by K. G. Reuss
“For god’s sake, where are you going, Owens?” Coach shouted at my back as I raced off.
“My wife is sick. She needs me.” It was the only answer I gave as I departed. I didn’t care what it cost to change my flight. I’d pay it.
Lexy’s body felt like an inferno. I moved my hand from her forehead and frowned down at her. Her hair was matted to her head. Her skin was pale and damp. She looked way thinner than when I’d seen her last.
“Ava?” I called out, poking my head out of Lexy’s room.
“Yeah?” She moved down the hall toward me.
“Do you have a thermometer?”
“I don’t, but Lex might in her medicine cabinet.” She moved past me and went to Lexy’s bathroom where she rummaged around before coming back to the room. I was at Lexy’s side again, frowning. She looked horrible.
“Here.” She handed me the thermometer. It was the sort that you pushed a button and could scan the forehead for a temp. I did it and frowned deeper at the hundred and three temperature on the screen.
“Can you get me a cool rag?”
Ava was in and out of the bathroom in moments with both a cool rag and a glass of water and two pills.
I placed the rag on Lexy’s forehead.
“Sweetheart?” I called out softly to her.
She didn’t make any acknowledgement of my words, so I tried again. She finally stirred, and her eyelids fluttered open.
“Hey, honey pot.”
“Why are you here?” she mumbled.
I tried not to get offended at her words, but they fucking sucked. Maybe I’d read the drunken night wrong. Wouldn’t be the first time I’d done that.
“You’re sick. Can you sit up and drink this water?” It wasn’t really a question because I lifted her into a sitting position and pressed the glass to her lips. She drank greedily. I took the cup back to put the medicine into her mouth before pressing the glass back to her pale lips. She finished the entire glass before snuggling against me.
“You’re going to get sick if you stay,” Ava said. “Championship game is coming up.”
“I don’t care,” I murmured, holding Lexy tight. “She needs me.”
Ava smiled and shook her head. “Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
She left the room, leaving me alone with Lexy. I nestled her against me and adjusted the washcloth on her forehead as she slept.
And that’s where I stayed all night, tending to her. I held her hair when she threw up and kissed her forehead when she shivered. I held her hand in mine as she whimpered in her sleep, but not once did I leave her side that night.
By morning, her fever broke. I untangled myself from her and grabbed a quick shower before going into the kitchen. I hadn’t slept, far too worried about her to relax long enough.
I rustled around in the cupboards as Ava watched me from her perch at the kitchen island.
“What are you doing?”
“Making Lexy some soup.”
“Really?”
“Yeah,” I muttered, pulling out everything I’d need. I was grateful Lexy enjoyed cooking because if I had to rely on Ava, it would’ve been a meal of pretzels and microwave mac ‘n cheese.
“You really do love her, don’t you?” Ava asked softly.
“With everything I am,” I answered, leaning forward on the counter. “I just want her back, Ava.”
Ava was on her feet, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug. “You’ll get her back.”
I squeezed her back, my hold tight as I tried to fight off my tears. I hated being such a pussy, but it was what it was. “You sure?”
“I really hope so. She doesn’t say much nowadays.” She pulled away from me and went back to her seat.
I pulled myself together and started working on the soup. Within the hour, the delicious smell of my mom’s chicken soup hung in the air.
“She started the divorce process.”
“I know.”
“I told her I wasn’t going to give her a divorce.”
“Good.” Ava shifted in her seat. “Make her work for it.”
I laughed. “I will.”
My phone buzzed, and I let out a sigh. Someone had let the damn goat back into the frat house, and this time it had busted two TVs.
“I’ve gotta go. Brandon let the fucking goat back into the house,” I said, holding up my phone.
Ava nodded. “Yeah, Alex just sent me a picture.” She held up her phone with the photo of the goat chewing on a textbook. My textbook.
“Mother fucker. I’ve gotta go. Make sure Lexy eats. And tell her the ball is still in her court.”
