by Aliyah Burke
She sighed and hung her head. Going to the door, she yanked it open.
“Get over here, Kaeden. I don’t need all of the Storm mad at me because you were foolish enough to stand out in the rain.”
“Do you forgive me?”
She crossed her arms as the skies opened up.
“Then I’ll stay here.”
“Kaeden Archer.”
His lips kicked up in the grin that did loopy things to her heart. “I love it when you yell my name.”
Her belly clenched and she bit her lower lip. “Get over here.”
He sauntered to her, pulling off the sign as he crossed the street. The rain didn’t bother him, and she realized as a player he had to be out in the elements for his job. She allowed the door behind her to close and stood under the awning.
His thick lashes framed his blue eyes and made her melt. God, her heart hurt from missing him. Water ran down his skin and her fingers burned with the need to touch him.
“I love you, Faye Reynolds.” He didn’t blink as he stared at her.
“You think standing out here day in and day out is going to change anything?”
“Tell me what to do.”
“Go home.”
He shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“Whatever.”
She began to turn back to the door and found everyone inside peering out the glass at the two of them. Narrowing her eyes at her friends, she pointed and shook her head. All they did was grin.
“Have dinner with me.”
“No.” He grasped her wrist when she closed her hand around the doorknob. Her heart beat out of control at the simple touch. Even though his skin was wet, there wasn’t any denying the heat he exuded.
“Faye.” Kaeden drew her around to face him.
“I’m not willing to be in your next plot to boost your image.”
Hurt flashed and he let her go. She breathed a bit easier. That didn’t last for in the next second he’d drawn her flush to his chest.
“I don’t give a fuck about my image, Faye. I want you.” He kissed her.
She whimpered and wrapped her arms around him, needing this man like she did her next breath. The glass didn’t stop the sound of the cheering that came from behind her. She wasn’t sure if it had been him or her to pull back first, but at some point the kiss had ended and she found they were staring at each other.
“Please give me another chance, baby. I fucked up. I get that. Tell me what I have to do to get a second chance with you.”
Before she could say anything else, he sank to his knees and looked at her. No doubt in her mind this would be online.
“Get up.” She tugged on his shirt.
“Not until you agree to go out with me. Just to have dinner. We don’t even have to go out in public, we can do it at my place.” She narrowed her eyes. “Or, I can bring you something at your place.”
“Kaeden.”
His fingers clenched at her shirt as he moved somehow closer. “I. Love. You.”
“Pick up something and meet me at my house in forty minutes.”
His grin melted her panties and did something to her heart. She was in such trouble.
He rose over her, tipped up her chin and brushed a kiss over her lips. “Yes ma’am.”
Kaeden walked away, waving at the ones staring at them.
She flushed and rolled her eyes at her friends and those in the store when she went back in. Randy waggled her eyebrows at her and gestured to her shirt which was now wet from his wet body.
There was tons of teasing for the rest of her day. When she pulled into her driveway he was there. This time, he wasn’t out in the rain but right before her door. A large paper bag between his feet.
“You have a key,” she said walking up.
“Didn’t want to take advantage.” He dipped his head and kissed her.
“Give me a few to change.” She kicked off her shoes once inside and padded off down the hall to her bedroom. A room where he had given her such pleasure. Memories that she relived that all the time.
He was in her kitchen when she returned to the front. His gaze brushed along her and it took a moment for her to remember they weren’t a couple any longer. The food was in front of him and her stomach rumbled with anticipation.
“Wine?”
She shook her head. “No thank you. Water is fine.”
“I’ll get it, take a seat.”
She didn’t sit at the island but moved to the table and sat in her chair. He placed the water before her but didn’t move back. After a moment, she glanced up at him. Kaeden stared at her.
“What?”
Some unidentifiable expression filled his features.
“I just, wish I had known what I’d had before I fucked up.” He skimmed his thumb along her lower lip. “I’m going to fix this. Fix us.”
She refused to hold onto hope.
Dinner was quiet and she got a bit unnerved because he watched her for the entirety of it. He cleaned up and when he had finished he joined her on the couch.
“Thank you for dinner.”
She laced her fingers and wondered how their relationship had come to this? Sitting on the couch with a man she loved more than life itself acting almost like they were strangers. Tension sparked between them.
“Christ,” he swore. “I didn’t think it was going to be this hard.”
Faye didn’t speak.
Kaeden stared at the woman beside him on the couch. She still had her hair up off her neck as she’d had at work but gone was the sleek suit and in its place were black and white fuzzy pants with a sea green shirt with five books on it, one with wings. The caption was: Books can take you to unimaginable heights.
“First. I’m so fucking proud of you.”
She narrowed her gaze and tipped her head to the side.
He gave into the need to touch her. Kaeden cupped her cheeks in his hands. “You graduated and got your masters.” He put his forehead to hers. “I should have been there supporting you instead of being the asshole I was and making your day, less that it was.”
“It’s fine.”
“No, it’s not.”
