11. Logan
Jaxonand I had been texting each other a few times a day for the last week. How he was flirty through something as emotionless as a text beat me. I tried to remain calm and keep up the easy banter, but the truth was on the tip of my tongue, and I was afraid if we spent any amount of time together, I’d spill my secret, or I’d fall for him.
We were supposed to be meeting in an hour for a ‘friend date,’ as he called it. My heart skipped a beat when he called it a date but then, it sunk just as quickly when he corrected himself. I blamed the pregnancy hormones because there wasn’t any part of me that was ready to jump into a serious relationship, and anything with Jaxon would be real.
Dating him would be a horrible idea, especially with the baby coming, and I had to keep reminding myself of that. If I found out he was everything I didn’t want in a man, and then I had to raise this child with him, I’d struggle, but even worse, if I found out he was perfect and the only connection I would have was our child, I’d be miserable.
He first wanted to meet for coffee, and right now, the smell of it was making me sick, and I didn’t think I could sit in a cafe and stomach the smell while trying to have a serious conversation. If he had asked me three months ago to meet for coffee, I would have jumped at the idea. Cozy cafés were my favorite.
Mexican was off the table, too. Last time I went for tacos with Scarlett, I had nearly thrown up at the table. Pizza was safe—plus, who didn’t like a good ole greasy, cheese pizza?
My stomach grumbled at the thought of food. I hadn’t had time for my morning snack. Between doctor appointments and collecting my things from the school, I had been running all morning.
Pressing my hand to my stomach, I spoke softly to my little baby, “Are you hungry, little one?” At my appointment this morning, my doctor told me I should start to feel movement, and if I wanted, I could find out the gender.
I declined. I didn’t need to know—not without the father there with me. I just wanted this baby to be healthy. The gender didn’t matter.
Getting into my car, I immediately locked the doors, turned it on, and blast the heat. Winter had come early this year.
Connecting my phone to the car”s Bluetooth, I saw a missed text from Jaxon.
Jaxon
Practice finished early. Are you available now?
Logan
Sure. Where do you want to go?
Jaxon
Gianni’s in twenty?
Logan
See you there.
Taking a deep, calming breath, I glanced down at my small stomach, still struggling to believe I was pregnant.
“We’re going to see your daddy. Your daddy that doesn’t want to date or know about you.”
Shifting the car into drive, I quickly got onto the highway and headed for the outskirts of the city. Gianni’s had the best pizza in all of Atlanta. Everyone knew that, which meant it was going to be hard to find a table at lunchtime on a Friday.
Somehow, I found a parallel park at the entrance of the small, Italian restaurant. Exiting the car, I just barely managed to dodge a car whizzing by too fast, the wind blowing my hair in disarray.
“Logan!” Jaxon’s deep voice shouted from nearby, and suddenly, he was at my back, putting himself between me and the traffic.
He protected me as we edge around my car until we were safely on the sidewalk. I took a steadying breath. He’s a good man.
“I thought you were gonna get taken out there.” He ran a distressed hand through his dark hair, and I watched the muscles in his arm as he moved.
“I should have been looking; I didn’t think,” I said, walking through the glass door that he was holding open for me. He led me to a booth in the corner, his hand at the small of my back. I wasn’t sure if butterflies were wreaking havoc in my stomach or if it was our baby moving, or if I was imagining everything.
He waited for me to sit before sliding into the booth across from me. He glanced around the busy restaurant while I took my sunglasses off and rested them on the corner of the table. He signaled the waiter, asking for menus.
A minute later, a young girl was back, holding two glasses of water, a small metal basket with bread rolls with garlic dipping sauce, and two menus. He thanked her, avoiding her gaze when it lingered a moment too long.
“Are you—” she started to ask, and immediately, he looks at her, shaking his head.
“Please, I’m here having lunch with a friend. I’ll sign anything you want; just keep it quiet.” Her cheeks flamed and she nodded.
“I’m so sorry. My younger brother is a huge fan. He’s been following you for a while. He’s on a little league team.” Looking at her now, I noticed she was a teenager. Her brother must be very young.
“Bring me a napkin, and I’ll send him a note. I appreciate all my fans.” She nodded and practically ran to the counter, where she grabbed a napkin and then held out her pen for Jaxon. “His name?”
I watched as he wrote a message on a cheap napkin for someone he didn’t know. My heart melted as he signed it off, wishing the boy the best in his career.
“Thank you, Mr. Dexter. What can I get you two to drink?”
We were both content with the water, so she promised to come back in a few minutes to take our order.
“I’m sorry about that. I’m still learning how to handle it.” He didn’t look at me, instead choosing to focus on the very small menu.
“I think you did just fine. No judgment coming from me.” He glanced up, a small smirk tugging at his lips.
“So, what are you in the mood for?”
“I’m happy with a plain old cheese.” He shook his head and looked around.
“From here? No way. You have to try the Hawaiian.” I cringed.
“You like pineapple on your pizza?”
“You don’t?” He laughed, heat creeping up his neck.
“Never tried it. Can’t say I like any fruit warm.”
“Okay, how about half cheese and half Hawaiian? We can get the best of both worlds.” I nodded, pushing the menu to the end of the table, and rested my head on my hand, trying my hardest not to blatantly ogle him.
