10. Sloan
Sloan
I’m going to kill him.
I won't make it quick and painless either, he deserves to suffer.
Ever since Cody crashed into the glass at the first game, Jude hasn’t shut up about the Robinson twins. He seems to think he’s best friends with them and he’s completely clueless they want nothing to do with him.
I don’t know if he’s just fan-girling over them or if he’s really too stupid to realize they don’t want him around, but I'm getting annoyed.
Jax wasn’t inviting us for dinner tonight, but Jude seems to think he’s invited to anything they do, especially after a game. I don’t know how they’re going to sever this tie with him, but they’ll have to do it sooner or later. There’s no way they’ll keep letting him tag along to everything… right?
I didn’t want to go to the game today. I was working and Jude’s dad, Mr. Carpenter, told me I needed to meet Jude for lunch at a restaurant a few blocks away.
I wasn’t going to argue with my boss, so I went.
Next thing I knew, we were finding our seats at the game and I was texting Mr. Carpenter and apologizing.
He told me he knew what Jude’s plans were and not to worry about work.
I wanted to strangle someone. I don’t see a hockey game as a good enough reason to leave work in the middle of the day. I take pride in my job and I don’t want other people thinking I don’t care about it. Nor do I want them to think I get special treatment because I'm dating the boss’s son.
After Tuesday night’s game, I was dead tired at work on Wednesday.
I was barely performing my basic jobs and people noticed.
Of course, Jude went on and on about how great our time was with the Robinson twins and how we spent our whole night with them.
I kept getting dirty looks from my co-workers because they assumed I was hungover and not just exhausted.
“C’mon, Sloan! We need to hurry up so we can make it to dinner on time.
” Jude’s practically dragging me through the parking lot.
He huffs out a breath of annoyance when he sees the line of cars and traffic waiting to leave the stadium.
“I'm ordering a ride. We can’t keep Jax waiting,” he grumbles under his breath.
“Jude! He doesn’t even want you at dinner!” I want to tear my hair out, I'm so done with him right now. I don’t want to go to any more games with him. I don’t even want to be around him. I wish we could go back to how our relationship was last week. Before he met the Robinson twins.
Jude was a sweet and caring boyfriend until a few days ago. He paid attention and asked questions. He seemed to truly care about me… but that all changed when he found out I knew Jax and Cody. Now, I feel like I'm being used to get him closer to the guys.
“You’re being rather dramatic, Sloan.” He rolls his eyes and grins when someone picks up the ride order. “Perfect, there’s a driver right around the corner… Wait! Which Brazilian steakhouse do you think it is? There are two nearby.”
“I don’t know. I think we should just let them go out for dinner as a family and we should go home,” I growl in frustration.
Instead of listening to me, Jude plucks my phone out of my hand and holds it up to my face until the screen unlocks. He quickly types something out before waiting.
“What are you doing?”
“I texted Sophia. I'm sure she knows where they’re going.”
“You’re unbelievable!”
I try to take my phone back, but he holds it out of my reach until Sophia answers him. Our car pulls up a moment later and Jude ushers me inside.
We pull up outside of the Brazilian steakhouse a few minutes later and find Cody’s family waiting outside. Jude practically pushes me out of the way to get to Jax. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, trying to control my frustration with him.
“Hey, are you ok?” I open my eyes and find Cody standing in front of me with his brows pinched in concern.
“No, apparently I'm dating a moron,” I growl. “I know you don’t want us here, but he won't listen to me.”
“No one minds you being here, sweetheart… We’re not thrilled with Jude being here though.”
“I'm sorry,” I whisper.
“Stop it,” he murmurs as he pulls me into his arms. “It’s not your fault he can’t take a hint. Jax has a way of making everyone feel welcome in his presence. It’s hard for some people to understand that doesn’t mean he wants them following him around.”
“I just… I feel like I brought this crazy person into your life. I swear he’s never been like this until he met Jax.”
“Yeah, he attracts the crazies.” I can hear the smirk in Cody’s voice. “C’mon, I think our table is ready.”
Cody releases me from his arms, but he places his hand on my lower back and leads me inside the restaurant. My boyfriend has long forgotten I even exist. When we reach our table, Jude’s already seated himself next to Jax.
Wyatt’s on the end with Charlie next to him.
Jax has an arm around his sister’s shoulders and I'm not sure if that’s because he wants to be closer to her or further from Jude.
Peck is sitting across from Wyatt and Sophia is next to him.
