Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
~DEX~
Iwake up on the couch the next morning and see that she’s sleeping quietly.
I look at the time, and I’m not surprised to see that it’s after nine in the morning.
We were up pretty late last night, talking and, of course, kissing.
It was as I suspected; once I started kissing her, I could not stop.
I had been wanting to do that since I saw her scurry into her room that first night.
When she was half naked from the shower and still rosy from the hot water.
I decide to make her eggs so that she has some good energy to help with her recovery.
I want to bring her with me into work today.
I think it would do her some good to be around her teammates, and also Coach Watts is hoping to have a team lunch today.
This way everyone can see her, and it won’t be as overwhelming as if they were all coming over here.
Amelia knows about the lunch; Coach put it out on the team group chat. I’ll be driving her for a bit, while she’s on her painkillers.
I’m cooking the eggs and frying the bacon in the skillet when I hear the clinking of her crutches. I turn and there she stands. She’s so short, it was adorable how low I had to make the crutches so that they could fit her. I grin at her.
“Good morning, sleepyhead, how was your night?” I ask her.
She grins at me. “It was very nice, actually. Got some sleep, got made out with on the couch and then got to cuddle with that same man.”
“Sounds like you had a good night.” I wink at her and turn the bacon in the pan before returning my attention to her. “I made you some breakfast and then I thought we could head into the office.”
She nods. “Yeah, it would be nice to see everyone.” Her smile is bright, but I can tell it’s forced.
“Nervous about going in there?”
“No, it’ll be fine.” She tries again and fails to mask her insecurity.
“It’s okay to be nervous. I’m sure it’ll be weird to see everyone and not be practicing but it’ll be fun to see your team and all,” I try to encourage her.
She nods. “Yeah, I know. It should be fun.”
“Well, I’ve got a good breakfast planned for you - eggs, bacon and toast. So that will get your day started off nicely.
Then we can head over to the field. Hang out in the trainer’s room with me for a little bit and then see the team.
” I try to sound upbeat and excited about it because I know she’s not.
But she holds her hand up and says, “Please, stop it with the false excitement. It looks weird on you.”
I grin at her. “Fine, I’ll be glass half empty about it all. Today will suck but at least there will be free food.”
Amelia laughs at my blunt statement. “You can be cheerier than that. But you don’t have to fake the enthusiasm with me. I get it; it’s going to be hard. But I’ll get through this, and staying away won’t make it any easier,” she reasons.
“Good point.” I prepare her a plate and place it on the table. “Here, eat this.” I fix my own plate and head over to the table to eat as well. “Should we talk about last night?”
She takes a bite of her eggs and moans. “I’m sorry, what? I blacked out there for a second. How in the hell do you make such fluffy eggs? These are so freaking good.”
“Glad you like my cooking. I had some baking powder to the eggs,” I tell her, revealing the secret that my grandma taught me. But when I married Elise, I learned it wasn’t that much of a secret.
“Well, it makes them taste delicious. Thank you for breakfast.”
“It’s the least that I could do after I practically mauled you on the couch last night,” I tease her and she laughs, thankfully.
It’s then I decide to ask her what I’ve been wondering since I got up.
“How do you want to handle what happened last night and today at the fields? Am I allowed to kiss you in public, or do we pretend that it didn’t happen?
Or is it one of those ‘for this house only things’? ”
She takes bite of bacon and chews it, taking her time before answering me. I feel my nerves skidding on edge, waiting for her to decide whether or not last night meant something to her or if it’s just something that happened once.
“I think it’s something that could happen again and again. But I think we wait and see where this goes and what comes naturally to you and me.” When she finally says this, I feel my whole body exhale a breath that I had no idea I was holding.
“That definitely works for me. But tell me, am I allowed to kiss you in public? Like in front of your friends.” I go for the specifies because I don’t want to catch her off guard or not live up to her expectations.
That’s the thing about Amelia; she makes me feel like that.
Like she is something special and something that I’ve been waiting for my whole.
I don’t think I ever felt this way about Elise and that fact both excites and scares me.
Elise and I were great in the beginning but when I went back to my old ways, it turned sour.
Something that I promised myself last night while I watched her sleep that would not happen.
“Let’s see how it goes, Romeo.”
I love the lightheartedness of her tone and the way we can casually have conversation without awkward silences. I barely know her, I know this, but it doesn’t feel this way. It’s like when August couldn’t find an apartment for me, fate intervened.
“That works for me,” I tell, grinning at her. She stares at me for a second and then laughs nervously. “What’s up?”
“You keep on staring at me. It’s freaking me out.”
“Sorry,” I say, holding my hands up. “I didn’t mean to freak you out.”
We eat in silence for a bit and then she says, “I like it, though. That you’re so excited or enthusiastic, whatever is the non-creepy stalker way to say that.”
I shrug, feeling slightly embarrassed. The rest of breakfast without incident. I hover outside of her bedroom door while she’s getting dressed. She’ll need help getting the massive brace on her knee. Ameila isn’t used to all the straps yet, so she has to let me help.
“I hate this thing,” she says, with a roll of her eyes. “How long, do I have to be in it?”
The comment causes me to roll my eyes, “For as long as I say.”
“You’re the boss,” she teases me.
My hands still on her leg for a moment before tightening the last strap. “I’m the trainer.” I reminds her.
