Page 11 of Blindsided By Fake Love

Beau

“Hernotrememberingthrowsa bit of a monkey wrench in things, doesn’t it?” Mike chuckles. I start walking down the stairwell. Missing my flight would be the icing on the cake after the events of the last twelve hours. “It can also give you an easy out if that’s whatyouwant.”

“I don’t know.” Is that what I want? I mean, getting married was idiotic. I don’t know Kit anymore, but apparently, I still have feelings. “At this point, it’s moot. I don’t even know where she lives.”

“But you have her number? Maybe you can call her. Have an honest conversation about why you married her.Actuallytalk to her this time.”

Running my hand through my hair, I mull over what Mike just said. I could do that. Get to know her again? Would she let me? Memories from the past resurface. Kit was completely unapproachable before. I did everything I could to get her to talk to me. I pushed it to the point where I started to feel like a stalker.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“This sounds awfully familiar, Beau. But hey…it’s your life.” I can imagine Mike shrugging his shoulders. It’s what he always does whenever he doesn’t want to influence a decision that’s mine to make. I hate it. I hate what he says next even more. “The decision is ultimately yours. Hopefully, it’s not one you regret…again.”

Could he be any more dramatic? Leaving the hallway behind, I walk into the hotel lobby and make my way toward my team, waiting by the entryway for the bus to the airport.

“BD! Where’s the wifey?” Karate Kid yells, high-fiving Noah.

“I gotta go,” I mumble, squeezing the back of my neck. Heat creeping up my body. “Thanks, Mike. I’ll think about everything you said.”

“Anytime,” he responds, then playfully says, “Enjoy your flight home.”

His chuckle rings in my ear as I brace myself for more of my teammates' needling.

“Where’s the ‘Mrs’?” Noah teases, then winks. “You two were awfully comfortable last night. A match made in heaven…or Graceland.”

I scrub my face.

Was that meant to be an Elvis joke?

Groaning, I roll my eyes and plop in the seat next to Jackson. “What about you? Wanna get your hits in, too?”

“Nah.” He shrugs. “I think everyone else has it covered for today…I’ll get you next time I see you.”

I glance over at him and am overwhelmed with gratitude for the reprieve. Even if it’s only temporary. The wink and dancing eyes let me know he’s dying to say something but is restraining himself.

I nod.

“Besides, after what I witnessed last night,” Jackson waggles his eyebrows and nudges me with his elbow, “You have some serious thinking to do.”

Pressing my hand against my forehead, I mutter. “I’m not so sure.” I can’t think clearly right now. My head is pounding, and I hate the way I left things with Kit. My life is spinning out of control, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.

“Trust me,” Jackson snickers. “You do.”

I turn toward him right before he sticks his head back in whatever book he’s reading at the moment. He always has his head in a book, it’s how he got his nickname ‘bookworm’, or ‘worm’ for short.

“Worm, can you do me a favor?” Jackson lifts his head and shoots a raised eyebrow in my direction. “Would you ask the guys to keep this quiet for now? Kit is—”

“Gotcha covered, BD,” he leans in and whispers. “The group of us had a meeting this morning. We’ll keep it low-key outside of the locker room.”

“Thanks, man.” Immediately, the tension that’s been gripping my shoulders eases. His next words bring it back in full force.

“Though once you decide to stay married, you’re never going to hear the end of it.”

Covering my face with my hand, I grumble.

“Time to go, boys,” Max Taylor, the Ironclad Marauders assistant coach, yells out. “Let’s go home.”

Grabbing my bag, I head over and follow behind my rowdy teammates, envying their ability to bounce back after the night we had.

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