She let out a sigh. “I just missed you.”
“I missed you, too.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in even closer. “That can’t be why you’re going to cry though. Tell me.” He led her to the couch where he sat down and pulled her onto his lap. She snuggled in close, causing his heart to melt.
“I just had a rough conversation with coach on the way home from the airport. She was mad that I turned down a job to be with you.”
Job? When did that happen? Jake had to shake his head from confusion.
“Wait, what?”
“Texas University offered me a coaching job but I said I didn’t want it because I was going to be with you. Coach didn’t agree with that decision and gave me a hard time. When I saw you at the door just now it just brought that conversation back to mind.”
Jake didn’t know what to say. She turned down a job to be with him. He never even thought of Lexi getting a job, he just assumed he would support her. He didn’t really want her working anyway, he wanted her to be able to relax and enjoy herself.
“Do you want a job?” Jake asked a little hesitant to hear the answer.
She looked at him. “Well, I guess wherever you end up I’ll try to find something.”
“But do you want to work? You know you don’t have to.”
“Jake, I need a job how else am I going to afford anything.”
Jake laughed at the absurdity of her comment. “Babe, I’ll have plenty of money to cover whatever you need.”
She was genuinely shocked by his statement which made him love her even more. She wasn’t expecting to be supported by him like any other woman would have. She actually thought she was going to get a job so she could earn her keep. He laughed again.
“I’m not just going to be a freeloader.” She crossed her arms in defiance.
“You’re not a freeloader, you’re my girlfriend and I want to support you. I don’t want you to have to work. I want you at my side, cheering me on and visiting me while I’m on the road. Now how are you going to do that if you’re working a nine to five job? No, you’re all mine, my personal assistant.”
Lexi smiled and lined his jaw with her finger. “And what exactly are the job requirements as your personal assistant?”
Jake looked up to the ceiling and thought about her question for a second before answering. “Well, I guess you would be required to sleep naked, with me of course, provide me pleasure when I need it and allow me to touch you whenever I need to. Of course, the occasional shared shower and rub down would be necessary.”
She playfully swatted his chest and got off his lap. “You’re disgusting. I’m not going to be your sex slave.”
“I didn’t say anything about sex.” He said with a grin.
She shot him a look that said “Nice try buddy.”
“Can I at least get the sleeping naked thing?”
Undressing, she ripped off her shirt and pants, exposing her cute ass and amazing breasts and walked toward the bathroom. “I’ll give you occasional shared showers which starts now so you better cash in.”
As he chased her into the bathroom, he thought about how grateful he was that they were both on the same page when it came to their future and she wasn’t getting swayed by her overbearing coach. If Lexi ever changed her mind about what their plans for after graduation, Jake wouldn’t know what to do. He had the ring all picked out for her and was already planning how he was going to propose. Everything just needed to go as planned so he could secure the future he never knew he wanted but knew now he couldn’t live without.
***
Lexi woke up to knocking on her bedroom door. She lifted her head and looked over at Jake who was sound asleep. She hated how he was such a heavy sleeper but she loved how he looked when he was sleeping. His jaw was lined with some morning stubble and his hair was all askew in a bad boy kind of way. His bare chest was screaming for her to be touched but instead she reluctantly got out of bed to answer her door. She threw her robe on so she didn’t flash whoever was asking for entrance and opened the door. Margo stood in the doorway, her hair half in a ponytail half not and she had sleepy eyes.
“You have a visitor.” Came a groggily morning voice.
Over Margo’s shoulder, Lexi saw her mother sitting on the couch. Panic instantly set in and Lexi didn’t know what to do.
She leaned into Margo and asked, “What is she doing here, how did she get in?”
Margo leaned in ever further. “I was making coffee and she knocked on the front door. I thought it was ok to let her in since she is your mother. Now stop being ridiculous and go give her a hug, she looks good.”
