by Nicole Dykes
Jax and Dylan come up behind me and I smile at him. “I’m sorry. Hey, Shriller.”
He laughs, shrugging it off instantly and gives me a big hug and walks in. I notice his arm wrapped around his date who can’t be much older than me. Jax and him fist bump, followed by the same thing with Dylan before Dylan asks, “You gonna introduce your date?”
Shriller grins, “This is Tiffany. The girl I told you both about.”
She smiles and actually pops her gum in her mouth before shaking all of our hands as Shriller introduces us. This is the first I’ve heard about Shriller bringing a date to dinner, but then again, I have been in my own little world lately.
Jax nods and gives Tiffany a grin. “It’s nice to meet you. The girl that wrangled Shriller.”
Shriller gives him a warning look as to say don’t tell any “Shriller stories”. She slips off her coat that looks brand new and reveals she wearing a really short, white dress. I mean I can see every part of her including her huge, clearly fake boobs. Tiffany just smiles blankly, like maybe she doesn’t get what Jax just said. She wraps her arm around Shriller’s, “It’s nice to meet you guys. Shriller is the best.”
Dylan nods his head and takes her coat, “Yeah he’s totally awesome.”
I shake my head at my brother’s humor, clearly making fun of her. She doesn’t get it though and just nods her head excitedly. “Have you guys seen his house? It’s like right on the beach.”
Jax laughs, “Yeah I’ve been there a couple of times. It’s nice.”
She grins big, clinging on tighter to him and beaming, “And the restaurants and clubs we go to! We have so much fun together!”
“I’ll bet you do.” Jax says that, but it’s more directed at Shriller, who looks a little uncomfortable.
Everyone always talks about how Shriller doesn’t date and the girls he hooks up with have nothing in the brains department, but this is over the top. The girl clearly just likes being with Shriller the Thriller and not just our “Shriller.”
Brooke steps out of the kitchen, wearing her dark blue apron that is covered in flour and walks over to where we are all still standing by the door, “Well hi, Tiffany. It’s nice to finally meet you! I’m Brooke.”
She shakes her hand and Tiffany smiles politely at her, “Thank you for inviting me. You have a nice house.”
Brooke smiles, “Thanks. How was your trip?”
“Great! We flew first class, but the snow on the ground is a bummer. I don’t know how you guys do this.”
Brooke nods her head, “It’s not so bad. It’s nice to have a white Christmas at least.”
Tiffany looks confused again, “White Christmas? I’ve heard of White Elephant the presents game.”
Shriller laughs it off, “Nah, like snow on the ground for Christmas.”
She nods her head and I get the feeling Shriller has to explain a lot of things to her. Tiffany looks at Brooke’s attire, “Do you need help in the kitchen? I’ve been studying up on cooking blogs.”
Brooke’s eyes look unsure, but then she smiles kindly, “Of course. Thanks so much.”
They leave and Dylan puts the coats up while Shiller, Jax and I make our way into the living room and sit down. I think I’ll give Brooke some time to figure this girl out.
Dylan joins us and looks over at Shriller, “So seriously man?”
Shriller stretches his legs out in front of him in the large oversized chair, probably tired from the flight. “What?”
“Nothing. Just when you said you were bringing someone special to dinner she’s not exactly what I pictured.” Dylan answers.
“What? Hot and sweet?”
Jax chuckles, “Barely legal and nothing going on upstairs.”
Here we go again. The things they say to each other. Shriller sits back in the chair, “She’s twenty-two and she has plenty going on upstairs.”
“Yeah like how awesome your money and house are,” Dylan shoots back.
“Hey, fuck you guys. We’ve been hanging out since I got back from Thanksgiving. She’s a cool chick. Give her a chance.”
Dylan holds his hands up in surrender, “I’m sorry. You’re right. I was just surprised is all.”
Jax laughs, still not backing down. “Yeah surprised because we thought you were settling down. That chick is not the settling down type.”
