68. Chapter 68
Charlotte
These last few weeks have been bliss. Jake has mostly had home games and hasn’t been away, or at least not gone for longer than a couple of days at a time.
We spend every spare second of time together, and the more time we spend with each other, the more in love I become. I still haven’t told him that yet, though.
Something is holding me back and I don’t know what. Maybe it’s because I haven’t recovered any further memories, but what if I never do? I can’t keep waiting around on a what if.
Jake has a home game against Vegas and we’re all going to cheer the guys on. Even Hannah is coming as she’s officially off dog watching duty for the night, thanks to her neighbor’s teenage daughter wanting to earn some extra money.
Padding down the hall, towel drying my hair, I spot Jake on the terrace. He’s on the phone to someone in what looks to be a tense phone call, judging by the furrow in his brow.
I can just make out snippets of his call and hear the words “Jackson, expansion draft…one year left on contract…traded.”
Oh my god, is Jake about to be traded? About to be taken away from me? And where the hell is Jackson?
Grabbing my phone, I do a quick Google search and find a news article all about the proposed expansion, noting Jackson is in Texas. Texas? That’s like halfway across the country.
My thoughts are spiraling right now. What happens if he gets traded? Would he want me to go with him? Would I want to go with him?
I’m completely rattled by this news, but I’m going to put on my brave face and not show Jake that. I don’t want him to be on edge before his game, that’s the last thing he needs. I could message the girls or Wren, but I’m a big girl and can figure this out on my own. I’m sure I can
I wish my parents were here. They’d know just what to do.
Through the window, I can see Jake wrapping up his call, so I rush to look busy and not like I was eavesdropping.
Quickly running round the kitchen island, I turn the coffee machine on and gather some cups, keeping my hands busy and stopping them from shaking from the news I’ve just heard.
Arms creep around my waist. Unintentionally, I tense up, my body going rigid under his touch.
“Baby? Are you ok?” Shit, he’s noticed.
Turning in his arms, I give him a smile—I can only hope he doesn’t realize is fake—and say, “I’m fine, just a bit of a headache, that’s all.” Reaching up, I plant a soft kiss on his lips.
“Come on, The First 48 isn’t going to watch itself.”
He looks at me. He can tell something’s off, but he doesn’t say anything, just follows me over to the couch.
Jake leaves for the arena around two hours later, and I’m left stewing over his earlier phone call. I know I should talk to him about what I heard, but I need to get my head on straight first.
The game doesn’t start for another four hours, so I have plenty of time, but to give myself the maximum, I text Kayla and tell her I’ll drive myself. I haven’t driven since the accident, but I’m sure it’ll be fine.
Needing to get out of the house, I leash Bella up and we go for a walk along the shore, dipping my toes into the waves as they crash. While I’m walking, I try to imagine a life somewhere new. I did start anew here in San Diego, and that’s been amazing. Maybe I could do it again?
I know Jake says he loves me and that he’s been in love with me for a long time, and I’m ninety-nine percent sure I feel the same. I just—I don’t know—wish I could trust my feelings. I can’t move to Texas, can I? What if he leaves me and then I’m alone?
Trudging back up the steps to my house, I find my resolve and climb the ladder to my attic.
It’s time to get those journals.