Jenson (Wild Men Book 4)

by Melissa Belle

  I pull her into my arms. “We’re not going to lose anymore. You’ll have years and years to hang out with these crazy guys and their partners; so much that you’ll get sick of them.”

  She leans in close to me, and I kiss her head.

  When I hear the sudden silence, I shift slightly so that I’m facing everyone.

  Yep. Just as I thought.

  Every last one of them is staring at us. Cam and Ayden most of all. Only Colton seems at ease; he leans against the nearby tree and crosses his legs at the ankles. His expression’s calm like none of this is a big deal.

  And the thing is, it isn’t. The big deal is the woman to my right.

  I gesture toward Olivia. “Olivia’s not really my cousin as you know. And the truth is, I’m in love with her. I have been forever.”

  Cam points from me to her. “I knew something was going on…you two always had that damn chemistry. I couldn’t just come out and ask you, though…”

  “You knew?” Dylan asks him. “How did you know?”

  Cam shrugs. “I was with someone young, so I guess I got young love. Jenson and Olivia always looked like a couple to me. Or two people who should be a couple.”

  Ayden jerks his chin toward me. “You two okay? Because you seem stressed.”

  Keeping my arm around Olivia, I say, “Our families don’t know. We don’t expect them to be super supportive. Olivia’s father is the mayor of this town. He’s running for re-election this fall, and the residents look at me as her cousin. They don’t take to change very well.”

  “We’re your family too,” Sky says. “And we’re a hundred percent supportive.”

  Everyone nods.

  “That is so sweet,” Olivia says softly.

  Cam raises his beer and points it at us. “To you two,” he says. “The newest couple in our group. Bray, you and I are going to be partying alone soon. All these losers getting hitched and growing up and shit. When did that happen?”

  Brayden grabs a fresh beer and clicks it to Cam’s. “To staying single,” he says solemnly.

  “One of you will have a date to Dylan and Jasalie’s wedding renewal,” Sky says confidently. “I have a strong hunch. You could call me psychic.”

  Cam shakes his head emphatically. “No way. Won’t be me.”

  “Me neither.” Brayden backs away from Sky like he’s allergic to her prophesy, and we all laugh.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Olivia

  The rest of the week passes in a blur of football, more football, and wedding stuff.

  Going to the Cougars game in Philly is fun. Colton gets us seats behind the team bench, so instead of being in a box, we’re super close to all the action. Hearing Kyle and Connor scream out, “Uncle Dylan” and “Uncle Colton” whenever either of them touches the football makes the experience worth it on its own. The Cougars win the preseason game by a touchdown, and Dylan delivers two game footballs—both signed by a bunch of the players—to Kyle and Connor before he and Colton have to leave for the team plane.

  Three days later and the night before Sheldon and Cara’s wedding, I walk down the stairs of Randolph’s football stadium with Hayley and Max.

  Our seats are on the sideline, and Hayley clutches my hand in excitement.

  “We’re so close!” she squeals. “I don’t know a thing about football, but I’m stoked.”

  So am I. Randolph’s first game of the season and my first time in a while seeing Jenson coach. I went to a few games with my family when he coached in Pittsburgh and his team came to Philly, but obviously he and I weren’t together then. So when I saw him afterward, it was always awkward and painful.

  This is a whole new game. My smile’s so big as we head for our seats I’m sure the entire stadium can tell how happy I am.

  We take seats at the end of the row, right next to Kyle and Connor, who are with Cindy and Dee. My parents are on their other side, along with Sheldon and Cara, and Daphne and her family.

  “Livia!” Connor grabs my hand. “Daddy’s out on the field. Do you see him?”

  I do. My pulse picks up as I watch Jenson striding through the field as he chats with players as they warm up. He’s wearing a gold and maroon Randolph sweatshirt and black pants. His shaggy blond hair is blowing in the wind. He takes the football from one of the guys and steps back to deliver a laser to another player about forty yards away. The ball spirals through the air perfectly before landing in the player’s outstretched hands.

