Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
~HENDRIX~
Mac’s apartment still smells like the tacos we just devoured. I was glad that I came out with them tonight. We don’t always get a lot of chances to hang out like this. Usually someone is busy with a boyfriend, or Amelia has physical therapy for her knee that she has to attend to.
It’s nice to have all of us together.
“So how were things in NYC after we all went to bed for the night?” Cassie asks me, grinning.
My eyes widen a bit, but I do my best to school my features. “I’m not sure I know what you are talking about.”
She giggles. “Our rooms were beside each other, and I heard your room door open and quietly close.”
“Well, if quietly closed, how do you know it was my door?” I challenge.
“I saw you heading down the hallway. Were you going to see August?” she says with a knowing look.
“Ohh, heading out for some late-night booty?” Amelia joins in on the teasing.
“Like you guys don’t head out and find Jase or Dex when we are on the road,” I say, shaking my head.
“Well, you’re not denying it anymore,” Cassie points out.
“Yeah, you caught me. I went to see August. Spent some time in his room before coming back to shower and pack,” I admit.
Thinking that I need to be better at sneaking around or at least at hiding it.
Instead of admitting to it. “Although, I don’t hear either of you denying that you were hanging out with your boys last night. ”
Cassie smiles and shakes her head. “Unfortunately, Coach Nate called a coach’s meeting, and Jase had to meet with him and Andie last night. So, I had to stay in my room all alone.”
“Hey, I did too. Danny couldn’t travel with us to the game because of his own team commitments, so I was also all by myself in my room,” Mac says with a shrug.
“Sorry, ladies. I know how much it sucks that you had to be alone last night. Especially after we won such an amazing game,” I say, feeling lucky I was able to sneak off to August’s.
“I wasn’t alone,” Amelia says with a broad smile.
“Good for you both!” Cassie chimes in before turning to me. “You have spent so many nights on the road by yourself because we were busy with our boyfriends. It’s about time you had a turn.”
I nod and grin at them. “Yeah, I suppose that is true.”
“So do we wanna play cards?” Cassie asks, bouncing in her seat.
“Ugh, I thought that we were watching movies or something,” I whine.
“We always watch a movie. I thought that this would be something different.” Mac brings a deck of cards over to her the dining room table.
“Come on, it could be fun. We used to play all the time in college,” she says, gesturing towards Cassie.
“We used to have a lot of fun doing that. Thought might be nice to start something like this, especially since we are headed into the off season.”
“I think it’s a good idea,” Amelia says, hobbling over to the table. “It’ll be better than just hanging out in the bar, drinking.”
“Ugh, am I a buzzkill if I leave?” I say, only half-serious.
“No, you’re not leaving,” Cassie replies, grabbing me and ushering me towards the table. “We need you. You’re the only one who has beaten Mac before.”
Mac shakes her head and says, “You’re just jealous that I am a better card player than you.” She sticks her tongue out at Cassie, which earns her a middle finger.
“You’re just cocky,” Amelia chimes in. “But we love you anyways.”
Mac beams. “See? Amelia gets it.”
“I hope there’s a sweet treat somewhere for me,” I say, looking toward Mac’s kitchen.
“I have some fruit and peanut butter yogurt dip that we can eat,” Mac says, smiling at me and looking hopeful.
“That sounds good to me,” I say, grinning at her.
Mac comes over and leans against me like she’s attempting to sit on my lap.
“Move,” I say, pretending to struggle with Mac sitting on top of me.
“No,” Mac says, leaning her full weight against me. “I’m bonding.”
“You’re heavy,” I tease.
“You’re mean.”
Cassie begins shuffling the cards with the precision of someone who is taking this way too seriously. “Okay, we’re playing Go Fish to start out the festivities tonight.”
We all start laughing.
“Here I thought that you and Mac were real card sharks,” I say, shaking my head, grinning at them.
Mac has left my lap and is sitting beside me now. “Well, I didn’t plan very well for poker or anything, so this is what we’re starting with,” she says with a shrug. “It’ll be fun.”
“It sure will,” Amelia chimes in.
We play a few hands. Mac is cleaning up like the pro that she is. It’s then I decide to tell them about what August invited me too.
“Can you all keep a secret?” I ask.
All heads snap in my direction as Cassie stops mid-shuffle and Amelia slams her cup down on the table, looking at me with big eyes. I can see that I have everyone’s attention right now.
“Can you?” I ask them, grinning.
“You know that we will,” Mac says.
“Yeah, of course we can,” Amelia chimes in.
“Lay it on us, we’ve got you,” Cassie adds.
I sigh and shake my head. “It’s so weird. He’s being so weird—”
Mac cuts me off. “Do you think that he’s cheating or something?” She looks ready to get up from this table and go murder him.
I shake my head quickly. “No, that’s not it at all.
He’s being really sweet and he invited me to go to some charity gala with him.
I need a nice dress, and I need to look fancy for this event.
His father and brother will be there too.
” I get it all out in a rush and watch them as they take in the information. “What do you think?”