Cody takes the seat next to his sister and I'm stuck sitting across from Jude.
I'm so excited to watch him drool over Jax all night.
Once our drinks are ordered, Cody sits back in his seat and drapes one arm over Sophia’s shoulders and the other along the back of my chair. I stiffen slightly, until I realize he’s doing it more for comfort and less to get close to me.
Everyone is chattering amongst themselves, but I feel like the odd man out.
Cody’s focused on his sisters and I can’t blame him for that.
I overheard them saying they don’t get to see the guys much.
Their seasons are opposite from baseball and it makes it really difficult for them all to get together.
Throw in a kid and soon-to-be kid and I'm sure it makes it even more difficult.
Cody’s fingers toy with the tips of my hair. As much as I want to make him stop, I always loved when he did this. I'm not even sure he realizes he’s doing it; it was always an absentminded thing.
I let myself zone out and my mind wanders.
I don’t know what I'm going to do about Jude, but I think I can honestly admit to myself that maybe I don’t want to date him any longer.
We had a great six months, but I don’t enjoy being tossed aside by my boyfriend every time he feels like there’s someone better to talk to.
My thoughts drift to when we’ve gone out with co-workers for happy hour.
For the most part, Jude was always at my side and being the attentive boyfriend I’ve learned to expect, but there have been a few times he’s ignored me the entire night.
It was always when one of the guys would show up.
Someone he thought was cool and he found impressive in some way.
Am I always going to be tossed aside when he finds someone else more interesting?
What happens if eventually he finds a woman who holds his attention more than I can?
I can already see it being a problem. I don’t want to constantly worry about my boyfriend cheating on me or dumping me for someone else.
But Cody… Cody was always the best boyfriend.
He’s never felt the need to impress anyone.
He’s happy just being him and if people don’t like that, he doesn’t care.
He’s always been comfortable sitting back and relaxing while Jax stole the show.
He was happy sitting with me and playing with my hair… just like he is right now.
The level of comfort I had with Cody was so different.
We fit so well together. Like two puzzle pieces made to be together.
We could sit in silence and it wasn’t awkward.
We didn’t feel the need to fill the silence with pointless chitchat just to make noise.
We were ourselves around each other and didn’t feel the need to put on a show.
I miss that.
I want that type of relationship again.
“Sloan!” Jude waves a hand in front of my face and scowls at me.
“What?” I frown at him and pull back slightly, making Cody’s arm settle around me instead of my chair.
“I called your name like five times.”
“Sorry, I zoned out.” I shake my head, trying to forget all about my previous relationship with Cody. We’re different people now… Right?
Except I don’t feel different. I'm still so much like the teenage girl who was forced to move away from the first boy she ever loved. Sure, I'm older and more mature now, but I feel like at my core I'm still the same person.
What if Cody is too?
“Jax asked what time we’re coming on Sunday?” Jude’s voice is tense. I want to roll my eyes at him and tell him to stop acting like a child, but I don’t want to cause a scene. Especially out in public with three major league players. People will recognize Wyatt, Jax, and Cody right away.
“I told you, I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to go,” I hiss.
I don’t know why it’s so hard for him to understand me not wanting to hang out with my ex-boyfriend’s family. Most boyfriends wouldn’t approve of you hanging out with your ex, let alone get upset when you don’t want to.
“And I said we’re going,” Jude’s voice drops to almost a growl.
I glare at him, but I don’t say another word. I'm so fed up with him. I'm not going home with him tonight. I’ll beg Charlie or Sophia to drive me home, or I’ll order a ride. I'm not locking myself in the small confines of a car with him.
“Come on Sunday. You don’t have to talk to me at all, but Charlie really wanted you to meet Carter and Sophia wants you there for the gender reveal. I know my mom and dad would be thrilled to see you too,” Cody leans in close and murmurs in my ear.
“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable,” I whisper, staring up into the striking blue eyes I’ll always love.
“Sweetheart, you could never make me uncomfortable.” He moves his hand so it brushes over the soft skin of my neck and I suck in a sharp breath.
“I only said you don’t have to talk to me because I thought that would make you more comfortable.
I want you to come. I know when you moved you missed Mulberry Lane and I know everyone would be thrilled to see you again. ”
“Ok, I’ll come… Do I have to bring him?”
“No.” Cody chuckles. “You can do whatever you want.”
Cody pulls me closer and presses a soft kiss against my temple. When he releases me, he keeps his arm around my shoulder like that’s where it’s meant to be. I could get used to this.