CHAPTER 28 KAYLEE
I chat with Kate a while before I head upstairs to pack once the boys started their workout, and as excited as I am to move in with Ben, a little part of me is going to miss living at Jack and Kate’s house.
Kate has become one of my closest friends. When Jack started high school, which is where football really became his life, I was three. When he went off to college, I was seven. When he was drafted onto the Chargers, I was eleven.
I was never really allowed the chance to get to know him the way I always wanted to, and he’s more closed up than Luke, which made it even harder.
Luke and I have always been close because even though he was older and busier, he still made the effort to keep the connection open between us.
Jack never did that. He hardly ever visited, and when he did, it was always a quick trip so he could return to his life.
But seeing him with his son and with Kate has shown me a whole new side to him.
Since we lost our dad, I’ve seen a big change in him.
Maybe it’s because he’s the oldest son and he feels like he needs to take the role of protector over our family, but whatever the case, I’m glad I’ve had the last few months to get to know him better.
He’s one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game, and he’s my brother. How freaking cool is that?
Some of my clothes are still packed from when I almost did this a couple weeks ago, so it doesn’t take long to pull what’s left out of my drawers and fold them into the suitcases.
I tuck the stuffed bear from the hockey game into one of the suitcases before I zip it up and stand it near the door.
I grab the hangers in my closet and stack them over the top of the suitcase, and then I head into my bathroom to work on my toiletries.
I knew my living situation was temporary, so I really only unpacked and moved in the essentials. And now I’m moving into another temporary situation.
It just feels more and more like I’m putting my own life on hold.
I’ve got a temporary boyfriend, a temporary house, and a temporary job. I turn twenty-three in one week, and I have no idea where I want my life to go after September when this is all over.
I’m just about done when I pull out my phone, and I see Dane left a voicemail when he called earlier. It’s been nearly two hours since he called, and I finally listen to it.
“I head back home tomorrow. I’m hoping to see you again before I leave, but since you’re not answering, I guess I’ll have to find some other way to get your attention.”
That’s it. That’s the whole message.
I’m not sure what sort of chaos I unleashed by not answering, but I have an ominous feeling I’ll find out soon.
Ben appears freshly showered in my doorway a little while later and he starts carrying boxes down to his car. Jack shows up behind him and carries down the heavy suitcases, and Kate and I drag down the clothes on hangers.
Once everything is packed into the Scout, I turn and look back at Jack and Kate’s place. “I’ll miss living with you guys. Thanks for letting me crash here as long as you did.”
“You’re always welcome here,” Kate says, pulling me into a hug.
Jack hugs me next in a tight squeeze. “Of course. Come by any time. Just ring the bell first, okay?”
I giggle and I wipe away a tear at the same time as emotions plow into me. I blow out a breath as I click my seatbelt into place.
Ben waits until we’ve pulled out of the driveway and we’re out of their view, and then he reaches over to squeeze my thigh. “You okay?”
I nod and stare out the window a beat. “Yeah. I just haven’t gotten to spend that kind of time with my brother since before he started high school. I was probably five or six. It’s been great getting to know who he is today.”
“He’s a good guy,” Ben says.
I nod. “The best.”
“He warned me off you, you know.”
I giggle. “Of course he did. What did you tell him?”
“I told him he has nothing to worry about.”
“I’m sorry you had to lie to him,” I say softly. “I hate lying to my family, but we have to keep this between us.”
“I didn’t lie,” he says softly.
I glance over at him.
“Not about that,” he clarifies as our eyes connect.
My brows dip, and he squeezes my thigh again with his huge hand.
“Yes, we’re lying about the true nature of our relationship and the reasons why you’re moving in a little ahead of schedule.
In a twisted way, we’re not lying to the media who thinks we’re lying.
But Jack told me he doesn’t want to worry about you.
He doesn’t want our dynamic on the field to be fucked up because of our personal lives.
And it won’t. What happens between you and me is between you and me, and that talk with Jack made me realize how important it is that we keep our secret. ”
I nod. “Agreed.” I sigh. “Oh! And I got a call from Dane. He left a voicemail that was a little…concerning.”
“What did he say?”
I play the message for him.
“How’s he going to get your attention?” he asks.
I shrug. “I have no idea.”
“Better let Ellie know just so we can stay ahead of it.”
I nod. “Good idea.” I forward her the voicemail and cross my fingers Dane doesn’t do anything to mess up what we’ve got going here.
Ellie texts back a minute later.
Ellie: Hopefully it’s just a threat. Let’s wait it out.
We pull into Ben’s driveway, and the same photographer that’s been posted across the street for the last couple weeks is there again.
He snaps our pictures as we unload my boxes.
It has to be pretty clear I’m moving in, and Jack’s arranging to have all the furniture I ordered for my apartment dropped off tomorrow.
Once my boxes are all inside and up in the guest room to keep up the appearance we’re putting on for my family, we set to work on rearranging the minimal furniture at Ben’s place to make room for the items coming tomorrow.
“You getting hungry?” Ben asks as I start unpacking my clothes as I make myself at home in the guest room.
I nod.
“I’ll start dinner. Just yell down if you need any help.”
“Thanks. Yell up if you need any, too, but I won’t be much help in the kitchen.”
He chuckles. “Don’t worry. As long as you can try to carry a tune, I can teach you how to cook.”
I tilt my head in a bit of confusion at his comment, but I let it go as I fix my hangers and begin organizing my closet by color—the way it always was, but some of the items were moved out of order during the move.
About a half hour later, Ben appears in my doorway as I’m organizing my underwear drawer. “Dinner’s just about ready. And why bother with anything in that drawer when it’s just going to end up on the floor anyway?” He flashes me a grin, and I offer a small smile.
His eyes widen with alarm. “What’s wrong?”
I shake my head. “Nothing.”
He steps into the room and sits on the edge of my bed “Usually you laugh at my stupid jokes.”
I sit beside him and fidget with my hands in my lap. “I’m sorry. I just…” I blow out a breath. “I’m worried about what Dane’s planning. He’s the competitive type, and he doesn’t quit until he gets what he wants.”
Ben reaches over and covers my hands with one of his. “If you want to be with him, it’s okay, Peaches.”
“I don’t,” I say softly. “I thought I did…but I know what I want, and it isn’t him.” I glance a little timidly over at Ben, and he turns to look at me at the same time. Our eyes connect, and that same heat that’s always there between us warms the air around us.
He squeezes my hands. “We’ll figure it out together, okay?” he says softly, and then he leans in and presses a soft kiss to my lips.
I nod. “Okay.”
“We can’t worry about something that we can’t control. We can be as proactive as we want, and we can control how we react, but sitting here letting what might happen affect our present is just a waste of time.”
I blow out a breath. “You’re right.”
“Now get that cute little ass downstairs before I burn dinner.”
I giggle. “Yes, sir.”
“Oh sweet Jesus,” he says, closing his eyes and stretching his neck back for a second. “Say that again.”
“Mm. Yes, sir.” I lower my voice and draw out the words on a soft moan.
“Oh, fuck. After dinner, your ass is mine.”
“Just my ass? You can have my whole body, Trouble.”
He laughs, and I think we’re both definitely going to enjoy this new living arrangement.