“Just please, tread lightly,” Sam added.
“Yeah, well. Too late for that. I was over at her apartment the morning after the party, and Kaden showed up to bitch at her. She told me to stay in the bedroom, and I could’ve stayed hidden, but in asshole Luc fashion, I made my presence known. Shirtless, shoeless, and with unbuttoned jeans.” Luc shook his head at his own words. “Yeah, I can be an ass, I know. He wants to kill me now.”
“Shit, Luc. That’s what the other day was all about?”
“Oh yeah. Dude’s out for blood. He saw me giving the fangirls a thrill and lost his shit. He wouldn’t give me a chance to explain.”
“Luc, are you sure she’s worth all this trouble? I mean, I met her, and she’s cool. But you have to think about you, too. She’s going to get shit from him, and you have to work with him.”
“Worth it? Absolutely.” Luc never questioned if she was worth it. She was undeniably worth it.
“Sam, I tried telling him. The way he talks about her, and the look on his face when he does… only means one thing,” his dad said.
Sam examined Luc, then turned to the older man. “Yep, I’d say you’re right.”
“What in the hell are you two going on about?”
“I know the look,” Sam said. “Trust me on this. I’ve got experience. Dude, you’re in love.”
Luc’s dad smiled and nodded knowingly. “Told you.”
Sam shrugged his shoulders. “Call it whatever you want, but we can see it, so maybe you just need to talk to K-man. Tell him your intentions are pure, that she’s not like any other girl you’ve been with before. He might not like that you’re sleeping with her, but all in all, Kaden is a good guy. He knows what it’s like to be in love. Alison may be your biggest ally in all of this. And for your own well-being, for god’s sake, don’t dick over his sister.”
“You still look confused,” Luc’s father said.
“I hear what you guys are saying. But none of it explains why she snuck out on me this morning. I’ve told her that I want only her, and I’d stop associating with the fangirls if that’s what she wants. She refuses to ask me to do that, but regardless, I’m giving that up. It’s not worth hurting her.”
“Does she know that?”
“No. She doesn’t want me to change for her because we haven’t been together that long. But I don’t care. I’d do anything to make her happy. Anything.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Kassie
Kassie sat across the table from her mom, her sister-in-law Ali, and nephew Kaleb. It was a beautiful Friday in late October. Everywhere you looked, Pittsburgh was decorated for fall. The trees were yellow with hints of red, fallen leaves lay scattered on the ground, and the sun gave everything a golden, warm glow. The hockey season was in full swing now. The Renegades were in Detroit tonight for a game, and the team fathers were their guests.
Kassie and Kaden no longer had their dad. Kaden had taken the loss in his stride and never let the Dad’s Trip bother him too much. She admired him for that. It had been hard not having her dad here, especially with all that their mom had been through of late. But now that little Kaleb was here, their father’s namesake, their days were much brighter.
Kassie picked at her salad, hunting out the cranberries and eating them one at a time. Her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Luc, and regrets of how badly she had handled things this morning. As soon as she was outside her apartment, she knew she’d made a mistake. But there was no turning back at that point.
Lying to him about being called into work created a lump in her stomach that wouldn’t go away. It wasn’t completely implausible that she was called in; it was Friday. But what Luc didn’t know was that the office was closed today. She hated deceiving him.
Her brain went to the conversation she’d had with her brother not long after he found them together. She didn’t tell Luc about that run in, because she didn’t want to cause any more trouble.
Kaden looked angry. His forehead was wrinkled and his jaw was ticking, along with the large vein in his neck popping out. Yeah, he was stewing.
“How can you just sit there and play with Kaleb?” His words were stern, but his voice calm.
“Um, just like this?” Kassie gazed at him. He was starting to look so much like their father. She knew that’s why he was taking such an interest in this. If their dad was here, he’d surely be skeptical of a young athlete like Luc. Especially one with very public escapades.
“Kassie, don’t act like you don’t know what I mean.” He obviously didn’t appreciate her sarcastic humor.
“Sorry, Kass,” Ali said. “I’ve tried talking to him, but you know how stubborn he can be.” Ali picked Kaleb up. “It’s time for little guy’s nap, anyway. I’ll leave you two to talk. Babe, remember this is your sister you’re talking to and not an opposing player. Kassie, call me later if you need to talk.”
Kassie watched Ali take Kaleb upstairs. This conversation didn’t need to be done in front of the little guy. She knew a large percent of it would be Kaden trying to convince her why he was right. Kaleb didn’t need to hear his daddy and auntie disagreeing.
“She’s a good one, bro. Hang onto her.” She nodded upstairs to Ali. Once Ali was out of sight and Kassie heard the bedroom door close, she took a deep breath and stretched her neck out, hoping to head off the migraine she was sure to get after this talk. “All right Kaden, what’s got your boxers in a bunch today?”
“My boxers in a what? Kassie, you know why I’m mad. Don’t act like you don’t.”
“You’re still bent out of shape that I’m dating Luc.” Kassie flopped down on the couch with her legs folded under her. How many times were they going to go through this? “Bro, you’re going to have to get over this sooner or later.”
In typical brother fashion, Kaden pouted. “I don’t have to get over anything. And don’t tell me that I do.”
His response reminded her of when they were kids and he couldn’t stand to be wrong. Ever.
“Kaden, I like him. I told you all this. Do we have to go over it all again? Or can I just enjoy visiting you and your family?”
“Will you just stop for one minute and listen to yourself. You never fell for athletes. Why him? What makes Luc so special? What makes him worthy of you?”
“I don’t need to justify any of this to you. I’m not a little girl anymore, and I can make my own decisions. I’m still getting to know him, Kaden. If he turns out to be a jerk, I’ll tell him to take a hike. I may or may not swear off athletes, but that’s my choice to make. And if he’s not the jerk you’re making him out to be, then I’m going to give him a chance, and so will you.”
Kaden shook his head, obviously not in agreement. His jaw ticked.
“Kaden, I want us to get past this. I know you’re worried about me. But I’m going to be okay. I swear. I can take care of myself.”