Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

JETT

Present day

Since my truck sits motionless in traffic, when my phone dings with a text, I tap at my screen rather than letting the truck's hands-free program read it to me.

It's from my sister-in-law.

Jenna : Last night's guest at the beach house messaged that there might be a leak in the master bathroom. Can you go check it out?

This is followed by no less than ten prayer-hand emojis.

It's already seven, and I can count on another thirty minutes in this traffic mess, at least. By the time I get home, shower, and then go over to Jenna and Devin's GetAwayHome vacation rental, it will be almost nine. I love my sister-in-law, and we're as close as true siblings, but I hesitate before giving in right away. If there's any chance she'll let me off the hook tonight, I'm going for it.

Jett: I'm exhausted, Jenna. I'll go over in the morning.

Wednesdays are long days. It took a lot of hard work to become a starting quarterback with a professional football team after only three years. Even more hard work to stay the best so the franchise won't regret taking a chance on an underrated kid from a smaller school. I put everything into football. I glance up at the road to make sure we're still at a standstill before reading the message she's already sent back.

Jenna: I have a guest checking in tomorrow.

Jett: I promise I'll go over really early.

I feel a twinge of guilt. She's not a five-star, top-level GetAwayHome host for nothing. She always gets reviews about how homey the house is, how well treated the guests feel. But it won't make that much of a difference if I check it tonight or tomorrow morning.

Jenna: Jeeeeeetttt.

I can picture exactly the fake whiny voice she would've used if we were talking in person. This is how she gets her way. I'm not going to be able to tell her no and stick to it. Jenna rarely lets me do favors for her. In fact, she acts like if I do, she's taking advantage of me. So when she does ask on the rare occasion, it's hard to turn her down. She wants her real estate investments to succeed, and I want to help her with that however I can. When I got my first big football contract, I paid off Devin and Jenna's mortgage as well as my parents'. Devin and Jenna took the money they were putting into their mortgage payment and bought a second house, spent a year fixing it up in every free moment, and then set it up as their GetAwayHome. Jenna's grin was off the charts the day she told me they'd already paid off the second house. Their third investment is a smaller guesthouse on their property, but for now Jenna's grandma occupies that.

Jenna: This guest is a big deal. It's Gabriella's wedding planner, and Gabriella booked the house for the whole summer and is paying a bonus because of the length. She's saving me $$$ in cleaning fees. Plus, it's Gabriella. Her wedding planner deserves the best. What if we leave it overnight and it's actually a big deal?? You know I'd go myself if I was in town.

I scoff at rolling out the red carpet for the high-priced wedding planner that my teammate and best friend, Colby's, fiancé is flying in. Two months before the wedding, no less, to handle what? I can't begin to guess. If the guy is going to get married in the middle of the season, he should have the decency to elope rather than distract us from football with a huge social event.

I jerk as a horn honks behind me, and I creep up a few car lengths before we're stopped again. On days like today, the fact that I live an hour out of Houston makes me wish I'd chosen a house a lot closer. But once I'm sitting on my back deck, relaxing to the sound of Galveston Bay in the background, I'll forget my frustration.

I dictate a text back to Jenna, keeping a closer eye on traffic as things start to move a little more—albeit still at a snail's pace.

Jett: Alright, alright.

I knew I was giving in anyway. No reason to make Jenna worry. Another text comes in just as my message sends, one from my agent, Claire.

Claire: I've got a few options for making your social media more visible. Call me when you have a minute tonight.

I let out an audible groan. That's the last thing I want to do when I'm trying to relax after a grueling day, so I dictate a response right away to nip this in the bud .

Jett: I like my privacy, ma'am. Leave me in peace.

I'm putting my foot down. I don't have time for posting all the time to social media—nor do I really want to. People are already in my business way too much, thanks to my starting quarterback position with the Pumas. I don't want to add to that or give the impression that people have permission to be nosy about my private life. But Claire is crafting an image, as she likes to remind me.

Claire: You're getting a rep for being a grumpy recluse.

Jett: I thought broody guys were sexy.

Claire: I'm going for likable and charming and ripe for funny insurance ads and huge popularity.

I'll have to shut this down in a phone call, which I don't want to have right now, so I pretend to cave. A little.

Jett: I'll think about it.

I don't want to add "try to be more likable" to the list of things that need to happen this season. It's too crowded with football—and a wedding, of course. Maybe if I post some smiling pictures on Instagram, Claire will ease up.

Traffic is too slow for my liking, so I ask my phone if I have any new messages, and it reads me one from Jenna.

Jenna: You're amazing!

I sigh and then chuckle to myself.

It's as though I'm getting divine thanks as well—traffic opens up and I'm back up to regular speed within a minute. It doesn't stop me from dictating another text.

Jett: You owe me.