Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

JETT

The last couple of weeks with Hayden I've discovered a woman I'm having fun with, and it's embarrassing to think that my reservations about her career and how it's kinda 24/7 might have kept me from seeing that.

I need to tell her about my conversation with Gabriella and Colby. Hayden was up front with me about her past with Gabriella, and I owe her a head's up that Gabriella's a little wary of her coming to the wedding. I haven't had much of a chance to talk to her about it. The Pumas have been out of town the last two Sundays, and Hayden and I have only been able to see each other in person a few times, meaning our relationship is progressing slowly.

At least Gabriella wants to work things out with Hayden and mend fences. Hopefully Ava doesn't talk her out of that because she wants to err on the side of caution. If she got burned by a client, I can understand being careful, but if she gives Hayden a chance, Ava will see she has nothing to worry about. The truth is, we both need to work on the "just friends" part of this.

Hayden is making me dinner at her place tonight so we can do something chill and spend some time together that's not around other people. I know it will still involve a short photoshoot, but I've gotten used to that on the dates we've been on in the last couple of weeks. To her credit, she tries to keep it brief, and I'm learning this might be something I can live with. She's also coached me on things I can post, which I've found helpful. When we were in L.A. playing the Rays, she texted me after the game, suggesting I get a selfie with a running back who had a great game. I felt stupid at first, but Marshall, the running back, was excited.

Unlike Colby, Gabriella, and Ava, I wait until dessert is finished and Hayden and I are hanging out on her couch before I bring up Gabriella. Well, technically, I wait until after Hayden has taken a selfie of us cuddling. To look at her Instagram, you'd think our relationship is a lot more serious than it is. But it's just some hand-holding and a kiss or two. I'm not falling head over heels with her in a rush, but I enjoy our time together.

"So," I say while she takes a second to flick through the photos and nod her satisfaction, "Gabriella asked me about you the other day. I told her the stuff you said about being sorry."

By the time I finish my sentence, Hayden has already pocketed her phone, so I catch the pink that stains her cheeks for a moment. "Thanks. You know I'm okay with canceling our plans to go to the wedding together if she's not comfortable, right?" She leans back, resting her head against my arm, which is stretched across the back of her couch. She looks nervous, and I can empathize. Facing Ava since she came back into town hasn't been a picnic.

"Yeah. She wants to talk with you at the dinner they're doing for the wedding party and their plus-ones that I told you about. I'm sure everything's going to be fine with you two. It's been years, right?"

She swallows but then nods. "You think she's okay with it?"

"I know she will be once you guys talk." I put my arm around Hayden and draw her closer. I wish I knew exactly what happened between her and Gabriella, but I can barely keep up with what Hayden posts on a daily basis, let alone go back and find the "attack" Ava accused her of.

Hayden pinches her lips, and I wonder if she still has hurt feelings as well. Gabriella said she wanted to apologize too, so she's probably not blameless. My stomach squirms a bit, and I wonder if I should just take Hayden's offer to stay away from the wedding and not worry about any of this. But that doesn't feel right either. Going to a pro-football player's wedding is a big deal, and I've already asked her. I don't want to go back on my word to her.

It's time to change the subject. "That chicken was awesome, by the way. We should do this more."

Her face lights up and she snuggles against me. "Should we?"

I nod. Gabriella and Colby have every right to be wary, but everything will be fine.

After my date, I swing by Jenna and Devin's house on my way home. Miss Maggie is reading a story to Hudson and Ian when I knock and then walk in. They're both snuggled in her lap in the same recliner I saw her in last time I was here, but they hop up and run to me when I come in. I haul them both into my arms, admonishing them to be careful with their GG. Which, of course, is the natural thing the kids would call her given that their mom calls her G.

"Psh." Miss Maggie waves a hand at my warning to the boys.

"Let's finish the story," I say, sitting down in front of the recliner. Miss Maggie laughs, and by the time we're done, Jenna stands in the doorway between their living room and the hallway that leads down to the boys' bedroom. She must have been putting Ruby to bed while Miss Maggie read to the boys.

When I was younger, my grandma lived just down the street from me and Devin, and we would have loved to have her at our house every day. I hope Hudson and Ian realize someday what a gift this is to have Miss Maggie living with them.

"Bedtime!" Jenna claps her hands softly when Miss Maggie closes the book. "Tell GG and Jett good night."

They scramble over me to hug me and then gently kiss Miss Maggie's cheeks before scampering off with Jenna.

"They're good boys," Miss Maggie says, beaming.

"Luckily for Devin and Jen," I agree.

Miss Maggie laughs and hauls herself up out of the chair. "Jenna hasn't had a minute to clean up dinner. Let's do that for her."

I nod and follow her into the kitchen, clearing things off the table to hand to Miss Maggie so she can load the dishwasher. We work quietly for several minutes before Jenna comes into the kitchen.

"What are you two little elves doing in here?" she asks, going to the sink for a rag.

"Pulling our weight," Miss Maggie says with a wink.

Jenna gives her a side hug before going to the table to wipe it off. "You're more than pulling your weight. I didn't bring you here to put you to work."

"I know, I know." Miss Maggie keeps on loading dishes anyway. "You all thought you'd put me out to pasture, but I've got a few good years in me yet."

Jenna scoffs, but I break into a laugh.

"Where's Dev?" I ask, heading for the pantry to grab a broom once I've finished clearing the table.

