Page 45 of Playing with Temptation

Nate gave Jase a one-armed hug. “Thought you abandoned me. Tried calling you several times.”

“Sorry about that, man.” Jase’s cheeks and forehead reddened. He retrieved a couple of beers from the fridge. He handed one to Nate. “Went camping and shut off my phone. After that loss, I needed to be alone for a while.”

“That place with the luxury tree houses in Oregon?” Nate tilted his head, assessing his friend’s quick nod as his gaze raked the floor. There was something Jase wasn’t telling him. “Not exactly roughing it.”

Jase shrugged. “Wasn’t that loss punishment enough?”

“Can’t disagree with that.” Nate screwed the top off his icy beer. “Still, you and Vi picked a hell of a time to go AWOL.”

“Vi’s missing?” Jase rearranged the plastic fruit in the bowl on his kitchen counter.

“I wish. After being out of touch for two weeks, she shows up at my place at the worst possible time.” Nate took a swig of his beer.

Jase smirked and sipped his beer, too. He sat on a bar stool. “Does that mean what I think it means?”

Nate ran a hand over his head. “Yep.”

Jase chuckled, shaking his head. “That twin sister of yours is a little loca.” They both laughed. “But she loves you and she always has your best interest at heart.”

“Maybe she doesn’t know what’s in my best interest.” Nate frowned, returning his beer to the counter. “Maybe she should back off. Let me decide what’s best for me.”

Jase cocked his head, his dark eyes assessing him. “In the end, it’s your choice. You know that. Not like you listen to Vi anyway, unless you agreed with her to begin with.”

Nate raised a brow, narrowing his gaze at his friend. “You sound just like her.”

Jase cleared his throat and turned to face the bar. He took another sip of his beer. “Maybe that’s because it’s the truth.”

“Hey, if I wanted to hear more of Vi’s point of view, I’d be talking to her right now, instead of you.” Nate shoved his friend’s shoulder.

“So what do you want to hear?” Jase swigged his beer.

Nate shrugged. “Maybe I want you to tell me I’m not loco for trying to get back with my ex.”

“Hmm…” Jase nodded sagely. “So it was you and Kendra Vi walked in on the other day?”

“How’d you know—”

“I haven’t had that many concussions.” Jase tapped his right temple twice with two fingers. “Besides, I saw Kendra in the press conference footage. She’s handling your PR?”

Nate nodded. “Marcus’s idea. I was against it at first, but it was a good call. Kendra’s the right person for the job.”

“Speaking of which, how’s the apology tour going?”

Nate groaned. “According to Kendra, it’s going well. Still, this whole thing has been a shit storm.”

“Of your own making.” Jase pointed the neck of his beer bottle in Nate’s direction. “How many times I gotta tell you, man, you don’t have to say everything that pops in your head.”

“I don’t pull punches. You know that.”

“This time, you should have. What were you thinking? Especially in a contract year?”

“I know, I know.” Nate stood in front of the window overlooking the pool in the backyard. “I screwed up. Big-time.”

“Not the first time. Doubt it’ll be the last.” A half smirk lit Jase’s eyes.

“You’re having way too much fun with this.” Nate pointed a finger at his friend. “And thanks for the vote of confidence.”

Jase chuckled. “You’re usually the one riding us out there on the field. Not a chance in hell I’d pass on the opportunity for a little payback.”

Nate raised his hands, his palms facing his friend. “Point taken. Now, stop avoiding the question. Am I crazy to want Kendra back?”

“Of course not. She’s Kai’s mother, and it’s obvious you still care for her.”

“But…?”

“But, the fact that you care what I think tells me Kendra isn’t as sure about this as you are. I’m hoping for the best, but I can’t help worrying that you’ll be disappointed.” Jase shrugged.

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