Chapter 9
Dylan
Eyes turnedour way as I followed Knox and Clay into the reception area. Tonight, we had to appear at a charity event after the game, which meant all eyes would be on us and the rest of the team.
Women eyed us as we made our way over to a table in the corner while Harris grabbed the four of us water. We all knew interviews were coming tonight, so we had to be on our best behaviour, at least until the end of the evening.
“So, you were pretty quiet about it, and I didn’t want to ask, but I have to now. How did things go with Aurora the other night?” Knox questioned.
“Good.” I nodded, not sure how much I should divulge with thousands of prying ears around us.
“I’m glad, you seem less on edge, and you’re cleared for interviews again. Things finally settle down with all the Carlie crap?”
I shrugged. “Since we last spoke about her, I haven’t heard from her, if that is what you mean.”
“Good, perhaps she has finally learned her place,” Clay said, shoving a small appetizer into his mouth.
“Well, what can I say? Some girls don’t take a hint,” Lucas added, raiding a tray of appetizers as they passed.
“She had a lot of horrible things to say online that could have destroyed your career, man,” Clay added.
I nodded. “Yep, and that is why public relations and my lawyer have been watching for the next bomb to drop. When they suggested sending the cease and desist, I doubted it would work. I was wrong. I just am afraid she is waiting and calculating when to make a move.”
“She’d be stupid to do that. Wouldn’t she?” Knox questioned.
“She would be, considering. I’ve stayed out of the news just like asked. Tonight will be my first appearance since it all went down. To say I’m a little nervous is an understatement.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t have broken things off with her?” Clay said, swiping more appetizers from the bar.
“You know why he did,” Knox added, looking my direction.
I knew what he was hinting at, but the truth was Carlie and I were over long before we’d actually broken up. He knew it, as did the rest of the guys. She didn’t need to take our breakup public, especially when the entire breakup was her fault. However, she tried to make me look like I was the bad guy. She took our already public breakup far more public and made claims about me online, but the images she’d attached to the article were a lie. It was from a game three weeks prior to the date she’d claimed. I’d come out of a bar with a bunch of fans, and I had my arm wrapped around some girl. She claimed I cheated. It was humiliating and brought a ton of terrible publicity my way.
“Does she know about the trip to Cozumel and Aurora?”
I shrugged. “Do I care?”
“You might if she catches wind of it.”
“Look, Cozumel, has nothing to do with her. It was over eight months after we called it quits. If she is jealous, let her be jealous. She made her bed. Now, can we drop this topic? It’s like asking for bad karma.”
“Yeah, you are right. Especially right before your first interview in over a year,” Knox said, smacking me on the shoulder.
It was then I felt my cell phone vibrate in my pocket, and I reached in to see a message from Aurora. I stepped away from the table and quickly sent a text back. It had been three weeks since the night Aurora finally admitted to herself and to me she wanted me. We’d spent a wonderful night together before I’d had to leave for a series of games in Florida. She’d gone back to Victoria for classes, and since then, our schedules had been near impossible to sync, so not only had we not seen one another, we’d barely spoken. I’d been trying to fix that. I’d texted her prior to the game and again after, and finally just now she was responding.
Dylan: What are you doing tonight?
Aurora: Lorelai and I are studying for finals.
Dylan: So does that mean you didn’t see the game?
Aurora: Sadly not. We have to pass this exam or we can kiss our meeting with the head of the Therapy Department with the Dominators good-bye.
Dylan: Do I need to remind you that not only do you have Lorelai’s brother rooting for you, but you have me? If he can’t make it happen, then I’ll make sure the pair of you still get the interview.
Aurora: How are you going to do that?
Dylan: I have my ways. I’m a very persuasive individual. ;)
Aurora: Don’t need to remind me of that. However, you promised not to get involved.
Dylan: I did?
I smiledas I watched those three little dots bounce around.
Aurora: You did. ;P
Dylan: and you promised you’d watch the game tonight.
Aurora: Sigh…I know *buries face in hands*
Dylan: You already know you’re going to kill the test.
Aurora: Thanks for the vote of confidence. I guess you’ll have to kidnap me and make me watch one live.
Dylan: Deal. I’ll call you in the morning. It will be a late night tonight. Charity function. They are waiting for me for my interview.
Aurora: Okay. Talk to you tomorrow. Have a good night.
Dylan: You too.
I pocketedmy phone just as Knox returned from speaking with the press.
“You’re up there, Hayes.”
I nodded, feeling a little nervous as I walked over to where they were interviewing. They asked the standard questions about the game and about the charity. I figured we were through when the woman turned to me and surprised me by telling me she had a couple more questions to ask.
“So, Dylan, you’ve been out of the spotlight for a bit. Your fans have missed you. There are many questions they have, most circling about your personal life. They want to know where you have been?”
I’d specifically been told that the only questions they’d be asking were the ones approved by our PR team. I glanced over my shoulder to see if I could find any PR person, but no one was in sight.
“I’ve been here. Just took a break from interviews,” I said, saying exactly what the PR department had told me to say if I was ever asked.
“There have been a lot of rumours about your personal life. Many want to know about your romantic life. What happened with Carlie?”
Again, I smiled. I knew they would be after information on what had happened regarding Carlie and me.
“I decline to answer,” I said, going to walk away.
“There is more.”
“What would they like to know?”
