Chapter 3
Chapter Three
T essa
I barely slept last night. I blame Number Eighteen and his blue eyes.
I have no idea what Landon Barker is up to.
What I do know is that whatever it may be, it doesn’t involve me, no matter how persistent he is.
Although it’s admittedly thrilling to have his attention, it’s for the wrong reasons.
It’s all about the chase, one I won’t be surrendering to anytime soon.
“Good morning,” Autumn says, joining me in our shared office space. She’s the manager and I’m the assistant manager of the Safe Haven Animal Shelter. That’s how we met, and we’ve been best friends ever since.
“Hey.” I smile and go back to the volunteer schedule I’ve been working on.
“Any phone calls today?” she asks with a grin.
“Ugh,” I groan, sitting back in my chair. “No. I’m hoping he got the hint.”
“You know, Jeremy said he asked him for your number yesterday before they all went home.”
That has me sitting up a little straighter. “Please tell me he didn’t give it to him.”
“Nope, but he did tell him your last name and where you worked.”
“Well, that solves that mystery.” Yesterday, we both racked our brains as to how he figured it out. I should have known it was Jeremy. I was too flustered to even consider him.
“He told him if he wanted your number, he had to work for it.”
“Great. That’s all I need is Jeremy encouraging him. Tell him next time, he can tell Landon I’m not interested.”
“He says he’s staying out of it from now on. He gave him what he needed to find you. The rest is up to him.”
“He’ll get bored soon. I mean, he’s Landon Barker after all. He can have any woman he wants, and he’s not going to wait around on me.”
“You never know. You could be the one to change him.” Autumn shrugs like the words that just came out of her mouth are not the most unrealistic she’s ever spoken.
“I don’t want to change him. That never works. He is who he is, and that’s not a bad thing. He’s just not for me.”
“How do you know who he is?” She raises her eyebrows.
“Fine. I don’t know him. I have a perception of him, and it’s not one I feel works well with who I am. How’s that?”
“You’re being judgey.”
“Like you didn’t judge Jeremy.”
“Oh, I did. I admit that. You’re forgetting something,” she says, standing from her desk that faces mine.
“Tell me, ole wise one. What could I possibly be forgetting?” I ask, amused. I can only imagine what she’s going to throw at me next.
“What you’re forgetting, my dear Tess, is that yes, I judged Jeremy, but I also married him.” She raises her left hand and wiggles her ring finger that houses her wedding band and engagement ring. Not that they’re easy to miss.
“So you found your unicorn. Not all of us are that lucky. And you didn’t change him. He changed because of you. To be better. There’s a difference.”
“I agree with you. But how do you know that Landon won’t be the same way?
How do you know he’s not already a commitment guy?
Because of a few tabloids? Come on, Tessa, you know better than to believe everything you read in those things or online.
Hell, talk to Jeremy. He can give you his firsthand experiences. ”
I admit she has a point, but it’s all too much.
He’s too much. He’s this gorgeous, professional athlete, and I’m the girl next door who helps run an animal shelter.
He might not be bored now because of the chase, but he will be.
Eventually. I’m saving us both the drama and potential heartache that’s surely inevitable.
“I don’t,” I say when I realize she’s watching me still, waiting for an answer. “I have to go with my gut on this one, and my gut tells me that Landon Barker has heartbreak written all over him.”
Autumn shakes her head. “Girl, I’ve been where you are. Sometimes you just have to take the risk.”
“I’ve never been much of a risk-taker.”
“Just promise you’ll keep an open mind.”
“Sure, whatever, but it’s a moot point. I made it clear that day at the field, and both times he called yesterday, that I wasn’t interested.
I’m sure he’s tucked his tail between his legs and moved on to the next willing and able woman.
Lord knows there are plenty in line to volley for his attention. ”
No sooner than the words leave my mouth, the chime over the door alerts us to a visitor. Standing from my chair, I walk down the hall to the reception area. There I find a woman holding a planter of flowers. “Hi, I have a delivery for a Tessa Deaton.”
No, he didn’t. “I’m Tessa.” I step closer and accept the planter, placing it on the reception desk.
“Sign here, please.” She hands me a clipboard, and I scrawl my signature across the page. “Thank you. Have a nice one,” she says, and is gone as fast as she arrived.
