Chapter 20
Jase
It didn’t take long for my phone to blow up, just like Faye’s had. My mom, my dad, and even Tyler were texting. Their messages all sounded just like Cammie’s:
Are you dating the president’s daughter?
The answer was simple, but I still needed to make sure I could tell the truth.
“What do you want to do, Princess?”
Her blue eyes lifted to me. “I don’t know. What should we do?”
“You have the biggest spotlight on you,” I reminded her.
“For now,” she argued. “You just got a call earlier that you’re practicing with the pros during spring training. What if you get brought up?”
My gaze met Dylan’s and he said, “I don’t think it’s a bad thing for the world to know you two are dating.”
“Yeah, but I’m not the only one dating her,” I stated as though he didn’t know.
“J’s right,” Faye chimed in. “This wouldn’t be fair to you if the story is out that he and I are the only ones dating.”
“Then we tell them we all are?” Dylan shrugged.
My eyes shifted back to Faye, but before she could say anything, I said, “I’m not sure it would look good for stepbrothers to be dating, either.”
“I agree,” Dylan snorted. “Can you imagine the shit we’d get in the locker rooms?”
“Yeah, I don’t want to get shit for my relationship when I already know rookies get hazed.”
“But are we ever going to go public?” Faye questioned.
All of us were silent for a few moments, and then I answered, “I think we should eventually, but as I said, it won’t be good for us in our rookie season, and for you while your father is the president. How’s that going to go over when the world finds out his daughter is dating two guys?”
“That’s true.”
“So, we keep it simple,” I went on. “For now, the story is that I’m seeing you, which is true. We don’t lie to people who matter, but we also don’t hand the internet any extra ammo while we’re still figuring this out.”
Her gaze lifted. “And Dylan?”
“I’m not pretending I’m not in this,” he cut in. “But I also don’t need to be a headline.”
“That’s my worry,” she replied. “You’ll get shoved into the background while everyone talks about Jase and me.”
He shrugged. “I know what this is. You know what this is. He knows what this is. That’s the part I care about.”
“We tell our people the truth,” I added. “Just our families and friends. Your parents are going to need time before they even get used to one boyfriend, let alone two, and given your father’s the most powerful man in America, I don’t think he’s ready for a scandal.”
Her mouth twisted. “Especially after the shit with Fallon getting shot.”
“Exactly,” I agreed.
My phone buzzed again on the counter. So did hers.
“Just to be clear,” Dylan spoke. “We’re telling our close friends and family we’re all dating?”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “I don’t think we should hide that since we agreed we all want to keep seeing each other.”
“Okay, then, since we have the same people, you might as well start a group chat,” he suggested.
Faye nudged my elbow. “Go ahead. I’m going to call my parents since what I need to say should probably be said over a secure line and not via text, which someone could hack.”
“Smart.” I kissed the side of her head, then picked up my phone and started a group chat with Dylan, my dad, my mom, Gage, Tyler, Hayden, Cammie, and my mom’s husband, Tony:
Fam Bam! I know most of you have seen the gossip because you’re blowing up my phone. Dylan and I decided to start a group text so everyone is on the same page. Yes I’m dating the president’s daughter but so is Dylan
I hit send, and then instantly Cammie replied:
What do you mean so is Dylan? You’re both seeing the same girl?
Yes
Wow. When can I meet her?
My eyes bounced to Dylan’s, and he looked up from his phone. “We do have some time before spring training.”
I looked toward the patio, where Faye was on the phone, then back at Dylan. “Yeah, but where?”
“I have no idea.”
My phone buzzed again.
Mom: As long as you’re happy, then we’re happy. We wouldn’t ever tell you who to date
Dad: Your mom’s right. Gage and I are happy for you both
Tyler: How’s Fallon taking it?
He’s the one who told Faye about the pic but that’s all I know. She’s on the phone with her parents right now
Cammie: This is so cool. My sister in law is the first daughter!
Dylan: Woah. Calm down there tiger. No one is proposing. We’re just having a really good time
I stared at Dylan. We were having a really good time, but that thing in my chest was slowly breaking as I thought about getting on a plane the next day, and I wasn’t sure when we’d see her again.
“Can we talk?” I asked him.
“Us?”
“Yeah. In the bedroom.”
He swallowed. “Okay.”
We walked into the bedroom, and I closed the door.
“You’re kinda freaking me out. I know we haven’t talked about the other night—”
I shook my head. “It’s not about that.”
“Then what’s up?”
I swallowed and closed my eyes for a brief second. “I think I love her.”
He stared at me for a few beats. “You’re not joking.”