Shriller grins, “We actually have a lot in common and it’s perfect for me. She isn’t looking for a ring anytime soon, but we’re in a committed relationship.” He turns to me, “And what do you think, Cassie?”
My eyes widen. I don’t want to piss him off, “I don’t know. Is this some sort of midlife crisis thing?”
He laughs and Jax and Dylan crack up. Shriller runs his tattooed fingers through is hair, “Fuck, Cassie. You know I just turned thirty, right?”
I laugh at that and shrug my shoulders. “She’s really nice.”
He nods his head, “Thank you! She is nice,” he focuses on Jax, “and fucking hot.” He addresses us all when he says, “She’s not looking for a huge commitment and loves to party. She’s not clingy, but she comes to most of my races and cheers me on.”
“Ah so you want a cheerleader. Nice.” Jax teases.
Shriller brushes it off, “All right, anyway. Where the hell is everyone?”
Dylan sits up, “The kids are in their rooms. Luke and Hannah are at his place waiting for Cam and Hunter.”
“And fucking.” Jax adds and I scrunch up my nose.
“Yeah probably. Hunter and Cam better knock first.” Dylan laughs and I cringe hoping my boyfriend doesn’t have to witness that shit. Dylan continues his answer to Shriller’s question, “Trevor and his girl aren’t coming because the band has a gig tonight and Alex and Stephen will be here for dinner.”
Shriller’s eyebrow shoots up, “Oh yeah, that douchebag is actually gonna make it to a family dinner?”
Jax scoffs, “I’ll believe it when I see it. That fucking asshat never shows up for her.”
I sit and listen as they all gossip like a bunch of women. See men and women aren’t that different. Dylan speaks up, “Brooke said that Alex told him he had to come to this one.”
“About fucking time. I’m sick of Alex being so fucking ballless.” Jax says. Man, they really don’t like Alex’s fiancé.
Shriller nods his head in agreement, “No shit. I’ve never seen her back down like she does with this tool.”
It’s kind of true. Alex is a total badass and the best role model for girls everywhere, but seriously when it comes to Stephen she lets him get away with a lot. Maybe she just loves him that much.
I forgave Hunter quickly when he didn’t tell me about Miranda showing up at his hotel because I realized he didn’t do it to hurt me. There was no need for drama. I love him and didn’t want to fight with him.
Maybe that’s how Alex feels.
I ponder that for a little longer and then jump up quickly when I hear the doorbell ring. I don’t waste any time and bounce up pulling the door open. This time I’m giddy when I see it’s Luke, Hannah, Cam and Hunter. They all walk in and I wrap my arms around Hunter, not wanting to let him go.
Suddenly I wish that it was just him and I and that everyone else would just disappear for a little while.
Chapter 41
Hunter
God I’ve missed Cassie. It’s pathetic I know. It hasn’t even been a full week, but it felt so great to wrap my arms around her. Unfortunately, it was brief. After I let her go I shook everyone’s hand and we all sat around talking about nothing until dinner was ready.
Alex and her fiancé showed up just in time to eat with us and now I’m standing in the garage with Cam, Shriller, Jax, Luke, and Dylan looking at Dylan’s new car that the shop just finished.
It’s amazing how many cars these guys have, but it’s their passion.
“So seriously man, what the fuck do you guys talk about?” The question comes from Luke and is aimed at Shriller about his new girlfriend.
Cassie filled me in briefly to tell me that apparently Shriller has been dating this girl for about a month and that she’s twenty-two. She seems nice enough, but the guys have been brutal. Brooke and her seem to get along although I don’t think Alex likes her very much.
“Why the fuck would they talk?” Cam asks grinning and I shake my head.
Shriller groans, “Look assholes, while you are cuddling in your beds with your wifeys and jerking off in secret because you aren’t getting it enough, I’m out partying and actually having a damn good time with a fucking sexy chick.”
Everyone laughs at that, but I can’t help but think the guys with “wifeys”, as he calls them, are way better off. He turns the heat off of him and onto me, “So you gonna get another offer from the Cowboys?”
