Chapter Seven
RUB A DUB DUB
Several days later a familiar bang bang bang brought me out of the best dream, one with a sexy NFL quarterback who may or may not have been wearing any clothes.
“Trzy, get the door. I need to finish my dream.”
Meow
“You’re really worthless, you know that, right? But I love you anyway.”
The banging continued as I made my way to the peephole, but I knew it was Everson. He had the weirdest knock: knock knock (ten seconds later) knock knock knock knock knock. The same pattern continued without variation. The guy knew I had to assemble myself before I could get the door.
“Yes, I’m marrying Cage.”
Everson grinned—the full-on smile I loved. It was the best because I knew he didn’t really want to admit that he genuinely liked me. Or that he was amused by me—same thing.
“Monaghan is married to the team. He won’t be taking a wife anytime soon if he knows what’s best for him. Too distracting.”
“Good morning to you, too.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“It’s nearly noon, Stick.”
“I had a late night.”
He held his hand up. “I don’t need to hear about you getting your freak on.”
“Sons of Anarchy until 2:00 a.m. is hardly getting my freak on. What do you want?”
“Conditioner.”
My gaze shifted to his short, buzzed hair. He rolled his eyes.
“Ooohhh …” I nodded. “You had a lady friend stay over last night.”
“A lady friend? Really, Stick? No one says that. And no, that’s not it.”
“First of all, I just said it, so you can’t say ‘no one’ says it. I’m someone, you know? And as for your stick … I saw a picture of Shayna’s mom—your mom.”
His brow peaked.
I narrowed my eyes, but he shook off my comment.
After a few seconds of silence that he refused to fill with elaborating on his mom, I sighed.
“If the conditioner is not for hair, then I have a good idea what you’re going to do with it and I’ll give you some lotion instead.
I splurge on good conditioner. I’m sure some sort of cooking oil would work just as good. Ya ever thought about trying that?”
Everson shook his head. “Porn site or not, you’re a freak, woman, that’s all there is to it.”
“Evson?”
The door to his apartment cracked open.
I came so close to bursting into tears. I couldn’t even speak past the lump in my throat.
“I’m not sure what the rules are on helping her bathe. I’m a guy, her brother, not her dad, and—”
I shook my head until he stopped talking, then I nodded. “I’ve got her,” I choked out, blinking back my tears.
“Get your clothes,” he told her then turned to me when she went back inside his apartment. “Don’t give me that look. I’m not making any promises. One day at a time. That’s all I’ve got to give. Don’t get too attached to her, Stick. Got it?”
I nodded, completely lying. Shayna already had me with her very first smile.
As Shayna played in the bathtub, I sat on the vanity and scrolled through my emails looking for my flight confirmation. My phone vibrated and a text popped up at the top of my screen.
This is me wanting to call you, but I’m not alone. Hi.
I wasted no time typing my future husband’s name into my contacts with the text number.
Lake: Hi. It’s rude to text me with someone else in your bed.
Cage: It’s afternoon. Who’s still in bed?
Lake: Never mind.
Cage: What are you doing?
Lake: Giving the cutest little girl a bath.
Cage: You have a child?
Lake: No. She’s Everson’s.
Cage: Banks has a daughter?
Lake: No. It’s his sister. Long story and you didn’t hear it from me.
Cage: Clearly, since you didn’t actually tell me the story.
Lake: What are you doing?
Cage: Getting a massage.
Lake: Rough life.
Cage: Not like a spa massage. Sports therapy.
Lake: Isn’t it off season?
Cage: I still train in the off season.
Lake: Coach’s pet.
Cage: So I’ve heard.
I laughed. Shayna looked up from her soapy abyss and grinned.
“You ready to get rinsed off and get out?”
She shook her head.
I shrugged. “Okay, but the water won’t stay warm forever.”
She grabbed one of the plastic cups I gave her and dumped water through my kitchen strainer.
Cage: When do you leave for China?
Lake: EARLY tomorrow morning.
Cage: Need a ride to the airport?
Lake: No. My boss pays for parking.
Cage: ::clearing my throat:: Do you WANT me to take you to the airport?
“I love him,” I whispered to myself as my heart fluttered in my chest to the same rhythm as the butterflies in my stomach.
Lake: You’d have to get up too early.
Cage: You still haven’t answered my question.
Lake: The sun won’t be up.
Cage: And???
I trapped my lips between my teeth and took a deep breath.
Lake: I’d love for you to take me to the airport.
Cage: Time?
Lake: My flight leaves at 10:05 so you’ll need to be here by 7:30.