Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
~HENDRIX~
The game ends in a two-to-one loss for us. Despite the disappointment, I think we should be proud of ourselves for making it a contest, especially against such a tough team.
I make my way through the tunnel, when I hear Jase calling after me, “Hendrix, wait up!”
I spin around and plaster on a fake smile. “I know I shouldn’t have missed that last shot that went in. I apologize; I’ll jump next time.”
He shakes his head, laughing. “I’m not worried about that one. I wasn’t too worried about this game at all. It’s a friendly game but tough enough to get you all ready for the playoffs.”
I nod. “Yeah, the playoffs. It’s all anyone can talk about lately.”
“Are you not ready for them?” Jase asks me. I go back to walking, and he matches my pace heading down the tunnel towards the team room.
“I am. It’s just a lot on my mind lately,” I admit. “I heard he didn’t come to the game. That’s not like him.”
Jase nods. “Are you two fighting? Or did you break up or something?”
Jase always has been direct with the questions; it’s part of what makes him my favorite goalie coach.
I shake my head. “No, no one is broken up. I think we’re both just taking some time off from the other.
Figure out where things go from here. The last time we rushed all those discussions and topics, it didn’t end well for either of us,” I say, shrugging before adding, “I prefer to think of it as us just growing a bit maybe?”
Jase nods. “Yeah, growing is a good thing as we get older.”
“Ha ha. Very funny. This is just so freaking weird, being here without him,” I admit.
“I hope he doesn’t take that job with the WNBA; he needs to stay here, Jase.
He belongs here and he cares for us. I’m not sure who Maxwell says will take over this team, but it can’t happen.
It needs to be August,” I say forcefully.
“He’s going to do whatever he can for you and this team. I know August and he’s going to try and make everyone happy in this situation,” Jase says, pulling me in for a quick side hug. “I just hope that he’s not sacrificing himself to make that happen.”
I chuckle. “That sure is different, August sacrificing himself to make others happy. That doesn’t happen often. Or ever that I remember.”
“He’s grown up and I think that’s a good thing. He wants to be a good team owner, and he’s done that. Even though he missed this game,” Dex says, sidling up beside us.
“Yeah, he did.” I sigh, looking over at Dex. “How is he doing?”
A grin spreads wide across his face before he answers me. “I think he is wishing right about now that you would get back to him. He’s losing his mind not talking to you. But I’m glad that you’re worried about him because that means that you haven’t given up on him either.”
“So, he hasn’t given up on me?” I ask, my heart lifting for the first time since I left him standing in that hotel lobby.
“Of course not, Hendrix. You know he hasn’t. He’s just trying to give you space. He will move heaven and earth to keep you.” Dex pulls me in a for side hug. “Just make sure that you’re ready to talk to him when he comes to you.”
I nod. “I do want to talk to him. Maybe I’ll call him tonight after the girls head on home.”
Dex nods. “I think that he would like that.”
We make our way into the team room. Watts is already talking so that silences us quickly, which I’m thankful for because I keep thinking about one of the last things that Dex said to me.
“He will move heaven and earth to keep you.” I wonder if that’s really true, and if I would do the same for him.
Would I really leave the Blaze to be with him?
That’s a question I may never to answer since he changed the fraternization rules.
I shouldn’t have to leave the Blaze in order to keep him. At least I hope not.
Later that night, the girls and I are climbing the stairs that lead to my second-floor apartment.
“Did Ash enjoy the game?” Mac asks from behind me.
“He did. But he was bummed that we didn’t win. We haven’t won that many games since he got here. I keep telling him he’s not a jinx and that he can keep watching us play in the playoffs.”
“Have we won since he got here?” Cassie chimes in.
“Yeah, we won one game. Out of the three that we played. That doesn’t make him a bad omen, right?” I say, laughing.
“We’ll see how the playoffs go. And if he is there for our first win, then he can stay. But if we lose…” Mac says, her voice trailing off with laughter.
“How much longer is he staying?” Amelia asks, hobbling up the stairs behind us.
“I’m not sure, actually. He keeps saying that he doesn’t have to work right now and he’s hanging out. So, we’ll see how much longer he stays.” I shrug. “I like having him here, but he’s never stayed so still for so long. My brother was always working. I think the health scare really got to him.”
