Jilted Jock - Rebecca Jenshak Page 0,4

look that really worked on him.

I heaved a sigh when he laid back on the couch, head thrown back. He looked at me, really looked at me. Now that I wasn’t trying to keep him upright, the smell of him was doing a number on me. Liquor and a hint of male. A combination I could, and often had, overdone it on.

“You’re Chance’s sister, Adele,” Finn said, rough Australian accent vibrating my insides and reminding me of home.

“That’s right.”

His lip pulled up on one side revealing a dimple and a half smile. “You’re prettier than your brother.”

I chuckled and his gaze went to my lips and then slid away. “Is that a goat?”

On cue, Pixy gave a loud, “Baa.”

I pulled Pixy by the collar into the kitchen, holding my breath until I thought I was far enough away I wouldn’t be able to smell him anymore. The man not the goat.

I hadn’t been high in years, but I didn’t think I’d ever stop missing that just-left-the-bar smell. Alcohol hadn’t been my drug of choice, but men like Finn, damaged and emotionally unavailable, were almost as big of a weakness as the drugs had been.

Aubrey came out of CJ’s room with that motherly smile she got on her face. It was especially glowy when her son was asleep.

“How was he?” she asked, pulling her dark red hair back in a low ponytail.

“Perfect, as usual.”

She lifted one brow. Okay, so my nephew was as rambunctious and high energy as they came, but I adored him.

“What is Finn McCash doing on your couch on his wedding night? And where is Chance?”

“The bride didn’t show,” she whispered and then grimaced. “We were all waiting for the ceremony to begin, and then her parents announced there wouldn’t be a wedding, gave their apologies, and that was it. There were so many people there, Adele. And everyone staring at Finn to see what he was going to do. He looked so… hurt and shocked. God, it was hard to watch.”

My mind spun trying to imagine it. Aubrey grabbed a mug and offered me one. I shook my head and stared off into space while she turned the kettle on.

While waiting for the water to boil, she leaned against the counter. “Chance and I stayed with him all night. He refused to leave the venue like he was hoping she still might show up.”

“You just stayed there waiting this whole time?”

She nodded. “He’d already hired the bartender so we sat at what should have been his wedding reception and watched him drink himself stupid, not that I could blame him. It was the saddest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“And she never showed?” I whispered more to myself than anything. God, how awful.

I peered around the doorway that led into the living room and caught a glimpse of his long legs splayed out in front of him and his head leaned back on the cushion of the couch.

I couldn’t smell him anymore, but just the sight of him had me covering my mouth and nose reflexively.

“Oh my gosh, I didn’t think. Are you okay? He smells like a spring break dance club.”

“I’m fine.” I waved her off. “So where is Chance and why is Finn here? Didn’t he have somewhere you could drop him?”

“Chance went to Finn’s apartment to grab a few things. We tried to take Finn there, but he said, and I quote, ‘I’ll burn in hell before I step foot in that place again’. He shared it with the fiancée, so I guess I get that. Anyway, we didn’t know what else to do. It didn’t seem right to make him spend his wedding night in a hotel all alone.” She lowered her voice again. “She left him for one of his teammates.”

Being around soccer players my whole life, I knew how close teammates often were. God, I couldn’t imagine.

“Wow.” It was the only response I could muster. The failing of love and heartbreak always seemed to hit me harder than others. It was like I was constantly watching for things to break so I could see them put back together. Proof that it could happen and a reminder that I was going to be okay.

“Thanks for watching CJ tonight. I know you’d probably rather be visiting Richard in New York. Was he disappointed you couldn’t fly out to see him this weekend?”

I smiled thinking about my boyfriend and the stability he brought to my life. “No, he was working anyway. He’s coming for a visit