Jilted Jock - Rebecca Jenshak Page 0,71
course, and yes, I’ll be back next week. You’re a fan then?” I glanced around to see if Adele had made it through, but there was still no sign of her. “Do you have a pen?”
He looked to his mum. She dug through her purse until she found one. As I scribbled my name on the back of his shirt, the boy went on about games he’d seen me play – he really was a fan, reciting stats I didn’t even keep track of anymore.
I took a selfie with him and then he told me he needed to text his friends and I was pretty much forgotten. His mum stepped closer and spoke so only I could hear. “Cindy was a fool. You’re better off without her. You need someone who appreciates what they have.”
I had no idea what to say to that and I was just about to say a polite goodbye when a voice came from my other side.
“Don’t worry, he has someone that appreciates him.” Adele’s voice made me jump.
“You made it.” I hugged her all too eagerly. Five days was too long. I was so utterly head over heels and I felt like I could finally take a fucking breath again with her beside me. “God, I missed you. What took you so long? Were you the last person off the plane just because you knew it’d make me crazy waiting for you?”
“I needed to freshen up after six hours on a plane.”
“Mmm. I don’t mind when you’re dirty,” I whispered and nipped at her neck just below her ear, and then remembered we still had an audience.
Pulling back, I wrapped an arm around her and then nodded to Michael. “Nice meeting you. I’ll put tickets for the next home game at will call. Hope you can make it.”
His eyes got huge. “Really? Thank you.”
“That’s really nice of you,” his mum said. She’d found her composure and sounded genuine in the compliment. “Thank you.”
I navigated Adele out of the airport before anyone else could even think about talking to us. I didn’t care if it was a child selling those delicious mint cookies or a genie to grant me three wishes – I wanted away from everyone but my girl.
Once in my truck, I framed her face with both hands and kissed her like I’d thought about every day since I’d seen her last. I didn’t pull back until the windows were starting to fog up and my jeans were tented.
“Sorry about that back there.”
“I’m not. It was fun getting to claim you in front of one of your adoring fans.” She said the last part with enough snark it made me grin.
“Ready?”
She laughed. “Yes. I’m three hours ahead and bound to crash after the adrenaline wears off.”
“I can think of all kinds of ways to keep your adrenaline going.”
I took off toward my apartment with a singular mission – get home and get naked.
Traffic was shit and testing all the patience I possessed, which wasn’t a lot to begin with, but we finally arrived, and I killed the engine and felt a new bolt of excitement jolt through me.
“Someone has been waiting all day for you to get here,” I said as I helped her out. Pushing open the door from the garage into my place, kitty waited just like she always did when I got home.
“Marshmallow!” Adele strolled past me and knelt in front of her.
“The pictures didn’t do her justice. She’s beautiful and so big.”
I nodded and watched as my cat ate up the attention. Adele picked her up and snuggled against her.
“Come on, I know you must be tired.”
She didn’t bother protesting and the yawn that came not five seconds later would have given her away anyway.
I led her to my room and left her suitcase just inside the door.
“I’ll give you the grand tour tomorrow.”
“I’m just going to sit here for a minute and then I’ll be ready to do whatever you want.” She said slipping out of her shoes and sitting on my bed. Marshmallow curled up on her lap and Adele petted her with a contented smile.
“We’ve got all weekend. I didn’t make any plans tonight so we can watch a movie, or go out…” I knew that last one wasn’t happening, but I threw it out there just in case.
“Okay.”
“I’m gonna grab something to drink. You want anything?”
“No, I’m good.”
“Be right back.” I stood in the doorway for a moment longer letting the image soak in. She was