She gently pulled his hands away. “I’m not mad at you Kaeden. If that’s what all this is for, to ease your conscious. Don’t worry. I’m not mad.”
He could feel her pulling away and his heart wanted to stay with her, not him.
His nerves were all jumbled. “Can you come to my game Saturday?” He cleared his throat. “Our game.”
“I… sure.”
“I’ll see you then. Thank you for having dinner with me.” He kissed her quickly and left before he followed the urges pumping through his veins to claim her and remind her how it was supposed to be between them.
Even so, he was out in front of the shop the next day, but didn’t go talk to her this time. As he drove home after that, Lannie called him.
“Yes?”
“It’s been taken down. I’ve taken care of your issue with the owner’s daughter and if you want to leave the Storm we can make it happen. Not a have to the choice is completely up to you.”
He closed his eyes at the light and took a deep breath. Kaeden was in the clear.
“Thank you, Lannie for all you’ve done for me.”
“It’s what I do. Also,” she said clearing her throat. “I’ve taken a look at Marvin’s bit and will be in touch with him too.”
Kaeden thanked her once more but didn’t drive home. He went to a place he didn’t think he would show up to voluntarily. But he knew the reporter he was after would be hanging out at this location.
He parked and got out before tugging on a dark blue skullie and getting out of his car. Kaeden locked it as he walked away. He wasn’t cleaned up for an interview, he’d just gotten done with a meal with Faye but had been in the same jeans and tee that he wore now. It was supposed to be just a casual dinner, between friends.
Once he stepped inside the establishment, he gazed ar
ound and found his target. The man sat off by himself nursing something. Without stopping to speak or even address what he was doing here to the others he passed, he made his way to the far table and paused there.
Waylan Porter glanced up, eyes widening at seeing him there.
“Get lost, HP? This isn’t your usual scene.” He held up the glass and took a long swig of the golden liquid.
Without asking if he could sit, Kaeden pulled out the chair then made himself comfortable. Well, as much as he could in a place like this with a man on most days he wanted to punch in the face.
“You don’t like me and I don’t much like you.”
Waylan lifted his glass and toasted him. “I’m doing my job.”
“Sure. I have an exclusive for you.”
That paused him in the act of getting his next drink. “Come again? I thought you said you had an exclusive for me.”
Letting the sarcasm go, he leaned forward, arms on the table. “You’ve been hounding me about this entire thing I did with Faye to help boost my career and give the owners a better impression of me that blew up with the released tape of my drunken rant.”
The glimmer was there. “You said it would be a cold day in hell before you talked about that.”
“Guess you better get a jacket then.”
“What’s your fucking angle?”
“Can you get it on the air before Saturday’s game?” He tipped his head to the side. “I mean, not like tomorrow, but on a NFL pregame show, do you have that kind of pull?”
He puffed out his chest. “I have the pull, question is, do you have the material it will take to claim a spot?”
Ignoring the knot in his chest, Kaeden shrugged. “Let’s go do that interview and find out.”
Waylan grinned. “Fine but you’re covering my bar tab.”
“Whatever.” He wasn’t concerned. If he could foot the bill for the entire O-line’s meal, he could cover this asshole’s bar tab.
He called Lannie on the way over and gave her a head’s up of his intent. She didn’t like the approach but understood. And she also told him she would be at the game Saturday and to get her a seat beside Faye.
“You know she doesn’t sit in the box, right?” Lannie hated being in the stands, they were dirty.
“Just get me the seat.”
He followed Waylan inside his building and took a deep breath. Go big or go home.
This was him going big, so he could go home to the woman he loved for the rest of their lives.
Chapter Seventeen
“You sure you want to do this?”
“Not even close, Randy.” Faye stared at her reflection in the mirror. Today she wore just a Storm shirt, not Kaeden’s. Well, not the jersey anyway, below that, she had on one of his shirts, he’d left here.
Then again, perhaps she’d pilfered it. Either way, it was hers now.
“So why are you going? You don’t owe him anything. You could just call Billy and see if he’s available.”
Faye flipped her off but didn’t comment on the Billy mention, even though she was on the phone with her friend and she couldn’t see the action. Hell, she’d barely thought about him since Kaeden had sauntered back into her life. “I know I don’t, and I have no clue why I agreed. I just, I don’t know, closure?”
Randy snorted. “Call me when you get there. Are you driving?”
“Fuck no. I’m not dealing with parking like that. I’m taking an Uber or Lyft, something like that.” She walked from the bathroom into her bedroom where she shoved her feet into some canvas slip-ons. Also in Storm colors. “Mitchell said my parents were in town for this game as well.”
“They’re not staying with you?”
“I didn’t even know they were in town. To be fair, kind of been dodging them since the ish with Kaeden hit the airwaves. I know they love him like a son.”
It was Randy’s turn to snort. “You mean they did love him like a son.”
“I’m sure they still do. And it’s okay, I get it, he’s always been in my life, our lives, always will. I guess. I don’t know. Sure you don’t want to come?”
“Someone has to work today,” she teased. “I’ll trade with you though.”