“No.” My pulse thudded in my ears. “Every time we’re with her, this feeling keeps getting stronger.”
Dylan dragged a hand over his mouth. “Yeah.”
“Yeah, what? You pissed? Weirded out?”
He shook his head. “I’m not pissed. I’m not surprised either.”
“That’s it?” I pushed. “I tell you I love our girlfriend, and you’re just cool with it?”
“That’s the whole point. You loving her doesn’t change what we’ve got going on.”
“It doesn’t bother you that I got there first?”
He leaned back against the dresser. “You didn’t get there first. You’re just the first one willing to say it out loud.”
My stomach tightened. “You feel it too?”
He clenched his jaw, turned to the wall for a second, then to me again.
“I’m not ready to put that word on it yet.
Not because it’s not true, but because if I do, I’m gonna start thinking about all the shit that comes with it, and my brain’s already overloaded with spring training, you, and her dad possibly wanting to punch us. ”
“Me?”
“You know what I mean.”
“Right.” I blew out a breath. “We—”
He held up a hand but stared down at the floor. “We’ll figure out what’s going on between you and me after we leave here.”
“Okay,” I agreed. What happened between us on New Year’s was something we needed to discuss, but I wasn’t ready either. I stepped closer to him and grabbed his hand. “You’re my best friend, and we do everything together. I guess this makes sense.”
His head jerked up. “You’re serious?”
“If you want to suck my dick, I’m not going to stop you.” I winked.
He shoved me away. “You’re such a jackass.”
“But you love me.” That line had been said between us for so long, but saying it in that moment, after everything, and telling him I was in love with Faye, felt as though it carried a new meaning.
“Unfortunately,” he muttered.
I grabbed his hand again and pulled him closer. “You really good with this?”
“Of course. I love her too, but it freaks me out to throw it around in an airport tomorrow.”
I huffed out a laugh. “I’m not dropping it on her at the gate.”
“Good,” he replied. “But we should probably get back out there. If we stay in here any longer, she’s gonna think we bailed on her during a meltdown.”
“Yeah.” I pulled the door open. “We’ll figure out the rest later.”
We walked back into the living area to find Faye standing on the patio, her back to us, phone to her ear, eyes on the water. Her shoulders looked tight, but she wasn’t shaking. That counted as a win.
Dylan dropped onto one of the stools at the island. I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and tried not to stare through the glass like a creep.
A few minutes later, she came back in, cheeks a little flushed, phone still in her hand.
“How’d it go?” Dylan asked.
She set the phone on the counter and let out a slow breath. “My mother is in processing mode. My father is in listening mode. That’s about as good as it gets over the phone.”
“They freaked?” I asked.
“Not yet,” she answered. “For now, they’re asking careful questions and pretending they’re not already planning ten meetings about this.”
“Did you tell them it’s both of us?” Dylan questioned.
Her fingers brushed the bracelet. “I told them there are two people in the picture, and I care about both of you. I promised them I’d explain everything when I get to D.C. in two weeks for another gala.”
“That works,” I replied. “Our parents know it’s both of us now. Tyler knows too.”
Her shoulders loosened a little. “Okay. I should probably tell Fallon.” She started typing on her phone. “Done. I’ll deal with his reply when he responds, but everyone else can chill for a while.”
Dylan nodded. “Speaking of chilling, we should go to the beach or the pool. We can stuff our faces with all the food we still have, and tomorrow we deal with what’s coming.”
She stepped between us, her hands lifting to the back of our necks. “I vote we stop talking and use what time we have left for fun things.”
“Works for me,” Dylan replied.
“Yeah,” I agreed. “I’m all in on that.”
The next morning came quickly.
Faye fought with her suitcase until Dylan and I leaned on it so she could drag the zipper around. I checked the drawers and the bathroom for anything we might’ve left behind. The villa felt empty without our stuff scattered everywhere.
By the time the taxi we’d ordered pulled up in front, our bags were packed, but we weren’t ready to say goodbye.
“Last chance to fake a storm,” Dylan commented as we loaded the luggage.
“I don’t think my dad controls the weather,” Faye replied.
“Yet,” he answered.
She paused. “Don’t tell me you’re one of those people who think the government actually controls the weather?”
“Naw, Princess. I’m not brainwashed; I’m just teasing you.”
She managed a small smile and climbed into the backseat, and we flanked her. Once we were situated, her hand slid into mine. She took Dylan’s with her other hand and held on for the entire ride to the dock.
The ferry was crowded with sunburned tourists and kids complaining about having to leave. We found an empty row of seats.