CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Zane
Sinking back into my plush lounge chair, I smile reading Blair’s response.
I bet Nathan won’t be fine, and I wish I was a fly on the wall when he finds out.
My belly shakes from chuckling, and while I probably shouldn’t be happy about someone else’s misfortune, in Nathan’s case, I don’t mind.
Maybe Cade’s presence will be the kick in the ass he needs to be a better boyfriend.
But then again…maybe it won’t. Once a douche, always a douche.
Still smiling, I begin typing a response to Blair.
ZANE: Poor Nathan. He
Before I can finish responding, a message comes through from Cade, drawing my attention, and when I read the text, I freeze.
CADE: Blair and the dickwad broke up. I just helped her move out
The fuck? I flick back to Blair’s message exchange and re-read her last text slowly.
B: He’s at practice. But he’ll be fine
No hint of a breakup there.
What are you playing at, B?
Ignoring Cade, I delete my half-typed message and change my response, my fingers pressing the letters much harder than I need to.
ZANE: Maybe I will pay you another visit
Pressing send, I curse and toss my phone across the room, watching it bounce against the cushions of my armchair, falling to the floor with a thud.
They broke up? Blair’s single. And she’s moved out of the douche’s house. I should be happy about that. But now…it’s going to be so much harder to stay away, and I’m not sure she wants me around. In fact, I know she doesn’t.
For the next couple of days, I force myself to focus on football. We have a tough game against Phoenix this weekend, and I’m already on thin ice for missing practice, despite being sick.
Cough.
When game day arrives, I give it my all, and it’s safe to say I play one of the best games of my career. I’m a force. Unstoppable. And for the first time, it feels like I’m truly connecting with my teammates. Like we’re in sync.
Maybe there’s some truth to the whole “your teammates should be like family” bullshit. Not that I’m taking it that far, but I have to admit, they’re growing on me.
Luke’s all smiles when we get back to the locker room, so I take the opportunity to ask him for a favor. Another favor. I’m really taking advantage of this group chat shit.
“I’ve got to go back to LA,” I tell him when he stops by to congratulate me on my killer touchdown. “My friend needs me, and I need you to cover for me.”
His lips curl into a grin, and I almost take it back. Especially when he wraps an arm around my shoulder and gives me a brotherly squeeze. “Tell me the truth about you and this friend.” He uses quote fingers to punctuate his request. “After that, I’ll help.”
I shove him off me. He’s still sweaty from our game, and even if he wasn’t, it’s weird. “Not going to happen, Bennett. You’re going to help me because you love that shit.”
“Really?” He raises a brow, his expression unwavering, and it eats away at my confidence.
“Fuck. Why do you want to know so badly?”
“Call it bonding.” He shrugs and I can’t help but snort.
“Bonding or insurance?”
“Both. And you’re going to oblige. Unless you want to ask Easton to cover for you?”
We both glance over at Easton, his don’t-fuck-with-me gaze more prominent than usual as he throws his phone into his bag.
“Okay, that’s worse.” I sigh, relenting.
“She’s a friend from back in Jacksonville, and she just broke up with her asshole boyfriend.
She only moved to LA because of him, so she doesn’t really have anyone else. ”
“Fuck.” Luke’s face scrunches and he looks genuinely concerned for Blair. “What about her friend that knows Hayley?”
“Jesus, did Reed tell everyone about that?”
“Nope.” Luke chuckles. “Reed’s a vault when he has to be. That was Amelia. She’s Hayley’s best friend, remember?”
“Vaguely.” I frown. “Unlike you, I don’t feel the need to know everyone else’s business. Are you going to help or not?”
“I am.” He grins and it’s a little unnerving. “I’m going to help because you asked. Not enough guys do that these days.”
My frown deepens because what the hell does that mean? Though as curious as I might be, I don’t dare ask. This conversation is over.
“Thanks, man. Just tell Coach I had to fly home early but that I’ll be at practice tomorrow.”
“Will you?” he asks, stopping me as I turn away.
“Honestly, I don’t know. But I have plenty of cash. I’ll pay the fine.”
“I don’t think it’s about the fine.”
“Would you go for Amelia?” I challenge him, already knowing the answer but needing to give him perspective.
“Fuck, yeah, I would. I’d go anywhere for her.”
“Well, there you go.”
He nods and falls silent for a beat, giving me the chance to casually sneak away, but before I’ve taken a step, his laughter fills the air. “Friend, my ass. Go get her, Fitzpatrick.”
I roll my eyes but I can’t hide the small smirk that tugs on my lips. She’s not going to like it, but that’s exactly what I plan on doing.
My flight from Phoenix to LA is longer than the advertised hour and thirty minutes, and despite our four p.m. game, it’s getting late in the evening, making me jittery. Turning up to see Blair unannounced is one thing, but doing it when she’s likely getting ready for bed is another thing entirely.
But I’m ready for her anger, frustration, pain, whatever she wants to throw at me. She’s single now, and there has to be a reason for that. Here’s hoping she doesn’t kick me out the second she sees me at the door.
As soon as the wheels of the Boeing 737 touch down on the tarmac, I have my phone in my hand, instantly texting Jenna. She helped me once; I’m praying she’ll do it again.
ZANE: I’m in LA. Do you know where I can find Blair?
