One

Chapter Thirty-One

THE NAKED TRUTH

All was not right in the world again. Just before I was scheduled to leave for home, Penny messaged me that her dad died.

Fate didn’t seem to work for everyone, because Rupert’s mother fell and broke her hip and he needed to be at the hospital while she had surgery since his dad wasn’t well enough to be there.

Penny’s mother died several years earlier, and she had no siblings.

Penny was a bad-ass, independent woman, and when a bad-ass, independent woman breaks down on the phone and begs her favorite neighbor to come to San Antonio, there was only one thing to do—go to San Antonio.

Lake: Change of plans. Penny’s dad died. Rupert can’t be with her so I’m changing my ticket and going to San Antonio.

Cage didn’t answer until I landed in San Antonio.

Cage: Give her my condolences. I miss you so damn much!

Lake: I will. Miss U 2! I have so much to tell you, but I don’t want to do it over the phone. How’s Shayna? Everson never answers my texts. How’s Trzy?

Cage: Judy left early after an incident, so Banks had to beg your nanny guy to come back to work before he was ready. So guess who’s staying with me until nanny guy is no longer contagious?

Lake: Football guy, please tell me you know that ‘nanny guy’ has a name and it’s Jamie.

Cage: I miss you.

My heart constricted. God … I missed him too.

Lake: Call me when you’re home and you’ve put the kids to bed.

Cage: Kids?

Lake: Trzy and Everson

Cage: How’s my baby? I need some good news.

My constricted heart ripped a little because all was not right in the world. I got my period that morning, but I sort of knew because I took a pregnancy test after the photoshoot and it came up negative. However, I thought it was probably too early to really detect it.

He needed good news. I had none to give.

Lake: I’m good. Don’t forget to love me.

Oh the growing lump in my throat—the only thing growing in my body. My phone rang. It was him. He knew. Of course he knew. He knew my words. He knew me.

Just as a taxi stopped, I pressed ignore. If I’d answered, I would have lost it.

Cage: I’m sorry and I’ll never forget to love you.

I cleared my throat and tossed my phone in my purse, then gave the driver the address.

CAGE

I had no business starting a family when my career was still in its own infancy. So why was Lake not being pregnant such a jab to my gut?

I knew she wouldn’t answer until she was ready and able to talk about it. Penny needed her and it took everything I had in me to be the mature person and acknowledge I could wait. My needs were not as important. Our baby didn’t die. She was never pregnant. But … I still felt an unexplainable loss.

“Hey,” she finally answered on my last attempt before going to bed.

“Hey, how’s Penny?”

“She’s okay. I think she’s mourning the things that happened between her and her father before he ever died, more than his actual death. The unspoken apologies.”

“When is the funeral?”

“Saturday. Visitation is tomorrow.”

“You coming home Sunday?”

“Yes.”

I sighed. “I’m leaving Saturday for Sunday’s game in Detroit. I’ll be back late Sunday.”

“I’ll keep my—”

I waited but she didn’t finish.

“Your?”

“Nothing.”

“Tell me.”

She laughed, the kind that did a shit job of hiding the pain behind it. “I was going to say I’ll keep my sex demands to the bed instead of …”

I leaned back on my pillow and closed my eyes, rubbing them with my thumbs. “Instead of the pantry door.”

“Yeah,” she whispered.

“I want to say something to make you laugh. I love your laugh. I swear it’s my favorite sound in the whole world, and I’ve heard some amazing things.

But your laugh … it’s all consuming. I can’t stop smiling when you laugh, and after a while I don’t even remember what was said that made you laugh because I just get so lost in you.

God … I sound so fucking sentimental right now.

I … I just don’t want to be Penny. I don’t want to ever leave anything unsaid between us. ”

“I blame your weak sperm.” She laughed and just like that I was lost in her.

“Isn’t that just how it is in life? The big jocks, with dicks the size of English cucumbers, have the most pathetic little swimmers with like …

zero stamina. And the scrawny little pencil dicks, you know the ones I’m talking about, the ones that could in fact fuck every orifice of a woman’s body?