He was too damn handsome for his own good, and if I stared into his eyes any longer, I was going to tell him everything in the middle of this pizzeria. Wouldn’t that just be classy?
Jaxon placed our order and then gulped down his water. “So, why don’t you tell me about that ex of yours? He sure is a piece of work. Not to be rude, but what the hell were you thinkin’, datin’ him?”
I sipped on my water, thinking about the right answer. What was I doing with him?
“I have anxiety, so I make lists, and I made a list of my goals before thirty. Called it my ten-year plan.” I watched him, looking for any hint of humor in his expression but saw none. “I dated around in college, couldn’t seem to find someone worth settling with, and then, I watched my best friend fall in love and got worried.”
“So, you settled for his sorry ass,” he added, seeing exactly where I was going with this.
“You could say that. Things were good in the beginning. I saw my future in him, so I moved in, and then shit hit the fan one month at a time. Slowly, I became more of someone to keep his up image instead of someone to share a life with.” I played with the wrapper of my straw, rolling it up and then unwinding it and repeating the process.
“So, he used you?” I shrugged, but he shook his head. “The team has a strict no tolerance for a bad image. We have to sign a contract that states we won’t be seen partyin’, no strin’ of women—it goes on. He used you to keep his spot on the team.”
I didn’t know that.
Richard didn’t share a lot about his life, so neither did I. He knew my parents were dead and that I had no one to look out for me, so he took advantage.
“I didn’t know,” I said as the young girl from before put a metal stand on the table, and then someone put a huge pizza on it.
“Let me know if you two need anything.” She waited a beat and then scurried off when Jax nodded at her.
“Coach wants me to take over his position, but the team manager likes him for some reason. Not sure why, but I have to beat him at his own game to get him off the team. “
“The team manager is his cousin. That’s how he got on the team in the first place. He’s only there for the money. He hates the sport.” Now, that secret, I did know.
He paused mid-chew, eyes going large. He swallowed quickly just as I was about to have a bite.
“Did you know that’s also against the team policy?”
“What?” I hesitated, holding the pizza in front of my mouth.
“Being related to the manager.” A flicker of excitement gleamed in his eyes.
“No. I don’t know much about the team. I just went to the games in support. My best friend’s husband loves the sport, so I get him in with my special tickets.”
He nodded, and we polished off the pizza in a few minutes. He managed to convince me to try the Hawaiian, and surprisingly, it did taste good, but I didn’t have more than one piece.
The young girl brought us one bill once we finished, and I reached for it, but he handed her his card. Just like that, she was gone again.
“Hey, it was my turn to pay for the pizza.” I referenced our first shared pizza, and he shook his head.
“Sorry. No can do, sweetheart. In the south, we’re raised to take care of women, even if they are friends.” I flushed under his heated gaze, seeing the desire pooling in his eyes as I cross my arms under my chest, pushing up my already swollen boobs up, giving him a nice view of my cleavage.
When the girl came back, she thanked him for the autograph again, wished him luck on the season, and thanked us for coming to her restaurant. “You two are really cute together. I hope to see you two again.” I opened my mouth to correct her, but Jaxon just smiled and thanked her, promising to return soon.
He helped me stand, once again placing his hand on the small of my back, and opened the door for me. I was afraid I was going to stumble if he kept this up, and that would be embarrassing. This was certainly not something I’d ever experienced before, and he was going to ruin me for any other man.
Outside, he led me over to a metal bench and gestured for me to join him. Sitting down, he scanned the area and then joined me, his jean-clad leg brushing against mine, warmth seeping into me, and desire setting my blood on fire.
“So, I know we started this whole friendship with other intentions.” He was looking up at the blue sky. “But I’d like to really be your friend, Logan. Without Luke here,” I was reminded of his friend from the bar that night, “I’m just lost, and I could really benefit from havin’ someone I trust in my life.”
“I’m not sure if I could come to the games and risk seeing Richard. I had to sneak into our apartment to get my things. I’m not sure how ugly he will get in public.” I played with the chain of my necklace, the one my mother gave me.
“Did he hurt you?” His voice broke, and I quickly shake my head.
“Not physically—verbally, and emotionally. And I don’t want him to drag your reputation through the mud if you’re seen with me.”
“Don’t worry about me, sweetheart. I’m a big boy. I can take care of myself.” He puffed out his chest, but I bit my lip and shook my head.
“Really, Jax,” I put my hand on his forearm, and his gaze immediately darted down to where we were touching, “you’re just starting out your career with the Braves. Don’t let some girl you don’t know ruin it.”
He placed his big hand over mine, the calluses on his palm rubbing against the top of my hand. “I don’t care about the media. And I’m not scared of that asshole. I want to get to know you. I don’t want you to be just some girl I don’t know.”
“Why?” I swallowed, trying to keep my emotions at bay.
“There’s somethin’ about you, Logan. You keep drawin’ me in. You’re a goddamn siren, and I’m not ignorin’ your song anymore.”
Swoon.
Breathe. Inhale. Exhale.
Jaxon Dexter was stealing the breath straight from my lungs.
“And sweetheart, I need a big damn favor.” I nodded, not trusting my voice. “Will you be my date to my brother’s weddin’?”
What?!