Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15

LEMON

I glare at my couch as I pull Hansley’s hoodie over my head. He’s watching me, amused as I do so and I narrow my eyes, daring him to try to take it back. It’s his fault I came all over my fucking shirt. Why didn’t he take it off me like any other considerate fucker would?!

“You going to kick me out now?” Hansley asks.

Glancing at my couch, I can still see what we’d been doing there not ten minutes earlier. Him sitting there while I reverse rode him. His hand working my dick like he was born to. His mouth sucking on my shoulder as I went wild on his cock, and I sprayed all over my goddamn shirt!

Fuck, I’m not even sure how we got in that position. Why was he even here?!

Hansley chuckles. I’m not sure if I like this new attitude. He used to look at me warily. Cautiously. His tone was always defensive.

Now he’s smirking and I hate what it does to me. That’s what happened at my house last week. The way he just watched me with interest as I rambled. I ramble when I’m nervous and I was super nervous about my car and then add to that I woke up stupidly late. And he’s just watching me. I swear, that’s the look people get when someone finds them cute.

His smile, though. It’s not even the big smile that I’ve seen him give Alka and Declan. It’s small. Sexy. I’ve only ever seen him direct it at me.

It’s a smile that’s all mine.

“Yes,” I harrumph. Thankfully, my cell phone rings, and I’m given an out so I don’t have to face him.

I don’t want him to see all the walls that he just naturally keeps barreling through unintentionally. He doesn’t even know he’s doing it. If I don’t hate him, I’m going to fall for him. Which is ridiculous because I don’t know shit about this man.

I know he’s a great hockey player with a lot of awards. I know that the staff and students love him. And I know he’s kind. When I’ve done nothing but give him shit, he was still the first—and probably the only one who would, if I’m honest—to offer me help when my car died. It was just a battery, thankfully, and I had it replaced without having to leave campus.

Not that I’ll let him know this, but I’ve been watching him more and more. I’ve seen the way he is with the students and… it makes my heart melt a little.

“I have to take this,” I say, picking up my phone.

He chuckles as he watches me, zipping up his pants. My cheeks heat and I quickly answer the phone. Under any other circumstances, I wouldn’t, but I need him to leave. I don’t want him to see how much he affects me.

As soon as he’s out the door, I sigh and say, “Hi, Mom.”

“Hi, baby,” she says. The fact moms still call their kids these things when their kids are forty-three is wild to me. “How’s school? How’s the team this year?”

Despite myself, I smile. “We’re doing really great. Four wins and only one loss,” I say, unable to keep the excitement from my voice. “They’re amazing this year. My kids really have their shit together. You should see them.”

“Hmm,” she muses. “I have your schedule. Your next game… I think I can make that.”

I grin and close my eyes. My family comes to my games from time to time. Most of them. Not Saff because she’s far too self-centered. Seriously, you’d think she’s the baby or something. She’s not, which she resents Steak for.

“Great.”

“Listen. Your sister’s wedding is in a month. I’ve emailed you the details.”

I glower. “I’m not going. Not only is the invitation in an email, but it’s disrespectful and inconsiderate of her to do that to Steak.”

Mom sighs. “Honey, you shouldn’t take sides.”

“Going to her wedding would be taking sides too.”

She doesn’t answer, but with amusement, she admits, “You’re right.”

I frown. “Well… good. I guess.”

“In ten years, Steak will be married to another wonderful young woman and have a kid and the date will no longer matter. It’s all about timing.”

“You’re wrong. How would you feel if she got married on Dad’s death day?” I ask. “Would you still feel it’s all about timing?”

Dad died when I was eight. Mom remarried a decade later, but she still gets sad and visits his tomb every year on his birthday and on his death day.

“That’s not fair,” she says.

“It’s the same thing. The only difference is that Steak didn’t have a chance to marry Becca. But Mom, he would have. They had everything ready. Just because you actually married Dad and had some years with him doesn’t mean it’s any different.”

She sighs. “I’m not sure what’s to be done at this point, Lem. She’s already got the whole thing booked.”

“Which says a lot about her and what she thinks of us,” I counter. “Why do you think I want to support someone like that?”

“Because she’s your sister.”

“Some of the most toxic people you’re ever going to meet are related by blood. She’s selfish and spoiled and so fucking self-centered that she chose to have her wedding day the day after Steak’s would have been, knowing how he feels about it. They didn’t break up, Mom. Becca died!”

“She’s not going to want to change it.”

“She’s not going to change it,” I correct. “And that’s why we’re not going.”

“So you’ve talked to your brother and sister.”

“I’ve talked to Sugar. I talk to her all the time. Steak and I work opposite schedules, so we don’t often catch each other. But Sugar’s talked to Steak, and he has expressed how upset and angry he is. He has every right to be. And it’s kind of shitty that you’re supporting Saffron.”

“She’s my daughter too,” Mom says. “I think you all forget that.”

“Trust me when I tell you, we’ve never forgotten that.”

She sighs.