“I’m sure it did. He’s so young,” Cassie replies. “Well, it’s nice that you two are getting some time together. Even if he does hate August.”
I laugh as I pull the door open. “Well, that’s getting a little better. Big brother worries and all.”
“Yeah, I know a thing or two about that,” Amelia says, grinning at me, as she settles herself on the couch. “My brothers, should they ever choose to come up here, will be all over Dex.”
“Something tells me he can handle it,” Mac says as she sits down by Amelia. “He seems like a good one who wouldn’t cower from them.”
I laugh. “Yeah, he does. I mean, fuck, if August can be willing to bury the hatchet after Ash punches him, I think that would go just fine.”
There’s a knock at the door and I rise. “The pizza is quick tonight,” I comment, making my way over to the door.
I pull it open and there he stands.
August Cromwell.
Looking at me with wild, pleading eyes. He stands there in a pair of athletic shorts and a black T-shirt. I don’t think he’s ever looked sexier, expect maybe in that tux that he wore the other night.
“Hi,” he says, his voice soft and tentative. I see his hands move like they are itching to touch me, but he keeps them at his sides.
“Hi, what are you doing here?” I step out and look around. “The girls are still coming back from the game. Someone might see you.”
“Yeah, I don’t care about that,” August says. “I only want to see you. May I come in?”
I step to the side. “By all means.”
He enters the apartment and immediately sees Mac, Cassie and Amelia sitting around the living room, watching him.
“I’m sorry I’m interrupting girl’s night. But I need to need to talk to one girl in particular.” He sighs. “Girls, I know that you just got here but I really want to talk Hendrix alone, please.”
Mac is the first to stand up. “Sure, we can do that.” She turns to face me. “Do you want us to head to my apartment in case you need us?”
“She won’t need you,” August promises.
“Hendrix?” Cassie redirects the question back to me before walking over to Amelia to help her get back up.
“We’re just having girl’s night,” I say, shrugging.
“Can we talk for a bit, if you want to?” he asks.
“I do. I want to talk to you.”
“Then what’s wrong?” He steps closer to me, reaching his hands out like he’s ready to touch me but he won’t. “Should I go?”
I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose. “No, you can stay.” I turn to see that the girls are all watching me closely. “You guys can head to the bar or something if you want to. I think that’s where the guys went for the night.”
“It is,” August confirms. He then turns to my friends. “I’m not going to hurt her, I can promise you that. I just want to talk to her. We have so much to talk about.”
They all nod and begin filing out.
“Please call if you need us,” Mac says, giving my hand a squeeze before heading out the door with the rest of them.
“You missed the game,” I say, moving into the living room, where I take a seat on the couch.
“I did. I thought that I needed some space so I could clear my head.”
“And how did that work out for you?” I ask him.
He shakes his head. “That was the hardest ninety minutes of my life. I missed being there with you and watching you play. Being up in the box—there is nothing like it.”
“Well, I’m sure that Maxwell will still let you hang out in the owner’s box, if you don’t have your own games to attend that night,” I say dryly.
“I’m sure he would. But Drew and I have a plan to work on things with him tomorrow.
So, we’ll see what happens. But I’m not worried about him right now.
I’m not worried about that right now. That is something that Drew and I will handle later.
What I’m more worried about is you and me.
Is there a you and me that I should still be worried about?
” He swallows and lowers himself to the couch where I sit.
“Please tell me that there is something left of you and me for me to be worried about.”
I smile at him and reach over to take one of his hands.
“I think that there is always going to be a you and me. You and I are electric. There’s always something firing just below the surface where you and I are concerned.
It’s either in the way that I hate you, or the way that you care about me no matter what. But something is always there, August.”
“What does that mean for us? Does that mean that you’re done with me?” he asks, his chocolate eyes searching mine. “Are we done?”
I grin at him and shake my head. “No, I don’t want us to be. Do you?”
“Of course not, why do you think I’m here?” He sounds desperate when the words leave his lips.
“Because I’m not making assumptions when it comes to me and you, August. I know that your dad puts you through so much and I know there is only so much that you can take.
So, I get it if you have to walk away.” I swallow before adding, “I will find a way to live with that, if that’s the case, but just know I’m not letting this all end so easily. You and I are made for each other.”
He grins at me. “I said that to you in college.”