Play Call (Vegas Aces: The Coach Book 2) by Lisa Suzanne

Author:Lisa Suzanne [Suzanne, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Books by LS, LLC
Published: 2023-11-29T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 18: JOLENE

He answers the door while I stay in bed and finish my whiskey, and when he returns, he tosses the pizza box in the middle of the bed. I’ve never actually eaten in a hotel bed before, but I go with it.

We each grab a slice, and after he takes his first bite, he says, “Do you have any confessions?”

I can’t help a little chuckle as I think back to the first time he asked the same question.

It was the night he first kissed me.

I didn’t have one I was ready to give to him, but he did.

He wanted me to say it first, but I didn’t. I was too scared to ruin the friendship we had.

He wasn’t.

I want to kiss you.

That’s what started it, and from then on, any time either of us knew the other one had something to say, we’d ask the question. Sometimes one of us would say it when we had something to confess, too—like the time I told him I was ready.

The reminder causes my chuckle to turn serious pretty quickly. “A lot of time has passed, Lincoln,” I say quietly. “I probably have quite a few.”

“Yeah,” he murmurs. “So do I.” He’s quiet as he chews a few more bites of pizza. “What’s it like having a kid?”

“Starting with the big guns.” I’m quiet a beat as I contemplate how to answer. “It’s both the best and hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

“In what ways?”

“It’s amazing to watch this little person who is a literal part of you grow and turn from a baby into a kid into a little person with his own personality. But it’s also all-consuming. I love him in a way I didn’t know existed. He brings me more joy than I’ve ever felt before. But there are days when I’ve got nothing left to give. There are days when I feel like I’m either mom or journalist and there’s no Jolene left.” I shrug. “Then I look into the eyes that are an exact replica of my own, and this overwhelming feeling of love just washes over me. But other times, I feel guilty because I’m pawning him off on my parents or my friend while I’m trying to advance my career. It’s just…hard.”

“You’re not pawning him off,” he says softly. “That must be really difficult.”

“It’s impossible. And the worst is when he goes to his dad’s.” I roll my eyes.

“Tell me about his dad.”

“I’d rather not,” I mutter. But when I glance over at him and see the earnestness in his eyes, I get the sense he truly wants to know more. He truly cares.

I clear my throat. “We were engaged. I got pregnant. He cheated.” I shrug. “End of story. Now he’s married to the girl he cheated on me with, and they have two little girls. They’re where he spends his time, and he doesn’t give his first child the same attention.”

He wrinkles his nose. “What a douchebag.”

“You don’t know the half of it,” I agree.

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