Chapter 14
FOURTEEN
LUCAS
“I can’t believe you’re engaged!” My sister Hazel squeals and claps over our video chat, and I turn down the volume on my phone a few clicks. “How did this happen?” she gushes. “I need all the details.”
I shift in the driver’s seat and sigh. “I’m not engaged. I’m not even dating her.”
“That’s not what Jace told me. He said you took her home after the game the other night,” she challenges me.
“I did. But it didn’t work out.”
She makes this small feminine whine of disappointment, like I’m a sick puppy she needs to rescue. “Oh, Lucas. I’m sorry. You’re probably heartbroken, and here I am celebrating. What happened?”
The last thing I need is her pity.
Anabelle and Owen Hadley’s wife cross the parking lot toward the building.
“I gotta go.” I end the call and climb down from my truck, tucking my phone into my pocket as I walk toward the doors.
As soon as I open them, Anabelle and her friend turn to look at me.
I should remember her name, but my memory is terrible.
“Oh, hi, Lucas,” the friend says. “You’re here. We have a seat ready for you if you want to follow me.”
It’s kind of a nice thing. Owen’s wife wants to always seat us herself. She leads us back to the same booth, and we slide into place next to each other as Owen approaches.
“Thank you, Alexis,” Owen says to her.
Oh, yeah. That was her name.
They both pull up one of the chairs facing us.
“Should I be the one to officiate the wedding, since I started all this?” Owen jokes.
My heart pounds, and I reach out to fiddle with the saltshaker because my hands need something to do. But as I reach for the caddy that holds all the condiments, I end up knocking the entire thing over, and it scatters across the table, spilling out salt, pepper, and packages of Sweet-N-Low.
Right in front of the owners.
Alexis snatches it all up and begins putting it back together. “Don’t worry about it,” she fusses. “It’s totally fine.”
I hadn’t apologized yet. “Uh, sorry,” I rumble.
I reach out to help, but she shoos my hands away. “I got it.” She gives Owen a dirty look. “You should take this more seriously. This is all our fault. We know the paparazzi like to hang out here when we’re in town. We should have been more discreet.”
And by “we” she really means “you.” But this lady seems to be too nice to roast her husband too much. In front of us, at least.
Anabelle’s been quiet all this time. Her usual cheery smile is gone, and I fight the urge to reach out and stroke her hand to comfort her.
“My ex texted today because he saw us in the tabloids. He thinks it’s all true. I wouldn’t care if it weren’t, except for the fact that this will affect Nolan. I’m worried his dad may decide to take more custody. He wasn’t happy about Lucas spending time with Nolan.”
“If he’d been around, he would already know that I’ve been working with Nolan,” I say. Jeremy walks out on her and Nolan, and then acts like he has a right to dictate her life a year later?
I can’t imagine what I would have done if my dad had one day wanted to jump back into my life and boss around my mom and me.
Owen pats the table. “Look, I’m sure you guys have a lot to discuss. I’ll have a server bring you some bread and drinks, and you can order whatever you’d like from the menu. It’s on the house.”
“It’s the least we can do,” Alexis says with sorrowful eyes.
“You never know.” Owen stands, smiling. “Something good may come of all this.”
Alexis and Owen leave, and I turn to Anabelle. “My agent called me earlier today after the video went viral. He wants me to distance myself from you because it’s hurting my image.”
“Did you tell him that’s what we’re already doing?”
“Yes, but that video has done a lot of damage. We probably should be a bit more discreet,” I say.
“So, you’re not giving up the mentorship?” Her voice is small.
“No.”
Silence stretches between us.
She fidgets with her linen napkin. “It means a lot to Nolan. You mean a lot to him,” she admits.
I’ve gotten attached to him, which is the main reason I refuse to give it up.
“Tommy, my agent, doesn’t want me being tempted to put down roots in Maple Creek. There’s no money in it for him if I stay here. He gets his payday from me signing back on with the Arsenal or another big team.”
The server shows up with water and bread and takes our order. Anabelle and I both reach for our glasses at the same time, and our arms brush. Warmth washes over me the moment sorrow slams into my chest. How can I push her away when my feelings are this strong?
She shifts her arm away from mine a touch. “I filled up on muffins at Josie’s, so I probably don’t need all these carbs, but I can’t resist the bread here,” she rambles, smiling as she butters a roll. There’s something about watching this woman indulge that lights my insides on fire.
I wish I could give her everything. To wake up every morning and watch her enjoy her first cup of coffee for the day.
What if there were a way I could protect my career and protect Anabelle and Nolan at the same time?
Not that I have a clue how to do it. And with Jeremy acting territorial, Anabelle might shut me down anyway.
“Nolan deserves better from his dad,” I say.
“Did Nolan ever tell you his dad was the one who got him interested in soccer?” Anabelle asks.
“He did tell me that.” And now he’s dropped him. “At least he was around that long. I can’t say the same for my dad.”
Anabelle looks up at me with supportive eyes. “What happened?”
“I don’t like to talk about it much,” I begin. The words lodge in my throat. “He walked out on my mom when we were little. There were three of us kids. I’m the middle child.”
She sips her water before putting it back down. “And Jace?”
I nod. “He’s the youngest. And I have a sister. Hazel, the oldest.”
“Right. The one with the store.”
She remembered.
“Eventually, my mom got remarried, and my stepdad is great, but it doesn’t erase what my dad did.”
“You and Nolan have that in common.” It’s like she’s realizing it for the first time.
I nod. “It’s tough to watch what his dad is putting him through.”
“And now he doesn’t want you coming around Nolan.”
“He has every right to dictate what he does during his time with Nolan. But he can’t tell you who you can expose Nolan to. I mean, within reason.”
“Unless you have some hidden skeletons, you’re a trustworthy person,” Anabelle says.
“I never said I don’t,” I say with a straight face.
Anabelle raises her brow. “Are you about to confess something?”
“You never know. I can be a mysterious guy,” I say in a deep voice.
“Why does that make me want to become a detective?”
“I thought you said we couldn’t see each other after this,” I say.
“I can study you from afar,” she explains.
“I’m not sure how I feel about that,” I admit.
She laughs. “Fair enough.”
The server comes with our food and places our plates in front of us.
“I’m not sure I can eat all this,” she says, surveying her roasted chicken and mashed potatoes. “I just filled up on muffins and bread.”
“Eat the meat and package the rest to go.” I grab my burger and take a bite. The menu said bun was baked in house, and it makes a big difference in the taste. “There is one benefit to you being full,” I say after chewing and swallowing. “You aren’t trying to steal my food.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “Just for that, I’m taking a fry.” Before I can shoo her hand away, she snatches one and shoves it into her mouth.
So, I grab my fork and scoop up some of her mashed potatoes.
“You know I don’t care about those, right?”
“You’re missing out. These are delicious. Mmm,” I moan.
Her eyes go wide. “Don’t make that sound,” she hisses. “It’s indecent.”
“You don’t like it?” I challenge her.
Her lips twitch. “I never said that.”
I tug at my collar. Don’t these people believe in air conditioning? It’s scorching in here.