Chapter 13

Jensen

My mother was killing me.

She could talk anyone’s ear off, but she was normally a great conversationalist, so I knew she was purposely being a little over-the-top to draw attention away from Bailey and me. Ostensibly to give us a modicum of privacy in a very not-private situation. Mom was great that way. Except when we were talking about sex.

If we could talk about literally anything else, it would be better.

“So far, the big-name New York publishers have all passed,” Bailey said. “Now I have to decide if I want to self-publish or use a smaller publisher.”

“I think you should self-publish,” Lucia said. “Why would you want to give away fifty percent or more of your royalties? Fuck that. Even if it costs you more in the beginning, since you’ll have to pay for editing and whatever. But how much can all of that be? A couple thousand? Then it’s pure profit.”

“I know, it’s just a big step and I guess I was hoping to go the traditional route.” Bailey seemed uncomfortable so I decided to nudge the conversation in a slightly different direction.

“Were you always a writer?” I asked. “I mean, obviously, you got into acting but when did you discover you wanted to write?”

“I loved to write in high school,” she said, fixing her golden-hazel eyes on mine. “English and language arts were my favorite classes. When I started modeling to make some money, my first casting turned out to be for a commercial and I started getting work right away. Then my first part on a sitcom. And it snowballed from there, so writing fell to the wayside. But writing was my first love. Now I’m trying to find a way to make a decent living at it.”

“Your accident was big news three years ago,” Mom said quietly. “I’m sorry that happened to you. I hope you left that ex-boyfriend of yours in the dust!”

“Mom!” I nearly groaned.

“It’s okay.” Bailey smiled, which pretty much took my breath away.

Could she be any more beautiful?

“Dirk is long gone,” Lucia muttered.

“Good riddance to bad rubbish,” Manny grunted. “I really didn’t want to go to jail, but I wanted to kill him when I found out he’d caused the accident.”

This time Bailey frowned. “Manny. Leave it alone. It’s ancient history and I’m trying to move on.”

I had a million questions, but I wasn’t going to push it if it made her uncomfortable.

“So… how about those Phantoms this season?” Manny gave me a look and then we both cracked up.

“I’m sorry,” Manny said after a moment. “That was probably a shit thing to say.”

“All I can do at this point is laugh,” I replied. “I mean, it’s a long season, and you can’t win them all, but it would be nice to win some. Even fifty percent at this point.”

“Yeah, it’s been disheartening. I was at a game last month and you guys just looked…” He grimaced as his voice trailed.

“Tired?” I supplied. “Defeated? Completely soulless?”

“Why?” Bailey asked before Manny could say anything. “I don’t know anything about hockey except what Manny tells me, which is very little, so I’m not sure what any of this means, other than the obvious part about losing.”

“In a nutshell, the team owner had cancer so he turned management of the team over to one of his sons,” I said carefully, trying to give an overview without saying anything that could get me into trouble. I didn’t foresee Bailey or Manny making some kind of public announcement about our conversation, but I still had to watch what I said. “He doesn’t know what he’s doing so he’s been running it into the ground. The elder Mr. Barrowman passed away not that long ago, and now both of his bonehead sons are at the helm and it’s…frustrating.”

“But wouldn’t the team already be functioning from when Mr. Barrowman was running it?” Bailey asked. “Did they make all kinds of changes?”

It was a fair question, but the answer was complicated.

“So we’d already been struggling in some areas. We’d had a run of bad luck with a couple of star players getting hurt, and a few trades that didn’t produce the expected results. Once Mr. B got sick, it was all downhill from there.”

“But I thought Mr. Barrowman left the team to his wife?” Manny asked, frowning.

“He did, but the boys are fighting it, and she can’t do anything while the terms of the will are being contested. So, we’re in limbo in that regard until further notice.”

“He left the team to his wife?” Bailey seemed intrigued. “Does she know anything about hockey?”

“I honestly don’t know,” I responded. “I’ve met her a few times at team events, but I don’t know anything about her background. Talk about her and the team has been a big deal in the sports world at the moment. Meanwhile, the Phantoms just keep losing, so at this point, I’d be okay with Mickey Mouse owning the team, as long as he made some changes.”

“I’m sorry. That must be frustrating,” Bailey said.

“It is, but I try not to dwell on it. That’s partly why I play Realm Crusaders.”

She grinned at me. “Same. It’s the best distraction for whatever problems you have in life.”

“You have problems in life?” Lucia gave Manny the side eye and we all laughed.

“I have three kids, a dog, and six goldfish,” Manny said dryly. “And you’re not the one running to the pet store at random times to buy replacements every time one dies so the kids don’t find out.”

“And your solution to this is to play video games? I call foul.”

From there, conversation drifted into other topics, like the antics of their children, Manny’s upcoming travel schedule, and my mother’s cooking. At some point, Bailey and I lost interest in the group conversation and spent some time giving each other little looks and private grins as we ate, having a silent but meaningful conversation of our own.