  “Shit, he’s still got it,” Max says admiringly from the other side of Hayley.

  He sure does.

  “He’s gorgeous,” Hayley whispers in my ear.

  Jenson turns and looks up over at our section. He and I lock eyes, and he grins as he puts his hand to his ear.

  I know what that signal means. So while he’s waving at Kyle and Connor, who are bouncing up and down and calling out to him, I check my phone.

  A single text.

  Love you. See you after.

  Five words that mean everything. Because every other game I’ve been to, we couldn’t see each other after. Our feelings for each other were lost in the sea of family and obligation.

  But this time, tonight, we’re changing all of that. Even if we’re keeping it private, we’re together, and that means everything.

  As soon as the game starts, the butterflies in my stomach are huge, and they just get worse as the game proceeds.

  Randolph gets on the board first, but the Saints score on the kickoff return, and the coaching staff for Randolph is screaming on the sideline.

  “What are they so angry about?” Hayley asks me.

  “The refs missed a holding call on the return team,” I explain. “And now the game’s tied because of it.”

  “You know this stuff?” She looks at me like I’m a complete stranger to her. “I didn’t know you understood football.”

  I laugh. “I grew up with Jenson. He made sure I understood football, believe me.”

  Like he hears me, Jenson glances up from the bench. He gives me the thumbs-up, and my irritation over the missed call disappears.

  “The Hawks are going to be okay,” I say to Hayley. “Jenson has a great game plan.”

  Sure enough, the Hawks score on their next possession. They march right down the field with a variety of pass and run plays.

  But they can’t stop the Saints from scoring, and by the end of the first half, the game is tied 21-21. Jenson jogs off the field with the rest of the team, but he makes sure to wave up at us before disappearing into the tunnel.

  He smiles, but his jaw is tight. I know how much this game means to him; to get win one under his belt with a new team, and to do it in the backyard of where he grew up, is an important homecoming for him.

  “Football games are so stressful!” Hayley says. “I’m going to get something to eat. You want anything?”

  “I’m good,” I tell her.

  I turn to Kyle and Connor. “Your dad’s doing a great job with the offense. Smith looks fantastic.”

  “But the game’s tied,” Kyle says with a frown. “We want to win.”

  “It’s a long way from over, boys,” I say. “I have a feeling your dad’s got a few tricks up his sleeve. And hopefully, Randolph can stop the Saints from scoring, huh?”

  The second half goes quickly, and with two minutes left in regulation, the score is tied yet again at 42 all.

  “Randolph has the ball, so they’ve got a great chance to win,” I say to Kyle and Connor.

  “This is going to be awesome!” Kyle says enthusiastically as he stands up and starts shouting “Go Hawks!”

  Randolph makes it to the fifty-yard line, but then forward progress stalls. Before I can blink, it’s fourth down with only twelve seconds left in the game.

  “Last chance,” I murmur to no one in particular. “Come on.”

  I clench my hands together on my lap as I watch Jenson call the next play into his headset. Smith takes the snap, drops back, and rolls to the right. Je
nson’s shouting from the sideline now, and Smith shifts left and throws without hesitation.

  Emery, the wide receiver, breaks off a crossing route, sheds his defender, and bolts downfield. I can hear the rush of energy from the crowd as the ball arcs through the air, angling down toward a wide-open Emery.

  Hayley shouts next to me about how fast he is, but my attention is back on Jenson as he runs up the sideline next to Emery. Jenson keeps pace as Emery catches the ball and heads for the end zone.

  The crowd erupts when he crosses the goal line.

  He spikes the ball, and Jenson pumps a fist in the air. Time runs out on the clock as Randolph wins 48-42.

  Smith runs off the field and leaps into Jenson’s arms.

  “Hot,” Hayley says next to me. “That was an awesome ending.”

  “Can we go see Daddy now?” Kyle tugs on my shirt sleeve.

  I look at the field filled with media, coaches, and players.

  “Let’s wait a little bit,” I say. “It’s really crowded out there. We’ll see him really soon.”

