Chapter 28 #2
The tense silence that weighs heavily around us after Davis leaves, is interrupted by my dad standing up and pulling me into a hug.
“I’m sorry, son. You’ve worked hard to be where you’re at, and never want you to question how proud I am to say my son plays professional rugby. You’ve worked so hard, and it shows.”
I’m so stunned by my brother’s anger that it takes me a moment to respond. “Thank you, that means a lot.”
“Don’t worry about Davis. He’ll come around, you and Sutton deserve to be happy.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“It can be,” Mom says. “Love is the most powerful thing in the world. If you two are meant to be together, things will work out.”
So that’s where I get my ideas about romance from.
“I hope you’re right.”
“So, what time is your flight out tomorrow?” Mom asks as Sutton takes her seat again.
I’m grateful for the subject change. Sutton doesn’t deserve to be bombarded with questions about our relationship.
“I think we head out at nine tomorrow.”
As dad pulls into the hotel parking lot and we pile out of the car, Mom hugs Sutton first, telling her not to be a stranger any more, and to reach out if she needs anything. She smiles gratefully, letting her know she will. Dad shakes her hand, echoing my mom’s sentiments.
The hug her and Davis share is brief and slightly awkward, but they both laugh when they part. “It was good to see you again, Sutton,” he says.
“You too, Davis. Good luck finishing out your residency. You’ll make a great doctor.”
Davis doesn’t say goodbye to me, just sulks as he walks off and gets in the car, and I know Sutton can sense something is off.
“Thanks.” Dad claps me on the back, telling me again he’s proud of me and to send me my game schedule so they can plan a trip to come visit with Kylie.
Mom’s eyes are glassy as she wraps me in a hug. I’m taller than her, and she makes me bend down so she can tell me, “Do what makes you happiest, honey. I’m so proud of you. I love you.”
“Thanks, Mom. I love you too.”
She pats my cheek before she steps away and they get in the car. Sutton and I wave them off as they drive away before heading into the lobby. Coach left our keycards and bags at the front desk, so we flash our ID’s to the receptionist and head to the elevators.
By another trick of fate, our rooms are right next to each other again, so we ride up to the eighth floor. Davis’s words tumble around my brain as I watch Sutton from my position across the metal box.
“Thank you for coming tonight,” I say, breaking the silence. “Sorry it turned into a questionnaire.”
“It’s okay. I expected to be asked a million questions. I’m sorry if it felt like I took the attention away from you, though.”
“Don’t worry about it. We had a good heart to heart while you were in the bathroom. They apologized for how they’ve acted about my career.”
“Ezra, that’s amazing. Are you okay, though? How do you feel about it?”
“I feel… hopeful.” About more than just my relationship with my family, but I’ll keep that part to myself for now. “I think the only way to go from here is up.”
The elevator dings, signalling our arrival.
I purposely keep my steps slow, wanting to drag out my time with her.
When we reach our doors, it feels like we’re both dragging this out.
Sutton’s yawn has my heart melting and protectiveness kicking in.
She needs to sleep, not be kept awake because I’m dying to spend more time with her.
“Go to sleep, Sutt. I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow morning.”
She hesitates for a minute before she slowly steps into my space, wrapping her arms around me. I hug her back instantly, relishing the feel of her soft curves.
“Goodnight, Ezra. I—” she clears her throat as she steps back. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being you.”
After a quick glance up and down the hallway to make sure we’re alone, I press a quick kiss to her lips. She immediately melts into me, turning my quick peck into something more. I want to pull her into my room and pick up where we left off last night, but I know we can’t.
“Sweet dreams, Sutton. I’ll see you in the morning,” I whisper when I finally find the willpower to pull away and step back.
I wait until she’s inside her room before I go into mine. Kendall is on one of the queen beds… reading a book with a naked man’s chest on the cover.
“What the hell are you reading?” I ask, kicking off my shoes.
“I stole this from Hannah. I haven’t read a mafia book before, but it’s hot as shit. I’m learning all sorts of new positions.” He places a bookmark between the pages and sets the book on the nightstand, looking at me expectantly. “So? How did it go?”
I recap the conversation at dinner for him, and his face lights up. “Hell yeah,” he says when I’m done, pumping his fist in the air. “Wait. What the hell are you doing in here, then? Go get your girl!”
“She’s sharing a room with Melanie, and there are complications we have to work through.”
“Complications, shomplications. She looks at you like you’re her favorite part of the day.
At practice, she pays more attention to you than anyone else, and you can’t brush that off as it being her job because if she should be tracking anyone, it should be Grandpa.
She held your hand on the airplane today, too.
You two are taking a fucking pottery class together.
A sexy pottery class. Stop pussyfooting around and seal the deal. ”
“It’s not a sexy pottery class. And she was nervous about the turbulence.”
“Yeah, okay,” he snorts. “I’ll sit by her tomorrow then and see if she holds my hand when she’s nervous.”
“No.”
My best friend grins at the way I snap at him. “Ask me.”
“Ask you what?”
“You know what.”
I really don’t want to, but I know I’m out of my depth here. I have no idea what I’m doing with Sutton.
With a resigned sigh, I look Kendall in the eyes. “Will you help me figure out what to do about Sutton?”
A slow, maniacal grin spreads across his face. “I thought you’d never ask.”