Wright Kind of Love, page 5
“He’s just despicable. The house situation—”
I glanced around the house I’d called a home for two years, and he’d just yanked it out from under me. Bailey and I had only casually discussed what we were going to do for next year. She’d be starting her junior year, and I’d be working full-time. Now, it seemed impossible.
“I don’t know where I’m going to live.”
He blew out a breath. “Well, you could stay with me until you figure it out.”
My eyes jumped to him in surprise. “Are you serious?”
“Of course. I’m not letting you stay here or move in with your brothers unless that’s something you want to do.”
“No,” I said quickly.
“I didn’t think so.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “We’ll figure it out. For now, you can stay with me.”
“Okay,” I whispered, finding the whole thing almost unbelievable. I circled his waist and drew in his sunscreen scent. “I’m glad you were here for all of this.”
“Always, baby girl. Always.”
Part II
Now That You Know
7
Chase
My mom fluffed her freshly dyed blonde hair on the video chat. “What do you think, dear?”
“It looks good, Mom. Are we still on for lunch next week?”
“Sure. Sure. I have to rearrange some things. Busy schedule and all.”
Ever since the divorce, my mom’s schedule had gotten shockingly busy. So much that I rarely saw her unless she penned me in. I had a feeling this was her way of dating without telling me about it. Which I honestly appreciated. And she had every right to go out and find someone better than my dad. But it was also just weird.
“Sure. I just really wanted to talk to you about something.”
I’d been trying all week to reach her. I wanted her to meet Harley. I figured starting with my mom was the best way to go since she was the least likely to care about the Wrights now that the divorce was final.
“What is this all about, dear? Can’t you just tell me now? We can still get lunch, but you look anxious. Not good for your complexion. You’re going to get lines in your forehead.” She pinched her unmoving forehead. “Of course, that looks good on a man.” It was said bitterly.
“I’m not anxious. I just have exciting news. Someone that I want you to meet.”
Her eyes widened. “Someone to meet. Who?”
“Can I introduce you at lunch?”
My mom pursed her lips. “I don’t like surprises, Chase. You know I’ve had enough for a lifetime.”
Yeah, she had.
All the girls my dad had cheated on her with. Not to mention the new baby that he’d had with his mistress. While I found Silas to be the cutest one-year-old around—he was my half-brother after all—every other aspect of his existence disgusted me. The fact that Dayna had been an employee at Sinclair Realty when she was knocked up. That the board hadn’t fired my father, but just made me the face of the company while he worked in the background. How my father hadn’t legitimized his relationship with Dayna by marrying the poor girl, who was younger than me.
Maybe I owed my mother not to surprise her with the fact that I was dating a Wright. I didn’t think she would be as upset as, say, my father, but I never really knew.
“I’ve started seeing someone,” I admitted slowly.
Her smile lit up. “Have you? Is it serious?”
“It is,” I told her, unable to keep the joy out of my voice. “She’s sort of moved in.”
“Already, Chase? That’s moving fast for you. You dated Kennedy for three years before she moved in with you.”
Ah, Kennedy. That name I hadn’t thought about in a long time. My Houston girlfriend, who had wanted nothing more than to live in my house and be my wife and tell all of her friends that we had hit new milestones. That felt like a lifetime ago.
“It’s not fast exactly, but it does feel right.”
“If you say so, dear. Moving in before I’ve even met the girl doesn’t sound like you.”
“This is a special circumstance. We’ve sort of been seeing each other for three years, but we’ve just made it official.”
Her eyes widened. “Excuse me? Did you say three years?”
“I only say that to show you that this isn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. I love her, and I want you to meet her.”
“And who is this girl?”
I took a deep breath. Here goes nothing.
“Harley Wright.”
A shriek sounded from behind my mother, who went pale and wide-eyed.
I blinked. “Is there someone there with you?”
My mom turned her iPad from where she stood in her living room to my sister, who had been carefully off-screen in the kitchen. My stomach turned to ice.
“Ashleigh,” I muttered.
Fuck.
I hadn’t wanted to tell my sister yet.
She was…a gossip at best. A meddling, opinionated saboteur at worst. And she sided with our dad as much as she sided with Mom. I didn’t trust her not to tell him, and I wanted to do that on my own time.
“You’re dating Harley Wright?” Ashleigh asked, scurrying toward the camera and practically yanking it out of Mom’s hands.
“I am,” I said very slowly, guarded.
“For three years?” she gasped.
“On and off.”
“Oh. My. God, this is too much. How did you keep this from me for so long?”
“On purpose,” I mumbled under my breath.
“Chase! She’s a Wright.”
“I’m aware.”
“I dated a Wright.”
“I am also aware of that,” I told her.
And she had royally fucked that up. She’d been with Julian for two years before he found out the depths of her subterfuge. I didn’t know how he’d made it that long.
“Well, that’s great,” Mom interjected. She wiggled her fingers at Ashleigh to get back in the camera. “Does your father know?”
“He…does not. Not yet,” I said carefully. “I want to be the one to tell him.”
“Of course, dear. We wouldn’t dream of ruining that moment for you.”