“No thank you. I’ll go, I’m sure I’m due some sort of cosmic punishment for ignoring my folks.”
“Good point. I wouldn’t want to interrupt that.”
“Why do I love you again?”
“Because I’m lovable?”
Faye rolled her eyes. “You’re something. Okay, gotta jet, or I’m going to be later than I want to be.”
“Yes, hurry off to catch up that pregame warmup.”
“I’m hanging up on you now.” And she did. ID and money tucked in her front pocket, she swiped her house keys on the way out with one hand while pulling up the app to get a ride. Outside her house was a town car and Lannie was getting out.
She stopped and smiled. “Oh good. Come on, let’s go.”
“I’m going to the game.”
The agent shot her a “duh” look and got back in the car. “You’re riding with me. Kaeden didn’t want you to have to pay to get there and he didn’t think you would accept it if he sent a car.”
“He’s right,” she mumbled as she walked down and got in the idling vehicle.
Lannie was positively adorable. Faye settled back as the car began to move and wondered what the hell was going on.
“How are you doing?” Kaeden’s agent asked. “I checked on him after everything hit the fan but I should have checked on you as well.”
“He’s your client, why wouldn’t you check on him? I’m nothing.”
“That’s not true.” She brushed a hand down her tan pants. “Did you want any SportsCenter this morning?”
“No. I’ve heard enough of my name being bandied about.”
The rest of the ride was done in silence and when they pulled up, she was out even before the driver could come around and get her door for her. Not that she needed him to. Over the top of the vehicle, she sent Lannie a smile.
“Thank you for the ride. Enjoy the game.”
“Wait, I’m sitting beside you.”
That gave her pause. “You don’t like the stands.”
Her grimace was there. “Not true, I prefer the box, but will sit in the stands if it’s with someone I like.”
“Let’s go then.” Faye didn’t know how long she would last down there dressed as she was, but, wasn’t her business.
Turns out, Lannie wasn’t the only one she recognized in the area she had her ticket in. Michelle was there, dressed more like Faye today, just wearing her husband’s number. Other girlfriends and wives were down there as well.
Faye was caught up in a line of hugs.
“I can’t believe what he did, it was so romantic. Why aren’t you wearing Kaeden’s jersey? Didn’t your heart just melt at his interview?” All the questions and statements flew at her faster than she could process and respond.
Michelle linked her arm through Faye’s. “Didn’t you see his interview this morning on SportsCenter?”
“No.” She glanced over to Lannie who was in a discussion with someone else. “What interview?”
Not a minute later the large screens at either ends of the stadium for people to watch flickered to a darkened room, the music and shots of the players fading. Faye sat and watched, not realizing until they were beside her, that her parents had placed in this section as well.
“We wanted to show this once more in case some of you missed our own Storm’s important interview this morning.”
The stadium was filling up but not full. And the players were on the field. But she watched the screen that showed Kaeden in the clothing he’d last worn to her house for the dinner he brought her.
Across from him, a man she knew he didn’t like.
“My name is Waylan Porter and I’m here this evening with a man, we all know doesn’t like me much, Kaeden Archer. He approached me and asked me to do a story. I admit it, I w
as suspicious because we don’t get along. But he told me because of that, he knew I wouldn’t sugar coat what he had to say. So here it is, his unvarnished truth.”
The camera panned back to Kaeden as he sat in a chair. It zoomed in on him and her heart clenched. Michelle squeezed one hand and she noticed her mother did the same to her other. Then her focus went back to Kaeden.
“My name’s Kaeden Archer and I messed up.”
Waylan nodded. “Can you explain that more?”
She was gobsmacked to hear him talk about how he’d been in the past and how that behavior had gotten him moved off teams he’d liked. The Storm was his last shot. He talked through how the plan had been contrived to give him more stability and look like he had and was settling down.
“How did that make you feel?”
“Honestly, Waylan. I was pissed. I knew my agent was right and she always is, but I was mad that I had to play a part. I was a player, loved the ladies and this fake relationship would ruin all of it.”
Faye just listened.
“But?” Waylan prompted.
“But,” Kaeden smiled. And it wasn’t his “I’m on camera smile” but the one he gave her. “Enter Faye Reynolds. Little sister to my best friend. She’s known me for most of my life. Far before I even became a high school star and she’s never had a problem calling me on my behavior. So, I figured, I can do this. What’s the harm? It’s her, no way this gets personal.”
There went her heart.
“I was wrong,” Kaeden continued without missing a beat. “Never have I been so wrong in my life. Personal was all about it. I found myself craving to just be around her, missing her smile and her laugh when I was not beside her. Jealous of her friends. I was the player. I was supposed to go in and make her fall for me like every other woman did, then I could leave when our mission had been accomplished.”
“What happened?”
“I got played. I fell for her. Head over heels. No other way to put it.” He sighed and flattened his lips. “When I realized that, I lost it. I was angry and pissed for no reason. And I did stupid shit.”
“Like the rant that exposed all of this?”