  Jenson

  I move through the locker room, congratulating our players on the hard-fought win. I take questions from the media, and Dee brings Kyle and Connor in so they can share in the moment.

  My boys have just left when Calvin, the annoying-ass reporter, steps out from the corner and beckons to me.

  “Olivia’s outside waiting for you.” His tone is neutral, but the gleam in his eyes isn’t.

  Making sure to keep my expression blank, I give him a quick nod and turn to leave.

  “Jenson.” He steps uncomfortably close to me. “I’d be careful if I were you. Randolph’s board members are as conservative as our town’s residents.”

  Hoping he’s just fishing to see if he hits a target, I say coolly, “And your point is?”

  “I think you know what my point is.” Calvin rubs his thumb over his lip. “I wouldn’t kiss and tell if I were you. For example, if you’re in the trees by the skateboarding park, say during the annual fair? I’d maybe be a little more careful about who I bring into the woods with me. Because not everyone’s going to be as understanding…”

  My jaw’s turned to steel, and it’s all I can do not to punch this guy out. “Calvin, you have no idea what you’re dealing with here.”

  “I think I actually have a pretty damn good idea.” He smirks. “And you could lose everything if you keep acting on your impulses. I’m a reporter, not a confidante. And there’s only so long I’ll keep quiet for.”

  “What do you want?” I ask him. “Because if you didn’t want something, you wouldn’t give a shit about threatening me.”

  “I want the one thing I’ve never gotten with this paper—a front-page story.” He shrugs callously. “And I don’t personally care who I have to take down to get it.”

  I lean in close to him, my hand on his shoulder like I’m casually telling him something. But my intent is clear, and Calvin’s eyes widen the closer I get.

  “You want some advice?” I say in a deadly-calm voice. “Stay the fuck out of my private life. Because if you cross that line, I swear to God, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. Your career as a reporter will be over.”

  I leave the locker room, determined to talk to Olivia.

  But before I can even look for her—

  “Jenson!” Sheldon calls out from behind the metal gate where he’s standing with Max and Todd. “My bachelor party starts now! Let’s go!”

  Olivia

  Cindy and Dee take Kyle and Connor home with them for the night so Jenson can hang out with Sheldon and his wedding party. Max goes with them, and Hayley and I take Bernie with us to the coffee shop and proceed to drink far too much caffeine.

  “I don’t want to keep things quiet about Jenson and me anymore,” I confess. “I want to go public. No matter what happens or how much it upsets the apple cart of Liberty Falls and our families, I want to take that risk. I need to.”

  “Any other day, I would say ‘yay!’ But Sheldon and Cara are getting married tomorrow night,” Hayley points out. “Just because Cara hates bachelorette parties and isn’t having a pre-wedding soiree doesn’t make her wedding any less real. And assuming your families will need a little time to adjust to the news? It could ruin the night.”

  “God, you’re right. I can’t run the risk of wrecking Sheldon’s night. It’ll be okay. We can wait a little longer.”

  Hayley laughs. “Speaking of…look who just walked in.”

  I turn on the couch and lock eyes with Jenson walking toward us.

  Hayley gives me a hug. “I’m going home. See you tomorrow at the wedding.”

  I wave goodbye to her and invite Jenson to join me on the couch. He pats Bernie, who whines happily.

  “I thought you’d be out with my brother,” I say.

  “Sheldon’s friends are cool, but they plan on going all night at the bar.” He stretches out his jeans-clad legs on the coffee table. “I’d rather hang out with you.”

  I smile at him. “And I’d rather hang out with you. Let’s go to my house.”

  We don’t say much as we walk slowly through town, but as soon as we’re inside my house, Jenson says abruptly, “Calvin confronted me after the game. He knows.”

  My skin goes cold. “What do you mean?”

  “About us, Olive. He made some insinuation about kissing someone in the woods during the fair.”

  “I saw him!” I say, remembering the movement I’d noticed. “Right before Auntie Sue’s accident. I was going to mention it to you, but I forgot about it.”

