Not Just a Player by Lana Baker

Author:Lana Baker
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2020-04-21T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Rose

A loud shriek pulls me to the window. At first, my heart pounds in case Sam is hurt. It’s been my biggest fear ever since he was old enough to play sports, or climb trees, or all of the other dangerous things he likes to do.

Instead of sprawling on the ground with a broken bone, though, my son looks like he’s having the time of his life. He’s standing in the middle of the garden, football in the air ready to throw as Jake sprints across the grass.

Living with Jake has been easier than I thought it would be. Well, in a sense. He’s been polite, considerate, respectful. He picks up dinner most evenings on the way back from practice. Every evening, he spends at least an hour outside with Jake working on his game. He leans against the kitchen bench and chats to me while I do the dishes.

It’s blissful.

And it’s torture.

I don’t know what happened between us, but it’s like he’s completely pulled away. That first night, I was sure something was going to happen between us. Not just that, I actively wanted it to, even after everything I said about being professional. And I thought he did too.

I wrap my arms around myself and watch them, racing around the spacious garden like they’ve known each other all of their lives.

I was worried about Sam when I came here, but maybe I should have been worried about myself. Because the more time I spend with Jake, the more I want him. And I can’t think of a good reason why we shouldn’t be together.

Okay, he lied. But now that I’ve spent time with him, I’ve been able to see the guy underneath the hard body and smart mouth. He sings to himself when he’s cooking six eggs omelets for breakfast. He makes mouthwatering chili. He talks himself down, yet he knows more than me about any subject you’d choose to quiz him on.

I told him he was arrogant, but now I see he isn’t. He’s just… honest. Which is funny, given how I thought he was a liar at the beginning. He’s a kickass football player. And he knows it. But he’s not arrogant about it. He doesn’t expect us to worship the ground he walks on because of it.

I lean my head against the cool window pane.

I can’t deny it any longer.

I’m crushing so hard on Jake Thorne that all thoughts of acting professionally have evaporated. I don’t know if I can do this. I’ve got five and a half months left—I need to do this for the life-changing sum of money that will set Sam and me up for life. I will do it. But I have a feeling that my heart’s going to be a shattered little shell by the end of all this.

Just then, Jake turns and stares back up at the house. It seems like it happens in slow motion. His grin widens and he raises a huge hand to wave up at me.

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