Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3
CARLIE
I’m so glad that Jett talked Jenna into this. Sitting with my sister on the small porch of our suite, listening to the water so close and a warm breeze shifting lightly around us, is pretty much heaven.
“I saw you met Law Card tonight,” Jenna says from beside me.
I glance over to see her eyes closed, her expression relaxed, which is a relief. She’s been so stressed about the house lately. “Briefly,” I say. My cheeks warm. Thankfully, in the darkness, Jenna won’t be able to see it, even if she does open her eyes.
“He held your hand forever.” Jenna’s voice rises with teasing, and I can’t help a soft chuckle.
“He brought a woman here with him,” I point out. “He must be some kind of player.” But his eyes were kind. I whisk away that assessment. It doesn’t matter what I think I know about Lawson Card. Life and true crime podcasts have taught me that the charming, pretty ones are the ones you have to look out for.
Jenna scoffs softly. “Jett would have said something. You know him. The minute Card expressed interest, Jett would have been warning you. He called her his ‘friend’ when we met him last night.” She gives a shrug.
“Yeah.” But it doesn’t ease my mind. Not that I’m uneasy over Lawson Card. Not after a brief few minutes talking and the warm feelings that snaked through me when he couldn’t take his eyes off me while we talked. I could flirt with a football player—just for fun. Seriously, I could. It’s just my nosiness getting the better of me. Well, Jenna calls it nosy. I call it natural curiosity that she weirdly lacks.
“If I marry Lawson Card, would you let me pay your mortgage for a few months until the house is ready?” I ask, nudging her leg with my foot.
She scoffs and doesn’t open her eyes, but she frowns a little. “I don’t need my family members paying for my business.”
“Fair.” I shrug. “Could I invest? I just hate seeing you so stressed, Jen.”
She opens her eyes to reach across and squeeze my hand, her relaxed smile returning. “When you marry Law Card, you can ‘invest’ in my business. For now, helping me with the kids is huge.”
“Okay, but I bet if I put some effort into it, I could have him ready to elope by the end of the week.”
She laughs. “Sure, sure. The problem is, you won’t be. The background check would take too long.” She raises her eyebrows at me, and I swat at her.
“Once bitten, twice shy,” I retort.
“Fair,” she imitates me, and I swat at her again.
“Maybe I’ll elope with him just to prove you wrong.” It’s an empty threat, and Jenna’s answering laugh proves she knows it.
Two figures walk down the beach in front of us, and Jenna sits up a little. “Hmmm,” she says. “I thought Gab said Ford wasn’t bringing his wife.” She frowns. “I’m glad he changed his mind.”
I’m, of course, instantly intrigued as I watch the couple. I know Jenna means Wylie Ford, a defensive player for the Pumas, but I wouldn’t have recognized him in the dim lights that line the balconies around us.
“Why wouldn’t he?” I ask, half knowing the answer. The couple is walking a couple feet apart, nothing romantic about their stroll along the beach except some laughter we can hear faintly from them. The need to know their story bubbles up through me. I can’t stop it.
“Having some troubles.” We share a sad look. Jenna’s seen first-hand the toll that football took on Jett’s relationship with Ava, and she hates seeing it hurt marriages.
“What better place to fall back in love than Maui?” I say optimistically. I’m almost holding my breath, hoping the couple will close the distance and hold hands. Is it football driving them apart? And what is it about the sport, if that’s the case? The long hours? The traveling? I push down the spiral of questions. They’re not getting answered unless I walk up to Wylie Ford myself.
A smile retakes Jenna’s expression as she turns to me. “Indeed,” she says, wiggling her eyebrows, and I shake my head at her.
The next morning, my second full day in Maui, I revel in the fact that I’m lounging on a cabana bed, with the curtains behind me fluttering gently in the breeze, and waves lapping on the beach in front of me.
“I am going to move here,” Ivy says from beside me.
