Chapter 36
thirty-six
Sleeping in a bed without Luke is highly overrated.
He’s been gone for a day and I’m already dreading the fact that I’ll have to sleep alone for another night before he flies back from Miami with the team.
After we came home two nights ago, he made it his personal mission to christen every surface of my new apartment before ending the night cleaning up and getting dirty all over again in the shower.
The blush that overtook my face when I had to Windex the imprint of my ass cheeks off the living room window this morning could probably be seen from Mars.
But today is Sunday, and I have a full day planned with furniture shopping for my new place. After I was able to peel myself off Luke, we took a tour of my new home. Inspiration hit immediately, and I told him my dream vision.
He laughed when I said I needed a massive couch meant for movie nights with my six-four boyfriend, and scowled playfully when I mentioned wanting a dining table large enough to seat a handful of Monarchs players and their significant others.
He also chuckled when I described every single kitchen gadget I’d need before inviting Luisa’s family over.
His smile turned serene when I decided I wanted to cover the large wall by my front door in corkboard material so I can pin up Polaroids of the friends and family who come through my door. A permanent reminder that this space is mine and it’s filled with an abundance of love.
I know I won’t be able to get through most of my to-do list today, but I’m so excited to have something to focus on that doesn’t involve the men who are hell-bent on causing me constant headaches.
I should be on cloud nine after landing my dream apartment, a place I can finally call my own, but I can’t help but feel like I’m playing the waiting game. Anticipating the moment the other shoe drops.
The girls and I came up with a statement that I can put out today, but it doesn’t feel right.
To put these practiced words about my disaster of a personal life out there.
Unlike my brother, I did not seek out a powerful position that would inevitably put me in the spotlight.
I’ve always known that I’d be mentioned in the bylines due to my role as his sister and as a Stonehaven.
But then I had to go and date a New York politician and really screw up any chance of keeping myself out of the line of fire.
My doorbell rings, snapping me out of my thoughts.
My heart races at who it could be. I only have one neighbor on my floor, and I haven’t heard a peep from them since I got here.
And besides Luke, I haven’t given out my address.
Not even to the girls since we were knee-deep in cake and public statement jargon.
For a moment, I panic, thinking it might be Damien on the other side of that door. I’m not ready to face him, much less while being alone in my apartment, and especially not when Luke’s at an away game.
I know Luke’s trauma and potential triggers, and while it’ll be a cold day in hell before I agree to meet up with my ex in person, I would still want Luke to be aware if there’s a chance of our paths crossing at a charity event or party.
I never want him to feel like I’m sneaking around behind his back.
I know firsthand how easy it is to fall prey to our biggest fears, and I want to do everything in my power not to contribute to any potential fears he may have.
The doorbell rings once more, and I tiptoe to the door, silently raising to the peephole, and spot a delivery man holding up a large envelope. Maybe it’s papers from my realtor?
I open the door, sign for the package, and lean against the kitchen counter as I rip it open. The second I do, my phone starts to ring. Seeing Luke’s smiling face stare up at me has me dropping the package and scrambling to answer.
“Hi,” I say breathily as his piercing blue eyes come into view.
“God, I miss you. Tell me again why I’m not allowed to quit?” He sits on his hotel bed, and my eyes drift down his bare and tatted chest.
I shake my head. “You know, I never figured you were one for the theatrics, Coach.”
“Fine. Then you’re traveling with me to every away game. It’s settled.”
“I don’t like to fly often if I can avoid it.”
“Why?”
“I hate turbulence.”
“I’ll punch the air for you.”
I erupt into a fit of giggles, and his lip twitches, most likely from trying to keep his frown in place.
“I got an alert that you got my package.”
Oh. “That was from you?” I bend over to pick up the envelope and pull out the contents inside.
“It’s not as pretty as the one you grabbed up north, but I thought…” He shrugs, not finishing his thought.
I look down at the handful of postcards from Miami and smile brightly at the man who sent them.
“You know.” My voice takes a teasing tone.
“This isn’t how postcards are supposed to work.
You need to write a message on the back and then send them in the mail without a fancy overnighted envelope. ” I raise a pointed brow.
He huffs. “Well, if you’d turn them around, you’d see that I did write on them.
