and I’m pretty sure that anyone he would date would be someone that Maxwell approved of, so he wouldn’t have been forced to give her up.”
Dex nods. “Yeah, that is true. Drew always did know how to play the game better than you do.”
“I want to live my life,” I remind him. “So, you haven’t answered my question yet. What do I do?”
“Hendrix hates you and she is a woman with integrity. She isn’t going to trust a grand gesture. She’ll only trust consistency. The first thing that you need to do is move quietly. Show up when you say you will and stop taking her clothes off. Stop bringing up old arguments and do not demand her forgiveness. This is the time for you to prove that you are not the same guy.” He watches me carefully while I digest his words.
“She’s seen me take home how many women?”
“Well, that stops, August. Go home and beat off all night long if you have to. But stop taking home the parade of women in front of her face. While she may not say it, it hurts her. You need to stop doing that.”
I nod vigorously. “What else?”
He sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. “You have to start listening to her when she is talking. Stop coming up with your defense. You have no defense.” I go to say something, but he stops me. “Show her that you see her pain. And then step back, don’t chase her and let her choose to come to you. Her noticing that you are different is going to be the turning point.” He drains his drink and leans back before asking, “Are able to do that?”
I nod. “I think I am.”
“Good,” he says, standing up and patting me on the back. “I’ve got to get back to Amelia. But August, I’m going to tell you that this makes me proud of you. You are trying to right a wrong and take back the only woman you have ever loved. That makes me proud.”
I grin up at him. “Thanks. I just hope I can do this.”
“You can and you will. Now head on home alone,” he says, chuckling.
“Yes, mother.”
He punches my shoulder. “Fuck you,” he says, flipping me off as he walks away.
