Chapter 12
KELLER
If I thought it was strange to have Chloe in my apartment, it’s nothing compared to having her in my car.
“Well, this is certainly new,” she remarks as she runs her hand over the dash. “When did you get this?”
“When I got to Seattle. In retrospect, it was a terrible idea given how hilly this damn place is, but it sure is fun to drive when I find the right routes to take.”
“It’s beautiful,” she says. “I remember you used to always talk about getting a sports car. I’m glad you finally made it happen.”
I bought it to fill the void she left behind, but I’m afraid if I say that, I’ll ruin the good mood I’m in.
Despite my leg burning from that slap shot I blocked, I’m happy.
We won tonight, securing two more points we really needed, and Chloe is in my passenger seat.
How could this night get better than that?
“That was a good game tonight. Thank you for the tickets.”
I’m taken aback by her words. She never used to thank me for them before. They were just there, waiting for her, and she was always in the stands waiting for me.
“It’s no problem. I’m glad you came.”
“Me too.”
I want to reach over and hold her hand just like I always used to when driving, but I keep my hands on the wheel.
Having her back there tonight after so long felt like the beginning of so many pieces clicking into place.
I’ll admit I was bummed when I saw she wasn’t in her seat after the final horn sounded, but all that changed when I stepped out of the dressing room and she was standing there.
I even kissed her; I just couldn’t stop myself.
I’m sure the guys will give me crap about that once we reach the bar, but I’m willing to take it tonight.
I’m riding a high I haven’t felt in a long while.
“Want to see something fun?” I ask.
“If it involves you speeding down a city street, then no.”
I frown. “Boo.”
She giggles, and it reaffirms that it’s my favorite sound in the world.
We ride the rest of the way in silence, and I pull the car into a parking garage that charges an exorbitant price, but I pay it anyway.
She meets me at the front of the car after I back into a spot, and I try not to let it bother me that she didn’t wait for me to open her door like she used to.
At some point, I need to stop comparing our past with our present, and I might as well start tonight.
This time, I do grab her hand as we make our way to the bar up the street, and I don’t bother to hide my grin when she leans into me.
“It’s about time! We were ready to send the cavalry!” Lawson shouts as we walk into the bar. “Were you guys making out again?”
I steel myself, waiting for the rest of the guys to join in and give me grief for kissing her, but they don’t. Before I can tell him what a dumbass he is, Chloe speaks up.
“We weren’t even making out before, but it’s lovely to officially meet you, Lawson.”
His brows rise in surprise. “I like you.” He looks at me, then points at her. “I like her.”
I squeeze her hand. I like her too.
“All my friends call me Lawless, just so you know.”
“Oh my god! Nobody calls him that!” Rory calls out as she makes her way over to us from the bar, two drinks in her hands. She stops next to Chloe. “Please, feel free to ignore my boyfriend. He nicknamed himself and won’t let it go.”
“That is not true! Nessa over here calls me it.”
“She only did that once, and it was because she was new and didn’t know better. We’re teaching Chloe right.” Rory looks at me and nods. “Keller.”
“Rory.”
Chloe laughs. “You two are a lot alike, aren’t you?”
“Aw, come on, Chlo,” Lawson says, slinging his arm around her neck, causing her to drop my hand. I miss it instantly. “Don’t say things like that. It makes it sound like I’m dating the lady version of Keller, and that’s just wrong.”
“I happen to think it sounds nice,” she tells him, and pride swells in my chest. “He’s not so bad.”
“Nah, you’re right. He’s pretty cool, even if he does make fun of me. Say, did I tell you about that time I forgot my underwear during a road trip? Picture this,” he starts, waving his hand as if he’s painting said picture, “there we were, six days in and…”
I don’t catch the rest of it since he drags Chloe away, but it’s probably for the best, or else I’d have to yell at him all over again for asking to borrow my boxer briefs.
I stand with my arms crossed as I watch him take her over to the group at our usual table and introduce her in a way only Lawson could.
“Guys, this is Keller’s wife. The secret wife.”
“That’s quite a mouthful. Chloe is fine,” she says, holding her own, then she greets everyone individually.
I smile as I watch her integrate herself into the fold with ease, like she’s always been here.
There’s an ache in my chest thinking about all the times like this that we’ve missed out on, but then I remember there’s a chance I wouldn’t even be here if she hadn’t left.
I joined their “club” because she was gone.
Would I have done that if she hadn’t walked out?
Or would I have spent my time at home with her and missed getting to know my teammates as I do?
