He sighed. “I can’t. There’s so much I need to do at home, phone calls I need to make, and so much more shit I don’t want to have to do.” His fingers brushed the hair off my face. “What about tomorrow?”
I smiled wide. “Definitely. However, I was going to cook you dinner tonight. Looks like the time slipped by us.”
He kissed me and slid out of bed. “We can cook together tomorrow.” While he put on his clothes, I got out of bed and did the same. I didn’t want him to go, but I understood he had a lot to do. Once we were both dressed, he started for the door and I followed him.
“I’m going to walk you to your car. I completely forgot I left my phone in mine.”
He stopped at the door. “Why don’t you give me your keys and I’ll get it.”
“Don’t be so chivalrous,” I said, laughing. “I’ll be fine to get my phone and walk back up here myself. I do it all the time.”
Sighing, he opened my door and we walked out. “Yeah, but it’s dark and you’re a female. Lots of bad shit happens to women like you at night.”
“We have security, Jack. I’ll be fine.”
We took the elevator down to the lower level and crossed the walkway to the parking garage. Everything was lit up, so if anyone tried to do anything to me, he wouldn’t have the element of surprise. Besides, my brother had taught me several defensive techniques for how to take down a man. A knee to the balls would work just fine. When we walked through the door to the garage, my eyes widened.
“Hey,” I squealed, waving my hand in the air. I was so happy my brother would finally get to meet Jack.
He walked toward me with a smile, but when he caught sight of Jack, that smile turned into an all-out heated glare. “What the fuck are you doing here?” he growled, quickening his pace.
Jack froze and gripped my arm, grumbling, “Shit,” before pulling me around to face him. “Bristol, listen to me. This isn’t how I wanted you to find out.”
Everything was happening so fast, I didn’t know what to think. “Find out what?” I asked desperately.
Before he could reply, Ryan ripped me out of Jack’s hold and pushed him away. Jaw tense, Jack was ready to fight, but I couldn’t let that happen. “Ryan, stop!” I shouted, digging my nails into his shoulder.
Jerking his head around, he glared straight at me. “Do you even know who this cocksucker is? He’s playing you to get back at me.”
I threw my hands in the air. “What the hell are you talking about? How do you even know him?”
Jack’s eyes never left mine, the anguish on his face making me sicker by the second. I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like what came out of Ryan’s mouth. He scoffed incredulously and spat at Jack. “He’s Jaxon fucking Reed, the asshole on the team I’ve been telling you about. Don’t tell me you didn’t know?”
Jack stepped forward, but then again, that wasn’t his name. It was Jaxon Reed. “Bristol, let me explain.”
“Fuck that,” Ryan growled, pushing him back again. “You need to leave and stay the hell away from my sister.”
They faced off with each other, the tension thick in the air. “You touch me once more and I’ll make sure you never throw a football again ever.”
Being the dick that my brother was, he provoked Jaxon by jabbing a finger at his chest; then all hell broke loose. “No!” I screamed. Jaxon swung, his fist connecting to Ryan’s cheek. Punches were thrown left and right and they fell to the ground, the sound of flesh hitting flesh all I could hear. “Guys, stop! What’s the matter with you?”
I wanted to break them up, but there was nothing I could do. They were too volatile. So many emotions warred through my body and I had no clue what to believe. I was numb. Did Jaxon really seek me out to get back at my brother? Was everything we shared just a joke to him? The whole thing so nauseated me I could barely breathe.
“Hey, break it up!” Stan, the security guard, yelled. He rushed over and grabbed Jaxon by the shirt, yanking him off Ryan. Both guys were bloody, their murderous glares on each other. Stan pushed them apart and stood between them. “I suggest you boys calm down.” Then he turned to me. “Are you okay?”
I clutched my stomach and shook my head. “Not really.” Tears burned my eyes, because all I could feel was the humiliation.
“It’s time for you to leave,” Stan told them. “I’m sure your coach won’t like having to get you both out of jail.”
And that definitely confirmed it. Jaxon was part of the Cougars and I’d had no clue. He had lied to me the entire time. I didn’t want to look at him, or even at my brother. I felt so stupid. Turning on my heel, I started toward the door, not even caring that my phone was still in my car. All I wanted was to get away.
“Bristol, wait! You have to hear me out.”
Stopping midstep, I slowly turned around, hoping like hell I could keep the tears at bay. I didn’t want him to see how badly he’d hurt me. “You lied to me,” I growled.
With a heavy sigh, he nodded. “I did, but I was going to tell you the truth. I tried several times, but there was always something that got in the way.”
Ryan huffed. “You’re such a lying piece of shit. When were you going to tell her, huh? After you fucked her?” His words stung and I flinched. Ryan noticed the reaction and groaned, his face torn. “You have got to be fucking kidding me. Dammit, Bris.”
“I don’t need a lecture,” I snapped, cutting him off.
The anger started to take over and I welcomed it. I would rather feel that than sadness. Taking a deep breath, I turned to Jaxon. Stan held out his arms so neither Jaxon nor my brother could get any closer. “I’m going to ask you this one time, and so help me, you’d better be honest.”
Jaxon nodded. “I promise.”
“Was it all a joke to you? Was any of it real?”
He stepped closer, but Stan held him back. “Everything I feel for you is real, Bristol. You have to believe that.”
“He’s lying,” Ryan challenged. “The guy’s worse than your ex will ever be. Look his name up.”
Jaxon glared at him. “Shut the fuck up, Delaney.”