Margo was right, her mom did look good. Lexi tightened her robe and packed on the courage she needed to face her mother. It’s not that she didn’t want to see her mom it was she didn’t want to see her mom if she decided to go back to her dad. Lexi couldn’t handle it if her mom was here to tell her she was back with her dad. Also she wasn’t quite ready for her mom to meet Jake.
“Hey Mom, what a surprise. What are you doing here?”
“Can’t I come to see my daughter without being questioned?” She pulled Lexi into a hug and held on longer than usual.
“You look good mom, have you lost weight?”
Her mom did a little spin in the middle of the room while plastering a big smile on her face. “I’ve lost fifteen pounds and counting, thank you for noticing.”
“Wow, that’s great.” There was an awkward moment of silence between them because Lexi wanted to ask what she was really doing here but couldn’t muster the courage. She wanted to know if her mom was going back to her dad. Instead of being a grown up, Lexi just looked down at the floor and played with the carpet with her foot.
“I’m not going back to him.” As if her mom could read Lexi’s mind. Lexi shot her head straight up to look at her mom. She was completely genuine with her statement which made Lexi want to jump for joy.
“You sure, Mom?”
Her mom nodded. “Yes, I came here to celebrate.”
“Celebrate what?” The question came from a low sexy male voice. Both Lexi and her mom turned around to see Jake bare chested, wearing a pair of sweats and rubbing his eyes. Lexi turned to face her mom who looked as startled as a mother could be when they saw an almost naked man walk out of their daughter’s bedroom in the morning.
Completely oblivious for a second, Jake finally took in the situation and processed who Lexi’s early morning visitor was. He smiled, walked over to Lexi and wrapped an arm around her waist while holding out his other hand.
“You must be Mrs. Knox. Now I know where Lexi gets her good looks.”
Lexi’s mom blushed, actually blushed and shook Jake’s hand. “Please call me Maria and you are?”
Hurt flashed through Jake’s face but he quickly recovered. “I’m Jake Taylor and awfully fond of your daughter here.” He gave her a gentle squeeze. Lexi’s mom looked at her with confusion and slight disapproval. Lexi could tell she didn’t quite approve because her mom always had a crease between her eyes when she wasn’t on the same boat as Lexi. Completely uncomfortable, Lexi shifted in place trying to avoid her mom’s gaze.
“Nice to meet you, Jake.”
The air was much too tense for Lexi’s liking, so she tried to break the tension by bringing the conversation back to why her mom was in her apartment. She cleared her throat. “So mom, what are we celebrating?”
Her mom looked between the two of them and grabbed her purse that was on the coach. “I can see that I interrupted something here, I can come back later when you two are more…decent.”
Lexi had never felt more embarrassed in her life. “Mom, please don’t go. Uh Jake was just getting ready to leave.” She elbowed him in the ribs and said, “Weren’t you?”
“No, I wasn’t actually.” Lexi felt her mouth drop to the ground. Where was the easy going Jake that she knew and loved, why was he trying to make things more difficult for her? She tried to give Jake her evil eye but
he wasn’t having any of it. “I actually want to know what we’re celebrating. Maria, please sit down and tell us what brought you here.”
Maria eyed Jake for what seemed like forever and then finally took a seat in a chair opposite of the sofa so Jake and Lexi could sit together. Lexi took a seat and tried to put some distance between her and Jake but he wasn’t having any of that. Instead he scooted closer to her and put his hand on her thigh. Heat radiated up her leg from his light touch and she felt herself go red. She tried to casually shake his hand off but it was as if he glued his hand to the inside of her leg.
Her mom was fixated on Jake’s hand and that was when Lexi realized she was wearing a short robe so she tried to cover up what she might have been showing. She was mortified, not only was Jake in the apartment in the morning, but he was making a huge production of them being together in front of her mom. Her mom never saw Lexi with a guy so this was a new experience for everyone.
Jake cut through the silence. “So you were going to tell us what we are celebrating this morning.”
Maria shifted her gaze back up to Lexi, stuck her chin up and said, “This may seem strange to you…Jake, but I filed for divorce today.” She looked at Lexi. “I’m moving on.”
