Chapter 17
Juliet
I’m falling for my stepson’s best friend, and it terrifies me.
Blake texts me every morning when he wakes up, and every night before he goes to sleep. They’re sweet and funny, and my heart races every time I get a notification on my phone.
Despite his game tomorrow, we text into the early morning. My heart breaks when he tells me he lost both his parents when he was fourteen.
Striker: Me and Tori were inseparable when we were kids, but our parents’ deaths forced us to grow up far too quickly. I didn’t make things easy for her, and now I don’t know how to get back what we had.
Juliet: Losing your parents is hard at any age, let alone when you’re that young.
Striker: I’m scared I fucked things up too badly, and she’ll never trust me again.
Juliet: She’s here now. That’s got to count for something. She’s your sister. I’m sure whatever you did wasn’t unforgivable.
His response takes a while to come through, and when it does, my heart aches at the vulnerability behind his words.
Striker: I’m not proud of who I was or what I did, but moving to Beckford was the fresh start we both needed.
How do I show her that when things are so strained between us?
There’s a wall between us that I don’t know how to break down.
I’m scared of saying or doing the wrong thing, and she’ll decide I’m not worth the trouble.
I’m terrified of being alone. Of stuffing up and pushing people away until there’s no one left.
It’s what I do. I sabotage every goddamn good thing in my life. What if I do that with you as well?
My throat tightens, and I reread his text while I consider how to respond.
This is my first glimpse of the real Blake Logan, and now I understand why he was so adamant about only giving me one night.
Whatever it is he went through made him think he needed to keep people at a distance, but now he’s trying to let me in.
Striker: Sorry. This was too much to dump on you. You don’t need my fucked up shit in your life. I’m not good for you.
Not wanting him to pull away, I take a deep breath and call him. It rings five times, and my stomach roils when I think he won’t pick up, but then the call connects, and his warm voice floats down the line.
“Hey.”
My chest constricts at the raw pain behind that one syllable, and I have an overwhelming need to comfort him.
“You’re a good guy, Blake. Your past doesn’t define you.”
He huffs out a heavy sigh. “I’m sorry.”
“For what? If we’re going to explore whatever this is between us, we have to share the bad as well as the good.”
“I really like you, Juliet. Like, a crazy amount. I’ve never felt this intense connection with anyone before.”
Heat floods through my body. “I really like you, too.”
“I know you and Tinsley are a package deal. I want to be a man who deserves you both.”
The conviction behind his words should scare me.
He’s only twenty-five, and we’ve barely known each other a couple of months.
I still don’t know anything about his past, except that he regrets whatever he did.
Yet I feel drawn to him in a way I can’t explain.
For the first time in my life, I’m not scared of the unknown. I’m running towards it.
“From what I’ve seen so far, you’re on the right track. I don’t know what happened between you and your sister, but I feel in my gut that you’re a good guy. You’ve been nothing but sweet and patient, and so good to both of us. I don’t know why you’re doubting yourself.”
“Seeing Tori has brought back all the demons, I guess.”
“That’s understandable. But just talk to her. Be open with her, like you have been with me. Keeping it bottled up won’t fix anything.”
His warm chuckle washes over me. “How’d you get so wise?”
Something squeezes in my stomach. “Life experience.”
He yawns. “I like how easy it is to talk to you.”
“Get some sleep. You’ve got a game to win tomorrow.”
“Will you come?” he asks sleepily. “Bring Tinsley to watch her brother?”
I hesitate. As much as I want to watch him, the risk of running into Edward is high. Despite their strained relationship, he’s never missed one of his son’s home games, which is why I’ve never taken Tinsley.
“Please?” Blake’s voice is softer now.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I whisper, “I’ll think about it.”
“See you tomorrow, pixie.”
“Maybe, striker.”
The call disconnects, and I lie in the dark, wondering what it is about this guy that makes me want to risk everything.
Striker: Morning, pixie. What’s your spirit animal?
Juliet: A butterfly. Would you rather plan everything in advance or decide as you go?
Striker: Decide as I go. It’s more fun that way.
