Page 19 of Hot Route
“I—” I pause, trying to come up with something. I can’t think clearly around him anymore.
“We’re playing Dallas at home on Sunday, and I thought maybe you’d want to sit in the WAGs suite with the wives and girlfriends. You met a couple of them at the pop-up and I figured?—”
“I have to go home,” I say at a much higher volume than necessary. “To Chicago.”
His eyes fill with something…maybepanic, as I continue. “My parents actually asked me to come for a visit. And since you don’t have anything going on other than the game, I thought this weekend would be a good time.”
“Oh,” his face relaxes. “Yeah. Cool. Maybe you can catch the next one.”
I feel bad leaving if he wanted me at his game, but I need some time to think. I need to get my head back on straight before I derail my entire life. This morning could’ve been really bad if he knew what I was dreaming about or if he had been awake for my moment of weakness after I woke up in his arms. I’m not sure he realizes how what he thinks is flirty, harmless behavior is fucking with my mind. Maybe a trip home and putting some distance between Blaze and I will help me remember why I’m here so I can focus on creating a solid future for myself.
At the very least, it’ll give me a moment to breathe.
SEVENTEEN
MADS
“My baby’s home!”Dia yells like a maniac as I fling open my car door and make a beeline for her. I jump into her arms, wrapping my legs around her as we fall to the ground in my parents’ driveway.
God, I missed her.
We laugh hysterically before I finally unwrap myself from her. We sit up, both crying like I’ve just returned from war and not just a couple months in Boston. We dust ourselves off, holding hands as we walk toward the front porch, where my parents wait with their arms around one another.
“Car give you any trouble?” My dad grunts.
I roll my eyes, smiling because that’s his way of saying he missed me. He’s a man of few words, but when he cares, he shows it.
“Nope,” I lie. “The old girl did me proud.” I leave out the part where I had to stop at a drive-through to have the oil topped off halfway here. I also don’t mention the two new blinking lights adorning my dash. “Hi, Dad.” I grin before sinking into his embrace. It’s warm and familiar, just like I remembered.
“Give me my girl, Tom,” my mother says, playfully shoving him away before wrapping me in her tiny arms. She pulls back slightly, taking me in. “You’re even more beautiful than you were when you left.”
I laugh because she’s totally lying. At least I don’tfeelmore beautiful. I feel confused. I’ve lost so much sleep this past week trying to figure out how to stop myself from falling further for Blaze than I already have. I know I’m reading more into his flirty behavior than I should, and I just wish I could find a way to not be so affected by him every time he touches me. I’d definitely say our relationship has gone beyond the boss/employee dynamic. I’m sure he sees me as a friend and that’s why he acts so playful when we’re together. Friends hug. Friends fall asleep watching movies. It’s totally normal.
So, why won’t my mind stop trying to make it into more?
I don’t even realize that my family has ushered me and my luggage inside until Dia’s voice breaks me from my thoughts. “I can hear those wheels turning. What’s going on?” she says from beside me on the couch.
“So much.So. Fucking. Much,” I tell her, peeking into the kitchen where my parents are preparing dinner. “But let’s wait until we’re alone.”
Her eyes go wide. “Please tell me you fucked your boss.”
I gasp, looking back into the kitchen to make sure my parents didn’t catch that. “Jesus, Dia! No, I did notfuck my boss.” I whisper. “And if you don’t shut your whore mouth right now, I’m not going to tell you anything.”
“Okay, wellthatwas uncalled for,” she says, sinking back into the couch. “You can make it up to me by describing his dick,in detail. I don’t care if you haven’t seen it yet. You have the entirety of dinner to make something up or I’m telling Tom that you’ve been taking rides on Football Boy’s bologna pony.”
I raise a brow at her. “Fine. I may have seen the outline a time or two. But if you even breathe wrong before my parents are asleep, I’ll leave you to imagine it in that little pea brain of yours. And I can promise you, the reality is even better than what your slutty mind will come up with.”
That does the trick because she leans forward, grabbing her wine glass and taking a sip. “Deal.”
“Girls!” my mom yells from the kitchen. “Dinner’s ready!”
I look at my best friend, using two fingers to point at my eyes before turning them on her. “I’m watching you,”I mouth as she smiles sweetly like she isn’t considering throwing my ass under the bus.
It’s good to be home.
Two hours later, my mom wakes my dad from his pre-bedtime nap in the living room recliner. “Come on, Big Man. Let’s go to bed so the girls can gossip without us hearing.” He grunts as she lifts him to his feet. They give us both our customary forehead kisses before heading upstairs. As soon as their door clicks shut, Dia whips her head in my direction.
“About that dick,” she says, wiggling her eyebrows.
