Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
~HENDRIX~
“You just hit my fucking boss!” I cry out as August storms out of the bar.
“What the fuck, man!” Dex yells out. He’s certainly pissed that his friend got punched by my brother. I don’t necessarily blame him.
Ash looks at me, shocked. “Are you seriously surprised that I punched him? He’s fucking lucky that I didn’t do it sooner.”
I stare at him, my mouth gaping. “That is all you have to say for yourself?”
“He’s not going to fire you or take this out on you. I can promise you that,” Dex says, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.
I look over at him. “Are you sure?” Panic rises deep in my chest; first I underperform at the game and now my brother basically assaults him. We have two other goalies on the roster, goalies whose family members didn’t assault the owner.
“You and I both know that is the least of his worries.” Dex’s eyes are wide; he’s studying me carefully like he can’t believe that I haven’t picked up on it yet.
And then it hits me.
He knows.
August must have told Dex that we slept together. A small blush creeps up my cheeks and suddenly I feel hot with embarrassment.
“Hen, it’s okay. Maybe it’s just time to call it a night,” Mac says, coming up beside me.
“Yeah, we can all hang out another time,” Cassie chimes in.
“Sorry, guys, I didn’t mean to put a damper on the night. I just...” The words die on Ash’s tongue. He shrugs and crosses his arms over his chest. “The guy just bugs me.”
“Noticed that,” Jase replies. “I think it’ll be fine. It’s been a weird couple of days. We should probably call it a night because the girls have practice in the morning.”
“We sure do,” Mac says, reaching over and grabbing Danny’s hand. “Are you ready?”
“Yes, darling,” Danny says, leaning in and kissing her on the top of the head. “It was good to hang out with you, Ash. Hopefully we’ll get to do it again sometime.”
Ash nods. “Yeah, that would be great.” He breathes out a long breath and looks over at me, at least having the decency to look ashamed. “I’ll behave next time.”
“You bet you will,” I grit out.
That earns me a laugh from Amelia. “It’ll be alright, you’ve cursed August out worse and he hasn’t kicked you off yet. Tomorrow, it’ll be like it never happened.”
I look over at Dex, who clearly has not let it go.
His arms are crossed and his mouth is drawn in a hard line.
“Sure, I’m sure everything will be just fine.
” He shakes his head. “It was how many years ago, dude? He gave your sister a job and cuts her a lot of slack. He deserves a bit more from you.” Ash gets ready to say something, but Dex holds up his hand.
“I mean it, dude. That food you ate in his press box and the booze you drank was on the house. And I’m sure that you didn’t pay for your ticket either.
August also has bought the last couple of rounds that we drank, so maybe, just maybe, he is owed a bit more gratitude from you. ”
Amelia hobbles over and grabs him by the arm, “Dex, honey, I think it’s time that we went home. Come on, we can stay at your place and check on him if you want to.”
“Let’s give him space tonight, tomorrow we can make sure he’s alright.” Dex’s face softens when we looks at Amelia. “Let me go to the booth and get your bag.”
The rest of the group is just looking at the floor. I sigh, motioning for Ash to come with me, “Come on, Rocky, let’s get you out of here.”
“Does that mean you’re finding humor in what I did?” Ash asks me, hopefully.
“Don’t push it,” I say, shaking my head.
Ash nods. “Okay, I get it. I can apologize to the guy if you would like me to.”
“I think you better stay away from him,” I reply.
We all file out of the bar slowly. I hug the girls and say my goodbyes to Jase, Danny and Dex. Ash waves sheepishly, having the good sense to look embarrassed.
Ash unlocks his Audi and I slide into the passenger seat. As soon as he’s in and buckled, I punch his shoulder. Hard.
“What the fuck was that for?” he exclaims, grabbing his shoulder and rubbing the spot where I just hit him.
“What the fuck do you think it is for? You fucking hit my boss! He’s going to kill me.” I shoot him a death glare, but he just laughs at me.
“He’s fucking lucky that’s all I did to him, Hen.” He chuckles and hits the button to start his car and begins to drive out of the parking lot. “I would have loved to knock his ass flat and pummel him a bit more. But I didn’t do that, now did I?”
I shake my head. “So, all that ‘I’m sorry’ to my friends? What was that for, a show?” I seethe.
“It wasn’t for a show,” he explains as he navigates the quick drive back to my apartment. “I did feel bad that I ruined their night. But I am not sorry that I punched him, Hen.”
I shake my head and punch him in the leg.
“What the fuck! I’m driving here, and you are going to make us crash.