“I will. Go save the world, tiger,” Ava called out with a giggle as I left the apartment.
I shot a quick text to Mason and Alex about the goat situation before stopping myself from sending one to Lexy.
We’d get there. A plan was beginning to work its way through my brain. If it didn’t work, I’d sign the damn papers.
That was why I needed to make damn sure it would work.
Seventy-One
Lexy
I breathed in deeply as I lay in bed with my eyes closed. Travis’s cologne surrounded me. Fearing it was just a dream, I kept my eyes shuttered and inhaled again.
Definitely Travis.
But how? He was in New Orleans for his game.
“Travis?” I called out softly, my heart skipping a beat in my chest as I waited for an answer. When his deep voice didn’t call out to me and when his warm touch didn’t meet my body, I let out a sad sigh and forced my eyes open.
He wasn’t there. But I knew he wouldn’t be. Why would he? I’d been blowing him off and being a complete pain in the ass to him. I’d gotten drunk, tried to have sex with him, and basically told him it was over all in one sentence.
Good grief, I was a mess.
I sat up and rubbed my eyes. My body felt like it had been hit by a truck and then dragged down a bumpy backroad. My head still hurt a bit too. That flu bug hit me like a ton of bricks and took my feet out from under me.
When I should’ve been in New Orleans watching Travis and Alex play the biggest game of their lives so far, I was hugging the toilet in my apartment. I felt horrible for missing the game. Travis had spent the money on the tickets for me to go. He probably thought I was just blowing him off again.
I got out of bed, feeling like the biggest piece of shit ever, and took a shower. When I opened my bedroom door, the smell of something delicious met my nose.
“Are you cooking?” I glanced at Ava who sat on the couch, thumbing through her social media.
“Nope. Travis was.”
I froze in my tracks and looked around, wondering if he was hiding somewhere.
“You can chill. He left about thirty minutes ago.”
“So he was here?” I moved to the couch and sank down next to her.
“Boy, was he.” She chuckled, grinning at me. “You don’t remember?”
I frowned and shook my head.
“He took care of you. He played like shit. Like literal shit. He got sacked. Threw some interceptions. And still managed to score the winning touchdown before racing off the field to come to you. He’s in the news.” She thumbed through her phone before handing it to me.
I stared down at the video of Travis rushing off the field and listened to the confusion in the sportscasters’ voices as they tried to make sense of his poor game after his Heisman win. They speculated on his recent social media status of being single and talked about the stress of the game. And they all commented about his disappearing act after the game.
“He got on the first plane back after Alex told him you were sick. He burst into the damn apartment like a white knight and took care of you all night. He left this morning because Brandon set another goat loose in the frat house. I really didn’t think he was going to leave, but he made you soup and took off. I put it in the fridge.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat and glanced back at the frozen image of Travis’s touchdown on the
screen.
“I miss him,” I whispered.
“I know, sweetie. You should call him and work this all out.”
I shook my head. “No. I-I really think it needs to be bigger than that. I’m such an idiot.”
“Did you die and see the light while you were sick? Did Saint Peter tell you at the pearly gates you’re being ridiculous?” Ava giggled.
Laughter bubbled out of me. “I guess maybe Travis is my angel. But I’ve screwed everything up.”
“You haven’t. Cancel the divorce shit. Call him. Fuck his brains out. Stay married. It’s pretty easy, Lex.”
“You’re so blunt.” I chuckled. “But I owe him more than that.”
“You mean, you need a grand gesture that’ll blow his mind?” She grinned, a devious glint in her eyes. “I like how you think, Owens. I think I might have some ideas.”
“Really?”
“Oh, yeah. Tell you what. I have to meet with Alex tonight. You think on it. I’ll think on it. We’ll get together tomorrow and discuss. For now, go rest. You’re still recovering from being sick. We don’t need a damn relapse. And I don’t want to get sick.”
I grinned and got to my feet. “I’ll have some of his soup and then leave you to your wild social media.”