Jenna: She’s at my apartment. I’ll send you the address. But Zane. If you hurt her, you better sleep with one eye open and a hand over your balls
Her quick response makes me smile but... Jesus. My hand drops to my crotch, and I break out in a full-body shiver. I’d be less concerned if she told me to protect my face. I happen to care a lot about my junk. It’s still got so much to give.
Zane: You have nothing to worry about
Jenna: Good. She needs you
I highly doubt that but I’m going anyway. Pocketing my phone, I rush off the plane and beeline for the rental company, picking up a car as Jenna’s message comes through.
Brentwood. Nice. I should be there by eleven p.m. That’s not too late for a visit, right?
Ignoring the gut feeling telling me it is, I drive straight to Jenna’s apartment, parking in a space someone just vacated.
It’s been four hours since my game in Phoenix ended, and now that I’m standing in front of Blair’s apartment—her current apartment—I’m not sure I’m ready.
We haven’t spoken in three days. She didn’t respond to my “I’m going to visit” text, so I’m probably about to be slapped. Or at the very least yelled at.
What the fuck am I doing?
“Are you going to come in, or hang around out front?” a voice calls out from somewhere above me, and when I glance up, I find Jenna hanging out of her window.
I lift my hand to wave, but a second later, Cade is beside her, and I audibly groan.
“Hey there.” Cade smirks and I throw my head back with a sigh. “Nice of you to respond to my messages.”
He’s been texting since he told me about Blair, but I had more important things to worry about. Like getting my ass to LA.
“I’ve been busy. Can we talk about that later? It’s not important right now.”
“Well, ring the doorbell and we’ll buzz you up.”
“Does she know I’m coming?”
“Shut up!” someone else yells from a lower level, and I duck my head to hide my face.
“Just ring the doorbell, jackass. She doesn’t know.”
I sigh in relief, although maybe it’s better if she knew. At least then it wouldn’t be a shock when I walked in.
Cade wolf whistles while I jog to the door, and I flip him off seconds before disappearing under the protection of the arched entry. This would be so much easier if he wasn’t here.
As promised, Jenna—or I guess Cade—buzzes me in, and I bounce on the balls of my feet, waiting patiently for the elevator to take its sweet-ass time traveling the short distance to Jenna’s floor.
The doors open and I jump, coming face-to-face with both Cade and Jenna, hands on their hips, trying hard to be threatening. I think. It’s not really working for either of them.
“Motherfucker.” I shake my head while Cade smirks.
“Sister fucker.”
“Nope,” I’m quick to respond. “That never happened.” I move to step around Cade, but his hand juts out to stop me.
“What are you doing?”
“Enough with the lies. You’re here for her. Just admit it.”
“Admit what?”
“Look me in the eye and tell me you never slept with Blair.”
“I don’t have time for this, asshole.”
“Say it.”
“Jesus Christ.” I stare at him deadpan, my gaze never once wavering as I repeat his words back to him, enunciating each word clearly. “I never slept with Blair.” But God, I wanted to.
“Fuck.” Cade’s curse comes out as a groan, and I’m thoroughly confused.
“You’re pissed off about that?”
“No. I’m sick of all the lying.”
“What lying? I... Actually, it doesn’t matter. I need to see Blair.”
Cade’s lips thin, and he folds his arms over his chest, trying to appear intimidating. “Why?” he asks, stepping closer to what I assume is Jenna’s door.
“What are your intentions?” Jenna steps forward, her expression much more relaxed than Cade’s, but it still gets on my nerves.
I internally groan. I don’t have time for this.
“I plan to fuck Blair’s brains out and then ghost her, leaving you both to pick up the pieces.
” I stare at them blankly, waiting for them to smile at my obvious joke.
But they keep their cool. “What is this? I’m here because my friend just broke up with her boyfriend, and I want to offer support. ”
“So, she’s still your friend?”
“Jealousy does not look good on you, Caden.”
Jenna finally breaks character, snorting out a laugh as she pulls me into a hug.
“Nice to see you again, Zane. Blair’s in her room.
It’s the second door on the left. Please knock.
She’s going to hate me enough for giving you my address.
But it’ll be worse if you walk in while she’s flicking her bean or something. ”
“What?” I cough, choking on my words, but that’s nothing compared to Cade’s reaction. I swear he’s going to vomit.
“The fuck, Jenna?” He turns a weird shade of green. “That’s my sister.”
“So what? Does that mean she’s not allowed to masturbate?”
At that I laugh—a little for Cade’s reaction and a little for Jenna’s brazenness. I knew I liked her.
“She can do whatever she wants, but I shouldn’t have to hear about it. Or worse—”
“I’m going to go in,” I interrupt their back and forth, gesturing to the door. “I’ll leave you two to argue this out.”
I spin toward Jenna’s apartment but someone stops me, a hand curling around the collar of my suit jacket, almost choking me. “Wait.”
I reluctantly turn, my face stoic as I anticipate whatever warning Cade’s going to give me.
But when the sincerity in his eyes hits me, my defense drops as the fight in me dissolves. “Don’t hurt her, okay?” he whispers, his voice thick with emotion. “She’s been through enough.”
While I could easily tell him that I won’t, just like I told Jenna, for some reason I can’t form the words. “I…” Fuck. “I…”
Cade’s gaze softens and he nods slowly. “I get it. You never set out to hurt her and you still did.”
A sigh escapes me, and an uncomfortable energy settles between us. I wish he was wrong, but he hit the nail on the head with extreme precision, and all I can say is, “I’ll try.”