“Flowers?” Autumn asks, wearing a grin. “I wonder who they’re from?
” She’s being coy; we both know damn well who they’re from.
No one sends me flowers. Ever. As in, I’ve never received flowers before in my entire life.
Sure, a corsage for prom when I was in high school, but never like this.
It’s amazing what it does to brighten your mood.
The quarterback is persistent, I’ll give him that.
He’s good at the game, and although the flowers are a pleasant surprise, I’m not playing.
Nope, my ass will remain on the bench. At least when it comes to him.
“They’re for you.” I make it a point to grin widely, exaggerating the look, which makes her laugh.
“Oh, really?” She reaches out for the card, but I’m faster, snatching it before she has a chance to.
I grip the small card in my hand as I lean in to smell the roses, literally.
Not just roses but calla lilies, which are my favorite.
The bouquet is gorgeous with the white roses and the pink lilies intertwined.
Without even knowing, he chose the perfect arrangement.
Then again, I’m sure he just called the flower shop and told them to pick.
On second thought, he probably had an assistant order them.
Guys like him, all rich and professional, can’t be bothered with mundane acts such as ordering flowers.
Suddenly, my happy feeling is deflated. I’m sure that’s it.
He wouldn’t take time out of his day to send them himself.
“Are you going to read it? Or would you rather stand there staring at this stunning arrangement with a dopey look on your face the entire day?” Autumn grins, proud of herself for calling me out.
I stick my tongue out at her like the adult that I am.
Turning the small envelope over in my hands, I slide my index finger under the seal and pull out the tiny card.
It simply says Call me , with a phone number.
It’s signed, with an L , and that’s it. His cocky ass just assumed he’s the only man vying for my attention.
Sure, he’s right, but still. He can’t even include his full name?
“Well?” Autumn asks, impatient as ever.
“From an L.” I shrug, handing her the card.
She reads over it and laughs. “Looks like we’ve got another cocky player on our hands. Are we supposed to read his mind that he’s the L.B. that sent these?” She stares at the card, then grins. “Did I ever tell you how I met Jeremy?”
“Yeah, something about a bobblehead?” I try to pull up the memory.
“Yeah, and his bike… it had the initials J.B. engraved. I couldn’t help but think it stood for jerky baller,” she laughs.
I nod. “I remember you telling me that.”
“Yeah, well, looks like you got your own initials man.”
“What? You’re talking crazy.”
“No, really. We need to give him a name for it.”
“He has one. Landon Barker.”
“No, no, not his real name. Where’s the fun in that?” She thinks for a minute. “I’ve got it. Lucky Baller.” She nods, proud of herself.
“And why is he so lucky?” I ask, knowing I’m going to regret it.
“He’s got your attention. What more luck does he need?”
I shake my head at her. “And what’s with this we stuff? We have another cocky player on our hands? What’s up with that? You trading Jeremy in?” I tease, knowing damn well that’s not even a possibility.
“We’re a package deal,” she says, not missing a beat. “He wants my bestie, he gets me, my man, and my son. He has to pass our approval.”
“Too bad he’s never going to get the chance to be under your microscope.”
“We’ll see,” she says, waving the small card in the air at me.
“Give me that, crazy girl.” I take the card from her and shove it into my back pocket. I’ll toss it later.
I don’t think there has ever been a day longer than this one.
It was a quiet day at the shelter. Autumn had to leave at lunch to take JJ to his annual checkup, which left me and the animals.
We had two volunteers on the schedule for today, but they were gone by one.
The entire afternoon was just me, the animals, and my thoughts.
Oh, and that pesky small white envelope that still resides in my back pocket.
Autumn lectured me before she left that the right thing to do to was text him and tell him thank you.
Sure, it was a nice gesture, but he knows I’m not interested.
Still, I can’t stop thinking about the fact that it’s in my back pocket.
Once I’ve pulled into my driveway, I grab my things and head inside.
As I walk up the front steps, I take in my home.
It’s not much, just a small two-bedroom, one-bathroom house, with a little patch of grass that is supposed to be my yard.
With the California sun, it’s more of an ugly brown patch.
It’s not much, but it’s all mine. Well, mine and the landlord’s, but one day, I’ll have a place of my own.
Despite the brown yard and close neighbors, it still beats apartment living.