She laughed and went back to her scrolling as I went to the kitchen and warmed up my soup. Once I had it done, I took it to my bedroom where my eyes practically rolled back in my head because it was so delicious.
Feeling brave, I pulled out my phone and sent a message to Travis.
Lexy: Thank you for taking care of me and for the soup.
He replied almost immediately.
Travis: You’re welcome. Are you feeling better?
Lexy: I am. I’m sorry I missed the game.
Travis: It’s fine.
I frowned down at the message before sending out mine. It was a photo of me in bed, smiling. I looked like shit, but I was alive, thanks to him.
Travis: Always beautiful. I hate to rush off, but I have goat clean up. Then we’re going out to celebrate our win. I’ve gotta go.
Lexy: OK. I guess I’ll talk to you later.
He didn’t reply. Sighing, I tossed my phone aside. So he came when I was sick and took care of me, but now he was acting strange. Like he didn’t want to be bothered with me. Aloof. Almost like how he was before we started whatever it was we started.
I punched my pillow, frustrated at the thought. When I closed my eyes, I sent up a silent prayer that I hadn’t pushed him too far away.
I slept away most of the day, without hearing from Travis again. It wasn’t until the following morning when I woke up and checked my social media that my heart plummeted. There were loads of photos posted of him hanging out with friends. There were tons of women around him as he smiled in the images.
“What’s this?” I asked Ava as I stomped to the living room and shoved my phone in her face.
She stared down at it and chuckled. “He’s playing a new game, sis.”
“What?”
“The guys told him to be unavailable to you. Alex told me. He wasn’t supposed to but, well, Alex is your brother, and he knows I’d be pissed if he didn’t spill the beans.”
“Explain.” I flopped down in my chair at the table as she took a bite of her cereal.
“Alex said the plan is for Travis to appear uninterested in you in the hopes it brings you back to him. It’s childish really, but funny that he’d risk it all on the advice of his frat brothers.”
“What an idiot,” I snarled.
“Lex, can you blame him? He loves you. I’ve been thinking… Just go to him and tell him. Make it simple. The championship game is only a few days away. He’ll play his heart out if he knows he has you to impress.”
“No.” I shook my head. “If he wants to play games, let’s play them.”
“Oh man,” she groaned. “What are we doing?”
“We’re going out…after we get our tickets to the game and flights booked.”
Ava’s eyes lit up. “Want me to call Rory?”
“Damn right. Let’s take these boys down.”
“Even Alex?”
“Well, no, but I think he’d appreciate your ass looking all fine.”
She giggled. “Yeah, he would. He said they’re going to Rocko’s for pizza and pool tonight.”
“Then guess where we’re going?” I waggled my brows at her.
“You play dirty, Lex.”
“So does he.” I got to my feet, ready to take down the great Travis Owens. For once, I really felt optimistic about winning the game we always played with one another.
Seventy-Two
Travis
It killed me not to message Lexy back once she’d finally reached out and seemed willing to talk. But I’d agreed to play the cool guy who could let go as a means to get her back. At least that was what Brandon, Jay, and Mason suggested. So last night, I’d gone out and had fun, but I couldn’t get her off my mind. I’d smiled and played the part of a happy dude, complete with photos of the festivities.
And she hadn’t even sent me a middle finger emoji. My panic was real.
“Dude, chill. Maybe she hasn’t seen them,” Brandon said as we walked into Rocko’s later that night.
“I’m sure she has. Ava reacted with a laughing face on all of them,” I muttered.
Rocko’s was full. We managed to grab a table in the back. When our server came over, we ordered a couple large pies and a pitcher of beer.
“Alex, what’s up with your sister?” Jay demanded. “Can’t you tell her this guy loves her so we can all be happy again? His mopey ass kills my mood.”
I rolled my eyes at Jay as Alex chuckled.
“I told her.”
“And?” Mason pressed. I leaned forward, awaiting the wisdom of a Hale twin.
He shrugged. “She’s a big girl. She’ll figure it out.”
