Chapter Sixteen
Nick pulled up to the curb just down the block from Alex’s townhouse and cut the engine on the brand-new SUV. While he would have preferred a spot directly in front of her place, parking in the area was at a premium. He could just see the edge of her small front porch from here.
Another sliver of doubt slid through him. Part of him wanted to hightail it back to the hotel. But, he couldn’t. It was Em’s birthday and she was expecting him.
He got out and made a dash for the house. Like usual, it was raining. And he still hadn’t gotten around to getting a waterproof coat. Or an umbrella.
In his defense, he’d been busy.
He opened the small front gate. It gave a loud, rusty squeak.
The townhouse wasn’t new, probably a couple of decades old if he had to guess, but, other than the gate issue, it was immaculate.
The yard was tended, the windows sparkling—or would be, if the sun ever shone.
It was clear she took a great deal of pride in her home.
His steps up the walk bordered on a run that had nothing to do with the weather.
He was so fucking eager, it was fucking embarrassing.
It had been almost three weeks since he and Alex had spent that incredible night together in his hotel room, and to say he was looking forward to spending some more alone time with her was an understatement.
Between Em, her business, and all of her other commitments, like the PTA and the Sparkles, she’d had been super busy the last couple of weeks. Losing the clinic building complicated things further. And stressed her right the fuck out. Not that she’d admit it.
But the stress was evident in the tense lines of her body, which she thought she was hiding, but he could see every time she moved. The one time he’d tried to talk to her about it, she’d told him she was fine and dealing with it, and then changed the subject.
Since it wasn’t really his place, he’d let it drop. And refused to acknowledge the sting of her dismissal. It wasn’t like he’d told her every little thing going on with him.
Then he’d spent the last week and a half in New England, getting poked and prodded, first by his surgeon, and then by the team doctor.
He’d been stressed tested to within an inch of his life.
But he’d finally been cleared to return to the lineup.
Which meant he’d be heading back east really soon. Like, as in tomorrow.
He pushed the doorbell and rocked back on his heels. Why was he so bloody nervous? He reached into the inside pocket of his coat. The envelopes were still there. He rolled his eyes at his stupidity. Where would they have gone between the car and the house?
The door flung open. Em stood there, dressed in a pair of jeans and a Colorado Dragons jersey.
Her face lit up. “Nick.” His name was an only-dogs-can-hear squeal. She launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his middle and giving a squeeze.
He hugged her back. “Happy birthday, Sniper.” He patted her on the back and disentangled himself. She bounced on the balls of her feet for a second, energy radiating off her in waves, and then turned and bounded into the house.
He chuckled. Her jersey was personalized with Logan Keller’s name and number on the back. A prickle of jealousy jabbed him in the ribs. He should have bought her one of his jerseys.
“Oh, sorry.” Em yelled the apology from somewhere inside. “Come on in.”
He shook his head and stepped into the foyer. Pulling his coat off, he hung it in the front closet and then kicked off his shoes. He grabbed the envelopes from his pocket, his heart kicking into a time and half beat for some stupid reason.
He rounded the corner into the living room and stopped. There were a bunch of teenage girls scattered around the room, all watching a hockey game. Em was cuddled up next to another girl on the couch. Their body language declared there was more to their relationship than just friendship.
The pieces shifted into place, and he finally realized what Alex’s comment about Em finding herself had probably been about. The one that had caused the extension of Em’s grounding the day he and Alex had gone on their first date at the market.
Part of him wanted to take the girl aside and let her know that breaking Em’s heart was not advisable. Which was stupid. He wasn’t Em’s dad. So why did reminding himself of the fact make him feel all weird? Disappointed and shit?
“Hey, everyone,” Em said and climbed to her feet.
She padded over to him. All the girls turned to look at them.
And then six sets of eyes all seemed to widen with recognition at the same time.
“This is Nick. Nick this is Sarah, Rachel, Miko, Keisha, Erica, and Hannah.” She pointed to each of the girls as she said their name.
When she got to Hannah, her voice softened.
Yup, totally something going on between those two.
“Hi,” he said, and waved. He was never going to remember any of their names—with the possible exception of Hannah. Was she Em’s girlfriend? Should he ask?