  He puts his arm around me, and we sit on the couch in my living room. Bernie settles at our feet.

  “I wonder how close he was to us that day.”

  “Why?”

  “Because that was the same time I told you about Donald.”

  “Oh my God. You think he overheard that as well?”

  Jenson shrugs. “Calvin’s an ass. He just wants a story to bolster his career. But I’ve decided I’m going to tell my mom I met Donald. And when you’re okay with it, I’m going to tell her about us.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. Hopefully she’ll be able to handle it. I won’t share her secret with anyone because that’s her story to tell. But I can damn sure tell my story to her.” He pauses and tips my chin so we’re staring into each other’s eyes. His expression looks exactly like I feel: excited and hopeful. “Are you ready to tell your parents?” he asks me softly.

  I nod. “Something changed when we met Donald. Something important. I’m ready.”

  He puts his mouth over mine.

  “What do you think they’ll all say?” I whisper into his lips.

  Jenson’s hand is rubbing my back in small circles. “It’ll be town gossip until the next big secret comes out. It’ll blow over. These things always do.” His mouth brushes mine again. “We’re not doing anything wrong, Olive. We’ve never done anything wrong. So let’s tell this freaking world of Liberty Falls what we’ve been so afraid of and let them stare at us. I don’t give a shit about any of it. All I want is you.”

  My phone lights up with a text. I glance down at the screen. “Daphne says she needs to talk to me tomorrow at the wedding. I wonder what that’s about.”

  Jenson shakes his head. “Sheldon said something about her needing to rekindle the magic she and Todd once had.” He furrows his brow. “I don’t remember that magic, do you?”

  I wave my hand in the air. “You know the two of them used to do it in the town park at night when no one was around. On the slide or something.”

  “Weren’t they in high school then?”

  “Yes, but my sister said she sometimes still wants to be eighteen. I get it. She and Todd are having some issues right now.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “Do you want to get married again?” I say softly.

  “I want to get married again if you’ll be the woman standing across from me at the altar,” he say
s, and my heart melts. “Or the courthouse, or the beach. Wherever we do it. As long as I’m with you, Olivia, I’m exactly where I want to be.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Jenson and I finally go to bed, but I sleep fitfully. I’m worried about Calvin telling my family before I have the chance to. When I wake up for the third time, I get out of bed quietly and grab my cell phone. I take it to the bathroom, sit on the floor with my back against the tub, and call Sheldon.

  He answers on the fourth ring. “What’s up, little sister?” I can hear music in the background.

  “Not much. Just wanted to see how the boys’ night out is going. I thought the bars closed by now.”

  “Yeah, they do.” Sheldon’s voice comes through the phone so loudly I’m afraid Jenson will hear it. “But McArthur’s says they’ll stay open as late as we want. Isn’t that great?”

  “Great,” I say unenthusiastically. “And you’ll be hung-over and nauseous for your wedding tomorrow.”

  “Oh, Olive, don’t be such a downer,” Sheldon says. “I can sleep till noon. That’s the great thing about a night wedding.”

  I don’t say anything. My throat tightens as I feel how real it all is, my brother’s wedding, and I feel like a rebellious teenager hiding a boy her parents would disapprove of. I suddenly feel like I might scream and cry at the same time.

  “Hey, what are you doing now?” Sheldon asks me.

  “Just can’t sleep, I guess.”

  “Why don’t you come meet us for a drink?” Sheldon suggests. “You’re like one of the guys, right?”

  I sigh. “Sure. I suppose.”

  “See you in fifteen minutes.” Sheldon’s hung up before I can answer him.

  I leave a note on the bed so Jenson won’t worry if he wakes up and finds me gone, then I go get dressed.

  When I arrive at the bar, I take a moment before walking through the doors to fix the bun I hastily fastened my hair into. My hair’s a mess, really—I’ve been in bed for hours, tossing and turning. I take a breath and walk into the bar, not really sure of what I’m going to find. I’ve never been to a bachelor party before.