“I need to get to practice,” I tell as I glance at the football field and see my team already there. I’d have been right on time if I’d left after I sprayed all over myself. My cheeks heat as I glance at the couch. But talking to my mom has made me late. I hate being late for anything having to do with my kids.

“We’ll talk later. Please, just think about it.”

I roll my eyes. “Already have and already decided. Maybe if Saffron acted like a decent human being, I’d consider otherwise. But literally the only thought she’s ever had is how to make literally everything about her.”

“That’s not true.”

“Really? On Steak’s first birthday, she broke her leg as she threw a tantrum because he was getting presents and she wasn’t. He might not remember that day because he was one, but the rest of us do. On his fourth birthday, she had a sleepover because she was feeling sad that he had friends over and she didn’t. Her sleepover, by the way, was a bigger party than his. His eighth birthday, she?—”

“Okay,” Mom interrupts.

“That’s just Steak’s birthdays. I’m not even sure which of those words I want to emphasize. Maybe we should talk about what she pulled for his grad school graduation. Or the day Sugar gave birth to your grandbaby. Don’t get me started on her long list of offenses against me.”

“Okay, okay,” Mom says. “Don’t you have practice?”

I smirk. “I do. Thanks for understanding.”

She huffs. “We’ll talk later, Lem. Have a good practice.”

I hang up with a sigh. Part of me gets it. Mom loves and supports all her kids. But she’s also a single child and has no idea what it’s like having a sibling, never mind one like Saffron.

Before I head out, I step into my bathroom and look at myself in the mirror. Then cringe. “Jesus,” I mutter. I look like I’ve just been fucked. It takes me several minutes to get myself straightened up where I look presentable. Smudged makeup. Hair wild. I’m still fucking pink and flushed!

Oh, and don’t forget Hansley’s hoodie. I can’t believe I’m going to wear this stupid cartoon bugle horn in public! It’s not like I can pretend it’s just a random hoodie, either. Everyone knows this logo belongs to RDU hockey.

Grabbing my bag and packing up my office, I shut it down and head for the field. I dare anyone to say anything. It’s just a hoodie. I’m supposed to support other teams, too.

Norman immediately looks at my hoodie and raises a brow. I glare. “Something you want to say?”

He smirks and looks onto the field. “Nope.”

“I didn’t think so.”

His smile widens, and I try my best not to scowl. I drop my bag on the bench and move toward my kids. I love football. Nothing is better than getting myself lost in this.

Thankfully, it’s easy to immerse myself in my job. I wasn’t lying to my mom—this has been an amazing season so far. We’re not quite halfway through and we’re looking really fucking good. The best we have in years!

I pause next to Peyton. He’s taking turns with Collin on the agility quick ladder. Right now, he’s standing next to me, drinking water. He glances at me a few times and I’m just waiting for whatever comes out of his mouth.

“The festival is coming,” he says.

“Still have two weeks,” I answer.

“You’re coming?”

I glance at him, trying not to let my cheeks heat at the words. It feels almost like he’s calling me out for my earlier activities. “I always make an appearance,” I say.

It’s a quick appearance. I walk from one end to the other, making sure several people see me, and talk to a couple deans. And then I leave. Forty minutes tops.

“You going to be there for the auction?”

I look at him with amusement. “I don’t know. My presence isn’t required for that event.”

“Required, no,” he agrees.

Collin taps out at the end of his run, and Peyton takes his turn while Collin drinks. I should walk away now and not encourage Peyton’s crush. He’s a good kid, but seriously, what does he want with me? I’m twice his age.

The idea makes me shiver. I’m getting so fucking old!

Several minutes later, he trades out again. Once he catches his breath, he looks at me once more. “They’ve lifted the age restrictions they’d initially imposed.”

“Have they?”

He nods, grinning. “I like older men. Maybe not grampa but definitely daddy.”

Collin nearly trips as he chokes on nothing. I can’t help myself when I sputter with laughter. “Peyton, honestly!”

He shrugs.

“Do I look like a daddy to you?”

Wrong question, because his eyes drop to my hoodie and my cheeks flush.

“No,” he admits. “It looks like you’re a hockey fan.”

I scowl at him, though he continues to give me a cheeky grin.

“I can totally be the daddy to a very special queen,” Peyton practically purrs, and this time Collin falls on his face.

I look between the two of them as Collin tries to cover his face entirely. “Focus on football, fucker,” he mutters. “You’re a distraction.”

But Peyton’s staring at me with a wide smile. There’s no hinting now. It’s loudly out there. He’s all but said that his not-so-subtle advances are definitely not imagined.

“Get back to practice, Petyon,” I order and reach down for Collin to pull him to his feet. He smiles but his cheeks are bright. I leave them at the ladder and move on to other players.

It isn’t until I’m peeling Hansley’s hoodie off me once I get home that I see what I truly announced while wearing it. On the sleeve is embroidered with ‘Coach Hansley.’ I wince and drop my face into my hands. Fuck my life.