Hugh
I love when you go deep, Old Wise One.
Cage
It’s OLE Wise One. Don’t call me old, you dick sausage.
<eggplant emoji> <hotdog emoji>
Georgia
Maybe Finn would bring out a softer side of Jessica. Love can do that to people. Look at Bossman.
Cage
<puking emoji>
Georgia
<heart eyes emoji>
Also, since we’re all being a little emotional here about love and happily ever after, I am here to remind you that we still hate the football player from hell. Cage tried to pull his sly, undercover crap and see if he could start getting his “Bieber Fever” on for that rat bastard, and the answer is a big, fat, resounding no.
Cage
What the hell is “Bieber Fever”？
Georgia
She’s calling you a fangirl. <laughing emoji>
Hugh
I confess. I asked Cage to find out if we were still hating on Hendrix. I tried to change the channel when they were giving updates on where they think he is going to play next year, but old habits die hard, Brinks. I still hate him out of respect for you. I just want to know where he’s going to play next season.
Finn
I hate him, too. But did you hear he’s leaning toward New York?
Cage
I also heard Los Angeles is in the running. That’s when I ran to turn off the TV because the sound of his name makes me sick. <eyeroll emoji>
You’re all a bunch of traitors. We do not cheer for the enemy.
Georgia
Well, I hate him for sure. But I did catch Maddox watching SportsCenter, and he was glued to the TV when they mentioned him.
Not a loyal one in the bunch aside from you, Georgie.
Cage
Don’t be dramatic. It’s a big ask.
<middle finger emoji>
Finn
So, wait. Do I go for it with Hotty-McSnotty? Can we circle back to me?
Walk away. Don’t make me say “I told you so.” You know I hate to be a know-it-all.
Cage
Who is this, and what did you do with Brinks?
I chuckled as several texts came through. Everyone said he should not mix business with pleasure, aside from Georgia, who only wanted to see the best in everyone.
I’d never been that way.
When people showed me who they were, I typically believed them.
And I knew exactly who Lincoln Hendrix was.
two
Lincoln
My mom was asking more questions than I was in the mood to answer at the moment. I’d stumbled into this little café as soon as I’d pulled into town, needing to stretch my legs and get a bite to eat. I’d ordered an iced coffee and a sandwich and found a table in the back of the quaint restaurant.
I’d kept my sunglasses and a baseball cap on out of habit, but no one was in here, so I set them aside. This was exactly what I needed.
Some quiet.
Some peace.
I couldn’t ask for more.
“So, how long do you think you’ll stay?” she asked as I held the phone to my ear.
“I don’t know. I haven’t even been to the house yet. Drew said I can stay as long as I want. Apparently, he and Deb are busy with work and the kids’ activities, so they won’t be coming for several months.”
“You could come home,” Mom said, though she’d offered it multiple times already.
“I know. And thank you. But I wanted to get out of the city. I need a break while I figure out my shit. I don’t want people grilling me every time I walk out my door. And I want you to have some peace while you continue to get healthier every day.” My mom had a house outside of San Francisco, while I lived in a high-rise in the city. But everyone knew me there, and that was what I was trying to avoid at the moment.
I couldn’t think.
I couldn’t breathe.
“You do what’s best for you, Linc. You know I’ll support you, no matter what you decide.”
There were a few things that I was certain of right now. But my mom’s support had always been the most solid thing in my life.
“I know, and I appreciate it. There’s a lot to consider, and it’s weighing on me.”
“Well, I’m here anytime you want to talk.”
“You got it. I’ll call you in a day or two after I get settled.”
“Love you, Linc.”
“Love you.” I ended the call and took a bite of my sandwich as I glanced around the place. This town was like something out of a movie. It sat on the coast, with a cove in the center of town. My agent, Drew, had been telling me to get a place here for years. He and his family used to spend their summers out here, but now their kids were getting older, and they weren’t able to get away as often as they used to.
I’d always been too busy to get away.
Too obligated.
Too intense about training.
But right now, I had options, and I wasn’t going to rush into any decisions.
Even if reporters had basically staked out my place in the city, following me to restaurants and hounding friends and family to get the inside scoop about where I was going to play next season.
It annoyed the shit out of me.
And the truth was, I didn’t know where I was going. I was at the peak of my career. Coach Anders and I didn’t see eye to eye, and I’d tried to get behind his plan for the team ever since he’d been hired two seasons ago. But over the last two years, he’d traded half the guys I’d started with. Dudes that had protected me.
Players that I’d had chemistry with.
My brothers that should have been there when we’d won the Super Bowl this year.
So, yeah, we’d done something right, but there’d been a lot of luck involved. Our opponents had had an off day due to a ton of injuries, and the stars had aligned for us.
But I’d taken a beating.
Our guys were young and inexperienced. And I was all about the team and helping one another, but not at the expense of getting my head bashed in over and over.
I reached for my iced coffee and looked up to see that a woman had just come in. She was wearing a pair of overalls and leaning over the counter, laughing.
Long, dark waves ran down her back, and she wiggled her cute ass as she spoke.
My dick jumped to attention.
Damn. It had been a while since I’d been laid.
I didn’t trust many people right now, as everyone wanted to know what I was going to do. And there were people willing to pay someone to weasel their way in and find out. So, I was keeping to myself.
I continued watching her until she stood all the way up, and I wondered how the fuck someone managed to make a pair of baggy denim overalls look sexy as hell.
She turned slowly—almost like she felt me staring at her.
When my gaze locked with dark brown eyes, the familiarity had me dropping my sandwich.
I’d seen this woman before.
You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.
This was the woman who’d followed me into the bathroom a few weeks back. I’d been trying to have a private conversation with my mother.
An important fucking conversation.
Just one damn minute to myself.
It didn’t seem like a lot to ask for.
These people had no regard for privacy.
No human decency.
Her jaw fell open, and she glared at me. But I didn’t give her the chance to speak. I was on my feet and moving toward her.
“Do I need a restraining order? Did you follow me here?” I hissed, using my height to my advantage as I was a good foot taller than her.