Their pre-cum could impregnate half the world. ”

Her giggles brought a bittersweet smile to my face because I missed her So. Damn. Bad.

I cleared my throat. “Judy left because of a doll massacre. When she was putting away some of Shayna’s laundry, she found a drawer full of dolls and they were all missing their left leg below the knee.

In the back of the drawer was a serrated steak knife and a pile of amputated doll limbs.

Banks talked Judy out of reporting it to CPS, but he couldn’t talk her out of leaving.

That’s why your nanny guy, Jamie, had to suck it up and get back to work before he felt 100 percent. ”

“No!” She gasped. “She did not cut off her dolls’ legs.”

“She did. Banks still can’t tell the story without nearly pissing himself. You’re her idol, babe.”

“Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy … I love that girl.”

I went to say something, but I couldn’t. The hesitation said it for me.

“Cage, I feel it too. It’s insane really.

We’re not married. Children? Why would we even consider them at this point?

We’re probably the only two people in the world who can understand why me not being pregnant is such a disappointment.

It was a bet, or dare, or just some weird standoff that happened that day in your kitchen.

I was terrified and exhilarated at the same time.

I hadn’t even considered kids yet, all I knew was I wanted you.

But after we did it … I realized I wanted that part of you too. ”

“But I have weak sperm?”

“Incredibly weak.”

“Maybe you just have an inhospitable environment. Probably all the junk food you eat.”

“Watch it, Monaghan. You have a pretty good record with me, but those are some fighting words. If you don’t back it down, then I’d say the chances of you scoring anytime soon are pretty slim.”

“We’re separated by three states. I can’t even see your end zone.”

Lake giggled. “Just as well. It’s really more like a war zone right now.”

“I love you. I need sleep. Long day.”

“You don’t want to discuss my period anymore?”

“I’m sure Penny would be a better fit for that conversation.”

“No. Penny lost her uterus. I don’t think she wants to discuss this with me.”

“Jesus, has she reported it missing? I bet the same asshole who stole your leg has her uterus too. I suspect they’ve both been sold on the black market.”

There it was—her laugh. I’d make crazy shit up all night long for more of her laughter.

“Sweet dreams, my sports star. Don’t forget to lo—”

“It’s what I do best. Good night, sexy.”

I awoke to a text from the woman who managed to unravel me a little more the farther she traveled away from me. Lake held me together. It was a frightening realization that any one person had such a profound effect on my existence.

Lake: Where will Trzy be when you leave? Check with Mrs. Leonard in 2A, just flash her your dimples. Or ask Jamie. <3 U.

Cage: Flashed Mrs. Leonard my dimples. She fainted. Paramedics came. As the officer took my statement it hit me … you didn’t mean my butt dimples, did you? So embarrassing …

Lake: Funny guy. My tongue loves your butt dimples. Did you get arrested? How cool would it be if we both had a police record? I hope you really did moon her, it will make the confession I have to give you so much easier.

Cage: WTF?

Lake: We’re at the church. I have to go. Keep your ass off the turf Sunday. Tell your tackle guys to protect you. Good luck.

Cage: Linemen. Love you. I’ll stay on my feet if you keep your damn clothes on!

Lake: Really, I have to go … but challenge accepted. I’m going to watch Sunday’s game at a sports bar downtown and every time you land on your ass I’m going to remove a piece of my clothing. xx

I typed ten different responses, then deleted them. She had me by the balls. Stubborn woman.

“Get your ass on the bus, Monaghan. We have a plane to catch.”

I nodded at my coach and slipped my phone into my pocket. Visions of Lake stripping in a sports bar haunted me. It was a joke. It had to be a joke.

Fuck!

What if it wasn’t a joke?

Detroit racked up three sacks on me. We had the number one defense, they had the number two.

Every inch of my body fucking ached—throbbed.

I had two seconds to get the ball off. Where the hell were the blocks?

Don’t throw an interception. Don’t get sacked.

See the whole field. Find my receiver. Stop thinking of Lake stripping.