I never would have pegged her as someone who could just sit on the beach for the forty-five minutes that we’ve been here. She seems to go, go, go, right from the moment that I met her yesterday, running up the beach. But when she found me walking down to the beach from the suite I’m sharing with Jenna and Devin, I told her I needed beach time relaxation without the kiddos, and she inexplicably joined me. Maybe to keep an eye on me, just in case her “best friend” shows up. And yes, I mean those air quotes very seriously. They looked so cozy at dinner last night that I’m not sure what to think of the way I caught Lawson staring at me or how long he held my hand when Ivy introduced us. It’s just me wanting to know everything. I told Jenna he must be a player, but that doesn’t feel right either. Not that I’ve trusted my feelings in a long time.
I turn back to my phone, which I’ve been using to troll for tidbits about Wylie Ford and his wife. The only articles I’ve been able to find are old ones from their wedding just over a year ago. Ford’s wife is a tall, blonde woman with ice-blue eyes, named Madelyn Wise. She works for a Houston law firm, and I can’t help wondering if Gabriella Duncan knew her before she was Mrs. Ford, since she’s a Houston lawyer too. That might be why she knows more about the situation than the gossip columnists do. I put my phone down and shake my head at myself. I don’t need to figure out everyone’s story, despite the temptation to do so.
I glance over at Ivy, another story that’s nagging at me. I’m just not sure I can really believe that Lawson doesn’t have a thing for her. I mean, I’m perfectly confident in my body shape. I exercise … some and I try to eat right, but I’m never giving up ice cream, which I’m pretty sure Ivy must have done to be so toned and have something like -1% body fat.
My phone rings next to me, and I pick it back up to see a video call from my twin brother, Caleb. He scowls as soon as I answer. “I forgot you were on the beach. I can’t look, Car.”
I laugh. “You only had to say the word and I know Jett would’ve bought you a ticket.”
“Jenna would’ve killed me.”
It’s true. My sister is stressed more than she should be about Jett bringing her family and me to Maui. I’m not sure what she doesn’t understand about 200 million dollars. Sure, that’s over five years, but he’s guaranteed 90 million, even if he never plays another game for the Pumas. That’s not even counting all the endorsement deals that rolled in after they won the championship. Jett has plenty of money for this, and he wants to spend it on his family. For heaven’s sake, he bought them a house she refuses to accept. I need to figure out if this is just stress from her GetAwayHome spilling over. Devin doesn’t seem to care about his brother being everyone’s sugar daddy.
“Who’s that?” Ivy asks, leaning over to check out my screen and tipping down her sunglasses. “Hi!” she says in a friendly way I’ve come to expect from her, even in the short time I’ve known her. At dinner last night, she talked to everyone, it seems, like she’s known them forever—even though Lawson just got traded to the Pumas at the end of last season.
It strikes me that she’s probably already talked to Ford and possibly his wife. Could I find a way to bring it up?
No. I don’t need to know.
“Hey.” Caleb smiles at her and waves at the screen, because again, what man wouldn’t with Ivy beaming at them?
“This is my brother, Caleb.” I tilt the screen toward her.
“Brother?” She grins.
“Yup. What’s up?” I ask him, turning the phone back toward me.
His disappointment is evident, and I try not to roll my eyes. “Wondering if you were serious about that offer to share rent someplace in Houston,” he says.
“Offer?” I chuckle. I basically begged him. I’m staying in the guesthouse at Jenna’s for right now, but if I want to stick around, I can’t afford a place on my own. Especially without a job. “Of course.”
“Mom’s driving me crazy.”
I bite back a chuckle. Caleb is the most amazing IT expert, and he bought our parents’ house a long time ago so they wouldn’t have to worry about it. He lives in a finished apartment in their basement, but he can do his job from anywhere, which is why I asked him to come to Houston.
“What now?” I put my arm behind my head to prop myself up on the cabana pillow.
“She’s set me up on no less than four dates in the last week. There’re more to come.” He widens his eyes at me.
I let out a laugh, and I look over to see Ivy’s shoulders shaking. “Are they … good dates?” I ask. I won’t be shallow and ask outright if they’re attractive women, but I’m curious.
