Chapter 26
TWENTY-SIX
JJ
“Have you spotted them yet?” Dad looks up from his menu and peruses the place.
“They’re at the bar. Don’t be obvious,” Beckett grumbles, though he glances over his shoulder, being exactly that.
Aiden rubs his hands together, his dark eyes flashing. “I can’t wait to see Addie’s reaction.”
Brooks huffs. “Why am I here?”
I nudge his foot and frown. “To support me.”
He scrutinizes me. “Support you in what? Stalking the woman you consider just a coach?”
I sigh. Looks like the jig is up. But that doesn’t mean I’m ready to admit it.
At least Garreth and Hayden aren’t here to witness this. Gavin either. He said he wanted nothing to do with pissing off his assistant coach. He suggested the rest of us follow his example, but Beckett was having none of that. Neither was I.
And thank god I didn’t listen, because the guy Savannah chose is huge. There’s no way Adeline isn’t uncomfortable. He’s standing too close and towering over her. Probably talking down to her too. While she keeps laughing, it’s probably because she’s nervous.
The guy can’t be that funny.
Not that she has ever laughed at a man’s jokes just to make him feel better.
Fuck. It’s like the Adeline I’ve known for more than half my life is disappearing right in front of my eyes.
Aiden clears his throat and sets his menu down. “What’s good here?”
“It’s a steakhouse,” Brooks grumbles.
“So? Maybe the porterhouse is better than the filet. Or maybe they have a really good fish option on the menu. Don’t be so closed-minded.”
With a sigh, Brooks downs his whiskey. The second he sets it on the table, he holds up his hand, signaling to the server to bring him another.
My father sets his menu down. “I always get the filet here. They have a good garlic butter rub.”
Beckett sets his menu down as well. “I prefer the porterhouse.”
“Shit. Now what?” Aiden says, focus once again on the menu. “You want to get one and I’ll get the other?” he asks, peering over at Brooks.
“Are we five?” his brother huffs.
“Jeez. With that attitude, you’d think Sara was the one on a date with another man. Not even JJ is biting my head off, and his girl is the one who’s with someone else.”
“She’s not his girl,” both my father and Beckett growl.
Tongue pressed to my cheek, I fight the urge to tell them the fuck she’s not.
That’s not why we’re here, though. Tonight we’re just watching out for Adeline. Making sure this oversized creep doesn’t take advantage of her.
Aiden chuckles like we’re all idiots and when the server comes around to take Brooks’s drink order, he grins at her. “What’s the best thing on the menu?”
“Most people order the filet but the porterhouse is fantastic as well.”
Nostrils flaring, Brooks hands her his menu. “We’ll take one of each.”
Aiden bounces in his seat. “And the lobster mac and cheese for the table too.”
I place my order for a steak and am quickly distracted by Adeline’s laugh again. “What in god’s name could be so funny?” I grumble.
My father tilts closer. “Maybe he’s got a good sense of humor.”
“What do we know about him?” Aiden asks.
Beckett leans back in his chair, his whiskey glass dangling from his fingers.
A Hanson gold blend, of course. “Thirty-two,” he says, “hedge fund manager. Oldest of three, two younger sisters, family lives in Newburyport. He talks to his father daily, mother twice a week,” His lip curls on one side in displeasure.
“Went to college at Notre Dame and played football—defense.”
“Fuck, did you get his social security number too?” Dad chuckles.
“Zero-three-two—”
Jaw dropping, Dad lurches forward.
Beckett’s green eyes sparkle with mischief. “I’m kidding. No. But I do know he owns his apartment, has no kids, and has no divorces under his belt.”
That wasn’t meant to be a jab in my direction, but it hits me in my gut anyway.
I never wanted kids. Adeline’s words from years ago plague me.
“Thirty-two and single,” Brooks mumbles. “I wonder why?”
Aiden coughs out a laugh. “Maybe he’s been saving himself for the perfect woman.”
Brooks gives him a surly look I don’t understand and don’t have the energy to dig into.
“He’s not wrong,” my father agrees. “Why is someone so seemingly perfect on paper still single?”
“Look at Adeline,” Beckett counters. “The same could be said for her.” He lifts his chin, his focus landing on me. “Maybe someone strung him along for a while and he’s just now realizing it’s time to start fresh.”
Okay, that was definitely aimed at me. Clearly, Beckett is still pissed about what went down four years ago.
Can’t blame him, I guess. But I never got the impression that he held a grudge.
No one knows what really happened anyway.
And on top of that, he invited me to live in his damn home with his daughter.
But fuck, there’s really no other way to take what he’s saying.