Actually, I’ve had a few agents trying to contact me this week now that regular season is over. One tracked me down after practice yesterday offering an obscene amount of money to leave school after this year. I politely turned him down, but I’m not going to tell anyone that except Cassie.
I just shrug and then Luke who is screwing around on his phone says, “Or the Chargers?”
Shit. I look over at him my mouth going dry as Cassie comes in. “What are you guys talking about?”
“Your superstar boyfriend getting yet another amazing offer.” Luke answers.
I look over at Cassie and everyone looks at me for an answer. I don’t waste any more time answering her. “The Chargers offered me a contract if I leave school early, but I turned it down yesterday.”
She doesn’t look that surprised by the news and I’m relieved hoping it wasn’t another instance where I didn’t tell her something as soon as she thought I should. Shriller looks over at Luke, “How much is this one worth?”
“Eleven point four million over three years.” Luke answers and Cassie’s mouth gapes open.
“You turned them down?” She asks clearly stunned.
I nod at her, “Yeah. I’m not sure why they even offered it in the first place. I’ve tried to make it known that they are going to have to wait.”
Jax blows out a whistle, “Fuck that’s a lot of money for a rookie. They want your ass bad.”
Cam nudges me, “What the hell? You didn’t tell me that.”
“It just happened yesterday and I didn’t think it was a big deal since I didn’t take it.” I answer back.
Luke puts his phone away shaking his head. “Fuck, Cass, you’re my sister and I love ya and all, but there’s no fucking way I’d give up eleven million dollars for you.”
“Luke.” Dylan warns him before I can and I look over at Cassie and then back at Luke.
“I’m not giving it up for Cassie or anyone. I’m going to graduate school.” Not entirely true. Truth be told, it was tempting, but I don’t want people putting the blame on Cassie.
She squares her shoulders and wraps her arms around me while everyone else talks about the contract I turned down. “You wanna get out of here for a bit? I want to give you your present tonight, I can’t wait.” She says it quietly and only to me.
Luke must have heard it though because he groans, “That better not be a sex thing.”
I laugh. I hope it is. Cassie rolls her eyes at him, grabbing my hand. “We will be back.”
Without wasting anymore time she pulls me out to her car and I follow excited to have some time to ourselves. I climb into the passenger seat, knowing that the subject of my NFL contract will come up, but happy that we aren’t going to talk about it in front of everyone. “Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.” She says as she turns on the headlights and pulls out onto the street. It’s dark already, but not too late at night.
We drive for a while, her hand in mine as she finds an old country road and pulls off the road parking her car. I look around and see nothing, but trees. “Where are we?”
She smiles, “Abandoned land where we used to party in high school.” I smile over at her and then her face turns to horrified. “Oh God, this was stupid.”
I look at her unsure why her mood changed so suddenly. I cup her face in my hand, “Why is this stupid?”
She shakes her head putting her hand on mine, “I used to come here with Brent all of the time. Now I brought my sweet, amazing boyfriend to this same spot. That’s sick. We should go.”
Maybe I should be bothered by that but, I can’t help it, I start to laugh. I drop my hand, “Cassie, I don’t care that you’ve been here before or who you’ve been here with. That’s all in the past.”
She shakes her head and lays it down on my shoulder, “No, I don’t want anything with him to taint what we have.”
I run my fingers though her silky blonde hair that luckily she left down today, “Nothing can do that. All of that shit just made you who you are today. The girl I love.”
She looks up at me with a smile on her face, “You’re pretty perfect you know that?”
I laugh and shake my head, “Nobody is perfect.”
She jumps out of the car and opens the back door, “Well he’s never been in this car before and definitely not back here. Wanna join me?”
I grin and don’t waste time following her lead and joining her in the backseat of her hot pink car. She quickly climbs on my lap, one thigh on both sides. Her long hair falls over her shoulders and she looks into my eyes. “Did you give up that contract for me?”