“They’re fine,” he huffs. “But they’re obviously Mom’s choices. A doctor, a lawyer … one of them is a bank CEO.”
I whistle at the power players Mom rounded up.
Caleb shakes his head and goes on. “She’s still obviously worried that I live in her basement, and—despite buying her house—that I’m in danger of not being able to support myself.”
I laugh again, but before I can answer, Ivy asks, “Would she approve of a life coach?” She smirks at me.
Caleb’s eyes widen again, but this time in surprise that the beautiful woman next to me is blatantly expressing interest. And maybe I do need to rethink my attitude about her and Lawson being “just friends.” Maybe this is a really good excuse to make her tell me everything she knows.
How will I work Wylie Ford into that?
“I’m old enough not to care what my mom approves of,” Caleb drawls, and Ivy’s grin widens.
She leans back. “Maybe I’ll see you in Houston.”
“Maybe.” Caleb swallows, and we stare at each other, having one of those silent twin conversations. “So, should I look at some apartments?” he asks. He knows I wasn’t far along in my plan to reunite us in Houston. I shoot him an obviously look, and he smiles back.
We chat a moment longer, and Caleb hangs up to get back to work.
“He’s gorgeous, Carlie,” Ivy says when I hang up.
“I’m shocked you think so,” I say sarcastically. I’m okay with them flirting, but I do need more information on Ivy before I let her steamroll Caleb. The fact that I’ve only known her for a day or so and can already read that she has a strong personality speaks for itself. And I have to figure out what’s really going on with her and Lawson.
“He looks like your sister,” she says.
I nod. “There’s an obvious split in our family. He and Jenna are clearly our mother’s children, no doubt about it. I look just like my dad.”
She doesn’t move from her relaxed position on the cabana when she says, “I’m not dating Law.”
It doesn’t surprise me that Ivy is blunt like this, but it still takes me off guard. “Oh.”
“Everyone always thinks we’re dating, and I don’t blame people. I moved to Houston when he got traded, and I’m in Hawaii on vacation with him, but we really are just best friends.”
I roll my head toward her. It’s one thing if she doesn’t feel that way about him, but does he have feelings for her? Would she know if he did? “And Lawson?—”
“Law. Please just call him Law. He doesn’t really like being called Lawson.” The way she pinches her lips says there’s more to why, but she doesn’t share this. At least she has some boundaries.
Unfortunately.
“No. Law doesn’t have feelings for me either. Cross my heart.”
All I can think is how people always say that men and women can’t just be friends, and that won’t leave my head. “You moved to Houston with him.” It seems so crazy that she uprooted her life for someone who’s just her best friend.
“Caleb’s going to do it for you,” she points out.
“He’s my brother. My twin.” It’s different.
Her eyebrows jump when I say twin, probably because we don’t look alike, as she already mentioned. “Law is like my brother. Coming to Houston was difficult for him, and he needed my support. Like your brother, I can work from anywhere. I’m not planning on staying here forever, but I wanted to be here for him. And he brought me to Hawaii because he doesn’t really know anyone on the team yet. Also, I begged.”
I can’t blame her there. It’s not like I asked Jett to bring me to Maui, but I made no move to talk him out of it, like Jenna probably wishes I had.
We lie there in silence for a little while before Ivy asks, “What are you doing next? Are you looking for another preschool teacher job?”
She’s such a life coach. I wonder if she ever turns that off. But her interest in my life is something I can relate to, so I don’t mind sharing. “I’m not sure yet.” I smile and listen to the waves for a second, thinking about how just two weeks ago I was knee-deep in four-year-olds and my only moments of peace were recess. Even then, I could still hear them outside my window. “Maybe I can find a preschool on a beach somewhere, because I really like this.”
“You’re perfect for Law,” Ivy says, but before I can respond, a waiter comes up the sand toward us, asking if we want anything. I’ve never been to an all-inclusive resort like this, so the free food and drinks at all times is something I’m really enjoying. Ivy and I both order virgin drinks—it’s a little early in the day to start drinking, especially when I’m not sure yet what I want to do once I drag myself off the beach.
