Page 120 of Full Tilt
I shake my head, a knot forming in my stomach. “No. I left her a voicemail, asking her to call me back. I haven’t heard anything since.”
Jenna doesn’t take her eyes from mine. “Give her time. I bet she’s still in shock and wondering what to say when she calls you back.”
So much of me hopes Jenna is right. It was a standard recorded message rather than my mom’s voice, which makes me worry that she changed her phone number since she last tried to contact me.
“I asked her to come watch our game against the Scorpions. I figured it would be a chance for her to meet my girlfriend, and if your brother doesn’t murder me when we tell him about us on Christmas Day, I want you to wear my jersey. With the name I’ll be playing under next season.”
Jenna cups my face in her gloved palm, concern flooding her eyes.
“What?” I ask. “I thought that was standard practice—for a player’s girl to wear their name.”
“Yeah, it is,” she replies. “But that’s not what’s worrying me.”
I breathe a sigh of relief.
Jesus, who are you, and what have you done with tough Tommy? Now you’re practically having a breakdown over a girl’s facial expressions.
“Your mom,” she continues. “How will she afford the airline ticket to get here? Travel at this time of year is especially expensive.”
I smirk down at her. “I don’t know if you’re aware, but I’m kind of a big deal, and I earn around seven million dollars a year, plus add-ons. I have her airfare covered.”
She swats me in the chest. “Why do you always have to be so cocky?!”
“Because you drive me wild and it’s my natural defense mechanism,” I retort. “Plus, I still think you love the old Tommy just a little bit.” I squeeze my thumb and forefinger together, my shoulders vibrating with laughter.
Jenna stays silent.
Shit. I said too much.
She shuffles out from beneath me and stands up, flicking her long hair from her collar.
“Jen, I’m not trying to push you into saying it back. I just …”
She steps forward as I rise to my knees. Placing a hand on my shoulder, she sets a kiss against my lips. “I know you aren’t trying to push me. I just need to use the bathroom and call my brother to let him know that I can get him from the airport.”
With that, she begins walking toward a bar across the street from the beach, and I’m left wondering why the fuck I can’t control my mouth every time I’m around this girl.
Reaching into my pocket, I pull out my phone to check for a reply from Mom but come up empty-handed.
I’m about to repocket my phone when a group message flashes across my screen, and I click on the notification.
Jack
Welcome to the world’s greatest group chat, Tommy.
*Jack renamed the group chat: Tommy’s Turned into a Simp.*
Archer
He’s with Jenna right now—I can feel it.
Me
I don’t want to know what you’re feeling, if it’s all the same to you.
Sawyer
So, Tommy is the latest victim of Jack’s group chat. Don’t worry, buddy; last season, he changed the name to something like Stop Boning My Sister when he witnessed dressing-room sex between Archer and Darcy.
