Page 96 of Raging Fires

“Don’t do it, man,” Jake told him in ominous tones.

“And the King of Gloom has spoken,” Asa said.

“I’m just saying,” Jake replied. “Wives remember everything, and they will never let you live it down.”

“Dude, you need to get over it,” Jalyn told him. “Go home, apologize, and get laid. We’ll all be happier.”

Jake rolled his eyes. “I’ve already apologized a hundred times. I told her I was sorry. I can’t make her believe me. She doesn’t trust me. She doesn’t think I’ve changed. It’s like I can’t ever make a mistake or I’m doomed with her. I have to keep proving myself to her over and over.”

“Yeah, well, you kinda do,” Gramps told him mildly.

Jake sat up and glared at him. “You know, Kowalski, you’re a real pain in the butt.”

“I try.” The other man shrugged. “That’s just the way it is. It may be harsh, but when you mess up big time, it takes a lot of not making mistakes to get people to trust you again.”

“I’ve changed,” Jake protested. “I’ve been showing her that this whole time. I’ve been responsible and reliable and mature. I studied the playbook all spring. I haven’t gotten into a single fight—even though I really wanted to punch out that snotty rookie from U-Dub last week.”

“Wish you had,” Jalyn told him. “That guy’s a douche.”

“Yeah,” Asa put in. “He was trying to tell me how to run a route yesterday.”

“Okay. Forget the rookie from U-Dub,” Kowalski said. “We’re talking about Jake’s atonement and redemption here.”

“Are you going to get biblical, ‘cause if so, I’m outta here,” Cherneski told him.

“No. I’m not talking about religion; I’m talking about reality. When you mess up, people don’t trust you. I know. I totally screwed up my freshman year at UT; I was on the edge of getting kicked off the team. And when I told them I was going to straighten up, they didn’t just say, ‘No problem, Justin, we believe you.’ I had to prove it. Not just for a year. Anytime something came up where I might go off the rails, they watched me like a hawk. And Jake, you messed up big time four years ago. You think the coaches and management aren’t keeping an eye on you right now? They are. You can’t expect the woman who divorced your ass to take you back without any distrust.”

“I don’t know if it’s possible to convince her to trust me. I don’t even know if it’s worth it.”

Asa snorted. “Says the man who checks the Blue’s Instagram five times a day.”

“I do not.”

“Oh, right, sorry. Sometimes it’s Twitter or Facebook.”

“I’m telling you, man, just grovel,” Jalyn put in. “Women eat that up. A little jewelry never hurts either.”

“Kelli’s not like that.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Seriously. Kelli’s weird. I used to give her tons of stuff, and she didn’t care.”

“Ah, but were you groveling when you gave it to her?” Jalyn pointed a finger at him. “You can’t just throw a diamond bracelet at her; she’ll say that’s trying to buy her off. You have to tell her what a screw-up you are while you’re giving it to her. Or, you know, give her whatever kind of thing she likes; doesn’t have to be jewelry.”

“That’s true. Knowing what she likes wins you style points,” Neil agreed.

“I don’t know what she likes.”

“Well, that might be your problem right there,” Neil said.

“No, I mean, I know what she likes, but I don’t know anything big or special.”

“When Steph broke up with me, I—”

“Stephanie broke up with you?” Jake interrupted.

“Yeah. Hard to believe anyone would dump a paragon like me, I know.”