But I sure as hell wasn’t letting anyone read the words that are meant for your eyes only.
And I wanted you to get them while I’m still here, not when I’m already back and you’re too busy to read them because my hands are all over your body. ”
A shiver runs down my spine, and he smirks at the knowledge of what his words do to me.
I quickly scan the back of the postcards, and sure enough, he did write a short but sweet message on each one. “When did you have the time to do this?”
The man has a jam-packed schedule, and I can’t imagine him strolling down Miami Beach to collect these.
“I grabbed them at the airport when we landed and asked Middlebrooks to ship them for me when he went out to lunch with his mother yesterday.”
I smile as I think of Ace, our resident playboy, having lunch at Versailles, the Cuban restaurant he always takes his mother to when he’s in town.
I love knowing that he’s secretly a mama’s boy and only speaks Spanish while he’s in Miami because his mother doesn’t speak much English.
I wish he’d show more of that side of himself to the world, but he seems fine letting everyone think he’s just another pretty face.
I reach the last postcard, and a loud laugh escapes my lips as I flip it over to read the message.
“I really didn’t think I wrote anything that funny on any of those,” Luke grumbles.
“Ace shipped these out for you?”
“Yeah, why?” Suspicion laces his tone.
“So I’m guessing this one didn’t come from you?” I lift the card in question.
“I’m going to kill him.”
I continue to laugh as I hold up the postcard with a near naked man covering his privates with his hands, the message across the top saying “Welcome to Miami. Donde todo es muy caliente.” And the chicken scratch note on the back reads “In case you miss Coach too much. Hopefully this will hold you over!”
Luke’s phone shakes as he types.
“What are you doing?” I wipe the tears that have formed around my lash line.
“Sending his ass to the weight room. I want him there from now until our game tonight. If he’s able to lift his arm to throw the ball, then he hasn’t pushed himself hard enough.”
“Doesn’t that defeat the purpose? If your player can no longer play?”
“Depends what you think my purpose is.”
“Luke.”
“Just a second, Daze.”
“Be nice.” I pause. “Please?”
He stops typing and looks back up at me and sighs. “You know I can’t say no to you.” He taps the screen a few more times. “I’ll reel it in. Two hours with our trainers after the game.”
I smile. “How lenient of you.”
“I’m going soft.”
I tap my chin. “Really? Because that’s not how I remember it.”
A wicked smile graces his lips and has my nipples tightening in response. But neither of us has time for this right now. “Oh no you don’t. You’ve got a stadium to get to, and I’ve got so much to buy for this place, it’s not even funny.”
His smile is replaced with determination. “Give me a list to work from so I can take some things off your plate.”
I shake my head. “I told you, I want to hand pick everything. Or at least all the important stuff.”
He nods, deep in thought. “What about electronics? TVs, a sound system? Can I help you out with that?”
I brighten at the suggestion. “I actually could use a little help in that department. I usually get whatever the salesperson is trying to sell me on.” I chuckle. “And I know there is a built-in sound system somewhere in here but have no clue how to connect it to my phone.”
“Consider it done.”
“Okay, but I need to give you my credit card number before you order anything.”
He gives me a bored look. “I think I can swing it, Daisy.”
I return the look. “I’m not about to have you bankroll this for me. I’m a big girl, and I can afford it on my own.”
His jaw ticks before he sighs. “All right. How about I get what you need, then show you the bill? Then you can pay me back. Less back and forth that way, don’t you agree?”
My eyes narrow, but I can’t disagree with that logic. And the way he’s getting worked up about wanting to take care of these tasks for me is getting me all hot and bothered, so I’m not going to fake being put out. “Fine.”
“Good.” He smirks a little too mischievously for my liking, but we both need to get on with our day, and I know I have to be the one to initiate getting off the phone since he has no problem threatening to quit every time he realizes he needs to hang up.
“Okay, now put a shirt on. Some of us have work to do.”
He runs a hand down his chest until it’s out of frame, and my eyes almost pop out of my head. “Have a good day, Daisy girl. I love you.”
“Uh-huh. Yeah. Love you too.”
I hang up and blow out a deep breath.
Then force myself to get ready and walk out the door.
Before I do something crazy like book a last-minute flight to Miami.