I think there’s a good chance it would be the latter, and surprisingly, I don’t like that answer.
I like spending time with her. It’s my favorite thing in the world, but is there such a thing as being too attached?
I look over at Chloe, who is laughing at something Lilah is saying. Is that…is that what broke us? Was it too much? Was I too much for her?
“How’s the knee?”
I glance up to find Hutch standing beside me. “Good,” I tell him.
“Liar.”
I give a low chuckle. “Yeah, probably. But I’ll live.”
“Good.” He looks over to Chloe, who is now chatting with his stepsister. “Seems like she’s fitting in nicely.”
He has no idea how much I need to hear that. “Yeah, she does.”
“You look happy.”
His words shouldn’t rattle me, but they do.
Am I happy? In ways, yes. Having Chloe here feels like a dream come true.
But am I also trying to temper all expectations and remain cautious, mostly because I’m afraid the rug will be ripped out from beneath me at any moment and she’ll leave again?
Definitely. It’s a shit way to live, but it’s all I have.
Hutch’s big hand lands on my shoulder, and that’s all he says before he makes his way over to them, introducing himself to my wife.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out to find a text from my brother.
Stefan: THAT BLOCKED SHOT HOLY SHIT MAN
Stefan: Your knee okay?
Me: Hurts like a motherfucker, but I’ll be all right.
Stefan: Fuck yeah man
Stefan: How’s it going with YOU KNOW WHO
Me: She came to my game tonight.
Me: And you can say her name, you know.
Stefan: WHAT THE FUCK
Stefan: Who are you and what have you done with my brother????
Me: Fuck off
Stefan: Luv u bro
Stefan: I’m still here
Me: I know. Love you too.
“Hey.”
I look up to find Chloe striding toward me. “Hey. You want a drink?”
“Actually, a Diet Coke sounds perfect.”
“One Nasty as Hell coming right up.”
She gives me a side eye, which might be effective if she weren’t smiling as she does it. I lead her to the bar and place an order for a Diet Coke and a Sprite.
“You got it,” the bartender says.
“And put it on Lawson’s tab,” Chloe tells him. I raise a brow at her as I lean against the bar, and she shrugs. “What? He said drinks were on him tonight.”
I have a feeling he never uttered those words, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Glad to see you’re learning already.”
She smiles. “Your teammates are really nice. The girls are, too.”
“Yeah?” I ask, and even I can hear the excitement in my voice.
Though she always tried to hide it, I knew Chloe had trouble fitting in with the wives and girlfriends of my past teammates.
It always seemed like they had nothing in common, and they couldn’t connect no matter how many times they tried.
I hated it. I wanted her to feel that same sense of camaraderie I did.
She deserved that, and she definitely deserved a closer friend than Talia, who was all the way in Tennessee and could only visit every so often since she was busy being a single mom.
“Yeah,” she confirms. “We had a lot of fun during the game. And I got to learn what a grump you’re known to be.”
I’ve never been the best with people, but something certainly changed when Chloe left, and I became an even worse version of myself than I’d ever been before.
I knew it was a problem—hence the Serpents Singles vow—but I was too pissed off at the time to care.
I care now, though, and that has everything to do with Chloe being back.
“Yo!” Two hands land on my shoulders. “What a block, number 10! What a fucking block!”
The overwhelming smell of booze tickles my nose, and since we’re standing in a bar full of it, that says something. I try to shake the unfamiliar meaty palms off me, but they’re strong, and the person they belong to is obviously drunk as he tries to shoulder in between Chloe and me.
“Excuse me. Can’t you see I’m trying to talk to my man? Get lost, lady.”
I push off the bar in a flash, and the guy—whoever the fuck he is—goes stumbling backward. He trips over his own feet, barely catching himself on a table to keep from falling to the sticky floor.
“What the…” His features darken. “What the hell, man? I was just trying to talk!”
“No, you weren’t. You were invading my space.” I take a step toward him. “And you were being an asshole.”
He scoffs. “What? To her?” He waves Chloe’s way. “Who fucking gives a shit about her?”
“Considering she’s my wife, I do.”
His eyes widen, and he holds his hands up. “Shit, man. I-I-I-I’m sorry. I-I-I had n-no idea. I didn’t mean anything by it, bro. Swear.” He looks at Chloe. “I’m sorry, Mrs. K-Keller. Trul-ly.”
“Yeah, well, you can be fucking sorry outside. Get the fuck out.”
“I—wait, you can’t kick me out!”