“I’m going to run to the bathroom.” I heave myself up and stride away without waiting for anyone else to acknowledge me.
I don’t even look toward Adeline’s table.
I just get the fuck out. I need a little quiet so I can breathe and figure out how the fuck I’m going to convince Beckett that I’m good for his daughter.
Because it seems that convincing him might be just as hard as convincing her.
My foot hits the tile in the hallway outside the bathroom half a second before a fist slams into my chest, pushing me against the wall.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
Breath held, I take in Adeline. A very pissed off, very beautiful, Adeline.
Her lips are painted a gorgeous red, her cheeks are flushed—probably from all that laughing she’s done tonight—and her brown eyes are wild.
And then there’s the goddamn outfit.
The black blouse has the thinnest of strings for straps, showing off her incredibly toned arms, with a neckline that dips low, exposing cleavage she never shows off. That’s as far as I make it before she hits me again. “Eyes up here, asshole.”
With a groan, I roll my neck. “Sorry, I’m just, thrown by—” I shake my head and motion toward her top.
She bites down on her tongue and huffs. “I told the girls it looked ridiculous.”
“You don’t—” I sputter, squeezing my fists. “You don’t look ridiculous.”
Her expression goes stony again. “What are you doing here? Could you really not go somewhere else for your little date?”
My heart lurches. “My what?”
Eyes shut, she shakes her head. “This is the first date I’ve ever been on.
First. Do you get that? Do you understand how hard it is for me that you’re here?
Why here?” Her voice warbles, but she pulls her shoulders back and goes on.
“Did you ask the girls where I’d be so you could show up for dinner at the same place and really rub it in? Why are you doing this to me?”
I blink. First date? And what the hell is she talking about me being on a date?
A woman appears, neck craning so she can look around us. “’Scuse me, is there a line?”
I grasp Adeline’s arm and pull her down the hall. When I come to a door with no sign on it, I wiggle the knob, and when it opens to a small closet, I pull her inside.
“What are you doing?” she hisses, tugging against my hold.
I turn, putting one hand on her hip, and glower at the infuriating woman I adore. “I’m making a few things very clear, because last time we tried this, I didn’t.”
Her brows furrow.
“I’m not here on a date. I came with our dads and your uncles to make sure you’re okay.”
Her jaw drops. “What? Why?”
“Because your first date shouldn’t be with that guy. It should be with me.”
Eyes turning glassy, she tips her chin up, her lips a breath from mime. “You had all of my firsts. Every one of them. While I don’t even get seconds when it comes to you.”
I angle in, my nose brushing hers, and clutch her other hip, tugging her against me. “I’ll give you every second I have. Every minute will be yours, Adeline.”
Pulling back, she searches my face, a confused frown marring hers. “Why are you doing this now?” Her voice cracks, and my heart does too.
Like last time, I give her all my truths. Only this time, I won’t blow it the way I did back then. “Because I haven’t gone a day without thinking about you. I’m crazy jealous of that Scott guy. And if I don’t find out what your lips feel like right the fuck now, I’m going to lose my goddamn mind.”
She sucks in a surprised breath. Unlike four years ago, I don’t hesitate after that declaration.
I press my mouth to hers, telling her with a brush of my lips that she’s the only woman I’ve ever wanted to date.
That she’s the girl of my dreams. That I’d risk everything for her.
That dating isn’t worth it if it’s not the two of us.
A soft whimper escapes her, spurring me on. I slide my tongue against her lips, holding her tighter, so damn relieved that she doesn’t push me away.
Until she does.
She shoves me.
Hard.
“No.”
Panting, eyes heavy, I beg. “Please, Adeline.”
“No.” She shakes her head and holds up a hand. “I can’t do this.”
“Yes you can.” Refusing to give up, I step into her space, and when she keeps her focus averted, I press my hand to her cheek and guide her face until we’re eye to eye.
“You and I both know this is inevitable. We’re inevitable.
Stop fighting me and help me figure out a way to make this work. To make us work.”
Her face sags with exhaustion. “I hate you.”
I press a kiss to the side of her mouth. “Lie. Now tell me a truth.”
“I hate how much I want you.”
Smiling, I stroke her cheek. “Better, but still a lie. You love this as much as I do.”
“This is never going to work, JJ.” A tear slips down her cheek.
I kiss it away. “Another lie. Come on, baby, try harder.”
“We’re wrong for each other,” she whispers.
“We’re meant for each other,” I murmur against her lips. “Try again.”
She shakes her head, her mouth softly brushing mine, and she whines. “I’m so tired of fighting these feelings.”