Chapter 39 #2
“It’s fine, he can join us if he wants to. He works for the Blaze, same as the rest of us,” I say. I’m pretty sure everyone is surprised because now all eyes are on me. “He’s welcome to stay.”
August places a hand on my shoulder and turns to Dex, “Do you want to, man? I can grab an extra chair if you want.”
I turn in time to see Dex shake his head.
“Nah, I appreciate the invite. Thanks, Amelia.” His eyes meet mine and I can see so many questions hiding in there.
I want to scream at him to talk, but I don’t.
Because I’m sure my eyes are matching his all the same.
“I think I’m going to head back home. I’m a bit beat from a long day, so I’m going to hit the hay early. ”
“You sure, man?” August asks him, looking from me to Dex.
I turn my attention back to my drink and take a sip. I can feel his eyes on me.
“Have you gotten any clinic time at Dr. Haldman’s?” Jase asks him.
That causes my head to snap back in his direction. “Are you leaving the Blaze?” I ask him.
The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them. As I wait for him to reply, I can feel a heaviness form on my chest. My breathing picks up, and my palms begin to sweat. How can he leave us already? We got a real trainer, and I think I need him to stay.
“No, I’m not leaving the Blaze,” he assures me. “I’m picking up some extra hours at his clinic to keep busy.”
“We don’t keep you busy enough?” I ask him.
He shakes his head. “Just setting up something for myself while you all are in the offseason. I thought it best to get my foot in the door as soon as possible,” he explains.
I nod and look away from him. Cassie flashes me a quick, encouraging smile. “That’s good.” I say to the wall, not knowing how else to continue the conversation, even though I’d really like to.
“Well, I guess I should go order some food or something,” Dex says. I hear his feet shuffle a bit behind me.
August puts his hand in the air, beckoning over our waitress. “She can take your order.”
“I sure can, what would you like,” she asks him all friendly and bubbly.
I want to turn around and tell her not to flirt with him, but I can’t. I have no right to him. The thought sinks in, and my shoulders drop under the weight of it.
“I’ll take the chicken chopped salad, please,” he tells her.
“There’s a lot of ordering that going around,” August tells him.
“I’m sorry?” Dex questions him. “I don’t follow.”
“Well, Amelia here ordered the same thing,” August explains.
“Yeah, well, she turned me on to it,” he replies.
I look over my shoulder in time to catch him smiling at me. I return the smile, feeling like I could melt right here on the spot as I look into those wide green eyes.
“How are you?” he asks in a low voice.
My smile fades. “I’m managing.”
He nods, his hand coming up and resting on the back of my chair. “And how is the knee?”
“Doesn’t your trainer tell you anything?” I ask him, teasing him a little bit.
“He does. But it’s not like I get to hear it from you. So, tell me, how’s the knee?” He’s smiling brightly at me. The full effect of his charm is weighing on me. It takes everything in me not to grab a hold of him and pull his lips to mine.
But I can’t. Or I’m not supposed to. My head and my heart are now at war and I’m not sure which one will win.
“It’s getting there, I guess. I’ve weaned off the painkillers a little bit. I’m down to only morning and nighttime. It helps me sleep,” I tell him.
“Well, then make sure you don’t have too many of those red drinks because while you might not be playing tomorrow, booze and those don’t mix.” He winks at me, and I feel my cheeks heat.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” I look up at him, and his eyes are locked on mine.
We both stare at each other, while everyone else is talking around us, like we’re in some kind of trance.
In his eyes I see the man who carried me off the field when I was injured in front of the whole stadium, who held me when I was crying over my bum knee and who loved me so gently and fiercely at the same time.
I miss him. My heart longs to reach up and pull him into my arms.
“Good, I’m glad,” he finally says. I see his face twist quickly. “You in tomorrow with Lucas before the game? Is that what I saw on the schedule?”
I nod. “I sure am.”
“Well, I guess I might see you tomorrow in the training room, or on the field at the game,” he tells me, grinning again.
“You know it’s September, which means the Halloween candy is already out. Should I pick up some Reese’s pumpkins? Is that something you’d like as a field snack?”
I nod. “Yeah, I would. No candy corn. That’s not real candy.”
He looks like he wants to say something else but doesn’t. “Yeah, that candy sucks.”
I hear murmurs behind me, but I refuse to turn my attention back to my friends. My eyes are locked strictly on Dex.
“Are you sure you don’t want to join us?” August asks him.
“No, I’m going to head out. I wanted to come say hi and check on our patient here,” he says, gesturing towards me.
The waitress picks that moment to bring our food over. She is also carrying a takeout bag. Dex doesn’t have any reason to stay the minute she hands him his food.
“Sir, I have your takeout order, but I can get you a seat here at the table if you would like,” she says, smiling up at him.
I hate the way she is looking at him. But to his credit he’s only given her half smiles.
“Ummm,” he says as he looks back at me for confirmation.
“That’s up to you,” I tell him.
His eyes scan the table, and he sighs. “I think I’m going to stick to my plan of heading on out. But thank you for offering.”
“You got it. Here’s your food.” She hands him his to him and begins distributing our food. Once she’s has finished and has walked away, he speaks again.
“I should get going and leave you all to eat your food.” he says, shifting on his feet. “I’ll see everyone at the field tomorrow. August, thanks for dinner. I’ll see you at home.”
A lump rises up in my throat when he says, ‘he’ll see August at home.’ Home doesn’t mean our place, anymore. That stings.
“You bet, man, anytime,” August replies. “I won’t be out late tonight.”
“Sounds good.” Dex turns to leave but stops and looks at me. “I’d like to check out your knee tomorrow if you will allow it,”
I nod. “Sure, why not.”
“Great, thank you. I’ll see you in the training room and again fieldside with those Reese’s pumpkins.” He brushes my shoulder with his fingertips and then turns to everyone else. “See you all tomorrow. Have a good night, everyone.”
There is a string of “goodbyes” and “good nights” before Dex turns and walks away from us. I itch to follow him and tell him that he should either come back here or take me with him. But I don’t. I stay in my seat.
I turn my attention back to the table. “I don’t want to hear a word from anyone. Got it?” I say, smiling wide.
“What would we have to say?” Mac asks, grinning at me.
“Yeah, that was totally normal,” Hendrix adds.
“Looked like some foreplay to me,” Cassie says, grabbing one of Jase’s French fries.
I shake my head and get to dressing my salad. “Shut up and eat your food.”
While everyone digs in, I think to myself, one point for heart, two for head because I remain in my seat and he’s leaving alone.