Page 37 of Forever Wild

Like when my sister pointed out that Alexis always traveled with me to the fancy PR or charity events I had around the country but she would never travel with me for work. Never walked the courses while I played, claiming I needed the focus. Then, if I pushed her on it, she would distract me with sex, and I’d go without her.

Or, as my dad often mentioned, we didn’t actually act like we were in a relationship. When we were together, we were usually in bed, and when we were apart, well, we didn’t really talk much. Sure, we would text sometimes, call each other here and there, and even both got off while on FaceTime together after a couple of my bigger tournament wins, but when I was gone, we didn’t talk regularly. Early on, I tried calling her while I was away, but she’d always decline my call and shoot me a quick text about how busy she was working. Working a remote marketing job that I now question if it even actually existed.

Which is why I’m shocked that, three weeks after getting her number, Bryn is still the first person I text in the morning and the last one I talk to at night. She’s been traveling for work for an extended time, so I haven’t been able to take her out again. Now, she’s coming back to Wild Bluffs this afternoon, and I’m like a puppy sitting by the door, waiting for her to get home.

After our date, I sat in the back of my Uber to my hotel rocking a halfie from a kiss. A fucking kiss and I was at half-mast and also completely unsure what to do next. The date had been—shit, it had been better than I ever imagined. I’d just been on the best date of my life. Never once did I feel like I was arm candy or like she was using my name or my fame to get ahead. In fact, it had been clear she was going out of her way not to.

But, sitting there in the back of that car, my insecurities had started to worm their way in. Because here’s the problem, I never thought Alexis was using me either. Sure, my family and friends noticed, but not right away. In the beginning, she seemed genuine, and everyone liked her. It’s not like she was walking around, shouting “I’m dating this guy for his money! I’m actually going to use his connections to meet other famous athletes and then fuck them on our kitchen table!” I’m pretty sure she even offered to pay on our first date. I hadn’t let her, of course, but she had offered.

So I sat there on my way home from the date, staring out the car window, torn between liking Bryn so much that a simple goodnight kiss made me horny and wanting to have nothing to do with another relationship ever again. I typed out a text asking her to fly back with me the next day and quickly deleted it. The next one I drafted thanked her for the date and suggested we get together at some nonspecific time in the future. It also got deleted. About three more failed attempts later, I had one composed that essentially told her I’d had a momentary lapse in judgment when I asked her to call it a date and to lose my number. At which point, I had given up and called my sister.

Apparently, she had already gotten wind of the fact that I flew to LA with JT, no doubt from the man himself, and was literally shrieking with glee when I told her I’d been on a date with Bryn. Her joy quickly turned to annoyance, though, when I explained my predicament. Her exact words when I asked her what I should do were “Sack the fuck up and stop thinking that every woman is out to take advantage of you just because Alexis was.”

It was hard to disagree with her assessment, so as I made my way into my hotel that night, I listened to her advice and sent Bryn a text telling her just how much fun I had with her. Her response had been equally as enthusiastic.

Now I’m parked in front of Bryn’s sister’s house, waiting for Bryn to get back so we can go out for dinner. To be fair to me, she said she was going to get home five minutes ago. I hadn’t wanted to look too eager, so I arrived two minutes ago—literally the longest I could convince myself to wait to see her.

Apparently, there was a tractor slowing down traffic on the highway outside of town, causing her to arrive later than anticipated. Bryn flies commercial, so she had to make the two-hour drive from the commercial airport. The 120 minutes since she messaged me that her plane had landed and she was on her way have felt like the longest of my life. Even longer than the time I had to wait out a rain delay to finish the last two holes of the Masters and claim my first Green Jacket.

Noticing Bryn’s car pull into the driveway, I climb out of my truck, shoving my hands in my jeans pockets and strolling toward her parked Tesla.

She climbs out of the car, and I can’t help but blatantly check out her long legs and perfect round ass as she bends over to grab her suitcase out of the back seat.

“Here, let me take that in for you.”

She whirls, pulling out a headphone I hadn’t noticed. “Shit, Jameo. What are you doing lurking out here?”

I love that she calls me Jameo.

I extend my hand, offering to pull her suitcase in for her. She rolls her eyes. “I got it. I’m fully capable of carrying my own suitcase.”

Shrugging, I put my hand back in my pocket, unsure if giving her a hug is appropriate at this point in the night. She’s not particularly putting off hugging vibes at the moment.

“Okay. Though I can also carry a suitcase. Just for the record.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. You’re very strong. We all know. No need to flash your arm porn around.”

As she makes her way inside, I follow like the helpless puppy I’ve already established I am.

While she’s setting down her suitcase to love on the actual dog inside the house, I look around. It’s a fairly modern-looking home, a mixture of grays and blacks.

Bryn grins up at me from where she is squatting on the floor, her black work pants covered in dog hair. “This is Jack.”

I come closer, letting the dog sniff my hand before I pet his neck a couple times. “Hiya, Jack.” Looking over at Bryn, I ask, “How old is he?”

“Almost eight,” she says. “I got him in college. I don’t take him when I travel, so I end up leaving him here or with my parents a lot.”

“Makes sense why he’s so excited to see you, then. I understand the feeling myself.” I feel my cheeks heat up with the admission.

She stands up, turning around with a teasing glint in her eyes. “Ah, Jameo, did you miss me?”

The dog’s tail wags vigorously, and I nod at it. “If I had a tail, it would be doing exactly the same thing.”

Bryn’s chuckle reverberates through my soul as she moves deeper into the house. “Are you okay to hang out here for a few minutes? I need to shower and change real quick to get the airplane off me.”

I look around the living room, taking in the two gray couches that face the large flat-screen TV on the wall. “Of course. Sorry, I should’ve asked if you would need a few minutes once you got home to get ready.”

“Not a problem. I was excited to see you too. Plus, I promise I’ll be quick in there.” She hands me a remote for the TV and starts to walk toward the stairs to the second floor. She stops, quickly turning around and giving me a tight hug. “It’s good to see you. I’m looking forward to tonight.”

---