That’s a big fat no, you idiot. Right. None of his business.
The girls all stared at him, no one saying anything, to the point where he was starting to feel uncomfortable.
He rubbed the back of his neck and glanced into the kitchen.
Alex sat at the table, her back to the living room.
She was focused on something in front of her and didn’t seem to realize he was here.
Em bounced on the balls of her feet again, that same excitement coming off her in waves large enough to sink all the boats in the marina. “Guess what, Nick?”
He turned his focus back to the birthday girl.
She grabbed his arm. “My dad got me tickets to see the Dragon’s play in the Lair in Colorado.”
Another jab of jealousy. Which was stupid. “That’s awesome.”
“And, he’s flying me there for spring break so we can go. And he bought me this jersey, so I can wear it at the game.”
Jab, jab, jab. Why hadn’t he thought of something like that?
All he’d gotten her was some gift cards.
One for her favorite sporting goods store so she could get some new equipment, since she’d mentioned needing a new pair of gloves, and one for a clothing store the young woman he’d purchased the cards from had insisted was very popular.
At the last minute, he added one for a popular bookstore.
Maybe he could send her and Alex some tickets, pay for them to come out and watch a game in Providence. But wasn’t that just copying what Kevin had given her?
His scalp began to prickle, an ache building in his lungs. He swallowed hard, pushed the feelings away. Hopefully the girls wouldn’t notice he was close to freaking out. Which he didn’t understand. It didn’t make any sense. Why was he freaking out over birthday presents?
Em seemed oblivious, just stared at him with the excitement of an overstimulated puppy.
“That’s really great. I’m sure you’ll have a great time.
” His voice came out a little weird, but she didn’t so much as blink.
Some of the tension slipped out of him. “I’m going to go talk to your mom.
” He patted her on the shoulder. “It was nice to meet you all.” He gave another wave and then turned and walked toward the table.
Alex was absorbed by whatever she was doing, and didn’t hear him walk up behind her. He leaned over, about to press a kiss to the back of her head, but froze when he noticed what was on her tablet. Job listings.
A shock went through him. Why was she looking at job listings? She had her own business. Were things with finding a new building really that bad? And if so, why hadn’t she told him? Talked to him about it?
Umm, maybe because you’re not in a relationship and she doesn’t have to.
Of course. But… Yeah, there were no buts. It was the truth. He needed to stop. She would do her thing, he’d do his, they’d have a little fun. End of story.
Except, that wasn’t what he wanted. He wanted Alex and Em to be a part of his life, even after he went back to New England tomorrow. The idea had been floating around in the back of his mind the last couple of weeks, but he’d initially written it off as great-sex-brain.
But, as time passed, the idea hadn’t gone away. Only gotten stronger.
Since he hadn’t been expecting to broach the subject so early tonight, a streak of his previous panic washed through him. He stepped back, but must have made some noise, because her shoulders stiffened and she turned around.
She realized it was him and smiled, but it didn’t light up her face.
“Hey.” The defeat in her voice wrenched is heart.
“Hey.” He wanted to soothe her or shake her or something. Tell her everything would be okay. But he didn’t know if it would, and it wasn’t his place. Just like with Em.
“How are you?” She swiped off the page on the tablet and pushed to her feet. “Em wanted us to wait until you got here before we ordered the pizza. She wanted to make sure we got something you’d like.”
“How about I buy you a building?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, his soul scrambled to take them back. Too late. They hovered in the space between them like a toxic fog.
“What?”
He swallowed, anxiety and unease at the big old fucking can of worms he’d not only opened, but flung in her face, stealing his voice. Where the fuck was this inability to speak thirty seconds ago?
As the implications of what he’d suggested sank in, she visibly shut down. Her features blanked. She pulled her shoulders back. “Thank you.” The frosty edge of the words was sharp, and they sliced into him, deep. “But I don’t need you to buy me a building. I’ve got this under control.”
He knew he should back down. She knew what she did, and didn’t want. But she was just being reactive and stubborn. “Hear me out. I think—”
She held her hand up, palm out. “I said no.”
Her dismissive tone put him on the defensive. “Why are you being so stubborn?”