Page 31 of Always My Comfort

“From here? No way. You have to try the Hawaiian.” I cringed.

“You like pineapple on your pizza?”

“You don’t?” He laughed, heat creeping up his neck.

“Never tried it. Can’t say I like any fruit warm.”

“Okay, how about half cheese and half Hawaiian? We can get the best of both worlds.” I nodded, pushing the menu to the end of the table, and rested my head on my hand, trying my hardest not to blatantly ogle him.

He was too damn handsome for his own good, and if I stared into his eyes any longer, I was going to tell him everything in the middle of this pizzeria. Wouldn’t that just be classy?

Jaxon placed our order and then gulped down his water. “So, why don’t you tell me about that ex of yours? He sure is a piece of work. Not to be rude, but what the hell were you thinkin’, datin’ him?”

I sipped on my water, thinking about the right answer. WhatwasI doing with him?

“I have anxiety, so I make lists, and I made a list of my goals before thirty. Called it my ten-year plan.” I watched him, looking for any hint of humor in his expression but saw none. “I dated around in college, couldn’t seem to find someone worth settling with, and then, I watched my best friend fall in love and got worried.”

“So, you settled for his sorry ass,” he added, seeing exactly where I was going with this.

“You could say that. Things were good in the beginning. I saw my future in him, so I moved in, and then shit hit the fan one month at a time. Slowly, I became more of someone to keep his up image instead of someone to share a life with.” I played with the wrapper of my straw, rolling it up and then unwinding it and repeating the process.

“So, he used you?” I shrugged, but he shook his head. “The team has a strict no tolerance for a bad image. We have to sign a contract that states we won’t be seen partyin’, no strin’ of women—it goes on. He used you to keep his spot on the team.”

I didn’t know that.

Richard didn’t share a lot about his life, so neither did I. He knew my parents were dead and that I had no one to look out for me, so he took advantage.

“I didn’t know,” I said as the young girl from before put a metal stand on the table, and then someone put a huge pizza on it.

“Let me know if you two need anything.” She waited a beat and then scurried off when Jax nodded at her.

“Coach wants me to take over his position, but the team manager likes him for some reason. Not sure why, but I have to beat him at his own game to get him off the team. “

“The team manager is his cousin. That’s how he got on the team in the first place. He’s only there for the money. He hates the sport.” Now, that secret, I did know.

He paused mid-chew, eyes going large. He swallowed quickly just as I was about to have a bite.

“Did you know that’s also against the team policy?”

“What?” I hesitated, holding the pizza in front of my mouth.

“Being related to the manager.” A flicker of excitement gleamed in his eyes.

“No. I don’t know much about the team. I just went to the games in support. My best friend’s husband loves the sport, so I get him in with my special tickets.”

He nodded, and we polished off the pizza in a few minutes. He managed to convince me to try the Hawaiian, and surprisingly, it did taste good, but I didn’t have more than one piece.

The young girl brought us one bill once we finished, and I reached for it, but he handed her his card. Just like that, she was gone again.

“Hey, it was my turn to pay for the pizza.” I referenced our first shared pizza, and he shook his head.

“Sorry. No can do, sweetheart. In the south, we’re raised to take care of women, even if they are friends.” I flushed under his heated gaze, seeing the desire pooling in his eyes as I cross my arms under my chest, pushing up my already swollen boobs up, giving him a nice view of my cleavage.

When the girl came back, she thanked him for the autograph again, wished him luck on the season, and thanked us for coming to her restaurant. “You two are really cute together. I hope to see you two again.” I opened my mouth to correct her, but Jaxon just smiled and thanked her, promising to return soon.

He helped me stand, once again placing his hand on the small of my back, and opened the door for me. I was afraid I was going to stumble if he kept this up, and that would be embarrassing. This was certainly not something I’d ever experienced before, and he was going to ruin me for any other man.

Outside, he led me over to a metal bench and gestured for me to join him. Sitting down, he scanned the area and then joined me, his jean-clad leg brushing against mine, warmth seeping into me, and desire setting my blood on fire.

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