I stopped for a few questions before making it off the field at the end of the game.

“Cage, you edged Detroit out in overtime. Did you anticipate their defense rushing as much as they did today and how will you adjust for when they come to Minnesota next month?”

“We played the number two defense, but our offense practices against the number one, so we were ready. Of course we expected them to come hard, but my line did a great job of giving me a few extra seconds to find my receivers. One game at a time, but right now we’re three-and-oh, so the plan is to just keep practicing hard and bringing it on game day. ”

Reporters spewed questions left and right, knowing damn well I’d only respond to the one from the network televising the game until I reached the locker room.

“What is your reaction to Lake Jones posing nude for Breaking Barriers magazine?”

I turned. Flint and several security guys nudged me to keep going.

“Locker room,” Flint warned.

I glared at him for a moment then continued making my way off the field.

“What the fuck, Flint,” I gritted between my teeth.

“I don’t know.”

“How the hell do you not know? I pay you to know this shit.”

“You pay me to keep your reputation clean. Not hers. I can’t control her any more than you can.”

I turned before going into the locker room… “Find out.”

He chuckled. “You want me to call her?”

“No … yes … dammit!” I shook my head, trying to not make any more of a scene. “Never mind. I’ll handle it.”

LAKE

My bed. I missed my bed.

Cage didn’t reply to my message, but it was marked “read” so I knew he saw it.

There was no doubt in my mind that he’d come straight to my apartment after he got off the plane—until he didn’t.

Through my peephole I saw Everson arrive home.

Two hours later … no Cage. No response. I had a monster headache from squinting into the peephole. I needed a new pastime.

I typed a text then deleted it, opting for a phone call since I knew he was off the plane. It went to his voice mail.

“Hey, um … congrats on your game. I guess you’re asleep by now, but if you’re not, call me. I’m sure I’ll be awake for another hour or more. So … bye.”

After brushing my teeth, I noticed my phone light up on my bed stand as I slipped off my leg.

Cage: Tell me about the nude photos.

He didn’t answer on purpose. How did he find out? I called his phone. Again, no answer.

Cage: Just tell me if it’s true.

I called again. Again, no answer. My eyes shifted from the call button to the time: 12:45 a.m.

Thirty minutes later I arrived at his door. The house was dark.

bang bang bang

The hall light illuminated, followed by the entry and the click of the door lock. He appeared in a pair of gray jogging shorts and nothing else, eyes squinted against the light.

“If you have more than ten pubic hairs attached to your balls, then you should have answered your phone like an adult.”

He stood resolute, blocking the doorway.

My eyes widened a fraction as I slid my hands up into the sleeves of my purple hoodie, then hugged myself to keep warm. “Wow. Really? The silent treatment. How mature of you.”

“Is it true?”

I laughed. “Does it matter?”

He looked at me like it mattered more than anything, and in an instant my smile fell flat. It was the look he gave me when he was upset about his dad and going to meet my family. I didn’t know that Cage. I didn’t even recognize him.

I said goodbye with a single, slow nod and turned, walking back to my car.

As I fastened my seatbelt, a jarring bang to my hood brought my head up with a snap.

Cage stood with his hands pressed to the hood, eyes locked to mine.

Dropping his chin to his chest he just stood there and I waited.

The occasional glimpse of his demons broke my heart.

A good minute later my door opened. I inched my eyes up to his, hoping I’d see my Cage again.

He leaned in and unfasten my seatbelt, then took my hand and helped me out.

After closing the door, he inched closer until my back pressed against it.

I’m sure there were the right words to say, but I wasn’t sure what they were.

I refused to apologize for anything. I’d done nothing wrong.

But I loved the man before me more than life itself so …

yeah, I waited for him to give me something I could work with, something I could help mend.

He threaded his hands in my hair and released a painful sigh as he leaned forward. His lips brushed along my lips like a soft breeze, skimming along my cheek. He breathed me in, burying his nose in my hair, his lips at my ear. My skin bloomed with a million tingly goose bumps.

“No,” he whispered. “It doesn’t matter.”