“Ah, what good are you?” Brandon grumbled, pouring himself a glass of beer from the pitcher the waitress just delivered.
Alex laughed it off. Before long, we were full of pizza and beer. We moved onto playing pool.
“If I sink this shot, Brandon, you owe me twenty bucks,” I called out. He groaned. It was the third game he’d lost tonight. I bent low to aim and kept talking shit as I sank my ball. No one responded. I stopped what I was doing and looked up because it was her. I knew it fucking was. I felt it the moment my friends went silent.
“Holy fucking shit,” Jay murmured.
I stood up slowly and turned to see Lexy striding toward us, Ava and Rory in tow. A tight, black dress rode high on her thighs. Black high heeled boots gave her another few inches in height. Her hair cascaded around her in wild, red waves. The plunging neckline of her dress had my cock twitching to life in my pants. And her lips… Fucking plump and red.
I rubbed my chest as I stared at her approach. Jealousy coursed through me as guys turned to watch her pass.
She stopped next to Jay and smiled at everyone.
“I play the winner,” she called out like she hadn’t just upended my entire world.
“Uh, that would be Travis,” Mason said, a shit-eating grin on his face.
Rory poked his side, which only caused him to smirk wider and plant a kiss on the top of her head.
“Nice,” Jay chuckled.
Alex draped his arm around Ava’s shoulders and winked at me.
“Bastard,” I muttered before turning to Lexy and giving her a smile. “You don’t play pool.”
“I do tonight.” She batted her long lashes at me and took Brandon’s pool stick. “How much are we playing for? Twenty? Thirty?”
I smirked at her.
“More?”
“How about a kiss?” I called out. “In front of everyone. Ava takes a picture, and I get to post it on my social media.”
I saw her hesitate, so I did the only thing I knew how to do.
“Challenge?”
She narrowed her eyes at me.
“A
ccepted.”
Everyone tittered and catcalled, which only made me grin.
“You have to kiss me like you mean it if I win.”
“And if I win?” She raised a brow at me.
“You won’t.”
“Eat shit, Owens,” she snapped at me. “What do I get if I win?”
I couldn’t stop the smirk that spilled onto my lips. There she was. My girl was back.
“What do you want?”
“You pay for my plane ticket and seat at the championship game.” She shot a smirk back at me. It was my turn to hesitate. If I didn’t pay for her ticket, I knew she wouldn’t go. Now that I knew her attendance was possible, I needed her there. But I wanted to kiss her so bad it hurt. I probably couldn’t even buy tickets this close to game day. But I could take my parents’ tickets if push came to shove. It would suck not having them there. But I’d rather have Lexy if that was an option. But a kiss right now…
Fuck.
“Deal.” I nodded and turned to our friends. “You heard the terms.”
“You’re going to be a helluva lot poorer in about thirty minutes,” Jay whooped, clapping me on the back.
“Let her win,” Mason said as he leaned in to talk to me. He handed me a different pool cue.
“I can’t. She’ll know if I let her. Plus, she sucks at pool.”
Mason sighed and clapped me on the back before backing away.
I cast a quick glance at her and caught the silver glint of her wedding ring on her finger. My heart nearly tumbled out of my mouth. She’d taken it off after the incident in the library, but tonight, it graced her delicate finger. I hadn’t removed mine, so seeing hers made butterflies soar through me.
“Bring your A game, Owens,” I called out, winking at her.
“It’s the only game I have,” she retorted.
I watched as she leaned down, her beautiful cleavage on display for me, and proceeded to break the balls. She immediately sank two solids.
“Nice!” Alex shouted, clapping.
I rolled my eyes. Of course, he’d be on her side.
I took my shot and got a stripe in. Before I could celebrate, I missed my next shot. The game continued that way until we were down to the eight ball. I had no idea she could play pool. It was a pleasant surprise that may cost me a kiss. Or seeing her at the game. I knew she’d tell me to eat shit if I bought her a ticket if I won.
