ONLY FOR LOVE, page 22
part #1 of Only For #2 Series
“I brought you these,” I say, holding up the box. “They’re the cinnamon rolls you love.”
She gasps, “I was literally craving one this afternoon and then told myself that if I was good all week long, it could be my treat on Saturday. But if they’re here, it’s rude for me not to eat one.” She looks at me. “Right?”
“It shouldn’t be a treat on a Saturday,” I tell her. “You should eat it when you want to eat it. Like on a Tuesday night or a Wednesday lunch. You don’t have to justify it,” I reply as she walks sideways.
“This is the kitchen,” she says of the little kitchen off the entrance. “It’s nothing big but—”
“It’s perfect,” I tell her as I follow her into the living and dining area. I see a round glass table with her laptop on it and her notebook beside it with writing scribbled all down the page.
“I was working before I was so rudely interrupted by someone.” She points to the table and I roll my eyes. “It’s only two bedrooms.” She walks to the small hallway off the dining area, and I stick my head in the spare bedroom, seeing there are just racks of clothes and then stop when I look at the other side, seeing her bedroom. The big king-size bed is in the middle with two bedside tables, but my eyes go to the frames I had made for her above her bed. “The best part is here.” She grabs my hand and drags me back to the living room and then out the glass door to the balcony area. “I do yoga right there every single morning.” She points to the side where there is a rolled-up yoga mat lying. “Right when the sun is rising.” She lets my hand go and I want to snatch it back. “It’s small compared to your place.”
“It’s perfect for you,” I tell her softly, “and exactly how I thought it would look.”
The smile on her face is worth all the money in the world. “It’s windy today,” she mentions. “Let’s go inside.” She turns and walks inside. “Sit down.” She points to the couch. “I’ll go get the cinnamon rolls.”
I walk over to the couch and stop when I see what’s in the frame next to the television. I walk over to it, picking it up. “You saved it?” I ask her and she looks over at me from the kitchen, grabbing a plate out from the cupboard.
“I did,” she confirms, coming back into the room with a tray in her hand, containing two plates with two bottles of water, as she places it on the coffee table. “It’s special. It was the one thing that made me see the light. It’s gotten me through some tough times. You probably had no idea when you wrote it how much it would change my life.” She sits on the couch, grabbing a plate, and then leaning back tucking her feet under her. “I have news,” she says and I walk over and sit beside her, but not close enough for me.
“Tell me.”
She takes a bite of the cinnamon roll before she leans over and places the plate on the table. “I was thinking about what you said on Saturday, so on Sunday I reached out to Matty and Zara,”
she shares, and I can see the tears well up in her eyes. My hand automatically goes out to rest over her curled-up legs. “I apologized to them for not being there,” she says through a shaky voice. “I’m not sure I can say this without crying.”
“It’s okay,” I encourage her softly, and she puts her arm on the back of the couch.
“It was therapeutic, I think, for all of us. I told them how sorry I was for missing all of the most important events in their lives and then, in return, they told me they were sorry for not being there for me. For not seeing the signs, for not pushing it more. Zara and I basically sobbed to each other for a full five minutes before I was even able to finish and then she said that she felt guilty for not seeing it.” She chuckles. “Matty had some other choice words about going to Phoenix to kick his ass and Sofia said she could make sure no one knows it’s him. His exact words were ‘If I see this fucking clown anywhere, he’s going to have a broken nose and a busted lip, and then I’m going to knee him in the balls just for fun.’” She smiles through the tears.
I can’t help but smile at that. “I’ll help,” I tell her and she laughs. “I’ll drive the getaway car.” She smiles as she puts her elbow on the back of the couch. “How did that make you feel?”
“Stupid,” she admits, “like I knew what Trent was saying half the time was wrong, but then I doubted myself and all my choices without his input.”
“It’s what they do, it’s like they tell you how you should do things and then turn it around and make it seem like it was your idea.”
“Yes.” She shrugs. “I’m just sorry I didn’t see it sooner.”
“Everything happens when it’s supposed to happen,” I tell her.
“It was that night,” she says softly, “hearing what he had to say about my father.” She shakes her head and the tear that she has kept at bay this whole time escapes, and my other hand comes up to catch it. “It was like you threw cold water on me.”
“Lexi,” I say her name softly, the ache to kiss her is almost too painful to bear, “you beat him at his own game.” I cup her cheek in my hand. “For the rest of his life he’s going to know he lost the best thing to ever happen to him.” I stare into her eyes and take a second before I let go of her face.
“Thank you, for everything.”
I nod at her; not sure I can be in her space much longer. I get up and she follows me. “I should get home and get my things sorted.”
“Of course,” she says. “Do you want me to pack up the roll?”
“No.” I shake my head. “You have it.” I wish we could be eating it in her bed after I fuck her senseless. “Thank you for the tour,” I say when I get to the door and take a step to her to hug her. I wrap both arms around her, closing my eyes and feeling her in my arms; it’s my own brand of torture. “Have a good night,” I say when I finally let her go and walk out the door.
