The Player: Dark Enemies to Lovers Sports Romance

Chapter 33

Aaron was my stalker. He… My mind refuses to reconcile this bit of information. Even now, as I sit at the breakfast table with Lennox and five other strangers. The food gets better every time I eat here, and Lennox loves the smiling pancakes.

“Lennox, what do you say we try to take a trip out of town for a few days?”

His unruly curls block his eyes from seeing me until he pushes them out of the way. “With Dad?”

The way he says it with so much hope makes my heart ache. I can’t tell him no, but I also don’t think I can fully truly trust Aaron right now. My mind is telling me that it’s not a good idea to be around him.

“How about me and you, kiddo?”

He frowns at me, and I know I’ve said the wrong thing. “Why not with Dad?”

Gulping, I look at him as people begin to stare at us. “I think you and I need some time away for the weekend. I’ll let you skip school today, and we can go to Dallas for the weekend. We’ll get to see some of your favorite places.”

Shoot, I sound like I’m trying to bribe him. Maybe I am? My heart races as he picks a chocolate chip out of the pancake and pops it into his mouth.

“Is something wrong, Mom?”

Lennox is too smart for me to try and fool him. How do I tell him his father is a psycho and that I’m in love with him but can’t be with him? Not until I get it straight in my head that he won’t hurt either of us. I mean, he killed for me. That says something, right?

My mind is trying so hard to make things right, but I don’t think it will be. Putting on a brave smile, I push my hand through his hair and look into his eyes. “Yes and no. I don’t want to tell you what’s going on because it’s a grown-up thing, but I don’t want you to think I’d lie to you, either.”

Leaning down, I whisper in his ear. “Right now, I need some room to think from your Dad. Can you be my big boy and go with me while I work through it?”

His little arms wrap around me, and my whole world just falls into place. He’s always been my peace. There’s only one other person who has ever made me feel that way, and I’m trying to get away from him.

“Yes, Mom.”

I chuckle. “Thank you, sweetheart. Now finish your breakfast, and we will get out of here.”

“Okay!” He’s excited now that I’ve included him in my little secret mission. How am I going to get past Kaylee, though? She’s here this morning since we stayed the night.

“Hey Aunt Kaylee.” Lennox gets up and hugs her. “Mom and I are going out of town.”

I look away and at my food. Lying to Kaylee would be a sin worse than death to her, so I know I can’t do that. Taking a deep breath as she sits down, I look at her. “My brother did something, didn’t he?”

Giving her a pointed look, I squirm in my chair. “Not exactly. I just need some time to think before things get out of hand.”

Lennox eats the last piece of his pancake, standing up. “Come on, Mom, we should get on the road.”

Eight. My son is eight and acts like an old man. I can’t help but smile at him. “We have plenty of time. It’s only a two-hour drive.”

Kaylee’s phone goes off and she stands. “We aren’t through here.” She points to me and I nod.

When she leaves, I get up and grab my purse off the back of the chair. “Let’s go, Lennox.”

Coward. My brain is screaming at me, telling me to not run, but it seems like it’s the only option I have right now. It’s not. I could stay and face the craziness that Aaron threw my way.

* * *

Sitting at the red light,headed out of town, I don’t expect a phone call, much less a text. But here I am, staring at it.

A-bear

If you think you are leaving, you are sorely mistaken. I’ll hunt your ass down, Sugar Plum.

How the heck does he know? My hands shake as I set the phone back in the console. I can’t let that message stop me.

As I turn right, I look back at Lennox. He’s got an eyebrow raised at me and I feel like a miniature Aaron is staring back at me. “What?”

“You don’t want to leave.”

He looks at me, imploring me to stop moving the car with his eyes. I almost give in, but I turn back around and turn on the music. Everything inside of me is screaming this is wrong. I shouldn’t be taking Lennox away from his father, but I just… I have to get away for myself. To think.

Twenty minutes later, Lennox huffs louder than the music, and I turn it down. “What’s wrong, Lennox?”

For an eight-year-old, he seems to know way too much and acts way too grown. “I want Dad to come with us.”

“I know, kiddo, but he can’t. He has to stay here so that we can have some time together.”

A little voice in my head tells me I’m lying, but I don’t feel like I am. I feel as if I am doing the right thing here.

“Mom, watch out!”

I turn back around in time to see the truck sitting in the middle of the road. I know the truck, and it belongs to Josh. How…how did he know where we were?

Slamming on the breaks, I skid and slide. Thank God for good breaks because the Bronco comes to a stop millimeters from the truck.

The door opens on the driver’s side, and I feel my heart racing wildly. Oh God. How did Josh get away from Bryson and Aaron?

My question is answered the second the driver comes around, and it’s Aaron. From the look on his face, I know I’m in trouble.

“Mom, Dad looks really angry,” Lennox says with a laugh.

Just like Aaron. He always can find humor in everything. Dang it. Bryson gets out, and I know we aren’t going to have a heated discussion in front of both Lennox and Bryson. Thank goodness.

“Get out of the car, Sugar Plum.”

Aaron stands in front of me, not moving. It’s as if he knows I’m a second away from bolting. Bryson walks past the Bronco and stands behind us. I guess it’s too late to leave now. Running over Bryson or Aaron isn’t a choice. Sighing, I look back at Lennox.

“Stay in the car, no matter what.”

“But…”

“No, Lennox. Stay in the car. Your Dad isn’t going to hurt either of us, but we may have a conversation I don’t want you hearing.”

He reluctantly sighs but nods. “Okay, Mom.”

My boy is protective, and I watch him bite his lip to keep from back-talking me. Getting out of the vehicle and shutting the door, I stand there.

“You tried to run, Sugar Plum,” Aaron says as he walks toward me.

“Well, what did you expect?” I stand my ground, not worried that Aaron will hurt me, but worried I’ll fall into his arms. I must stay strong. There’s no way I am all right with him being a killer.