I run my fingers over her sides gently. I want to be honest with her, but don’t want her to blame herself so I tread lightly, “No. Not really. My plan is the same. I want to graduate first, but I have to admit the money was tempting. I just found you though and there is no way I’m going to leave this summer.”
She nods, “So you did stay because of me?”
I shake my head, bringing both of my hands ups to cup her face in them, making her look at me, “No. I stayed because I want to. You just helped me avoid temptation and do what I’ve wanted to all along. The money will be there next year and if not then I’ll have my backup plan and my degree to fall back on.”
She shakes her head now, taking my hands with it. “I know this is your dream. You won’t be happy doing anything else.”
I grin and bring her closer to me, placing a light kiss on her lips and trailing down her neck, “That’s where you’re wrong. I’ve found happiness in another place.”
I can see the smile drift across her face and she sits back, placing her hands on my shoulders. “You ready for your present?”
“It’s not Christmas yet and I left your present at Luke’s.”
Her right hand falls down my chest, her fingers leaving a light trail all the way down. “I don’t want to wait, it’ll be Christmas in a few hours.”
I smile, entangling my hand with hers on my shoulder. “Okay.”
She looks slightly nervous as she removes her hand from mine and then quickly pulls her sweater up and over her head, leaving her in a lacey teal bra.
I stare at her chest for a second and then glance back up at her face, “Well damn, Cassie you are really great at giving presents.”
I pull her to me and nibble on her neck and she giggles pulling back and taking my hand in hers, “No not that. You can have that anytime and after I show you your present.” Our hands drift over the skin on her hip and my eyes follow.
I see her sexy EMAW tattoo, but I’m shocked when I see it’s been added to. Now underneath the EMAW in the same script sits my jersey number. My eyes move back to hers, “You had my number tattooed on you?”
She nods her head and bites her lips. Her apprehension making her even cuter, “Yes. Is that okay?”
Just when I think she can’t be more amazing she surprises me again. “Of course, you didn’t have to do that, but I love it. You sure you won’t regret it?”
She smiles brightly and laughs, “There’s no one else for me Hunter. I trust you more than anyone else and I know you won’t hurt me.”
I trace the tattoo with my fingers again. I will do everything in my
power to make sure I never hurt her.
Chapter 42
Hunter
“I’m glad you’re back.” I say to Cassie as she uses her fingers to slowly trace my tattoos. We’re laying in my bed and she just returned to Manhattan yesterday from winter break. We have to start classes again tomorrow, so we haven’t left my bed much and I don’t intend to.
“Me too. I missed you like crazy.”
I pull the sheet down she was using to cover her naked body and skim my mouth down, leaving light kisses on her skin until I reach her tattoo. It’s still amazing to me that she felt confident enough to ink her body with my number, linking us together permanently.
Just as I’m about to run my tongue along the lines of the tattoo, there is incessant knocking at my front door.
“Damn, who the hell could that be?” I groan.
Cassie urges me up and on top of her body, her lips meeting mine, “Who cares? Can’t Cam get it?”
I laugh, “Cam isn’t home.”
Now it’s Cassie’s turn to groans as she pulls my body flush with hers and wrapping her arms around my neck, tightly. “Well maybe they will go away.”
I’m all for that plan, but the banging on my door doesn’t stop and I begrudging stand up and find my jeans, slipping them on. “Stay right there. I’ll be back.”
She pouts as I grab a t-shirt from the floor and walk into the living room, pissed off at whoever it is at my door. There is literally no one I want to see right now, but the girl in my bed. I walk over to the door and pull it open, quickly, “What?”
“Geez, Hunt. You need to get better at your greetings. You used to be so polite.”
I cringe and I’m totally dumbfounded as I stare at Miranda standing on my porch. “Miranda? What the hell are you doing here?”
She puts one hand on her hip, “I need to talk to you.” Her eyes scan my torso and up to what I’m sure is my very messy hair. Her eyebrows quirk up, “Did I interrupt something? You’re looking damn good, Hunt.”