“I think it’s great that he wants you to go with him to that. How do you feel about it?” Cassie asks me.
I shrug. “I’m nervous. Because I don’t like being in a dress. I mean, I have one; that’s not the issue,” I stutter out. “I just hate being all dressed up like that. I’m more comfortable in a pair of cleats and my goalie padding than in a dress.”
Amelia nods. “I get it. I’m not a fan of wearing dresses either. Can you wear a jumpsuit, or would it have to be a dress?”
I shake my head. “I don’t think that’s an option for this type of event. He said that I should be wearing a dress specifically. I have a dress that I wore in college. It’ll still fit and work.”
“What did you have the dress for? Were you wearing it at a college formal event with August?” Mac asks me.
I shake my head. “No, I didn’t go to a formal with him.
He wanted to take me when we were freshmen, but I didn’t let him do that.
Instead, we stayed in that night,” I say, grinning.
“I got the dress to wear an event with the soccer team. So, I went and got a nice dress. I kept it just in case. So, I guess I’ll wear it to this event,” I say with a shrug.
“Do you want to go?” Mac asks me pointedly.
“I do. I think I wanna go. I’m worried about his family being there. Well, not Drew because he was nice to me when we were at the baseball game with him. His dad, though. He doesn’t like me on principle. I’m not good enough for his son,” I admit.
“Why does he think that?” Cassie says, sitting up straighter in her chair. “I thought that your dad was like, a lawyer in Philadelphia and your mom did all that charity work. Wouldn’t that make Cromwell happy that you were with his son?”
I shrug. “I don’t think so. He’s not a fan of me. I just don’t think he thinks I’m good enough for his son.” I repeat the phrase without saying my worst fear.
“Explain what you mean by that,” Amelia asks me.
I sigh and shake my head.
“Come on, Hen, what’s going on? Why do you think that you’re not good enough for August based on Maxwell’s opinion?” Cassie asks.
I sigh and look down at the table. I can’t meet their eyes when I say this.
“Because I don’t look like the girls that August usually brings home.
You have seen them. They are super skinny and they are usually so bouncy and bubbly.
All of those things that I am not. I’m the least feminine girl that he has ever dated, and I don’t think that Maxwell likes that about me,” I admit the truth.
I feel arms wrap around me, and a long strand of blonde hair finds its way into my field of vision. Mac is holding me. I reach up and put my hand on top of hers.
“I’m fine,” I tell her.
“Uh-uh, I know you’re fine. I just want to hug you because I have a feeling that you need it right now,” she replies, giving me a quick squeeze. “You are good enough for him, you know that, right?”
I nod slowly. “I’m just not who he picked for his son.”
I look up in time to see Amelia and Cassie exchange a look.
“I don’t think it matters to August what his father thinks of you this time,” Cassie replies.
“I think that it always starts out like that. It did in college,” I say, shaking my head. “But then when his dad saw us together, he told August to leave me. I’m afraid he will do the same thing now.
“Are you worried that he’s going to flip-flop?” Mac asks me, leaning down beside me.
“I didn’t think he would flip-flop last night,” I reply, looking in her eyes, which are so full of worry right now. “I know I screwed things up by getting involved with him. It’s never an easy road with him.”
“It’s not. But I could have sworn that you thought that this was worth it. It is, isn’t it?” Mac strokes my arm, watching me.
“It is,” I say carefully. “But what will it matter if it ends the same way as before?”
“You just have to have a little faith. And lucky for you, you have us to help you get ready this time,” Amelia says, grinning at me.
“We’ll make you look so glamours that his father will be pleased that you are on his arm.
Because, I mean, come on, Hen, how could he not like having you on his son’s arm. ”
I grin at them for the first time since I brought I tup. “I appreciate you helping me look nice for it. I really do. I just can’t let myself get too comfortable because what if it all goes away?”
I admit the fear that’s been unspoken since it all started.
“You don’t know that it will,” Cassie reminds me. “August is older now and he’s an established businessman. I think it’s going to be fine.”
I hope she’s right. I don’t say that out loud.
“August loves you. He might not have said it, but Dex says that you are the only one that he has seen like this,” Amelia says, reaching over and squeezing my hand. “It’s going to be just fine, Hendrix, we are here for you. Nothing bad is going to happen when you have us in your corner.”
I look around at them and grin. “I do. And I so appreciate that. It’s going to be fine,” I say, but I’m sure I don’t sound so convincing.
“Look you’re right to be cautious. It’s a good thing that you’re being careful. But don’t let it keep you from something wonderful that is happening with the two of you.” Mac leans over and gives me another squeeze.
“Yeah, you’re right.” I say, hugging her. “I appreciate you all so much.”
“And we love you,” Cassie says, leaning over the table and touching my hand.
I grin and say nothing more about it. I feel better now knowing that they are going to be helping me get ready for the event. And August will be with me. I trust him that nothing bad is going to happen to me while he’s there. They are right, he’s a stronger man than he was back in college.
I’ve got this and, more importantly, we’ve got this.