Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
~AUGUST~
Dex: We’re all hanging out tonight. Are you coming?
Iread the text over and over again. I want to go but I’m too busy thinking about what we talked about last night.
August: Shouldn’t I give her some space?
I watch as the bubbles pop up and disappear. Finally, a text comes in.
Dex: No, come with us. It’ll be fun. You’ll see.
I shake my head and laugh. Sure, it will.
If he only knew that every time we hung out as a group, before I touched her, how I had to restrain myself from grabbing her ponytail and pulling her head back so that she was staring up at me.
How I wanted to tell her how much I loved her smart little mouth.
That I longed to kiss her roughly and then take her into the bathroom.
Make her hold onto the sink while I pounded in and out of her from behind.
“Yeah, hanging out with everyone tonight sounds like a great idea,” I say to my empty office. Especially since I can’t touch her, which means no taking her into the bathroom and teaching her a lesson about her smart mouth.
August: Fine. I’ll come and hang out. Just try not to leave me stuck beside Ash again, please.
I receive a laughing face from Dex.
Dex: What, don’t you like the brother?
I shake my head.
August: You know I don’t.
Dex: Come, on, dude, remember you’re playing the long game.
I nod. He’s right, I am here playing the long game.
Thankfully, I have enough work in this office to keep me busy because there’s so much to figure out with playoffs coming and the NWSL draft happening in few months.
I have to help the coaches get all the film they need to secure the new recruits.
And, of course, there are the deals that we have with our sponsors.
I may not secure them, but I do have to bless them.
And sometimes, if the fish is big enough, it’s my job to go to the mat and make sure that we get the deal.
This season, I do have some pretty big fish that I am looking after.
I want national sponsors for these girls because hell, they deserve it.
I’ve never been so thankful for a quiet office.
Today, there was no practice. The only people who were at the Blaze are the front office staff, Jase and Nate Watts.
I saw their cars in the parking lot when I went out to get some air and grab lunch.
I would guess they are strategizing and trying to figure out how to win the next game.
Thankfully, that next game does not take place for another week.
We have some time to regroup. Hit the ground running and make sure we take the next one.
Finally, seven o’clock rolls around. I flex my shoulders and stand.
It’s time to get to the bar. I head into my private bathroom and change into a pair of jeans that I keep here just in case.
I pull over a black fitted T-shirt and Nike sneakers.
I stop and stare at myself in the mirror before exiting the bathroom and sighing.
My eyes look tired and there’s a knot in my stomach, knowing that I’m going to see her soon.
It’s funny, I’ve never been this way over a woman before, but I guess it’s because I’ve never loved someone the way I do her.
She’s one of a kind. I just hope that playing the long game like Dex suggested pays off in the end.
I reach the bar and pull open the door. The music, the smell of alcohol and the chatter fill my senses.
The bar is buzzing like it always is. The low lights make it the kind of place where no one pays attention to what’s happening around them unless something breaks.
Hendrix and the group have claimed one of the larger booths that is off to the side.
There are drinks scattered around already and some food.
They must have been there longer than I thought.
I glance at my watch. I was pretty sure that I wasn’t that late.
I slide into the booth and take a seat beside Dex. Thankfully, Danny is across from me, but Ash is still closer than I would like him to be. Right next to Danny.
“Look who finally wandered in,” Ash says, his voice flat enough to cut grass.
I give him a lazy grin. “Miss me?” Danny kicks me under the table, but I don’t give a shit. If the smug bastard is here to play, then so am I.
“Please, can we not start tonight?” Hendrix asks, rolling her eyes.
“Are you hungry?” Danny asks me. “We have ordered a bunch of appetizers for now. But we can order dinner if you want. I think I’m going to get a burger.”
I nod. “Apps are fine with me.”
I look around at the pitchers of beer and see that I would have to ask Ash to pass it to me, and that’s not something that I would like to do at this time.
“You need Scotch, man, or are you wanting a beer tonight?” Dex asks me. Thank fuck for him, he noticed the problem and handled it without me having to ask.
“Thanks, man, I’ll take a beer, if there’s enough left.”
“Of course, man,” Dex says, reaching for the pitcher of beer and pouring me one.
“Oh, you’re not going to order us all a new round and put it on your tab?” Ash asks me.
