Chapter 18
Trinity
“How are you liking Canyon?” Jodie asked as I pushed my food around on my plate.
It wasn’t the food. The food was delicious. Well, the three bites I took were, but seeing my father interact with his family suddenly erased my appetite. In its place was longing, a little insecurity, and a simmering anger.
Jodie was nice. We’d met once before, but this was the first actual conversation I’d had with her. She was trying, and I could tell she sensed the obvious awkward atmosphere just as much as I did. Let’s be honest, the woman was closer to my age than my father’s.
“I like it.” I returned a smile as one of the twins giggled before tugging on the other one’s hair.
Henley and Harrison were five years old, and I had to admit, two of the cutest little boys I’d ever seen. They had bright blond hair and bright green eyes. They weren’t identical, but it was no mistaking that they shared a womb.
“She’s really catching on with Julia.” My father reached over to cut up the chicken on Henley’s plate.
The movement was so natural. Like he did it all the time.
I didn’t remember a single time he did that for me.
Come to think of it, I didn’t really remember a time when he was at our dinner table.
But here he was, in his castle of a house, kissing his young, beautiful wife on the cheek and making his sons’ plates.
“Julia is great.” Jodie sipped her sparkling water. “And she even looks fabulous that far along in her pregnancy.” She chuckled. “I looked like a beached whale.”
“You did not.” My dad winked at her. “You were glowing.”
I shifted uncomfortably. Maybe I should have eased into dinner. Maybe a coffee date first.
“So.” My dad moved his attention back to me. “Any idea what your plan is after graduation?”
Clearing my throat, I dropped my fork. “Obviously, I’d love to work with a team. I’m not set on just one sport, so I’m keeping my options open.”
“Smart girl.” He nodded. “Did you prefer one sport over another growing up?”
The fact he just asked me that brought back the same unease. I was supposed to be putting in effort. So I answered.
“I played volleyball, basketball, and ran track. I’d say track was my favorite.”
“Athletic like your old man.” He smiled. “We do a 5k every year for a charity event. You should join us this spring.”
“Oh yes! That would be so much fun.” Jodie beamed before shifting her eyes to Harrison, who tossed a green bean at his brother.
“Sure,” I agreed with a weak smile.
I was sure my mother would love that.
“Can we show Trinity our playroom?” Henley practically bounced in his seat.
“Ohh pleaaaaaase,” Harrison chimed in.
I couldn’t help but grin. I mean, who wouldn’t with those faces?
“Finish your vegetables, then she’s all yours,” Jodie ordered.
After all the vegetables had been eaten, I accompanied the twins to the playroom, which was more like a mini trampoline park.
Clearly, these boys had everything they’d ever dreamed of.
They had a home. Selfishly, though, the inner child in me wanted to say it wasn’t fair, but it wasn’t their fault.
I’d never under any circumstances want a child to feel the emptiness that I did.
When my legs felt like they would fall off after an hour of crack the egg, I said my goodbyes and drove the thirty minutes back to my house. My modest shelter looked like a peasant’s dwelling compared to their three-hundred-acre ranch.
Shaking the thought, I shifted the car in park. It was my last evening off. I started working at Laces Out tomorrow night. Busy was good. It gave me less time to think about my neighbor, whose truck wasn’t in his driveway.
And I hated that it bothered me.
My hair was damp, my brush moving through the last few tangles when a knock sounded at my door. I frowned before sliding on my slippers and crossed the living room. I wasn’t expecting any visitors and it was already almost eight.
Swinging the door open, I froze when I saw who stood on my porch. Jagged Ross.
“Umm, what are you doing here?” I asked, glancing out into the dark behind him.
He held up a debit card between his fingers. “Seems like they got our cards mixed up last night.”
It took me a second to see my name printed on the gold card. “So I have yours?”
“I sure hope so.” He laughed.
“Come on in.” I waved a hand.
I did have manners. I wasn’t going to make him stand outside while I went to find my purse.
“One sec.” I pointed at him. “Stay here.”
He held up his hands in surrender. “I won’t move a muscle.”
Finding my purse, I quickly retrieved my wallet and sifted through the unnecessary receipts before I found it. A gold card. With Jagger’s name on it.
“Sorry about that,” I said as I reentered the living room.
He kept his word. He hadn’t moved.
“What are the odds.” He smirked as we swapped cards.
“Yeah.” I moved past him, heading for the door. Last thing I wanted was him thinking that he could stay. “I’m sure it happens all the time.”
He swaggered across the room, sporting a Cougars shirt a size too small and black athletic shorts. “Glad you got to see me.”
I rolled my eyes so hard I evoked a headache.
Holding open my door, I narrowed my eyes. “Have a good night, Jagger.”
“Sweet dreams,” he murmured before he crossed the threshold.
He was barely over the welcome mat before I slammed the door. The fact he now knew where I lived didn’t make me feel any better. Good thing I supposedly had this legit security system. Guess we’d find out.
Padding across the room, I was almost to my bedroom door when a knock sounded again.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I groaned.
Turning on my slippers, I marched back to the door. My hand clasped the knob, yanking it back with a dramatic flair.
“What is it now…”
My words died when I saw the man on my porch. It wasn’t the cocky football player.
It was his coach.
And he looked pissed.