She stands at the door, watching me drive away, her hand held up with a smile on her face, my heart feeling like it’s being crushed in my chest. “This is not good for you,” I tell myself, “and it’s not good for her.” I swallow the lump down, knowing I’m going to have to just walk away from her. “You have to let her go.” The thought alone crushes me. “You just have to hope she comes back to you.” I blink away my own tears. “But even if she doesn’t, you know she’s finally fucking safe, and that means everything.”
twenty-seven
Lexi
My phone beeps and I look down.
Marley:
I have to give them an answer on Monday. Let me know if you can talk tomorrow.
I’m about to answer her when the phone rings and I see it’s Kylie.
“I’ll be there in ten minutes,” Kylie says. “Is that enough time?”
“I’m putting on my shoes now, and I have to grab my jacket,” I huff out, tying my shoelaces. “I’ll be outside, you don’t even have to stop. Just open the door, I’ll jump in.”
“Open the door.” She snorts. “I thought you would challenge yourself by jumping through my sunroof.”
“Ohhh, that’s even better,” I joke, standing up when both white sneakers are tied. “See you soon.” I hang up the phone, walking back into the bathroom. I pick up my perfume and spray some on my shirt, two on each side of my neck, and then one on each wrist. I step into the spare bedroom, taking one more look at my outfit of black jeans that fit me tighter than they did last week, and I can’t help but smile big. The black T-shirt is tucked into the front as I grab the short, blue jean jacket, putting it on and rolling the cuffs before grabbing my small black Chanel bag and putting it across my body.
“This screams, yay sports.” I turn and see how good my ass looks in these jeans. “I hope it also screams, please grab my ass, Kirby,” I mumble, then stop thinking that when I hear the sound of the horn honking. “Shit.” I run out the front door. “Sorry,” I say and she looks at me, “I was trying to find my shoes with springs so I could jump into your SUV.”
She can’t help but laugh at me as I get into her SUV and then lean over to kiss her cheek. “You look so good.” I look at her cargo jean pants with a white, long-sleeve shirt that shows off her stomach, a baseball hat on her head with the Warriors logo across it. At the side it has his number 77 and his name stitched in it. “Like the hat.”
“I stole it from Kirby,” she states, pulling out and making her way over to the arena. “I wore it to see if he notices,” she says and I shake my head. “I bet you five hundred dollars he doesn’t.”
“I’ll take your word on it.” We laugh as we talk about what we did after leaving each other not too long ago. We’ve been spending more and more time together and, I have to say, she’s quickly becoming one of my favorite people.
“Where are you going?” I ask her as she drives up to a garage door.
“It’s for the players and family members.” She looks over, taking out her parking pass and scanning it. We drive down the ramp, and when we stop, it’s near a valet booth, one guy in a red jacket is instructing the four guys who are running around. One of them comes to my car door while another goes to Kylie’s side. He hands her the white ticket and I wait for her to see where to go.
“That door”—she points to the door in the corner—“is for the players.” I look over and see there is a camera crew set up. “The family goes over there.” She points to the other door as we walk toward it. I step in and then we go up an escalator toward a floor that looks like there are office doors across it. A man sits on a stool and looks at us. Kylie takes out her badge and he scans it. “It’s for the both of us,” she tells him and he just nods as she walks over to one of the doors. “This is Kirby’s suite,” she announces, pushing open the door and stepping in. “Jaxon’s is next door.” She points to the wall where I see some action shots of Kirby. A round table sits in the middle of the room with four leather chairs around it. There is a long table by the wall with trays of food on it. “Usually, it’s full of people from the hospital,” she tells me, and I look over to see Ariella walking up the steps where the seats are.
“There you guys are,” she huffs. “He was looking for you,” she says of Jagger, who is on her hip wearing a team jersey and black headphones over his ears. “He’s not a fan of the headphones,” she shares and I smile at him.
“Hello, my boy,” I say, holding out my arms and he flings himself into them. “Hi,” I say to him and he gives me the biggest smile as I kiss his neck.
“We should head down there,” Ariella directs. “Jaxon will be looking for him.”
“I’ll carry him,” I offer her and she nods as I follow them out the door. “This feels like déjà vu,” I tell them. “My most memorable nights were the ones where we would all get together for the game.” I look over at Ariella, who just nods in agreement. “And then going down to the glass, watching them skate around and waiting to catch one of the pucks.” I smile big at the memories. “My favorite part would be catching them and then giving them to one of the fans and they would go nuts.” I laugh as we go down the escalator and then through one of the doors and head down the steps toward the glass. People are already lined up, waiting for the team, some with boards in their hands with messages.
I stand in the corner, in the middle of Ariella and Kylie, waiting. “Look at that one.”
I turn to the side to see two women dressed in jeans and leather jackets, one of them holding up a sign that says: Materson, Rock, Paper, Scissors for Your Number.
I can’t help but snort out a laugh. “She’s not getting a puck if I get one.” The girls just laugh and then I spot something out of the corner of my eyes. It looks like the players are coming onto the ice. Jagger jumps when someone bangs on the window and he reaches back out for Ariella.
