Page 106 of Thunderstruck
Sage ignores the question. “Who did you bring with you?”
Before I can say anything, Carissa steps forward and offers her hand. “I’m Carissa. I’m on the Thunder’s sports medicine team.”
I frown. Of all the ways to introduce herself, why did she choose that? With everyone else, she introduced herself as my friend. I didn’t love that label either, but it was better than “coworker.”
“Oh, you work with Cole? What is that like?” Sage takes Carissa’s hand, but barely. And she does it with her left hand rather than her right so she can show off the ridiculous diamond sitting on her finger.
My mind jumps to the ring still hidden in a drawer in my dresser. I easily could have afforded something just as flashy as the ring Javi bought, considering my salary as quarterback was five times his, but I have always wanted the woman I marry to wear my mom’s ring. It doesn’t catch the light and sparkle as much as Sage’s, but it means so much more.
I wonder if Sage would have evenworn it.
“How’s your little rugby team?” Javi asks as Carissa tells an indifferent Sage about working with Mel. I don’t miss the ice in his tone, but I won’t let it bother me.
I simply smile. “They’re great. Probably not making the championships this year, but we’ll get there.”
“I hear you’re in charge now, so maybe don’t count on it.”
Wow. He’s clearly not going to pull his punches, and my smile grows as I think about the friends waiting back home. I don’t think I’ve ever heard any of them speak a bad word about anyone and mean it. Liam likes to make his jokes, particularly about me, but he’s still one of the best friends I’ve ever had. And way better than Javi ever was.
I slip my hand into Carissa’s, happier than ever that she’s just as kind-hearted as my friends. “Well, luckily for me, my team is pretty good at what they do, so they don’t need a good captain at their helm. They’ll be fine, even stuck with me.”
“Hey!” Carissa says, smacking my arm. “You’re a great captain! Grayson even said so this morning, and I happen to agree with him.”
Huh. I guess he did. Huffing a laugh, I bend down and kiss her temple. “Thanks, Riz.”
Javi’s eyes jump from Carissa to me, and he grabs Sage by the waist and pulls her against his side, nearly tugging her off her feet. Anger flashes across her face but disappears quickly as she smiles at the two of us, her eyes lingering on our clasped hands.
“I noticed you’re extra friendly with everyone you meet, Carissa,” she says sweetly. Too sweetly. She’s practically dripping with sweetness. “Seems the Thunder couldn’t keep away from you during the game last night, so is Cole your flavor of the day?”
“You watched his game?” Javi asks at the same time I step forward and growl, “Watch what you say, Sage.”
Carissa puts her hand on my arm and smiles. “It’s okay, Cole,” she says, even though it’s definitely not. “Not everyone knows better than to believe websites likeHollywood Hot Scoop.”
Sage scoffs. “I wasn’t talking about a stupid tabloid site. I watched—”
“Why were you watching his game the night before our wedding?” Javi asks again.
For the first time, I notice something lurking in Sage’s eyes as she looks at me. A disappointment of sorts, or maybe even regret. “Because you were passed out drunk,” she mutters under her breath, dropping her gaze to the floor. “What else was I supposed to do?”
Javi scoffs, shaking his head and wandering to the bar on the other side of the room, clapping fellow players on the back as he goes.
Carissa reaches out and takes hold of Sage’s hand, connected to both of us now. “You look so beautiful, Sage,” she says, andhersweetness is genuine. “I’m sorry we missed the ceremony, but I’m sure it was lovely.”
Tears well up in Sage’s eyes, but she blinks them away and lifts her head high. “Thank you. It was.”
I feel like I should say something, but what am I supposed to say? “He won’t drink during the season.”That was the best you’ve got?Grimacing, I look at Carissa and hope she has something better.
But it’s Sage who speaks next. “You’re more than coworkers, aren’t you?”
Meeting Carissa’s gaze, I wonder how she might answer that question. But it’s clear she’s waiting for me, which makes sense. She’s been up front about what she wants, and I’m the one who can’t find the courage to admit whatIwant.
I know what Idon’twant. I don’t want to be at my wedding reception, wondering if I made a mistake because Carissa is there with someone who makes her smile and brings out the best in her. I don’t want my bride wandering away to talk to her friends rather than sticking by myside. I don’t want to be forty years down the road wondering “what if” when I have a chance to find out instead.
Swallowing, I keep my eyes on Carissa as I say, “We are so much more than coworkers. More than friends. And I hope that it keeps turning into more.”
Carissa beams and squeezes my hand, and if Sage wasn’t standing right in front of us, I would pull Carissa into a kiss and prove that I mean what I said. No curse can keep me from doing everything I can to live my life to its fullest, and I want to live it with Carissa. I can’t imagine life could ever be better than it would be with her.
“Huh.” Sage pulls her hand free from Carissa’s, looking at me like she’s never seen me before. “So that’s what it looks like when you’re really in love.”