“No one’s perfect for anyone,” I say when the waiter leaves. I direct my gaze to the ocean, knowing that Ivy’s the type of person to try and dig into that statement. “All relationships take something.”
She makes a little humming sound and shrugs. “I just meant that Law really loves just relaxing on the beach, and I’m already getting a little antsy. It’s perfect and all, but I can’t help but need to do .” She picks up her phone, like her last statement was an explanation. From the glance I give her, I see that she’s opened an email app, scrolling slowly through a list of new emails. As I settle back into my relaxing, I can see her occasionally typing from the corner of my eye.
“Should have known you wouldn’t be able to sit out here for long without working too,” a voice says. Law steps around to the front of the cabana and tilts his head at Ivy.
“I have to get some things done. Answering emails while I lounge on the beach sounds perfect to me. In fact, Carlie and I were just talking about how we were going to make this our permanent office somehow.”
Law sits on the edge of the cabana at Ivy’s feet. “I could maybe believe that of Carlie, but not you.”
Ivy scoffs. “I’ve got Wi-Fi, and this place isn’t bad. I could do everything from here and not feel an ounce of guilt.”
Law smiles and sneaks a look at me. I smile back, but I don’t know if he catches it with how quickly he looks away. “What are you doing in Houston, then?” he asks her.
“You’d miss me,” she mutters. She’s already back to her emails.
Law turns his attention to me, though his gaze keeps darting around. “I’m going on a pretty laid-back hike in a couple hours. Want to come? I talked to Jett because it’s an easy one for kids too, and they’ll probably like the waterfall and pool at the end.”
“I’d love to.” I’m not just agreeing so quickly because I want to spend some time with Law. I’m basically the nanny here, and even though Jett told me to do my own thing today, that he had the kids, he and Ava could use help if they’re taking them on a hike.
Nanny. That’s a thought. I bet Jett knows some people that might be able to hook me up with a gig like that. Somewhere with a beach. The idea is really growing on me.
“Perfect,” Law says. “Ivy? You want to come?”
She shakes her head. “I’m doing lunch with one of your teammates. He’s interested in my services.” She wiggles her eyebrows like it’s naughty, but Law and I just laugh at her.
I’m drawn to both of them, and I have to admit that part of the draw is figuring out why Law and Ivy aren’t dating. It’s so cliché, but I like having hard answers, or at least I like knowing that somewhere there’s an answer to things that I can find with enough work, even if I don’t know right now. Maybe it’s just a softer version of the crime stories I’m obsessed with. The murderers that are still loose or the people still missing are so far from hard answers that I should hate it all, but somehow having evidence in front of me and a trail of clues makes up for that. There’ll be answers someday for everyone’s case.
Like with my ex, Xavier. It took years for his past to catch up with him, but it did. That’s a case I’ve had to shuffle to the back of my mind all the time, and I do it again now. I’m past obsessing over what he did. Also, I’m on a beach.
I’d rather figure out what’s going on with these two best friends before I let Law’s handsome face and broad shoulders confuse me.
“In the meantime,” he says, “do you two mind if I join you?”
“Of course not,” Ivy says, frowning at her phone. “You can keep Carlie company while I schedule a few consults.”
Law grins at me before ducking away to grab a lounge chair and pull it up in front of the cabana.
“Has she always been like this?” I ask once he’s settled in. This is the perfect way to get into how long they’ve known each other and answer some of the questions swirling in my brain about them. I mean, if Law’s interested in me, my curiosity about him and Ivy is fair game, right?
“Yes.” Law dons a pair of sunglasses, and the effect makes me want to fan my face. Keeping my distance could be hard when he looks this good. “She got straight A’s through college because she never quit moving.”
“I didn’t have good looks and muscles to skate by on,” she says, but she looks up and winks at him, probably more of an indicator to me that she’s teasing than to him. I’m not sure how long Law’s been playing professional football, but it still means that he and Ivy go way back.