The interviewer smiled. “Well, the crucial question is, are you seeing anyone?”
“I really don’t have a comment about that. Aside from there is someone I have my eyes on,” I said, waving to the camera. “I have to be going now. I have a speech to make,” I said, stepping away from the interviewer and the camera.
I didn’t know how that interview would go down or what kind of backlash I’d get from Carlie once it came out, so I immediately headed over to the first PR person I saw and pulled her aside.
* * *
“I saw your interview.”
I couldn’t tell from the tone of her voice if she was angry or impressed with my answer to who I was seeing. So, I played it safe.
“Oh?”
“So, who do you have your eye on? Someone I should be worried about?”
I was almost certain there was a hint of a smile in her voice. At least I hoped my ears weren’t deceiving me.
“Only if you are worried about yourself.”
The line went quiet for a bit. I wanted her to say something; I wanted to know she wanted me as much as I wanted her, and just when I thought she wasn’t going to say anything at all, she surprised me.
“What time does your flight come in?”
I could hear the curiosity in her voice, along with the nerves. Her voice shook as she asked that question, which I thought was the cutest.
“Why? Are you excited to see me? Have you been missing me?”
Again, the line went quiet. I could hear her breathing and knew she was probably debating answering me.
“What if I am?” she asked, her voice quieter this time.
“I’d be thrilled to know it.”
I lay in bed, the comforter draped at my waist as I waited for her to speak. My cock had been semi hard since I’d heard her voice on the other line.
“Well, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little excited to see you.”
“Does that mean I’m finally growing on you?”
“You grew on me the first night I met you.”
Her voice shook with that admission, and it turned me on more than anything. The fact she was nervous about sharing these things with me made me wonder how she must have felt that first night. I could already tell that she really wasn’t the girl she’d portrayed that night. I was probably the only risk she’d ever taken in her entire life, and I guessed that for months afterward she probably kicked herself for doing something stupid.
“What made you sleep with me in Mexico?” I questioned. I wanted to know the truth.
She sighed. “I’m not sure I want to tell you.”
“Why not? You clearly had no clue who I was, so I don’t think it was for bragging rights.”
“No.”
“Then what was it?”
“Oh god. It was stupid. I…I’d just broken up with my boyfriend and wanted to reclaim myself. I was on a mission, and I’d just about given up when you met me at the end of the walkway. It was more self-destruction than anything. It’s not something I normally do.”
“Ah, so you’re telling me I was a get over him fuck? I see how it is. I feel so used.”
Aurora giggled. “That’s what it started out as, but that isn’t what it is now.”
“I see, and what is it now?” The line went silent, and I waited. “Are you there?”
“Yeah, I’m here. I don’t really know what this is now. I know I’m attracted to you and that I like spending time with you, but I have no clue what this really is or what you even want. Guess you could say I’m a little confused.”
I thought for a moment. I wanted her to know I wanted more than just sex, which was pretty much all we’d done every time we’d gotten together, aside from that one night at my apartment.
“What I want is a date. That is what I really want. I know how I feel about you on the physical level. I want to see if there is more.”
“So, what time does your flight get in? Or are you going to make me stalk all arrivals?”
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes.”
I smiled to myself. “I should be home by two. I’m home for two days and then back on the road.”
“I write an exam tomorrow morning. Then I am free for a couple of days. Lorelai has family plans, and I have to drop her at her brother’s place, so I can meet you at your place. We could have our date then.”
I closed my eyes, excitement building at the thought of being able to see her again.
“Doesn’t give me much time to plan anything, but to be honest, I can’t fucking wait. It’s been too long.”
I reached down under the blankets and gripped my cock. I was hard just thinking about getting to spend time with her.
“It has,” she said breathlessly.
The line went quiet as I slowly stroked my cock, thinking of her lips on me. God, I’d never felt this way with Carlie, which only solidified that she had been the wrong girl for me. Every time I thought of Aurora, this was what happened.
“What are you doing over there?” I asked, curious to know.
The line was quiet for a moment.
“Lying in bed, thinking about you. What about you?”
The tone of her voice had changed, making me even harder. I slowly stoked myself, imagining her hand in place of mine.
“The same.” I swallowed hard. “Are you…touching…”
“Mmmm…what if I am?”
“Fuck, I wish I could watch…” I whispered, closing my eyes.
“Isn’t that a little forward? I mean, all you said you wanted was a date.” She giggled.
“Okay, perhaps I want what we have going on now and a date.”
A loud knock on my door made me jump, then I heard Knox and Clay yelling my name. Then laughter came through the door, and I knew they were both drunk. I closed my eyes and let out the breath I was holding.
“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath.
“What is it?” she questioned, the tone of her voice going from low and sexy to panicked.
Throwing the covers off me and slipping on my boxers, I got up from the bed, pissed that we’d been interrupted. I’d dreamt of talking to her like this, and now here we were, and these idiots had to interrupt us.
“Dylan? What is going on?” she questioned.
“The boys are here,” I said, annoyance filling my voice. “I’ve got to go. Can I call you later?”
“Yep. I’ll try to wait up for a bit, otherwise, see you tomorrow?”
As I pulled the door open, Knox and Clay fell into the room laughing, each with a beer in their hands. It looked like the party had continued well after I’d left.
“Yeah, just remember where we left off, okay?” I said, before ending the call.