The lights go on and then the players take the ice, my eyes watch to see if I spot him, and the minute I do, my smile must get even bigger. He is walking out with Jaxon, his helmet not on, the two of them talking about something, and then they both burst out laughing. Jaxon gets on the ice first and then waits for Kirby. The girls with the sign bang on the window for Kirby’s attention, but he just looks over when Jaxon points our way. His eyes find mine and the smile fills his face even more.
Jaxon comes over and Ariella holds Jagger in front of her at the glass as Jagger smacks it, trying to get to Jaxon. “Hey,” I hear before the glass is knocked with a hockey stick and I look over at Kirby, “you aren’t even wearing anything to support the team.”
“I’m wearing black,” I tell him and he shakes his head.
“I dare you to go wear my jersey,” he states, standing in front of me, his eyes on me and me alone.
“Don’t you have pucks to shoot?” I tell him and he just laughs, and fuck, does it make my knees weak and my pussy wet. Everything about him turns me on, but especially his laugh. He turns and skates away, not even making eye contact with the girls.
My eyes follow him until he skates to the bench and I see him talking to a guy as he is taking off his jersey and disappearing into the tunnel.
I look over at Kylie. “I have to go to the merch store,” I say and she just laughs. “A dare is a dare and I’m not going to let him win.”
We walk back up the steps and the three of us head over to the store. I spot his jersey right away and buy it. “Are you sure about this?” Ariella asks me. “You know what it means when you wear the guy’s jersey.”
“I saw fifty girls wearing his jersey walking here,” I tell her as I grab the bag and we head back to the suite. “It doesn’t mean anything.”
“I don’t know about that,” Kylie refutes. “He didn’t want them to be wearing his.”
I take off my jacket when I get into the suite that is now filled with people, some of them Kylie recognizes and introduces me to. I slip on his jersey and then go to sit in one of the chairs, when the door to the suite opens and I see the man that Kirby was talking to as he looks around. A bag is in his hand as he sees Kylie and then she points over to me. I get off my stool and head over to him.
“I have something for you.” He holds up the bag and tries to hide his smile. “But I don’t think you need it.”
I grab the bag from him and look inside seeing the note on top.
I dare you. -K
I pull out the jersey with his name and number and I laugh shaking my head. Bringing it to my nose and smelling him, knowing that this is the one he took off after he skated around.
“Of course he did.” Kylie laughs as she heads off with a group of guys she knows that she met when she and Kirby went to volunteer at the hospital last month, and Ariella and I watch the game. Jagger drifts off to sleep at the end of the third period after the horn blares.
“Hey,” Kylie says, “I’m going to head out to the bar with the guys. Do you want to take my SUV?”
“No.” I shake my head. “I’ll get a ride with Ariella,” I say—or your brother—I don’t say that part. “Have fun.”
“I will.” She turns and walks out. We sit and watch the arena empty before she gets up.
“Let’s go wait downstairs,” she suggests. “I can put him in his car seat.” I follow her out of the suite, my jacket in my hand, nervously waiting for Jaxon to come out and hoping Kirby is with him.
We get to the garage at the same time the door opens and Jaxon walks out, followed by Kirby, who is wearing a black suit with a white button-down but his shirt is open at the collar. He looks down and then looks up when he must feel me staring at him, his hair still wet from the shower. “Hey,” Jaxon says, softly looking down at Jagger in her arms and bending to give her a kiss.
“Hey,” she says, looking up at him, “we have to drive Lexi home.”
“I’ll take her,” Kirby offers and I look over at him, trying to hide my smile, “if that’s okay with you?”
“Works for me,” I say, my stomach fluttering like it’s home to a million butterflies. I give Ariella a hug and then look up at Kirby. “That was a good game.”
“It was”—he nods—“but seeing you in my jersey might be the best part.”
“A dare is a dare,” I remind him and he puts his hands in his pockets as we wait for his SUV. I hold up the bag. “Although now I have two.”
“What do you mean now you have two?” He looks at the bag, then the jersey on me.
“I went to the merch store before I got the official one,” I tell him and his eyes go big and then his face fills with a huge smile.
“Are you hungry?” he asks me and I nod my head, hoping I can just spend more time with him, even though there is no way I can eat another thing. “Come on,” he urges with his head toward his SUV, “I know a good spot.”
He opens the door for me and I get in, rubbing my palms on my jeans as I watch him walk around the SUV and say something to the guy in the red coat. He opens his door and gets in, looking over at me. “Kylie ditched you,” he says, taking off, his voice tight.
“She didn’t ditch me,” I counter. “She got a better offer.” He shakes his head. “I could have taken her SUV if I wanted,” I inform him as he makes it out of the parking lot and some of the fans yell his name. He stops the car, rolling down the window and signing a couple of things before continuing.
“How did you like the game?” he asks me.
“I forgot how much fun it is,” I say honestly.
“It’s only fun because we won.” He chuckles. “It would be a lot different if we lost.”
“Oh, for sure. It brought back lots of memories.”
“Your dad played for LA,” he says and I nod.
“This is where he started,” I state, my chest proud. “Do you know he was traded while he was in rehab?” I add and he gasps. “Yeah, and my uncle Matthew was the one who picked him up and took him to New York.”