Ashleigh bit her lip like she could barely contain shouting it to the entire world.
“Right, Ashleigh?” Mom said.
She huffed. “Fine. Fine. I won’t mention it to Dad.”
“Or anyone who will tell your father,” Mom added. “Chase deserves a chance to have his father yell at him all alone the first time.”
I could barely suppress the laughter that bubbled up at me at those words. “Thanks, I think.”
“Dad’s going to flip,” Ashleigh said. “You know he is. It’s a Wright. After what happened at Jensen’s mayoral campaign…”
I shrugged. “That sounds like a him problem.”
“Your sister is right, of course. He will not be thrilled, but if you’re happy, that is all that matters. Do you know when you’re going to tell him? And can I be there to see his face?”
“Mom!” Ashleigh gushed.
This time, I did laugh. Oh, my mom hated him so much.
“It was a joke, darling,” Mom said with laughter in her eyes. “Don’t take everything so seriously.”
“The humor looks good on you.”
Mom fluffed her hair again. “Everything looks good on me.” She winked at me through the camera. “Now, how is her family taking it?”
I blew out a heavy breath. “Well, they hate me. Her brothers especially.”
My black eye had healed, for which I was glad. I wasn’t sure I wanted my mom to know that Jordan had punched me. But Ashleigh was staring intently through the camera, as if she could see through the healed skin to what had happened.
“Well, it’s hard to blame them. We’ve given them plenty of reasons to hate us. As they have given us plenty of reasons to hate them.”
“I guess,” I said doubtfully. “Anyway, I am on my way to her soccer game now. So, I’m going to go deal with their hatred.”
“Chin up, dear. You’re a Sinclair.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“And let’s do lunch, like you suggested. Next week sometime works in my schedule.”
“Sounds good,” I agreed.
“I’m having a girls’ weekend soon,” Ashleigh blurted out before I could go. “Like, in two weeks. We’re doing a spa day and going out for drinks.”
My eyebrows rose. “Okay?”
“Harley should come. I want to get to know her.”
I hesitated over that. “I’ll have to ask her if she’s interested.”
“Do that, brother of mine. And then give me her number so I can make plans when she says yes.”
“Right,” I said uncertainly.
Ashleigh was being nice. Maybe too nice. I wasn’t sure what to think of it. Was it sincere, or was it Ashleigh being Ashleigh? I’d have to run it by Harley and see what she thought.
“I’ll talk to y’all later,” I said, making my excuse to get off the phone.
I pulled a baseball cap on my head and headed out the door. The outdoor soccer complex was only ten minutes from my house. I parked the Subaru near the back, walking the long way to the fields. My mom had been right. I was anxious. Not about Harley. She and I were perfect. Having her at the house was like waking up in a dream every day. I’d wanted this—her—for so long that it was like she fit right in where I’d always assumed she would.
But I was nervous about her brothers.
Enduring their hatred.
Hoping to win them over.
Knowing that it was unlikely.
I released a harsh breath. It didn’t matter. I was going to this game regardless. I was here for my girlfriend. And I would keep coming back and dealing with their ire, no matter what happened. They were going to learn that they couldn’t run me off.
Harley was on the field, dribbling a soccer ball when I arrived. I picked her out from a dozen yards with her ice-blonde hair up in a high ponytail. She kicked the ball to Annie, who did some impressive footwork and then lobbed it back.
Bailey waved from the stands when she saw me. “Sinclair, over here!”
Ah, Bailey, so subtle.
A sea of heads turned in my direction.
Jordan and Whitt were seated together. Julian was on the field. While West had gone back on tour with Cosmere, leading up to his and Nora’s wedding next month. But there were other Wrights in attendance. Sutton Wright was seated with Julian’s wife, Jennifer. Jensen was there as well since his oldest son, Colton, played on the team. He was an eighteen-year-old superstar who had taken to all the sports in his school like waves to water. Harley bragged on him a lot. That he’d been recruited in both football and track even though, apparently, he really wanted to play soccer. He gotten into as many top universities as she had and would be attending Harvard in the fall. She’d admitted that she was sad they wouldn’t be there at the same time. Though it was the only thing she was sad about.
I waved at Bailey and climbed into the stands to sit next to her and Eve. “Hey, Bailey.”
“Hey, Chase!” she said, just as loud and dramatic as the first time.
Eve snorted next to her. “Bails, cut it out. The guy looks like he’s going to hyperventilate.”
“I’m fine,” I told her. “Good to see you, Eve.”
“Surprised you’re here,” Whitt said from her other side.
I met his gaze. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
He shrugged and leaned back. Right.
Eve smacked him. “Whitt, I swear.”
He pressed a kiss to her cheek and said in just above a whisper, “I promised I’d try to be nice.”
Jordan’s gaze landed on me. “I didn’t.”
I tipped my head at him in acknowledgment. Glad that there were three people between us. I didn’t have to be here, but I was here for Harley. As long as he didn’t punch me again, this would be fine.