I just ignore his jab and take a long sip of the beer that Dex handed me. I think I am going to need it tonight. I look over and see that Hendrix is talking to her brother quietly.
“Can we not start tonight?” Hendrix asks, rolling her eyes and looking from Ash to me.
I nod. “Of course, whatever you need.”
That comment earns me an eye roll from Ash. “Oh really, whatever she needs?”
“That’s what I said,” I reply, staring him down. “You ever get tired of babysitting your sister? She’s an adult.”
Ash levels me with a glare. “If you wouldn’t fuck with her, I wouldn’t have to.”
“Enough, guys, come on. Let’s have some fun tonight,” Dex says, trying to bring the tension down a bit.
“I can go,” I say, moving to stand. I look over and see the disappointment in Hendrix’s eyes. She doesn’t want me to go. As long as he doesn’t throw me out of the booth, I’m staying.
“No, I wouldn’t want to run you off,” Ash says, shooting me a shit-eating grin, I know it’s just for show. It’s just for her sake. I don’t care, as long as she doesn’t force me to leave.
“No, I’m sure you don’t,” I say, turning my attention to the TV, where I can see that the Marlins are winning their game.
“I see your brother is doing well for himself,” Danny says, changing the subject.
I nod. “He sure is.” I don’t say anything more about it, but Ash picks this subject to engage me in conversation.
“So, your whole family owns a sports team? Did your father buy one of them for each of you?” he asks, trying to make it look like he’s genuinely interested, but I know he has an angle.
“My brother runs the Marlins; he built that team. And he’s done well for himself.” I feel the need to defend my brother because he doesn’t need to be dragged through the mud by Ash. My brother isn’t fair game for him. I hope my comments have made that perfectly clear.
“I see,” is all he mutters.
Thank fuck, it worked, I think to myself.
“Who wants to play some pool or something?” Mac suggests from farther down the table.
“That actually sounds like lots of fun,” Dex says, patting my back and gesturing for me to get out of the booth.
I stand and allow everyone else to get out. Once they are gone, I sit back down in the booth.
“You’re not coming?” Hendrix turns to ask me when she notices that I’m not following the rest of them.
It’s only Ash and Dex, who is busy helping Amelia limp along, left at our table.
“Nah, I’m hungry. I think I’m going to sit here and pick at the apps. If I eat them all, don’t worry, I’ll order some more on my tab,” I say, giving Ash a pointed look.
“Okay, man,” Dex says, clapping me on the back. He leads Amelia away and I am thankful that the rest of them follow.
I sit there staring at the TVs, watching the ending of the game that gives my brother another win.
Every once in a while, I can feel someone’s eyes on me.
I look up and see it’s either Hendrix or Ash.
But I don’t bother to show them that I’ve noticed them staring.
Instead, I pick at the appetizers and consider ordering myself a burger.
When the waitress comes back over, I ask her, “Can you please bring us two more pitchers? I’m sorry I don’t know what they ordered, but we’ll take two more. They can go on my tab if there’s not an open one. And I’ll have a club sandwich, please. No fries.”
“Will do, hun,” she says, taking my order and hurrying away.
I lean back and look over at the pool table.
Everyone is laughing, smiling and having a good time.
I decide not to walk over there and join them.
Hendrix looks happy. She’s standing between Cassie and Mac.
Her arm is resting on Mac’s shoulder while they watch Danny sink a shot.
It looks like he’s partnered up with Jase, while Dex has teamed up with Ash.
He would have been my partner but since I gave them all space, he got paired with him.
I decide it’s a good thing that I didn’t feel the need to join them.
Let them all have a nice night. I scrub a hand down my face and then place my head in my hands, waiting for my food to arrive.
“Hey, are you okay?” Amelia asks me, lowering herself into the booth across from me. “You usually come and hang out with us.”
I nod. “I usually do. But I thought I’d give everyone a little bit of space. Ash seems to be a little feisty tonight, so I figured that I would hang back and let you all have a nice night. What are you doing back at the table? You don’t have to keep me company.”
Amelia grins at me, reaching down and rubbing her knee. “I’m just sore and figured that it would be a good idea to sit for a bit.”
I tip my head towards the pool table. “There are chairs over there, aren’t there?” I grin at her. “Wanna tell me what’s really got you sitting over here with me?”
