Page 30 of Mr. Irrelevant
TWENTY-NINE
LIVVY
MADDOX:
Were you planning on telling me about your birthday, or no?
ME:
Absolutely not. How did you find out?
MADDOX:
I’m supposed to say I Googled it, but I can’t lie to you. Your sister told me. She insisted that I make a huge deal out of it and take you somewhere that they’ll sing to you with a flaming cake. But since we can’t do that here, I’d love to take you away this weekend.
ME:
First of all, block her number. She’s nothing but trouble. Secondly, where are we going, and how do you suggest we do it without getting caught?
MADDOX:
Everything is taken care of, Dimes. My flight is booked for Thursday, and there’s another one to the same destination on Friday. The Renegades are playing in Miami, so nobody will be expecting you at the stadium, and since I’m not allowed there, they won’t be looking for me either. Sydney is going to cover for you if your parents ask any questions.
Please? I want to celebrate my girl.
ME:
Fiiiiiiine.
MADDOX:
That’s Daddy’s sweet baby.
ME:
I’ll see you at midnight. Your place, since you’re even more prohibited from being at the practice facility than normal.
MADDOX:
Can’t wait.
“You have a big mouth,”I say to my sister as I lift a giant box of skincare supplies onto the shelf above my head. Shortly after Bailey moved to Cleveland, she and Jett bought a brand-new house, complete with a full spa for her in the finished basement. It’s in a beautiful,private area, only about a mile from Maddox’s, and has plenty of room for them to someday expand their family.Heinsisted that she hire people to come set this space up for her,sheinsisted that she do it herself…andSydney and Iinsisted that there was no way in hell our new friend would be doing anything alone when she has us—although the only thing Syd has accomplished so far is breaking a bottle of two-hundred-dollar anti-aging serum and taking about a million selfies.
“Me?” she replies, feigning innocence. “What did I do?”
I put a hand on my hip, dipping my chin. “You told Maddox my birthday was coming up. Also, why do you insist on making me relive the day I turned eight like a man didn’t almost die right in front of us?”
“And you sayI’mdramatic.” She scoffs. “Nobody almost died. So what if the sparklers on your cake ignited and caught grandpa’s hair on fire? It was a toupee. The flames were snuffed out when Aunt Janice slapped it off his head. No harm, no foul, and now we have a wonderful story for our kids one day.”
Before I can tell her what a menace she is, Bailey enters the room, lugging a giant folding table behind her. We both run her way, helping her get it into the storage closet since she won’t be doing much traveling now that she has somewhere to work. She’s been making connections with some of the Renegades’ wives and girlfriends, who are rapidly filling her schedule. She’s quickly becoming the queen of the WAGs around here—a group that I’m technically a part of, even if nobody but her and my sister knows about it. I have afeeling Jett has been clued in as well, because Bailey tells him everything, but it doesn’t really bother me. I trust them, and maybe it’ll give Maddox someone to confide in until we go public. If I didn’t have these two to talk to about my relationship, I’d probably go insane.
“It’s coming along,” I say, turning to scan the room. Even though she won’t be taking clients that aren’t directly related to the team, it looks like a legit spa with the way she has it set up. Everything is warm and inviting, with neutral shades and calming scents wafting through the air. The furniture is fluffy and plush, making it the perfect place to relax and prepare for the hustle and bustle of the stadium before games.
She breathes a whimsical sigh. “Jett said it was the selling point of the house for him. Well, that and the big birch tree out back. It looks exactly like the one we had our first kiss under when we were kids.” A faint smile plays at her lips, her cheeks going pink as she recalls moments from her past. They are the cutest couple, and I can’t help but be just the tiniest bit jealous that they get to love each other so loudly.
As if he knew she was thinking about him, her boyfriend enters the room, hair still wet from his post-practice shower. She catches the movement out of the corner of her eye, an excited grin lighting up her face as she runs and jumps into his arms like they’ve been apart for years instead of just a handful of hours.
I’m so entranced in watching the way they’re greeting each other that I don’t even see Maddox come in behind him until he’s gripping my hips and pulling me into his strong arms. I go stiff, my eyes widening asI attempt to push him away, but he just tightens his hold, pressing his lips to the top of my head.