Juliet: Good luck with your game today.
Striker: Please tell me you’re coming…
Juliet: Maybe. I’ll see how my day goes
I keep one eye on Tinsley as she plays with two other little girls on the playground at the café, while I try to keep up with the conversation going on around me. Quinn, Sophia, and Ally are discussing the latest gossip at Beckford U High School, where Sophia teaches Year Seven and Eight English.
“They were one hundred percent getting it on after the staff trivia night on Friday,” she says, a massive grin on her face.
“No way!” Quinn squeals.
Ally laughs, leaning back in her chair. “Who would’ve thought old Mr Williams still had it in him. What a stallion.”
“Wait, what?” I ask, scrambling to catch up. “What did Mr Williams do?”
“He was rizzing Ms Marchetti at a school function.”
My brow furrows. “Rizzing?”
“It’s what the kids call it these days,” Sophia explains. “He was flirting up a storm, and she was blushing like you wouldn’t believe.”
I screw my nose up at the thought of our creepy history teacher hitting on our beloved Italian teacher. “There’s no way she would go there.”
“After a few too many glasses of Moscato, she was definitely going there.”
“Poor Ms Marchetti,” Ally sympathises.
“Speaking of rizzing,” Quinn says, wiggling her eyebrows at me. “How’s things with your young stallion? Have you seen him since his little sleepover on Tuesday night?”
“One: don’t say rizzing, because you can’t pull it off. Two: ew. Three: no. But we’ve been texting every day, and we spoke on the phone last night.”
I check the playground again to make sure Tinsley is still occupied and won’t overhear us.
My little daredevil’s laughing as she goes headfirst down the slide, her arms outstretched in front of her like Superman.
I cringe, waiting for her to hurt herself, but she remains unscathed and skips back to the top to do it again.
“She’s fine,” Ally says, squeezing my hand. “She’s having the time of her life.”
I smile, fiercely proud of my sweet girl for her resilience. She hasn’t let the darkness of what her father did to me dim her precious soul.
When I turn my attention back to my friends, they’re all staring at me expectantly, and heat colours my cheeks. “What?”
“Spill, girl,” Sophia says. “These two are married, and my dating prospects are rather grim at the moment. We’re all living vicariously through you.”
“What do you want to know?” I ask hesitantly.
“When you say texting…” Quinn starts.
“Please tell us you mean sexting,” Ally finishes.
“Kill me now,” I groan, burying my head in my hands. “You two are incorrigible.”
“Sorry,” Quinn says, pulling my hands away. “Real talk. How are you feeling about everything?”
I blow out a heavy breath. “Overwhelmed and nervous. But also a little giddy and hopeful.”
“All totally normal reactions in a new relationship,” Sophia says with an encouraging smile.
“What are you nervous about?” Ally asks, taking a sip of her coffee.
“That it’s all too good to be true,” I admit. “Blake’s been so patient, and he never pressures me. If anything, I’m the one pushing for more.”
Quinn smirks behind her coffee cup but doesn’t voice her opinions.
“But I’m scared I’m falling for the first guy to show me attention after Edward, and I don’t want to make the same mistakes. Edward was really sweet and attentive at first, too.”
My ex-husband preyed on my vulnerability, and I almost paid with my life.
“Has Blake given you any reason to think he might hurt you?”
I consider Sophia’s question. He’s hinted at regretting something from his past, something that put a strain on his relationship with his sister, but he’s never made me feel uncomfortable or given me any hint that he’d hurt me or Tinsley.
If anything, it’s been the opposite. I feel safe and at ease with him, and he’s only ever been sweet and comforting towards Tinsley.
“No,” I say slowly. “But I feel guilty sneaking around behind Everett’s back and making Blake lie to him. Surely that means this is something we shouldn’t be doing?”
Ally shakes her head. “You’re being careful and seeing where this is going before involving people who have a stake in this relationship working out.
That’s not a bad thing; it’s a careful thing, and after what you’ve been through, it’s a safe thing.