“Physician’s assistant,” she shoots back.
“Let’s get you moving” is all I say.
Getting out of the apartment has its challenges.
We’re on the second floor, so I have to carry her down the steps.
She feels she could have hobbled but carrying her is so much easier.
She scoots across the parking lot on her crutches, and I help her get into the car.
She fumbles a bit while scooting along, but I patiently wait for her.
I don’t want to rush her. It won’t help.
We’re packed up in the car and headed to the fields.
I walk slowly at her side as she maneuvers through the hallways that lead to my training room.
“The girls will be here shortly. But you can hang out in here with me until everyone arrives. And then I think that Watts wants you to come out and watch practice with the girls. He said something about having you help coach,” I explain.
“Yeah, I know. You mentioned that.” She pauses and turns towards me. “You don’t have to hover. I am okay. I’m slowly accepting all of this and it’s going to be fine.”
“Good, good. I wanted to make sure that we had a plan for you today You’re welcome to stay here with me as long as you would like.” I wiggle my eyebrows at her. “I mean, I have to look over Carrie but then we can make out in here or whatever.”
She laughs loudly.
“Wow, I didn’t realize that would cause you to laugh so much! I must say I’m a little hurt.” I place my hand over my chest for fake comfort.
“Oh, please, you’re fine,” she teases me right back. Something I really like about her. She doesn’t just let me go; seems like she’s going to call me on my bullshit. Something that I need someone other than August to do.
I hold the door that leads to my office open, and she slowly makes her way in.
“Your lights are supposed to come on when I enter, right? Aren’t they on a motion sensor or something?” she turns and asks me.
I flip up the switch and call out, “Surprise!”
There stand Mac, Cassie, Hendrix, holding up balloons and flowers.
“I could have left them on, but this would have spoiled their surprise,” I inform her. “Ladies,” I say, nodding to them.
The girls all come over and engulf her in hugs. It makes me happy to see her smiling so brightly at them. I can tell she’s happy to see them.
“I know that everyone is going to be seeing you later, but we wanted some time with our girl. We wanted to make sure that we got some time with you before the masses took over you,” Mac explains as she helps her over to the couch in my training area.
“Guys, I’m not that popular on the team. I wouldn’t have been surrounded by the masses,” she tells them.
“She is being too modest,” I call out.
“Yeah, listen to your nurse,” Cassie says with a giggle.
“I think she might have a better nurse than I would,” Hendrix says, shaking her head.
“Are you saying that because you don’t have anyone?” Cassie asks. “Because Amelia and Dex are roommates. He’s obligated to take care of her to stay on her good side.”
The girls all laugh and my head swivels over to look at Amelia to see how she’s going to handle this comment. Our eyes meet for a brief second before she turns her attention back to her friends.
“That’s not true. He doesn’t mind helping me. And I got breakfast out of it this morning,” she tells them.
“That’s not all she got,” I mutter to myself.
“Something you want to share with the class?” Mac asks.
That one is too perceptive for her own good. I have to remember that when they are all together.
“Nope, nothing I feel like sharing with you ladies,” I tell them.
“Ooh, so there is something!” Hendrix yells excitedly.
Thankfully, both Amelia and I are saved by the appearance of Coach Watts.
“I had to follow the screams and somehow I knew that I would find you in here,” Coach Watts says as he enters the room. “It’s so good to see you, honey, how are you feeling?” He walks over and embraces Amelia. She hugs him back.
“I’m doing okay. The pain is getting more manageable. So that helps.” Her voice comes out small and unsure. I can tell she’s starting to flounder. The confidence that she came in here with is gone.
“That’s good. I’m glad. The team sure misses you. It’ll be nice to have you at practice and at the game coming up. I could use your keen eye helping out with the defense.”
“Thanks, Coach,” she replies. Her voice is small and quiet.
“Girls, why don’t you take Amelia out onto the field so that she can get comfortable before everyone else gets here. Might make it easier if she’s not trying to dodge people or obstacles,” I tell them.
“That sounds like a great idea. Great thinking, Dex,” Cassie says, walking over to help Amelia up. “Coach, if you’re good we’re going to bring her out there.”
“Sounds good,” he replies.
“Coach, got a minute?” I ask him to hang back.
“Sure do.”
“Great.” I wait until the girls leave before I address him.
“I think you might wanna be careful about how much you baby her or act like you’re including her.
I get what you’re doing and why, but it’s not working for her.
Believe me, I tried the same behavior, and it freaked her out.
She wants you to give it to her straight, okay? ”
He nods. “Sure, I can do that. It’s my first time dealing with an injured female athlete. When I coached for the Thorns, we didn’t have an injury like this and before that, I was men’s coach. Those guys like to be handled differently,” he admits.
“I get it. I had the same issue, but she was quick to set me straight,” I admit with a shrug.
“I was worried about her staying with you, I’ll admit. I wasn’t sure how she was going to take that, But I’m glad she has you right now. You two seem to be getting along just fine.”
“Oh, we are.” I say, maybe a little too eagerly. “Amelia’s great. I couldn’t ask for a better roommate.”
He claps me on the back and then turns to leave. “Good, I’m glad to hear it. I’m gonna go check on the girls. Let me know what you figure out with Carrie, please.”
“Will do, Coach.”
If he only knew how nice it was to be living with her, he might not be so happy about the arrangement.