31. JENSEN
31
T his day is filled with surprises, literally . But watching Rae walk back into the yard, her family all smiling and waiting for her, and feeling the excitement it pumps through my veins because of it is the biggest surprise of all. I’m not falling for her; I fell hard. And I’m going deeper and deeper the more I see her walking around her home, comfortable around everyone she grew up with. I want to be a part of it.
No, I need to be a part of it.
When I look at the screen, I’m happily surprised, so I pick up.
“Hunter Hansen, you still alive?”
A deep chuckle comes over the line, and I imagine his cocky grin as I stare the rustling leaves in the trees across the street.
“Are you ? I’ve seen your name in the tabloids more than once last week, man. You’ve been busy.”
“Oh, you know how that goes, man. You’re seen with one girl, and you’re a married man the next day.”
“You must be heading for your divorce, then, because I’ve seen you with the same girl twice.”
I drop my back against the concrete wall, a frown on my face.
“What do you mean?”
Hunter pauses, as if he’s trying to break the news to me easily. “There is a new picture online of you and the blonde. You two are looking pretty cozy on the streets of Atlanta.”
Letting out a growl, I rub my hand over my face.
“Shit,” I mutter.
The first few days, I was careful, checking my surroundings, putting a Knights cap on my head to make sure no one recognized me. Anything to make sure the tabloids couldn’t corner me by surprise. But after Memphis, I let my guard down, putting my main focus on Rae the entire time.
“Is it clear it’s the same girl?”
“You mean Rae Stafford? Former specialist for the LA Knights?” Hunter asks bluntly, giving me a clear answer.
“Fuck.”
“Yeah. I’m guessing your mother is not happy with you.”
“Ha! Nothing new, right?”
“True. What are you doing in Atlanta, though? I thought you’d be celebrating your win in typical LA style?”
“Like you did with your last fight? You bailed the second you got the chance.” I laugh, thinking back about his final MMA fight this spring. He got me front row tickets, and when he won, I went to congratulate him in the dressing room, but he was already gone.
“Are you still pissed about that, Jensen?”
“You brushed me off with a text,” I whine jokingly. “I was a little hurt, yeah.”
“I’m sorry, superstar. You know you have a place in my heart.”
“Yeah, whatever. How is your woman doing?”
“Good! She’s getting big. It’s a boy, by the way.” I can hear the pride in his voice, putting a smile on my face.
“No way! Another Hunter? I’m not sure the world can handle that.”
“Tell me about it. Charlotte said the same when we found out.”
I can’t believe we went from clubbing together to Hunter having a wife and a kid on the way. I still remember when she walked into us at a club years ago, with a puck bunny on each of our laps. I will never forget the hurt in her eyes, the pain that she physically felt when she saw him with another girl.
But I could still see the love dripping from her face.
She loved him with everything she had.
He always told me they were best friends, but at that moment, it became clear that was bullshit. Charlotte’s love for Hunter gave me a glimpse of something I want one day. To find someone who still loves you after you hurt them. Because they simply can’t stop.
“She’s a good one, though. I’ve always known that,” I offer.
“Yeah, man,” he agrees, contentment in his voice. “I have more luck than I deserve. She asked me to ask you for dinner next time you were on the East Coast.”
My brows quirk up at his invitation.
“I’m in North Carolina.”
“Right now?” Hunter sounds surprised, which seems logical since I normally avoid the East Coast as much as I can.
“Yeah, man, I’m in Jacksonville. Bodi too. Rae lives here.”
The line stays quiet before I hear Hunter’s amused voice ring in my ear. “Wait, you’re at her house? With her folks? And Bodi?”
“Yeah, it’s a long story.”
A whistle cuts through my head. “Must be serious, then.”
“Shut up.” I laugh.
“You’re not even denying it?” he blurts, incredulous. “Oh, yeah, you are coming to dinner now. I want all the deets on this Rae girl.”
I chuckle. “Alright, when?”
“Tonight. Charlotte is making fried chicken.”
Rae will love fried chicken on her birthday.
“Sounds perfect.”
“I’ll text you the address. And bring the girl. And Bodi!”
Before I can reply, he hangs up the phone, and Bodi appears at the gate leading back to the backyard.
“Who was that?” he asks, putting his black and white flannel shirt back on. His hair sits messy on his head, and his lips look shiny, like they are covered in… lip gloss?
“What happened to you?” I frown.
“Nothing.” He’s good at the whole innocent look. Most of the time, you can’t detect his lies because he keeps a straight face until the very end. But this time, he didn’t hide the proof.
I bring my thumb to the corner of my mouth. “You sure? Because you got some lip gloss right about here.”
“Shit,” he murmurs, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
“Let me guess. Rae’s cousin? The one with the brown hair? Kayla, right?”
He clears his throat, then raises his chin with that same innocent look on his face. “She jumped me,” he offers.
“Nice try, McKay.” I grab his shoulder and squeeze, but he quickly slaps my arm away.
“Whatever. Was that Kay with a new offer?” he questions, smoothly changing the subject.
“No, it was Hunter. He wants me to come to dinner tonight.”
“Oh, sounds like fun.”
“And bring Rae,” I add.
Bodi whistles, the corner of his mouth raising. “Meeting the parents. Bringing her to dinner parties. Pretty official, huh?”
“We are at her birthday with her entire family. I guess we’re past the casual phase, anyway. Besides, it’s fried chicken at Hunter’s. That’s hardly a dinner party.”
“If the wife of the inviting party is cooking,” he starts with his best posh imitation, which is still crap, “and the wife of the attending party is asked to join—it’s a dinner party.”
“Whatever, asshole. They are having a boy, by the way.”
“No way!” A wicked grin splits his face, the frowns amusingly. “The world is not ready for that.”
“That’s what I said,” I say, matching his smile. “You wanna come? He’s expecting me to bring you.”
“Nah, if you two are bailing, I think I’ll go and have some more fun with her cousin.”
“You do realize she’s ten years younger than you are?” I cock an eyebrow, a smile breaking through.
“It’s not like I’m going to marry the girl. We’re just having fun. Besides, I’m not third-wheeling your dinner party.”
We both walk back into the yard, looking over all the guests circling around the birthday cake. A breeze dances through my hair along with the smell of smoke coming from the barbecue.
“When are you going to tell her?” Bodi asks, nudging his chin toward Rae.
The question could mean anything, but I know what he’s asking. I’ve been looking for the right moment since yesterday, hoping I could corner her long enough tonight to tell her how I feel.
How I really feel.
But now that I’m surrounded by a few dozen of her closest friends and family members, that doesn’t seem to be a good idea.
“Tomorrow,” I say, firmly. “I’m taking her out tomorrow, and I’ll tell her.”
“Sure thing,” I catch how he fixes his attention on Kayla, a flirting smile sent his way before he replies, “say hi to Hunter for me. Tell him we need a boy’s night. Soon ! You, me, him and Jason. I haven’t seen those assholes in months.”
“She’s going to get you in trouble.” I tell him as he strolls off.
He glances back over his shoulder with a wolfish grin. “Isn’t that the point?”
And I laugh, because when my blue eyes find Rae’s golden retina staring back at me from behind a red cup, I agree.
I love trouble.
Now, all I have to do…Is hope trouble loves me.