Everett will understand if this is something you and Blake want. ”
“What about the age thing?” I ask, knowing I’m trying to self-sabotage, but powerless to stop it.
“He’s only twenty-five. Why would he want to get involved with a divorced single-mum who escaped domestic violence?
My life’s a mess, and he doesn’t even know the half of it.
” My panic is rising now. “What will Edward do when he finds out? I can’t give him any leverage over me with Tinsley. He can’t take her—”
“Breathe,” Quinn says, gripping my hand tight and squeezing. “Edward will never take her away from you. There are too many people in your corner to testify about what that son of a bitch put you through. What have you told Blake about him?”
“Nothing,” I say in a small voice. “He knows we’re divorced and that I have full custody, but I think that’s it.”
“As hard as the conversation is going to be, I think that’s your next step before you decide if this will go any further. Be honest and upfront with him. I know it’ll be hard, but until he knows everything, you don’t know if it’ll be too much for him or not.”
I nod, knowing she’s right. “I’ll check his roster this week. Maybe he can come over while Tinsley’s at school.”
“Good idea,” Ally says. “And if you need us afterwards, all you need to do is call.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I frown as I slide it out to check it.
I can’t stop the flush that spreads over my cheeks, or the smile tugging on my lips when I see Blake’s messages.
Striker: I can’t stop thinking about you, pixie. What are you doing?
Striker: I won’t be able to concentrate on my game without knowing if you’re there.
Striker: Please tell me you’ll come.
Striker: I want to see you, even if I can’t kiss you.
“I need a man who’s going to make me blush as hard as that,” Sophia says in a dreamy voice.
When I look up, she’s resting her elbows on the table, her chin in her hands as she grins at me. Quinn and Ally are both smirking.
“He wants me and Tinsley to go to his game today,” I admit, blushing harder.
“And?” Ally prompts.
My gaze drifts to Tinsley, still playing happily.
“I can’t risk running into Edward. He goes to all of Everett’s home games. Tinsley doesn’t need that.”
I don’t need that.
The last time I saw my ex-husband was in court after the custody hearing. Everything else has been dealt with through the lawyers or Everett. I didn’t have to be there, but I needed him to see he hadn’t broken me beyond repair. Facing him that day was my show of strength.
Quinn frowns. “You can’t keep letting him dictate your life, Jules. As much as we know the real reason you’d be at the game, Tinsley deserves to watch her brother play. She worships him.”
“What do I do if I run into him?”
“Do you want us to come with you?” Sophia asks.
I arch a brow. “Because you want to support me, or because you want to check out his teammates?”
“Who said I can’t do both?” she asks with a laugh. “But no, this is purely for support.”
Quinn and Ally nod.
“You guys are the best, but you don’t have to come. You’re right, though. Tinsley would love to watch her brother play, and I shouldn’t let my fears stop her from doing that.”
“Thatta girl,” Quinn says. “And if you need us, all you’ve got to do is call.”
I stare down at my phone, still hesitating.
“You don’t have to do it today if you’re not ready,” Ally says. “I’m sure Blake will understand.”
“No, it’s—” I swallow down my nerves. “I can do this.”
Before I can change my mind, I tap out a text.
Juliet: We’ll be there. Good luck, striker.
He must have been waiting for my response. His reply comes through barely a minute later.
Striker: Bring Tinsley down to the change rooms after the game. Everett will want to know she came to watch him. See you later, pixie. Thank you.
My stomach flutters with nervous anticipation at seeing Blake again.
Tinsley runs over and climbs onto the seat next to Sophia. “Mama, can I have a playdate at Alisha’s today?”
I smile at her. “How’d you like to go watch your big brother play soccer instead?”
Her face lights up. “Can I sleep over at Rett’s too?”
“Not tonight, princess. But we can organise something for another night soon.”
“Okay.” She bounces in her seat. “Can we go now?”
“Soon,” I say with a laugh. “Finish your cookie first.”
As she picks at her choc chip cookie like a little bird, I convince myself that everything will be fine. We won’t run into Edward, and Tinsley will have a fun afternoon cheering on her brother.