Chapter Twenty-Three #2
“I appreciate everyone’s love, support and outreach that you have done. It really does help. I’m going to be working with the trainers to get strong again and get back as soon as I can. And I will keep coming to practices. You won’t get rid of me that easily.”
There’s more applause and then Jase calls out, “We love you, Amelia, now let’s eat!”
Dex appear by my side and says, “Let’s get you fed.”
“I can probably do it.”
He looks at me and smirks. “Exactly how do you plan on doing that, on those?” He raises his eyebrows at me, waiting for me to reply with something witty, but I don’t. “See, you need me.”
I nod and follow him through line, telling him what goes on my tacos.
“Where am I taking this?” he asks me.
“Umm.” I look around and find the table that my girls have claimed. “Over there.”
“Alright, we’re going to set this down and then you will tell me what you want to drink, I’ll bring it for you while you sit here and rest. Maybe even elevate it a bit if you can. We need to keep that swelling down.”
“Yes, doctor,” I say in a low voice.
He swallows audibly and I watch his Adam’s apple bob up and down. “Don’t do that. Don’t say that like that, or there will be a whole lot more people that know how much I like to kiss you.”
I flush at his words. “Would that be such a bad thing? I ask him.
“You tell me.”
Before I can answer Cassie and Mac are at our table. “Okay, you two, you might want back it up a bit before I pour some water on you.” Cassie teases.
“Sorry, ladies.” Dex takes an immediate step back from me. “What do you want to drink, Amelia?”
“Hendrix is on drink duty. She’s got you,” Mac replies.
“I’m going to make myself scarce and eat with the coaches. When you’re ready to head home, just let me know. I can take you.”
“Are you done working, though?” I ask him.
“It’s a quick trip,” he replies.
“I can take her,” Cassie offers.
“There are no doors on your car,” Dex replies.
“Mine has doors; I’ve got her,” Mac replies. “We can take her. Plus, we’d like to hang a bit if that works with your doctor’s orders.”
I flush a bit and nod. “Yeah, go do what you got to do. We can catch up later.”
“Alright, see you later.” Dex leans in and places a quick kiss on my lips. If my lips weren’t tingling from his touch, I wouldn’t believe that it had happened.
“Okay, spill it,” Hendrix says as she puts the Gatorade around the table. “When did all of this start? And is the doctor taking advantage of his patient?”
I giggle. “This is actually pretty new. It started last night.” My voice trails off. “Well, early this morning. He found me sitting on the couch, because I couldn’t sleep. He rubbed my feet; we got to talking and one thing led to another.” I grin widely at them.
“So obviously, we’re all good with this little development,” Cassie teases.
“Yeah, I think we are.” I reply.
“Told you he always watches you,” Hendrix said. “I knew there had to be something there.”
“He’s hot, Amelia. Good for you,” Mac chimes in. “Way to take advantage of some thorough sponge baths later.”
My blush deepens. “That is not what we’re doing.”
“Even if it is, does it make you happy, because that’s all that matters,” Mac says. “Don’t worry about the rest of this bullshit and besides, Cassie and Jase, paved the way for you. There is no more policy to contend with. That should make things easier for you.”
I nod. “Yeah, that sure will. It’s new, though, and it’s nice. I like spending time with him.”
“Who knew, when August was totally violating your privacy that he was actually setting you up with a potential boyfriend?” Hendrix says before biting into her taco.
“Yeah, who knew?” I reply.
We all begin eating and the conversation goes into other topics. They only tease me a handful of times about Dex. But I don’t care. I enjoy being around them and seeing my friends again. After the team lunch wraps, we all head back to my place and hang out for a bit.
It’s nice to have them in my living room.
Everyone sprawled out in their normal seats, for the most part.
I’m taking up Mac’s seat on the couch across from Cassie, so I can prop up my leg.
She is sitting in my usual spot on my oversized chair and Hendrix is lounging on the bucket chair that I bought at Target to ensure everyone had a spot in my living room.
This is nice, makes life feel a bit more normal.
“How are you doing with Danny getting ready to hit the road?” I ask Mac.
The seasons with the Blaze and the university are going to overlap, leaving Mac at home to fend for herself for a bit. She’s not depending on Danny, but they don’t spend a lot of time apart.
Mac sighs heavily, “I’m okay with it, I guess.
I’m happy for him. He’s doing something he truly loves.
I’ll miss having him around all the time.
It’s sort of already started. He spends a lot of time at the pool or in his office, running practice or preparing for the upcoming meets.
We spend time together when we can.” Her voice trails off.
“Kinda makes the time you do spend together that much more special,” Cassie smiles gently at her. “Plus, you’ll always have us.”
“Absolutely. You can totally come over here and hang out anytime you want. It’ll be nice to have some company,” I tell her.
“Won’t that interrupt you and Dex?” Hendrix teases me.
I flush and shake my head. “Just because we’re kissing doesn’t mean that anything else will develop.”
“Do you not want something more to happen with you two?” Cassie asks me.
Hendrix leans forward in her chair, “If you don’t like him that much, you should tell him that. Or at least tell your face. It lights up every time you see him.”
I grin. “I mean that he’s going through a divorce. That has to leave some scars, right?”
Cassie nods, “Yes, I’m sure it does. Have you two talked about why he got divorced?”
I shake my head, “No, I haven’t brought up the topic to him. Last night we were talking about movies we enjoyed, books and college experience. He didn’t mention her, and I didn’t ask.”
“How do you think he’d react if you did?” Cassie asks.
“I don’t know. Like I said, he seems to be pretty private about that whole stage of his life.”
“Well, your owed some sort of an explanation. At least if this relationship is going to be successful.” Mac leans over and squeezes me hand. “I’m sure it’s going to be a tough conversation, but I promise you it’s one worth having.”
“I would even know how to bring it up. I’m not that experienced with relationships, you know. If that’s even what this is, it’ll only be like, my fourth one,” I explain, wringing my hands as I talk.
“And that’s okay, I haven’t had that many either.
I think we’re all in the same boat, we’re married to the game.
And I’m sure as someone who was on the track to be pro, he’d understand that.
Just have the conversation, you’ll feel better.
He just might too.” Mac smiles gently at me, and I nod in return.
“Besides, he may be friends with August, but he sure doesn’t act like him. ”
Hendrix howls. “No, he sure doesn’t. At least we know that Dex can be nice.”
“August was nice to me today at the field. Making sure I knew that I would have all the support I needed from the team. And that I would have a home here once I was healthy again,” I reply.
“He was obligated to do that.” Hendrix quickly dismisses the thought that August was being sincere.
“I don’t know, Hen, I think there might be more to him than you want to admit.” Cassie grins at her.
“I will believe it when I see it,” Hendrix replies. The grudge she holds with August runs deep. So deep that I’m surprised that her comments and banter with him has not found her in trouble. Thankfully for Hendrix, she’s a hell of a keeper, so that fact doesn’t hurt.
I try to hide a yawn behind my hand but Cassie spots it.
“You look like you’re getting tired,” she says, rising from her seat. “We should let you rest.”
“No, you can stay,” I stifle another yawn.
“No, you need your rest,” Mac says, getting up to leave.
“Alright, I’ll see you later. Thanks for coming over.” I say with a smile.
“You betcha, we’ll see you later,” Hendrix says, gently leaning over me so that she can hug me.
There’s a chorus of goodbyes before they are all gone.
I sit there thinking about what our conversation.
I wonder when an appropriate time would be to ask Dex about his divorce.
Will he share the information readily? Sighing, I decide it’s better to join a fictional world than to ponder the real one.
And that is how Dex finds me when he returns.