Chapter 21 #2
“Should have done this before you spanked me in the bedroom then.” That fucking sexy voice.
My brows raise from her boldness, and I pull her tighter against my body. “I’m a little late on that, but I can spank you harder next time.”
She purrs into my neck and loops her arms around my neck, then she tilts her body against my dick. This woman is being a little vixen.
“Stay for dinner then we can leave together?” she offers.
“I wish, but I have a dinner with sponsors and won’t finish until late. Football season isn’t going to be on our side.”
She sighs and nods in understanding. “I get it.”
I crook my finger under her chin to tip her face up.
“There are 168 hours in the week, of which about 115 of those hours are coaching and 35 for sleeping. I hope every sleeping hour you are next to me, and any hours left in the week are for you, but even so, it depends on where a game might be. But it doesn’t matter, as you are always on my mind. ”
“I know. I’m getting used to it.”
Piper’s grandmother interrupts us. “You know if you marry, the coaches’ wives have an association.”
We both look at her, and she shrugs her shoulders.
“How much have you heard?” Piper wonders.
“Enough.”
I scoff a laugh again. “You’re something special, Ruth.”
“I know.” She doesn’t hold in any modesty.
Looking back at Piper, I’m happy that we can strike another milestone off the list.
Holding my phone to my ear, I wait for my sister to pick up. My driver is getting me to my next location for the day, so I have some time to kill.
“Oh dear, what have you done now?” Catherine greets me on the other end.
“Love you too. Can’t a guy call his sister?”
“You can, but you’ve been occupied lately. Speaking of which, I hear April is still giving you and Piper the silent treatment.”
I look out the window where we are stuck at a traffic light during rush-hour traffic on the north side of Chicago.
“She is, but I’m hoping to rectify that, as Piper and I are not going to fade away. I was hoping they could sort it all out, but that doesn’t seem to be happening, so I’m tapping in. I need your help.”
Catherine hums. “You understand where April is coming from, right?”
“Partly, but not enough that it’s an issue.
Look, I know she hasn’t had the best of romantic endeavors lately, but even more reason why she could use her friend, and I need Piper happy too, especially now that she’s losing me to the football season schedule.
I’d feel better knowing she has her best friend back. ”
“For selfish reasons, you call, but luckily I love you, and you did promise that I could have a spa day at the Dizzy Duck Inn on your account—”
My body sits up in reaction. “That’s it. You’re a genius. See, I knew phoning you would be a good idea. Thanks!”
“Wait, what? What just happened? I’m confused.”
“Gotta go, need to call April.” I hang up and quickly dial April’s number, even adding video.
I wait and wait, but eventually April answers.
“Yes?” I hear attitude which only makes me smile.
“You can’t stay mad at me. We’re family, and my son is connected to the best winery around and I coach your favorite team, so you need me.”
She holds her hand up. “Oh, don’t worry. Drew isn’t getting my silent treatment since he didn’t sleep with my best friend. Why did you, my cool uncle, have to become a cliché?”
“I’m not a cliché. I found a beautiful woman who I want to spend my life with, and she just so happens to be your age and your friend. I can’t apologize—”
“I know. You have no problem staying firm on your stances. It’s why you’re a coach.”
I smile at her thought. “I know somewhere in your smart head that if you look at it more, then you would understand. Anyways, it happened and here we are, and I just wanted to invite you to Lake Spark sometime soon for a spa day. I promised your mom it would be on me and thought I would extend the invitation.”
April looks at me, intrigued yet doubtful.
“Will Piper be there?”
“No. Would it matter, though? I know you miss her. I mean, she misses you. Just the other day she was in a mood because she saw a dog and said it reminded her of you.”
“Was it a beagle?” April nearly smiles.
I nod and see we are approaching our destination on all counts.
“Listen, I’ve got to run, but will you make it happen? Visiting Lake Spark?”
“I mean, I guess I can cram it into my busy schedule of ice cream, ripping up photos of my ex, and wondering where I went wrong in life.”
I cringe at that thought. “How are you doing with that?”
“Swell,” she says, sarcastic.
“You deserve so much better, and you will find someone.”
“If I had a penny every time someone told me that, then, well, I would be swimming in coins.”
I unbuckle my belt as the car comes to a standstill. “All the more reason to have a nice escape. Just send me your available dates.”
“Fine.”
“We’ll be in touch,” I say as the car door opens.
“Bye.”
“Bye, kiddo.”
Satisfaction spreads on my face because I have every intention of trapping April and Piper together, and I know they will thank me later. After that, we can just all move forward, because surely we’ve crossed every possible blip off the list.