“And you’re the more laid-back one?” I guess, nodding at Law. Which seems crazy. It takes a lot of discipline to reach a professional level in football.
“I’m better at relaxing, yes. Mostly because Ivy taught me how to do that better.” He smiles.
I laugh. “Ironic. You two seem so different. How did you meet?”
Ivy glances at me, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly like she might have guessed exactly what I’m doing. She gives a soft little sigh and goes back to her phone, letting Law answer.
“Ivy tutored me, and then I guess you could say I was her very first client. She’s helped me navigate a lot of complicated stuff.” Law tilts his head back as he answers, like he’s pretending to relax, but his shoulders pull together the slightest bit despite that.
“Tutoring?” That slips out in my surprise, but I don’t know why. College athletes have a lot on their plate, and him being proactive about staying on top of it makes me admire Law.
He looks down at his hands before forcing his expression into something neutral. “My mom wanted to make sure that football didn’t take over everything, just in case I didn’t make it pro.”
Tension hangs over his words. Between the way he talked about the complicated things Ivy has helped him with and her mention of how he doesn’t like to be called his full name, it all points to a difficult relationship there. That means I’m not sure what to say next. Something benign about his mom caring about his future will feel dismissive of whatever isn’t being said.
“What subject?” I finally ask.
“Stats,” they answer at the same time.
“Ugh.” I reach out a fist toward Law. “Who didn’t need help with that? My brother Caleb is the only reason I passed. Here’s to, thankfully, knowing geniuses.”
He bumps my fist. “You had to take stats for your teaching degree?”
I make a face. “Yeah. So dumb, and my attitude didn’t help. It was a general requirement at the school I was at.”
“You have my deepest sympathies.” Law chuckles and fist-bumps me again.
“Auntie! Auntie!” My nephew Hudson’s voice comes from somewhere behind the cabana, and I move aside one of the curtains to see him and his brother, Ian, running toward me from our suite just up the beach. Jett follows, scooping up four-year-old Ian when he biffs it in the sand, laughing so that Ian’s cries end almost instantly.
“Hey, Hud.” I pull him onto the cabana when he reaches it, hugging him close.
“We get to go see a waterfall, Auntie,” he exclaims. “Wanna come?”
“Of course.”
“Let’s go!” he shouts, pulling on my arm to get me off the cabana.
“We have to wait until after Ruby’s nap, remember?” Jett says, coming up next to us.
Hudson scowls. “Oh yeah.” Then he spots my pina colada on the wooden tray between me and Ivy, and crawls over me toward it.
“Hud—” Jett starts toward him, but I wave Jett off.
“Non-alcoholic,” I mouth.
Jett nods but has a resigned smile. “That’s what started this in the first place. Devin had one last night and let both boys drink it with him, so now they think all of them are safe. Colby had to scramble to keep him out of his last night.”
I bite back a snicker at that. “I’ll be vigilant. Promise.”
Jett sets Ian down, and once Hudson is done drinking half of my pina colada, he scoots off the cabana to join his little brother playing on the beach. Jett drags another lounge chair toward us, and he and Law fall into football talk. I enjoy listening as I settle back against the pillow behind me. Both Jett and I have eyes on the boys as we chat and Ivy continues her work, but they’re content to play in the sand for now, digging with a bag of toys that Jett brought with him.
“How long has Ruby been napping?” I ask during a lull in Jett and Law’s football talk. The little boys are going to be eager to go the minute she wakes up, so I’ve got to go put shorts and a tank on and dig my tennis shoes out of my suitcase.
Jett looks at his watch. “About an hour.”
I slowly sit up. “That’s my cue, then, to go get ready. She could be up any minute. She’s been off since we got here.”
Jett nods, and I throw my legs over the side of the cabana bed.
“I’ll see you guys in a few,” I say, waving at Law before I head up the beach. A few steps later, I hear the murmur of their conversation continuing, but when I glance over my shoulder, Law is watching me walk away.