“It’s not that I don’t want to go,” she informed them. “It’s just that I don’t want to impose on Kar and Lacey. The baby will be here in no time.”
Karl stood up straight, his hands on his hips. “You aren’t imposing; they want you there, Karson said it himself. It’s stupid for you to get an apartment when: one, you’re broke and haven’t started getting paid yet, and two, we will be there soon.”
He was right, but still.
“I’m not that broke,” she commented softly and he scoffed. After clearing her debts by using the money from her endorsements from winning the gold at the Olympics, she may have been a little low on funds. But still, she could manage. The thought of living with her brother and new sister-in-law and niece gave her the shakes. She didn’t want to bother them, but everyone was so insistent.
“We know, love, but this is for the best. With the Olympics and everything, you know, you haven’t had time to relax and figure out your next move. This will give you the chance to do that,” her mother reminded her, like she had been doing for the last few weeks once they decided they wanted to pick up and move to be closer to their new grandbaby. “Plus, with Lacey being so fragile lately, she could use you there.”
Kacey knew that too. Her sister-in-law wasn’t very stable, even with all the groups and counseling she and Karson had gone through. Lacey was still a nervous wreck that her baby girl would develop breast cancer like she had. Everyone tried to ease her concerns, but poor Lacey couldn’t think any other way. Add in the fact that she was running three lingerie stores, dealing with a family from hell, and the constant worry for her child, and Kacey’s sister-in-law was one step away from needing to be in a padded room. She probably did need Kacey there. Especially since they had become best friends over the course of the last year.
But she was still hesitant and she knew why.
Letting out a long breath, she pushed him out of her mind and nodded. “Yeah, I know. I’m going,” she said. “Plus, you’re right, Daddy. Working out with the guys will help me get to know them and work them harder for the start of the season.” Her father nodded his head, looking as if he knew he was always right. She rolled her eyes before breaking away from her mother and going into the house.
Reaching the mantel, she slowly grasped the box that held her gold medal. A small smile covered her lips as pride burst in her chest. She’d worked hard for her medal. Years upon years, she’d worked for one thing and that was the gold. She knew it was hers, and when they’d put it around her neck, words couldn’t describe the feelings she’d felt. It was as if she had been almost flying. It was perfect, except that the person she’d wanted there, craved to be there to celebrate with her, wasn’t.
Even though they had decided to stop sleeping together, Kacey couldn’t fathom why he would do her like that. Didn’t she mean something to him? If not in love, at least as friends. Instead, Jordie Thomas cut off all ties with her, acting as if their relationship that lasted a good four months didn’t matter. That the nights they sat up talking about everything, the way they made love, and the way he made her feel were all a lie. She hadn’t spoken to him in over six months. Hadn’t seen him or even heard from him. Every time she asked her older brother about his best friend, he just said he was fine. Nothing more and nothing less. Since Karson wasn’t supposed to know that she was in love with his best friend, she never asked more and it killed her inside.
She missed him. Greatly.