Page 53 of Hot Route
I turn, wondering who could be out there that would have her so surprised. But before I can ask, she swings the door open to reveal Blaze and Dalton on the other side. I don’t even speak as I let out a strangled cry, hop over the back of the couch, and launch myself into his waiting arms. “You’re here,” I sob into his shirt. He smells so good.
“Hi, baby,” he chuckles, his chest rumbling against my ear. “I missed you.”
I allow myself another few seconds of just being in his arms before I pull back. “What are you doing here?” I ask, leading him further into the room.
He smiles at me. “Well, apparently, our old friend Brady slipped up and got caught in his lie. Jacob has been trying to contact you, but I’m guessing you’ve been dodging his calls.”
I lower my head sheepishly. “I have. I was so mad. I knew if I answered, I’d end up saying something I regretted for the way he let me go. He’s too influential in the sports media industry to do that, so I was going to cool off for a few days before I returned his calls.”
He sits on the couch, pulling me into his lap like he just can’t get close enough. “He knows the truth. He was calling to apologize,” he says with a big grin. “And to offer you a job.”
“What?” Dia and I yell in unison. “I got it? I got the job?” I say, wanting to make sure I heard him right.
Blaze scoffs. “Of course you did. You earned it.”
A blanket of relief flows over me as I relax into the warmth of his body. I let the situation settle in my mind for a moment. “Wait,” I say, sitting up straight before turning to look at him. “You said Brady got caught in his lie. How?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know the whole story. Just that he was talking to another intern about it and someone heard him.”
I wonder who he was talking to. And why? How would Brady even know any of the other interns? His sponsorship of Connor’s podcast didn’t have anything to do with us. The only reason I went there that day was because the regular sound engineer wasn’t available and the others don’t have the same experience with the equipment as I do. So, where would he even have crossed paths with Ella, Chance, or Jason? I guess that’s a question for Jacob when I talk to him. For now, I’m just going to enjoy knowing that the truth is out in the open.
“Hey, Wifey,” Dalton says from his place next to Dia on the loveseat. “Did you hear I lead the league in touchdowns for running backs? The wholeleague.” A look of confusion crosses her face because he may as well be speaking a different language. He takes her silence as an invitation to put his arm around her shoulder, which she immediately brushes off.
“Okay, I don’t know what that means. And don’t touch me,” she says.
He pulls a throw pillow out from behind his back, placing it in his lap. “Don’t get feisty with me here. It turns me on.”
“Oh my God,” She says, disgusted. “If you’re hard right now, I’m going to puke.”
He scoffs, as if that’s the most ridiculous thing he’s ever heard. “What do you think I am? A teenager? I’m not hard. It’s only asemi.”
Her eyes go wide as Blaze and I laugh from our place across the room. I drown out their bickering and turn back to look at him. I can’t believe he’s here. “Come home,” he whispers in my ear before pressing his lips to my neck.
I don’t bother telling him I was already on my way before he got here. It doesn’t really matter. All that matters is that we’re back together and I have no intentions of running from him or from Boston ever again. “Okay.”
He rears his head back, his brows pinched together. “Really? You’re not even going to put up a little fight? Not even a fake one?” he questions sarcastically.
I wiggle my eyebrows. “Why? Are you going to punish me if I do?”
He groans, shifting me in his lap so I can feel him hardening under me. “I plan on cuffing you to the bed and spanking you for leaving me, either way. It’s up to you to decide how badly you’re going to get it.”
I realize that his body isn’t the only one reacting to our close proximity as my clit begins to throb. We need to tamp this down. At least until we’re out of my parent’s living room. I’m not sure they’d be happy about Blaze and I fucking on their couch. A shiver of horror runs through me at the thought of getting caught by them. No thanks.
As if I’ve summoned them with my mind, my parents choose that moment to come back downstairs. “Blaze!” my mother says, a look of surprise blanketing her face. “Nice to see you again, honey. What brings you all the way out here?”
He carefully moves me off his lap before standing to give her a hug. He then turns to my father, shaking his hand. “Well,” he addresses them both, “if it’s alright with the both of you, I came to bring my girl home.” My heart pounds in my chest.Home. I always thought that was here in Chicago. But as it turns out, home is wherever Blaze is.
My dad chuckles. “She’s all yours, son,” he says, winking at me. My mom sidles up beside him, wrapping her arms around his waist. I’m so thankful they’ve shown me the perfect example of why I shouldn’t settle for anything less than a partner who adores me. Even after all these years, my parents are so in love. I thought I’d never find it, but I have a feeling that, twenty-five years from now, Blaze will still be by my side. Supporting me and loving me through all my failures and successes.
“Why don’t you guys stay here tonight?” my mom suggests. “The couch pulls out and I can get the guest room together. We’ll order some food and you guys can get a good night’s rest before you head back.” I love the woman, but she’s crazy if she thinks I won’t be sleeping in Blaze’s arms tonight. No funny business,I promise.
“That sounds great,” Blaze agrees, sitting back down next to me and lacing our fingers together.
We eat dinner and have one last makeover movie marathon before I leave Chicago for good. Dalton is easily convinced when Dia asks if she can paint his nails ice blue to match his uniform. I catch them laughing a little too hard and sitting a little too close all night, but I don’t say anything. I just elbow Blaze and nod my head their way so he’s in on the secret, too. If I didn’t know Dia, I’d almost think she likes him. But she was right at my birthday party. She would break him. I have to admit, it might be kind of fun to watch.
We end the night falling asleep on the pull-out couch before our last movie ends. I don’t know what tomorrow holds or what my career will look like five years down the road, but none of that matters right now. I have everything I need right here next to me.
FORTY
