Page 88 of The Change Up
“Hey, handsome.” She turns her whole body, smile spread wide, as she leans into me.
Wrapping my free hand around her shoulders, I pull her in close to me. Our lips find each other in greeting. Her infamous scent of lilies and sandalwood envelopes my senses.
Humming against her lips, I reluctantly pull away. “How’s my Wildflower?”
“Good. I just downloaded a new book to keep me company while we travel.”
“Mmm, anything good?”
Her lips find mine again as she murmurs, “Wouldn’t you like to know,” against them. And yes, yes I’d like to fucking know.
She pulls away first, my favorite shade of pink is spread across her cheek. Hmm, looks like my girl is in the mood. As that thought flashes across my mind, I feel the blood rush south.
Reaching down I adjust myself underneath the team-issued travel sweatsuit. Her eyes track my movement as I watch her pull her bottom lip between her teeth. She bites down, and all I can think about is being the one to bite her lip, which isn’t helping the situation in my pants.
“Looking forward to this weekend?”
She nods enthusiastically. “I am. I’m hoping to sneak away for a few hours to do a few tourist things. I’ve been wanting to explore Charleston’s charm since I started watching that show on Bravo. I’ll probably try to Uber to White Point Garden.”
“You and your reality shows,” I mutter. Chloe and Brynn are obsessed with reality TV. It’s always playing on their TV, even if no one is sitting in the room watching. I swear they enjoy the drama as background noise. “Why there?”
She shrugs, a wistful expression sliding over her face. “I googled a couple of different things, and this was the farthestlocation, but I think I’ll be able to see the most. Statues, historical architecture, the ocean, and everything in between.”
“We’ll have to try and sneak away.”
A throat clears from behind us. “You sitting here, Jacobs?”
Pressing my lips tight against my girl’s one last time, I pull away and stand to my feet. “Nah, man. Enjoy the ride.”
Moving down the aisle, I slide past Hudson and take my empty seat next to the window.
I’ve no sooner sat down when my phone chimes in my pocket. I clearly forgot to put it on vibrate.
Dad: See you soon.
Dread instantly crawls up my spine. Not only am I dreading the fact that my parents will be at the game, but there’s no way I want him to be in the same space as Chloe. Today there’s a good chance that my two worlds are going to collide. I’ve tried everything to keep my dad away from my CTU family. He’s like a leech who attaches to anyone in his path and tries to suck out their light.
It’s for her own good.
I can’t let Chloe get near him. I can’t risk her being a victim of his torment. Of his abusive mind games. Especially after the game when he’s had nine innings to sit and drink. The alcohol is like pouring lighter fluid on an open flame. It won’t take him long before he’s ready to combust. And as his favorite target, he’ll seek me out immediately ready to spit his venom.
Will she understand if I start to distance myself from her?
Closing out the text and not wanting any more distractions, I flip my phone to “Do Not Disturb.”
Hudson nudges my shoulder, his eyes bouncing from the phone in my hand back up to my face. “You good?”
With my lips pursed together, I give him a tight nod as I slip my phone back into my pocket. Closing my eyes, I take a minute to practice a few breathing exercises the yoga instructor was teaching us at the beginning.
Inhale the good shit. Exhale the bullshit.
Or whatever the saying she taught us was.
Slipping my Bluetooth headphones on over my head, I tune out for the drive to the airport and somehow our flight to Charleston.
Before long we are stepping off the plane, boarding another bus, and making our way to the hotel we are staying at. Even though Chloe and I aren’t sitting together, I can still feel her positive energy vibrating around the bus. I wish I could contain a fraction of her excitement for this trip.
Unfortunately, I think I’m going to be on edge the entire time patiently waiting for the other shoe to drop.