Finally her mom was freeing herself of a terrible past. Lexi felt like shooting to the roof to do a happy dance. Lexi was about to say something when Jake cut her off. “Maria, that’s great.” He got up and scooped her up in a big bear hug. “Good for you.”
“I beg your pardon?” Maria said. She shot daggers at Lexi. “You told him?” Lexi twisted her hands in her lap and tried to avoid eye contact with her mother. “I don’t even know this boy and you tell him about your family secrets? I can’t believe you would go and tell some nobody about my life. How dare you.” By now Jake had let go of Lexi’s mom and was standing to the side watching Maria attack Lexi.
Lexi could barely move she felt so paralyzed. She stole a quick glance at Jake who had hurt written all over his face and then looked at her mom who was fuming with fury. This was not the morning she envisioned. A beep went off in the kitchen which beckoned Margo into the room. Margo stopped mid stride and looked at the extremely uncomfortable situation playing out in the living room.
“Uh, coffee anyone?” Margo asked, trying to ease the tension. Jake went over to the kitchen, grabbed a mug and poured himself a giant cup.
“Look at me Lexi.” Maria said. Lexi looked up at her mom and wondered when she became so tough. “Were you going to tell me about how you’re a floozy and sleeping with random men?”
Mortification was not a good enough word for what Lexi was feeling at the current moment. Anger steeped her body. She was angry at Margo for letting her mom in the apartment in the first place. She was angry at Jake for not going with her lead and leaving her alone with her mom and she was angry at her mom for talking so poorly about her and Jake. Lexi finally found her words and snapped.
“Just one man, Mom. I’m not the floozy you might think I am. I’ve been seeing Jake for months now and we’re in love. I didn’t tell you because frankly I didn’t want him to meet you. Not when you walk around with bruises and black eyes as if nothing is wrong. Didn’t you wonder why I never came home?”
“Lexi…” Her mom said in a tight voice but Lexi didn’t stop.
“I’m happy for you Mom, I really am. I’m glad you have finally faced your demons and left dad but don’t you dare come into my home and start calling me names and making my friend and boyfriend uncomfortable because you’re insecure.”
Lexi glanced over at Margo and Jake who were both leaning against the counter in the kitchen with coffee mugs perched against their mouths and their eyes practically bulging out of their sockets.
Her mom looked at Jake and Margo and then Lexi. She put her head in her hand and said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so insulting.” She gestured toward Jake and Margo. “Please come sit down. I want to get to know you.”
Margo grabbed a box of doughnuts off the counter and Jake poured two more mugs of coffee and they spent the morning talking to Lexi’s mom. Jake told her all about football and the Scouting Combine, Maria looked impressed that Lexi could land such a man. Margo talked about her animal shelter and the fund raiser she was currently working on part time, of course. Lexi just sat back and watched her two lives mesh as one. After Lexi’s outburst, Maria calmed down and intently listened to all their stories.
Finally Jake looked at the clock and grimaced. He turned to Lexi. “I have to go. I have a meeting with my coach.”
“On a Sunday?” Lexi asked.
“Yea, sorry.” He gave her a quick peck on the lips and got up to grab his stuff from her bedroom. Margo picked up the coffee mugs and the empty box of doughnuts.
“I have to go to. I need to get in the shower and then head down to the shelter. Maria, it was good to see you again.” Margo gave her a quick hug and vanished into her room.
Jake appeared back in the living room, this time wearing a shirt and he had his backpack strapped to his back. Lexi sighed as she watched him approach her. She could never get enough of this man. He waved bye to Maria as Lexi walked him to the door. She blocked off her mom so Lexi could have a semi-private moment with Jake before he left.
“When will you be back?” She asked while grabbing at his shirt.
He stepped away and said, “Uh, don’t know. I might just stay at my place because I have a lot of things I need to catch up on.”
Lexi felt her gut twist. He was pulling away. She spoke to him in a low whisper. She didn’t want her mom seeing her getting in some kind of tiff with her boyfriend.
“Jake, are you mad at me?”
