Chapter 14 #2
“Nothing. I’ll be fine after I eat and take some more pain meds,” she insists. “I’ll just go heavy on the water today and rest as much as I can. You’ll take care of my classes?” she asks Kylian.
“Already done.”
“Mrs. Lansbury’s off this afternoon,” I remember out loud. Biting down on the inside of my cheek, I consider the options.
“I’ll be fine,” Josephine says through another yawn.
“You’ll have to walk down to the kitchen to eat… and every time you need to refill your water.”
“I have legs, Decker,” Josephine snipes, side-eyeing me.
“But the cameras are already rolling in the main living spaces,” Kylian surmises, connecting the dots.
I pull in a steadying breath. Then scoot closer to Josephine on the bed.
“Siren,” I start. I’ve got to choose my words carefully. Her first instinct will be to say no to my suggestion, but I need her safe. I need her to understand. “We can’t be here with you today. Mrs. Lansbury is off until Friday. You’re going to be home alone.”
She waggles her brows weakly and smirks. “Afraid I’m going to go Kevin McCallister on your room, Cap?”
Kendrick snorts.
This girl.
“I can’t prevent them from filming you or from using footage they capture of you. I think—” I lick my lips as I formulate the words in my head.
This has got to sound more like a suggestion and less like a demand.
“I would feel better if you’d stay in my room while you’re home alone.”
Her brows shoot into her hairline, and her nose scrunches up. With a huff, she opens her mouth, surely ready to argue, but Kylian rests a hand on her hip, garnering her attention and effectively interrupting her.
“I would feel better knowing you’re in Cap’s room, too, baby. It would be less work for me later when I pull footage.”
“They can’t use anything from the master bedroom that doesn’t feature me,” I explain. “Don’t ask me how the hell that of all things is a contractually binding point. I have a suspicion it has to do with my dad and the company he keeps.”
“Oh. Okay.”
Uneasy silence ensues as I look to Kylian, then over to K.
“What?” Josephine asks with a soft laugh. “That makes sense. I’ll camp out in your room. I don’t argue with you just to argue, ya know.”
“Sure, Mama.” Kendrick scoffs lightly. “I’m gonna help Nicky get things set up downstairs. Take it easy today, okay?”
She turns to him silently, expectantly. As if he knows exactly what she wants, he catches her chin with two fingers, tilts her head back, and kisses her on the forehead.
“Love you,” he murmurs when he pulls back. “Be good and text me later.”
“Only if you text me before practice,” she teases, peering up at him with sleepy eyes.
“This seems like an ideal opportunity to remind you all that I have access to everyone’s data and can see when you send alleged ‘thirst trap’ pictures from the locker room.”
“Lucky you,” Kendrick quips as he rises from the bed. “Let’s go, Daddy Genius.”
Josephine laughs in response, though it’s subdued.
Me? I’m frozen in place, unsure of what to make of their exchange.
Deeper connections are developing on the fringes of our group. Friendships are evolving, growing stronger.
As if Josephine fortifies us.
Of the four of us, Kylian and Kendrick have the least in common. They care about each other, even consider one another family, but they’ve never been all that close.
Apparently, that’s changing.
Kylian leans over and whispers in Josephine’s ear. She bites down on her bottom lip as he murmurs words I can’t make out.
When he’s done, he pulls back slightly and wraps one hand around the side of her neck. She cranes up to whisper her response. He groans, then kisses her quickly on the lips before pulling away and leaving the room.
My nerves are already frayed. With a long breath out, I sit up.
I’ve got to get my head on straight so I can face this day.
I can’t shake the feeling that something’s missing, that I’m missing out.
I can’t pinpoint the cause or identify a solution when my mind is swimming with frustration like this.
I need a workout. A few hours in the weight room. Maybe even a stiff drink.
It’s obvious that my boys are gone for this girl. I knew it, but until now, I didn’t understand to what magnitude. The kicker? I am, too. Only we’re not competing on the same level.
They’ve gone pro, while I’m still playing JV. I’m being left behind. I have no one to blame but myself, and yet—
“Hey, Cap?”
“Yes, Siren?”
She rises to her knees so we’re face to face.
“I know you have to get going, too… but do you have one more minute to spare?”
I search her face, taking in the concern behind her blue eyes and her soft smile.
“Are you in pain?”
“Yes” is her response.
I run a hand through my hair and tug on the strands. “Josephine, just lie down. You need—”
“I need a minute with you.”
She doesn’t need a damn thing from me. She needs rest. To keep hydrating. To give the antibiotics time to work and the pain meds a chance to kick in.
“One minute,” she repeats, running her hands over my shoulders, then linking her arms around my neck.
When she presses her lips to mine, it’s like a needle meeting a helium balloon.
There’s a jolt, then an instant, supremely satisfying release of tension. Every worry, every ounce of anxiety and stress I was holding on to, it all releases.
I fight back a groan as I smooth my hands over her hair. I kiss her back, matching her intensity when she starts soft and sweet, then turns more urgent.
The energy between us doesn’t fizzle out as much as we tamp it down, both aware of each passing second, both desperate for just one more moment together.
I let her pull away first. I’ll be damned if, after all this time, I leave her wanting.
More than anything, I want to make her happy. Protect her. Love her. Keep her safe.
How can such base desires feel so convoluted?
I accepted years ago that who I am, what I do, who I’m destined to be, is all too much. It’s overwhelming even for me most days. How could I expect a partner to navigate the pressure, the criticism, and the constant scrutiny I’ve invited into my life?
The guys and I have made it this far despite it all. We’ve figured it out, made it work. Their loyalty has given me hope, possibly false, misguided hope, but hope, nonetheless.
Hope that there’s a future for me that is more than public appearances and highlight reels.
Hope that it could be me and her.
And them.
That we could forge our own path.
That we could make this work, together.
Josephine hooks her chin around my shoulder, locking me in place as she strokes through the hair at my nape.
“I—”
“I know,” she insists. “I just wanted to hold on to you for as long as I could.”
She unwinds her body from mine, but I don’t let her pull away completely.
Hoisting her up in my arms, I hug her tightly: soft, supple breasts push into my pecs; strong, toned legs wrap around my torso.
“Want me to carry you downstairs?” I ask, snagging one more kiss as I readjust her in my arms.
She laughs against my mouth, her spark warming me from the inside.
“I already told you my legs work, Cap. Put me down and get to class.”