"Working late." Jenna doesn't explain further, so I wonder if it has to do with the new house she wants. I wish she'd let me make at least the down payment for them. That's not that big of a deal. She could call it a loan and pay me back but without all the interest and fees. I can see the value in wanting to put the hard work and effort into a business—it's how I feel about earning my right to be one of the top-rated quarterbacks in pro football.

"How's it going with Hayden?" she asks, probably sensing that I want to ask more questions about Devin working later and the house she wants to get.

Miss Maggie turns from the dishwasher. "Well, who is this Hayden?"

"Hayden Reid. We've been out a few times."

"She's famous on Instagram, G," Jenna explains. "Remember those leggings I was telling you about that Riley got?"

"Oh yes." Miss Maggie nods. "I don't look at anyone on Instagram except my kids and grandkids. And you, of course," she says to me.

"I don't blame you." I begin sweeping, working my way meticulously around the edges first, the way I know Jenna likes it. When Hudson was a baby, I babysat for them as much as I could when it wasn't football season, and I made sure to clean when he was sleeping, just like my mom taught me.

Jenna beams at me the same way she did back then. "Well, maybe you should follow Hayden," she says to Miss Maggie. "You'd see a lot of photos of Jett." She gives me a teasing grin, then moves on to wiping down the counters.

Miss Maggie has finished with the dishwasher, and she closes it, then crosses to the pantry and retrieves the dustbin for me. I take it from her before she tries to bend down to help me with the pile of debris I've collected.

"You must like her," Miss Maggie says, leaving a hand on my shoulder. "I'm glad for you."

"I do like her." I dump the contents of the dustbin into the garbage.

Jenna and Miss Maggie share a look. I ignore them to put the broom and dustbin away.

Miss Maggie voices what must have been the topic of their silent conversation. "It sounded like there might be a ‘but' on the end of that sentence, Jett. "

"Did Gabriella tell you about her history with Hayden?" I ask Jenna. Jenna nods, and then Miss Maggie nods as well, and I laugh. "I'm worried I've only made time for a relationship with her because Claire thought it would be good for my public image. Or maybe to defy Ava for telling me not to date her."

Jenna puts her hands on her hips. "From what I heard, Ava did not tell you not to date her."

"She told Gabriella to tell me not to date her," I correct sarcastically.

"She did not." Jenna glares at me.

"You know more about this than me, Jen." I throw my hands up, frustrated that my own sister-in-law is siding with Ava on this.

She huffs and shakes her head. "Ava's just worried about how Hayden treats people."

"Are you texting with Ava now too?" I accuse.

"Jett McCombs, watch your tone," Miss Maggie reproves me softly.

I blow out a breath. "Sorry, ma'am. Sorry, Jen."

"I'm not texting with Ava." Jenna bends over to scrub at the table. "I haven't talked to her since that game when we saw her in the family room. I know you'd be uncomfortable with that."

Guilt now slides through me that Jenna feels like she shouldn't renew her relationship with Ava because of me. I take a seat at the table and stare down at it. "It's fine. If you want to, it's fine." When I look back up, Miss Maggie is watching me, so I address my defense of Hayden to her. "I've never seen Hayden be anything but kind. Anytime we go anywhere to eat, she pays for someone else's meal and makes sure the restaurant promises not to tell who did it. That's just the beginning."

Jenna straightens. "Then everything will be fine. What are you worrying about?"

"I don't know," I mumble. Am I missing something? Why would Gabriella be so skeptical of Hayden? Why would Ava's research make her worry? "This wedding is the craziest thing I've ever heard of."

"Oh my gosh, Jett." Jenna breaks into laughter. "It's like you don't even know what being famous is like. Of course the wedding is crazy."

"If they want to get married in the middle of the season, they should be eloping, not throwing a big, overdone party for the publicity." It's probably unfair that I'm unloading on Jenna what I can't say to Colby and Gabriella. Every time he says something about the conflict between me and Ava, I have to bite my tongue to keep from telling him it wouldn't be half as bad if he'd waited until the off-season to get married. We'd probably both be more chill about Ava's presence here if we didn't have the stress of the season combined with this wedding hanging over us.

Jenna snorts, and when I turn to Miss Maggie, she's smirking. "Perhaps you can suggest that to your future bride-to-be when the time comes," Miss Maggie says. She goes to the fridge and pulls out a cake. I need to stop by here more with Miss Maggie around. "In any case, I'm sure you just want what's best for your friend."

"Yeah." I do. And that means I should shut up and listen to him before he kicks me to the curb.

Jenna throws the rag into the sink and sits next to me. "Jett, it's okay that you still have feelings and stuff for Ava. It's not a surprise, given that you almost got married and then it suddenly ended. And how little you dealt with it." She gives me a sad smile, and I can't contradict her words. "But if you like Hayden, don't overthink why that might be. And don't worry about what anybody else thinks."

"Amen," Miss Maggie says, scooting a plate of cake in front of me.

Jenna makes it sound a lot simpler than it is, trusting my own feelings over those of the people closest to me. Colby's my best friend, and though his opinion comes from Gabriella, she's become a trusted friend as well. Ava's opinion used to mean more to me than anyone else's in the world, so is it any wonder I can't get her worries out of my head even if I think she's after Hayden for the wrong reasons? Even Jenna can't hide her caution in her advice about Hayden.

The people I trust the most see a completely different person than I do, and I don't know what to make of that. I sigh and stab my cake with my fork. The dinner party is in a couple of nights. I'll just have to wait and see what happens.