” He rubs the spot on this leg. “Relax, apparently, you’re not always so kind when you talk to him.
Which should have gotten you fired but it hasn’t.
No harm, no foul.” There’s a hint of finality in his tone.
I know what that means—he’s all done talking about it.
When Ash digs in, no amount of yelling at him or convincing him will do.
He’s an arrogant asshole like that. I sit there and try to figure out how I can talk to August without anyone knowing.
I want to know that he’s alright. I leave my phone in my purse because he would know exactly who I was texting if I started typing.
“I was only trying to protect you and defend your honor a bit for the way he took advantage of you in the locker room the other night,” he says while turning into the apartment complex. “It’ll be fine. But if it makes you feel any better, I’ll apologize to him the next time I see him.”
“You bet you will,” I say, hopping out of his car as soon as he puts it in park.
Thankfully, he parked next to mine, so I begin rummaging in my purse for the keys.
“Where are you going?” Ash asks, watching from the other side of the car.
“For a drive,” I say, hoping he doesn’t see right through it.
“You’re going to see him,” he calls my bluff.
“I am not going to see him, Ash. I am pissed at you right now, so I need some space from you before I say something I’m going to regret,” I fire back at him.
He nods. “Fine, do what you have to do. But riddle me this: are you pissed at me because I hit your boss? Or are you pissed at me because I hit him?”
“What difference does it make?”
“Uh-huh,” he says, shaking his head. “Even you can’t be this stupid.”
“I don’t know what you are referring to, but I am not being stupid.”
“Sure, you aren’t. But go ahead and go. Do whatever it is you want to do right now. But don’t say I didn’t warn you—this is a bad idea,” he cautions.
“I’m not doing anything that I can’t handle,” I tell him, jutting my chin out in defiance.
“Suit yourself. I just don’t want to hear it when he shows you once again who he really is.” With that, Ash turns on his heel and heads into my apartment, whistling as he goes.
Sighing, I unlock my car and speed off in the direction of August’s apartment.
Hendrix: Can I see you?
I shoot the text after I’m parked out in front of his building. I got lucky and there was a spot right outside. I decide that it’s a good sign and that I was meant to come here.
August: Your brother is not with you, is he?
Hendrix: No, he’s back at my apartment.
August: Come on up.
I head into the building and smile at his doorman as I start to make my way past him.
“Are you heading up to see Mr. Cromwell, hun?” he asks me.
I smile at him. “Yes, sir, I am.”
“Oh please, hun, ‘sir’ is my father, please call me Max,” he tells me.
Max looks like he could be my grandfather.
I decide immediately that I like him. His soft blue eyes and grey fluffy hair make him look sweet.
I wonder why he’s still working. Does he do it for paycheck or is he just looking for some light conversation with tenants and their guests as they wait for the elevator?
“It’s nice to meet you, Max. I’m Hendrix.” I say, holding my hand out.
He shakes my hand lightly. “Are you named after Jimi Hendrix?”
I chuckle. I’ve been asked that question so many times. “I don’t think so, Max. I think my father wanted a son and had my name picked out before I was born, so I was stuck with it,” I glib.
“Is that really why?” he says, chuckling. “Because I’m pretty sure they had those machines that told you the sex of the baby before the delivery room.”
I laugh along with him. “Yeah, I think my mom enjoyed listening to Jimi Hendrix. Hell, she may have had a thing for him. That’s how I think I got this name.”
Max nods. “I like it.”
“Thanks, Max.” The elevator dings and I step into it. “Try and stay out of trouble,” I tease him.
“Oh, Miss Hendrix, you are heading up to see Mr. Cromwell. You are the one who needs to stay out of trouble.”
I place my foot in the path of the door so that it doesn’t close. “I think I’ll be alright since I don’t plan on staying.”
He shakes his head. “They usually don’t stay the night, Miss Hendrix.”
“I see,” I reply, moving my foot. “Don’t worry, we’re not like that.”
“It’s a shame. I like you, Hendrix,” he says as the door closes fully.
“Great, I’m just like all of the others,” I say as the elevator makes its way to the top floor, where August is waiting for me.
When the door opens, I see him sitting on the couch, holding something to his face.
“Don’t get up on my account,” I say as I make my way into the living room.
“I just got punched. I might be delirious; I’m not a hundred percent sure that you’re actually here. Maybe this is a mirage.” His eyes track me as I cross the room. “Come here and let me take your clothes off so I can see if you are real.”
I laugh out loud. “That will not be happening tonight.”