Harley found me in the stands as she ran over to the sidelines for the game to begin. She waved high and wide in my direction. I laughed and waved back. She blew me a kiss before following the team out onto the pitch.
I relaxed as the game went on. Bailey kept up a steady stream of commentary on the match. It was appreciated, as it kept me from having to say much of anything to anyone else there. We were all playing nice, but we weren’t suddenly happy about the situation.
Julian moved into position to take a corner kick. I found Harley standing right smack in the middle of the group, ready for what was coming their way. They were down, two to one, despite Colton and Blaire doing their most to try to score. The teams were evenly matched.
We all held our breath as Julian prepped the ball. This was the end of the first half, and a goal here—especially a goal from one of the girls, which counted for two—would put them in a much better position, going into halftime.
Julian’s kick soared through the air. Even I could admit that it was perfect, directly where he’d wanted it to land—in the center of the cluster of players. It came toward Harley. I watched her decision to go for it. Everyone jumped at once. She and a guy nearly a head taller than her arced up into the air.
The guy reared back, slamming his head into Harley’s as he went for the soccer ball. It grazed off of his head and out of the way of the goal. The crowd booed, the players looked frustrated, and Harley fell.
I was on my feet as soon as I watched her body go limp. The guy who’d headbutted her was already jogging away, oblivious to her landing at his feet. A gasp went up from the stands. Julian ran forward, and the rest of the team was already heading that way.
I didn’t know what compelled me, but I couldn’t just stand there and watch it happen. I was running across the pitch before the ref even blew the whistle for the end of the half.
8
Harley
The light was blinding when I opened my eyes. I winced and quickly shut them again. I groaned as little stars flickered around my eyelids.
Fuck, what had happened?
“Hey, hey, I’m here,” Chase said.
His hand was holding mine. I could feel him hovering over me. There was worry in his voice.
“What…happened?” I croaked.
“You got hit in the head at the game. Do you remember that?”
My eyes opened to slits. “The game. Right.”
I was still lying on the grass on the field. I didn’t know how long I’d been out, but it all came back to me quickly. The corner kick that had resulted in that huge lug of a guy headbutting me when we both went for the header.
“I don’t feel too good.”
“It’s all right,” he said reassuringly.
“No, I—” But the words never left my mouth. I turned over and vomited up my guts. I choked on how gross that was as I heaved onto the grass in front of the goal. My stomach tightened as I expelled my hastily eaten dinner.
“Concussion,” a voice said over me.
“Fuck,” Chase said. “You think so?”
“Oh, definitely.”
I winced and rolled back over to see Annie kneeling on the other side while the rest of the team looked on.
“You think I have a concussion?”
“Well, I’d have looked at you, but Chase barreled me out of the way. Guess we don’t need the doctor in the house,” she joked. Her smile alight for him. She looked genuinely happy that he was out on the pitch.
Chase shot her an exasperated look. “Is she going to be okay?”
“Yeah. Sure. She seems pretty with it. I’d recommend ice and resting the next day or two.” She nodded at Chase. “I expect you to enforce my rules. No wild activity this weekend.”
He scowled at her. “Ruin my fun.”
She bit her lip to keep from laughing. “I’ll mention that to Jordan later.”
“Please don’t,” I said weakly. “And can someone help me up?”
Chase got his arm underneath me and gradually helped me to my feet. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. I was a little dizzy, but it wasn’t enough that I couldn’t walk or anything.
The guy who’d run into me ran over and apologized, but I waved him off. I didn’t think he had done it intentionally. Just bad luck. But it definitely meant I was out the rest of the game.
Chase kept his arm around me as we walked off the field and right into the bulk of my family.
“Are you okay?” Bailey asked. “That looked terrible. You dropped like a sack of potatoes.”
“Thanks, Bails. I’m fine.”
“She has a concussion,” Chase said. “I’m going to take her home and get her some ice and rest.”
“My knight in shining armor,” I said with only half a laugh. Because when I laughed, my head hurt, and I winced.
“Jesus, Harley, do you need to go to the hospital?” Whitt asked. He looked like he’d had a shock to his system when I fell.
“No hospital. Not when there’s an ER doctor on the field.”
“What did Annie say?” Jordan asked.
“Just that I seemed with it and I should rest. It’s no big deal, y’all.”
“You threw up on the field,” Whitt said.
“You should have seen the way you collapsed,” Jordan said.
“It was really scary,” Eve agreed.
“I’m fine. Chase is going to take care of me.”
Jordan looked like he’d just eaten a lemon, but he stuck his hand out to Chase. He eyed it warily before putting his hand in Jordan’s to shake. “I saw the look on your face when you realized she was hurt. Take care of her.”
“I intend to.”
Whitt huffed. “You can sprint—that’s for sure.”
Eve elbowed him. “Be nice.”
“Let us know how she’s doing, okay?” he added on hastily.
Chase nodded at them both. “I’ll take care of her.”
“I am right here,” I reminded them. “Perfectly capable of taking care of myself. You do not need to infantilize me just because you realized Chase isn’t the douchebag you had decided he was in your head.”
“Nice, Harley,” Whitt said with a laugh.