She surreptitiously pulled out her phone and motioned to it.

When I looked down, I saw the notification and opened our chat on Discord.

@Empress: I think chaperones are overrated.

I tried not to laugh.

@Phantom: Agreed. Should we blow this popsicle stand?

@Empress: Rude but I’m seriously considering it.

@Phantom: Next time no chaperones?

@Empress: Dinner at my place tomorrow night? I’ll cook.

@Phantom: I have a game. But I’m open for the next night?

@Empress: It’s a date.

We grinned at each other across the table.

“Did you two just text each other?” Lucia demanded, narrowing her gaze at Bailey.

“I can neither confirm nor deny,” Bailey said, her eyes wide and innocent.

Mom snickered.

“I’m offended. I gave up an exciting night at home doing homework and bathtime to be here.” The twinkle in Lucia’s eyes belied her words.

“I know,” Bailey playfully soothed her, stroking her arm. “I’ll make it up to you.”

“Personally, this is the best date I’ve ever been out on,” Mom said. “My handsome son, two gorgeous movie stars, and another mom who likes to hear me talk about my cooking. What more could anyone ask for?”

“I’ll make sure to mention that to dad,” I said with a chuckle.

She laughed. “Oh, he knows. Believe me, he knows.”

“I’m kidding,” Lucia said. “Any time we can get Bailey out of the house is a good time.”

Bailey nudged her with her elbow. “Don’t pick on me. I’m here. I was at Valentina’s party. I come to Sunday dinner. What more do you want?”

“Will you come to my game tomorrow night?” I asked impulsively.

I realized my mistake too late, because Manny, Lucia and my mom all started talking animatedly about going to the game, while Bailey seemed almost frozen. Her eyes met mine guiltily as she shook her head.

“I can’t,” she whispered.

I couldn’t tell whether the others simply didn’t hear her or decided to ignore her as they made plans to meet up, but Bailey just dropped her gaze to her plate.

“Why?” I asked softly.

“I just…can’t. I would be recognized and I, well, I don’t want anyone to see me like this.”

“Like what?”

“There’s so much speculation about what I look like since the accident, and even though I look okay on the outside, I’m not ready to be back in the limelight. I dropped out of public life for a reason. I don’t want to re-live that night, or do interviews, or see myself all over the media. And this is L.A. If I’m spotted at a Phantoms game, they’ll be all over me.”

“Hey, no problem.” I reached across the table and put one of my hands over hers. “Really. I just thought you might like to come. It’s fine if you’re not ready.”

“Thank you.”

We both looked down to where our hands were touching, and I wondered if she felt the same pull I did. There had been something magnetic between us from the moment we’d locked eyes during Valentina’s birthday party. Even before I’d known her name or anything else about her. I still had so many questions.

I would’ve done anything to be alone with her right now.

So I could ask her to explain more.

So we could talk.

So I could fucking touch her without an audience.

We’d made our plans tonight with both safety and comfort in mind, and I understood that. I’d regretted it almost since she walked in the door but there was nothing for me to do other than make the best of it. Under any other circumstances, I would’ve been having a great time.

Manny and Lucia were genuine and interesting, my mother was always a load of fun in settings like this, and if nothing else, I was sitting across from a beautiful woman whose smile made me feel like a lovesick teenager.

I took care of the check when the waitress dropped it off, and though we lingered over coffee, it was finally time to go.

We’d been at the restaurant for over three hours and since it was a weeknight, it would be closing soon.

“Thank you for a lovely evening,” Lucia said to me as we got out to the parking lot. “I hope we see you again.”

“Thanks for picking up the check,” Manny told me. “If there’s a next time, it’s on me.”

“No problem at all.”

They said their goodbyes to my mom, and then they got in their SUV while Mom got into mine. Giving Bailey and me our first time alone all evening.

“So… Friday night?” I asked her.

“Absolutely.” She looked up at me and I couldn’t read the look in her eyes at all.

Longing?

Regret?

Arousal?

She was definitely struggling with something but we didn’t have time to get into it.

“I’ll be online later if you want to chat.”

“I should give you my number,” she said, taking her phone out of her pocket.

We exchanged numbers and agreed to chat later tonight.

“I should go,” she said after a moment.

“I’m not ready to end the evening,” I admitted.

“Me either. But we’ll have more time Friday.” She paused. “Unless you want to invite your mom?—”

“Oh, hell no!” I cut her off before she could finish her sentence. “I love my mom, truly, but that’s the last time she goes out on a date with us.”

She giggled. “I like her too, but we’re too old for chaperones.”

“We are.” I reached out and brushed a lock of hair out of her face.

Then I gently took one of her hands and slowly brought it to my lips. I pressed a soft, chaste kiss on the back of her palm, holding it against my mouth for an extra couple of beats. The skin there was soft and silky, and it was killing me not to pull her against me.

“Until Friday,” I said.

“Until Friday,” she whispered.