Amelia sighs. “The comments were uncalled for, and you are sitting over here like someone pissed in your Cheerios, so I thought that I would come over here and make sure that you are okay. It’s not like you to not come and hang out with us.
You’re usually the man who keeps the party going.
Now you’re sitting alone, while all of your friends are across the room.
And you can spare me the bullshit about Hendrix or Ash not wanting you over there because we are your friends too. ”
I grin at her. “Thanks, I appreciate it. I’m just tired and it’s been a long day.”
“Anything you want to share with the class, August?” she teases me.
I laugh. “Nah, just a long day of looking over sponsorships for the next season. You know, the season where you come back to us,” I remind her.
She grins. “Yeah, that is the season.”
“You are, you know,” I tell her. “Dex has been keeping me up to date on your PT. I know it’s going well. We’re going to get you strong and get you back with us. I’m not filling your spot. I told you that. Please know that I am not backing down on that promise.”
She nods. “I know.”
It’s that moment when the rest of them come back to the table at the same time my sandwich and the beers arrive.
“Oh, look who got us some more drinks. How nice of you,” Ash bites out.
I rise and allow my friends to sit down on my side of the booth. I take my seat and pick my sandwich up to take a bite when I look up I realize that Amelia slides all the way down the table, and somehow Ash ends up across from me.
Fucking great.
I do my best to ignore him and focus on spending time with everyone and not causing Hendrix anymore hassle tonight.
It’s a tough pill but I swallow it. And for a while we all manage to do it.
We talk and joke. I even liven up a little bit and joke with everyone.
I hope Dex notices that my sour mood brought on by the earlier exchange has been lifted.
Ash does keep sending jabs across the table—nothing overt, just enough to needle. I just pretend that I don’t hear them.
Then Ash leans back and puts a protective arm around Hendrix’s shoulders. I see her tense and I roll my eyes. He scoffs.
“Something you want to share with the class, Ash?” I ask him, repeating what Amelia said to me earlier, finally having had enough of this shit.
“Nope, not really. I’ve been thinking, though, maybe you should spend less time fraternizing with your employees and give them all a break. For the group’s sake,” he says, watching me intently.
I start to say something, but Dex beats me to it. “He’s my friend. And I’ve known this man since college. So, while he might be his employees’ boss, he is my friend first.”
Ash nods. “Is that from Brown or UNC?”
My jaw clenches at the question.
Dex just shakes his head. “Doesn’t matter. He’s my friend.”
“Ash,” Hendrix says, shooting him a warning look.
I smirk, eyes locked on Ash, like I’ve found the exact button to press. “You don’t have to glare at me every time I breathe. Hendrix doesn’t seem to mind me being around. Maybe it’s time you dropped that grudge.”
Hendrix groans, “August, seriously—”
Ash stands quickly. “Say that again. Go ahead, sit there all fucking smug and tell me that it’s time for me to drop that grudge. When you find her inches from taking—”
“Ash, you seriously need to shut the fuck up!” Hendrix says through clenched teeth.
“The things I wish I could say to you. I would destroy you.” Ash says, taunting me.
“Both of you, shut up!” Hendrix seethes.
I lift my hands in mock innocence. “What? I wasn’t doing anything. You just hate the fact that she doesn’t hate me or that you’re the only one with a stick up your—”
Ash doesn’t let me finish that sentence.
One sharp, furious punch lands clean across my jaw. The table goes silent along with the rest of the bar. They are all stunned, in a way that crowds get when something real happens. My head turns on impact and pain radiates from my jaw to my head.
“Fuck!” I cry out.
Hendrix slides out of the booth and moves to stand in front of Ash. “’What the hell, Ash!”
I wipe my mouth and smile at him.
“Touchy,” I say. My voice is low and satisfied. “Didn’t realize that I was important to you.”
Ash lunges again, but Danny flies out of the booth and helps Hendrix get ahold of him, dragging him back. He’s breathing hard and his eyes are locked on me like he’d happily go another round.
“You keep pushing me and you’ll find out exactly how important you are not,” Ash growls at me.
I step out of the booth. “I’m happy to test that theory anytime you are ready.” I throw some cash on the table. “I’m heading out for the night.”
I turn and leave.
Behind me I hear Ash say, “Worth it.”
“You just hit my fucking boss!” I hear Hendrix cry.
I shake my head. I have no intention of ever punishing her for something that her dumbass brother did. She should know that by now.