Jake ran his hand over his face. “Now’s not the time, Lexi.”
A cold wind passed between them. Jake had never acted so cold toward her, she didn’t know how to react so she turned into a blubbering girl.
She grabbed his arm and pulled him closer. “I’m sorry if I upset you. Please don’t be angry.”
He reclaimed his arm and pulled out his car keys from his pocket. “I got to go, I will call you later. Let your mom know I had a nice time.”
Lexi felt tears start to well up in her face so she went after him in the parking lot.
“Jake, wait.” He stopped in his tracks but did not turn around. “Please don’t be mad. I’m sorry.”
He turned toward her. “Do you even know what you’re sorry for?” Lexi felt her mouth go dry. She couldn’t even answer because she was so taken back by the hurt that was pouring out of him. “That’s what I thought.” He opened his car door and got in, before he shut the door he said, “Go back inside, you’re practically naked.” Then he slammed the door and drove off, without a good bye kiss or even a hug. Lexi had never felt so torn before in her life. She knew why Jake was mad, he was mad because her mom had no clue who he was. They were planning on living together after college and she never even mentioned him to her parents.
Lexi quickly wiped away the tears from her face so her mom wouldn’t see her at such a weak state and walked quickly back to her apartment so no one saw her in her robe that kept blowing open in the breeze.
When Lexi got back to her apartment her mom was standing right next to the door. She most likely watched the entire encounter with Jake. When Lexi shut the door and faced her mom she knew her mom heard everything from the look on her face.
“Lexi, I need to talk to you.”
“Not now Mom.”
Her mom had a tone in her voice that Lexi never heard before, it was strong and demanding. “Now Lexi. Sit down.”
Lexi took a seat on the couch and her mom sat next to her. Lexi wished it was Jake again who was sitting next to her.
“Lexi, tell me what you plan on doing after you graduate.”
Completely exasperated, she should have expected such a question. It was the million dollar question these days. Lexi didn’t want to be having this conversation right now, she wanted to be chasing after Jake and making sure e
verything was ok between them.
“I don’t want to talk about this right now.” She tried to get up but her mom stopped her.
“Well you’re going to young lady. You need to have a future.”
“I do!” Lexi shouted. “But that future just walked out of here pissed at me because I was too ashamed to bring him home and tell you about him.”
Lexi saw the hurt flash through her mom’s eyes but instead of backing off her mom rolled with Lexi’s punches. “So Jake is your future?”
“Yes of course, Mom. I love him.”
“Well of course you do dear.” Her mom was talking in a soothing voice now that made Lexi remember the days of when she was a little girl and her mom would tell her stories about princesses being rescued by their handsome prince when she was braiding her hair. “But when Jake is off playing football, what are you going to do?”
Lexi shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ll find something. Jake doesn’t really want me working. He said he wants me to be able to relax and he is going to support us.”
Lexi’s mom patted her hand and shook her head. “Don’t do it sweetie. Don’t do what I did at your age.”
“And what is that, Mom?”
“Don’t fall for a man that is promising you the world. That is what I did.” Lexi was about to interrupt her but her mom held up her hand. “Please let me finish. I’m sure Jake is a great guy and would never do what your father has done to me but that is beside the point. I let your father take over my life, I let him decide what I was going to do and it left me with nothing. I’m fifty five and just starting to gain work experience. Don’t let that be you. Don’t make the same mistakes I did. You need to find yourself first before you attach yourself to such a strong alpha of a male.”
“But Jake would never leave me.”
“Honey, I know it may seem like that and you might be right. He might never leave you but what if he did? Where would you be? You would end up exactly where I am, working an entry level job living with a friend just trying to make ends meet. Make something of yourself first sweetie. If Jake loves you the way I think he does then he will let you find your way. And if he is a decent man at all, he will help you find the path you’re meant to take. Don’t settle to be a trophy wife, you’re better than that. You’re stronger than I ever was and there is a future out there for you, a bright one. Go out and seize it.”
Fair Catch (Love and Sports Series) Page 23
