Page 65 of Undeniable Love
“Nah. I’m just gonna head home. Lucy’s flying in tomorrow morning, and I need to make sure I’m not in a foul mood when she gets here.”
“Lucy’s coming in?” Travis asked from his other side. “Is this serious? Does Ty know?”
Shit.
Raking a hand through his hair, he kept walking. “No, he doesn’t know, and we’re not telling him until we know this is really…you know…something.”
Beside him, Travis snickered. “Nice. So you get to mess around with your best friend’s hot little sister with no guilt. I’m impressed.”
Dropping his duffel bag, he turned and shoved his friend.
Hard.
“Dude! What the hell?” Travis snapped.
“Don’t you ever talk about Lucy like that! Understand?” He took one step back before advancing on Travis again. “It’s not like that, so just shut the hell up!” This time when he stepped back, he scooped up his bag and stormed off toward his truck. It wasn’t until he was yanking the door open that he realized Declan was standing there with him. “What? Do you have something to say too?”
Declan was the more even-tempered of their little trio and his smile was a bit on the serene side. “So this is something,” he stated casually.
There was no reason to pretend like he didn’t know what he meant. “Yeah,” he admitted. “I mean…I want it to be, but I have a feeling I’m the only one.”
“Why?”
Shrugging, he tossed the duffel into the truck. “Just a hunch. I know she’s interested and we have a great time together, but sometimes it just feels like I’m way more invested.” Muttering a curse, he shook his head. “It’s probably just my imagination. I’m distracted and being pulled in so many directions that I barely know my own name anymore.”
All Declan did was nod for a moment. “We’re all disappointed about the game, but all of us failed. You’re coming off an injury, you’re dealing with the camp, thinking about retirement, and now…Lucy. Cut yourself some slack.”
“Maybe.” He hated how much he sounded like he was whining. “Thanks, Dec. I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but…I’m gonna go.” Then he glanced across the parking lot and watched as Travis drove off. “I’m not apologizing for that, though.”
With a snort of laughter, Declan replied, “Yeah, you will, because you’re not a dick. Go home and try to relax and enjoy your weekend with Lucy. Although…I’ll see you at practice Saturday.”
“Yup. I almost can’t wait for the season to be over.”
Declan turned and started to walk away. “That’s definitely a sign that you’re leaning more toward retiring, buddy. Think about it.”
Jax knew he would be.
Along with this stupid loss, the camp, arguing with Travis, and where things are with Lucy. With another curse, he climbed into his truck and headed home.
Lucy came that weekend and it had been amazing.
They had gone out to eat Friday night, but the rest of the time they spent alone at his place basically enjoying the hell out of each other. Sunday had come far too soon and when he drove her to the airport, he knew it would be another two weeks before they saw each other. He was the one going to her because he wanted to see how the camp property was coming along and he didn’t want Lucy to be the only one traveling.
The downside to that plan was that there was no way for him to be in South Creek without word traveling that he was there. And that wasn’t ego talking; it was a simple fact. As much as he wanted to spend all of his time there with Lucy, it just wasn’t possible. So he had lunch with his mother when he arrived on Friday—and then lied by telling her he was only there for the day—then went and walked the property with his team that afternoon before meeting Tyler for a drink at the pub. As much as he hated lying, he felt like it was the only option. No one questioned him or made him feel guilty when he said he needed to get back to the airport because he had practice the next day.
The reality was that he was meeting Lucy at a beachside resort about an hour away.
They had argued lightly about the whole thing, but ultimately they agreed that he couldn’t stay at her place. The resort on the Outer Banks was fairly private and he was able to snag them the Presidential Suite with two balconies—one facing the ocean and the other facing the sound. There were wild horses close to the hotel and honestly, he was looking forward to seeing them and having Lucy all to himself.
It had been harder to convince her than he thought it would be.
When he pulled up to the resort, it was almost six in the evening and it was an hour later than he had planned. Ty had been a little chatty and—to be honest—he’d lost track of time. He knew he was going to have to really turn on the charm and perhaps grovel a bit to make up for being late. He should have called or texted, but he’d been in such a hurry that he had forgotten.
Stepping into the lobby, he figured he’d just have to ask for the room and go meet her, but he found her sitting alone in a chair in the corner.
“Hey,” he said softly as he walked over to greet her. “You didn’t have to wait down here for me. I thought we’d meet up in the room.”
“Well, we would have, except you needed to be here to check us in,” she said tightly, standing up and meeting his gaze. “I got here an hour ago, Jax. Just like we agreed. I felt like an idiot when they wouldn’t let me check us in.” Then she glared toward the desk. “And that snooty little bitch at the desk saw your name and thought I was some kind of groupie trying to get into your room, so…”