Page 103 of Nailing Heat
“Right, that was his name,” I say, my face reddening a bit.
Back when I was first hurt, I was looking forward to it only being Dex who helped with my care. He was so gentle and playful when he worked with me. He made PT not seem like so much work. But I guess that is what I get for sleeping with my trainer.
I finally ask him the question that has been running through my mind since I entered the office. “Is Dex not in today?”
Lucas looks at me, a sad smile crossing his face. “He is. He’s not down here right now.”
I nod and say nothing.
“It’s going to be okay. I’ll give you the same care that he would have, and if I need him, I’ll call him in,” Lucas says, his voice laced with pity.
Great,I think to myself, now I have Lucas pitying me over all ofthis. I sit there and quietly think about what he might know about us and whether he saw it or did Dex confide in him. When I’ve been in the training room before with both of them, they have talked and joked with one another. Dex likes Lucas too; he said he was impressed with his work. So, I guess he could have mentioned it.
I hope that no one else figures out that there was something between Dex and me. I say very little through the rest of the session, except to let him know when he’s hurting me.
“Here, take this ice and head out to the practice field to watch the team. I can give you a lift out there if you would like. Especially since I worked you pretty hard today.” He smiles sympathetically at me.
“Yeah, sure that would be great.”
Lucas gets my ice and helps me onto the cart. We begin our drive out the practice field. As we’re heading out of the entrance, I look back because I feel like someone is watching me, and there he is. He’s heading down the hallway and from the looks of it, he’s going into the training room. The realization that he was avoiding me smacks me in the face. Lucas yammers on and on about the upcoming games and how he can make sure that I’m comfortable on the bench. Apparently, Jase mentioned me sitting up with Andie.
I nod along, hearing him but not really listening to what he is saying. I’ve never been so happy to get out into the hot Tampa heat.
“Give me a holler if you need a lift to Cassie’s Jeep.” He smiles at me sincerely.
“Thanks, Lucas, I appreciate it.” He nods, turning to get back into the cart. “Hey, Lucas, thanks for working with me.”
He smiles warmly at me, all traces of pity gone. “Anytime, Amelia, that’s what I’m here for.” With that, he speeds back to the offices, and I turn my attention to the training fields.
First day of PT without him and I survived. He avoided meand I survived. It can only get easier from here. At least that is what I tell myself.
Chapter Thirty-Six
~DEX~
Like a spineless bastard, I avoided her during her PT session with Lucas. I pretended like I had a meeting with August and hung out in his office. Being the perceptive asshole that he is, he knew why I was hiding out in there. But I didn’t care, anything to not have to watch Lucas work on her knee. Every time she grimaced or cried out in pain, I would have wanted to walk over there and make sure she was okay. Or fight the urge to snap at Lucas that he’s working her too hard.
My selfish interference would not have helped anyone, but the temptation would have been too great, so I ran away.
Thankfully, by the time I decide to go home for the day, I see that the players’ cars are gone. Practice is long over, and Coach didn’t have them watch any replay films today, which means I can walk out and not have to see her. I have to head to August’s because my new place isn’t quite ready yet.
August was able to find me a condo that is on the ground floor of his building. It walks out to a small patio. I told him that I like to sit outside at night and didn’t want to be as high up as Mr. Penthouse is. He understood and was able to find what I was looking for. And if I’m being honest, I’m happy that it’s in hisbuilding. I’m pretty sure the friends that I made through Amelia are no longer my friends. Even the guys seem to be a pretty tight-knit group. So, once they found out what I did, not only did I lose Amelia, but I lost them too.
I enter August’s condo and he’s not home, thankfully. I want some quiet. I asked my mother and my sisters if they would be up for a phone call tonight. It’s been a while since I’ve talked to them. And I know the longer that I wait to talk to them, the harder it is going to be. They’re my family and sure, I disappointed them, but that doesn’t mean I can’t talk to them when I need them. And right now, I need them because if I don’t talk to someone who isn’t August about this, I will end up groveling and begging her on my knees to take me back.
August thought that sounded pathetic, called me a pussy and said that I needed to be more like him and tamp that sadness down. I didn’t bother to point out that it’s not working and that he sleeps with more women than anyone I know. But since he’s letting me stay here for free, I say nothing of the sort.
I need the kind of advice I can only get from my family. When I was a teenager and having girl problems, my sisters and my mother, no matter how far apart we were, always made time to talk to me. Thankfully, they still seem happy to do that for me.
I settle into the bed in August’s guest room and check the time. It’s after six o’clock, so my sisters should be at my mom’s house by now. I hit the contact for ‘Mom’ and wait for them to pick up.
“Hello, dear, how are you doing in Tampa? Everything going okay?” my mom’s sweet voice fills the line.
“Hi, dipshit,” Meg says.
“Hey, Dex,” Jo calls into the phone.
“Dex,” Amy says in way of greeting. She was the one who told me that she wanted to punch me in the balls when I told her about the reason for my divorce.
