Page 5 of Cursed Fox (Willow Creek Security #4)

CHAPTER FIVE

Lex

I followed Nancy's directions to a large high-rise smack-dab in the middle of Oklahoma City. The underground garage attendant gave me a strange look when I pulled up and said I was there to visit one of the tenants. Apparently the fancy place wasn't used to topless and doorless Jeeps.

I found that very strange considering Nancy had explained that several of Jimmy's teammates lived in the same building. I would've thought at least a few of them would've used their signing bonuses to buy something similar. My view on football players was clearly misinformed.

After parking in one of the assigned visitor spots, I jumped out of the driver seat and headed straight for Nancy's side.

We only stopped once on the entire ride up, so my legs were itching to move.

Nancy had the mesh unbuckled by the time I got to her and was climbing her way out.

I stretched out my hand to offer her assistance, but she didn't take it.

Shrugging it off like it was no big deal.

In reality, a small part of me was hurt by her callous behavior. I had to smother that part of me out of existence. The whole point was to not get close to her. I couldn't do that if I was being chivalrous and getting upset when it wasn't reciprocated.

I left our bags in the vehicle and followed Nancy into the building. It was obvious several seconds after we entered that she was familiar with the place and the people who worked there.

"Hi, Ms. Green. It's good to see you again." The young man behind the front desk greeted her as soon as she got within five feet of the desk.

"Hey, Nathan." Her tone softened. "It's good to see you too. Do you by chance know if Jimmy is home?"

"I haven't seen him leave since he came home around dinnertime. Would you like me to call up and check?"

"No, that's okay. I'll just head up and see him. Say hi to your mother for me. Maybe she and I can get together while I'm in town." Nancy smiled at the man before moving toward the elevator.

"She'd like that," the desk clerk yelled back.

Nancy waved at Nathan before the elevator doors closed.

"You visit a lot?"

"He speaks." Nancy gasped while looking at me and putting her hand to her chest.

My brows furrowed as I looked back at her, completely confused by what she meant. "Of course I speak. We spoke on the ride up." Not much, but words did come out of my mouth.

"No, I spoke and you answered questions when I asked. One- and two-word answers, by the way, but no, talking like normal people did not actually occur."

I continued to look at her like she was a puzzle I was trying to solve. "What had you wanted to talk about?" I’d listened to every word she’d said, and even remembered all of it. Wasn't that enough?

Nancy threw her hands up in exasperation just as the elevator dinged to let us know we had reached our desired floor. "I don't know, but it's customary for people to talk when they are in close proximity for nearly ten hours."

"Maybe for some, but not me," I grumbled as I stepped out of the elevator.

Why people insisted on always talking would forever baffle me. You learned so much more about a person from silence. Case in point, I learned a lot about Nancy and how much she adored her son and daughter simply by listening to her ramble.

Nancy didn't bother to say anything more. She stepped around me and led us down a short hallway. Despite how big the building looked from the outside, there appeared to be only two units on the floor—one on each side of the hallway.

Nancy stopped in front of the one on the left and raised her hand to knock. A few moments passed before a booming "coming" could be heard from the other side of the door.

When it flew open, I was surprised by the man standing on the other side. Well over six feet tall, the man who I assumed was Nancy's son stood eye to eye with me and towered over his mother's five-and-a-half-foot frame. There weren't many people who rivaled my height, but this young man sure did.

"Mom!" her son shouted in surprise and stepped in to engulf her in a hug.

"What are you doing here? You normally call to let me know you're traveling.

" Despite his words, he stepped aside to let his mother in, but put his hand up before I could follow suit.

"And who are you? I know every man my mother works with, and I've never seen your face before.

" He turned to his mother and asked again. "Who's this?"

"Lex Holland,” I offered. “A friend of Wes."

I didn't add that I knew twenty different ways to break his hand, and nothing he did would stop me from getting closer to his mother if that was what I wished to do. And I was fighting down that urge.

"Is that true, Mom?"

Only when Nancy nodded her head and told "Jimmy" to "knock it off" did her son deign to put his hand down and grant me entry into his apartment.

Jimmy was kind enough to wait until we all got further into the living room before he started in. "Is everything okay? Are you in some kind of trouble? Is that why this strange guy is with you?"

Nancy sighed. "Everything's fine. Lex isn't some stranger. He was in the Marines with Wes, and when I asked Wes for help, this was who he got for me."

I wondered how much Wes had told Nancy about our time together. I would have to remember to have a discussion with my old friend about that. There were certain things people didn't need to know. My time deployed was one of them.

"Help with what? If you need something, you should have told me."

"Not help for me." She pointed first at herself and then at Jimmy. "Help for you." Nancy sounded exasperated when she spoke, and I could only guess how many times they’d had this conversation.

"I've already told you I don't need help. Those letters are nothing more than some fan who's pissed I screwed up the season for the team."

Oh yeah. Based on Jimmy's tone, they'd had this conversation a few times.

"Fans can be pissed all they want, but when they start threatening to harm my boy, I take offense. And correct me if I'm wrong, but even your agent advised you to take the threats seriously."

I was going to need to see these letters and catch up on the situation fast. I was about to say as much, but Jimmy and Nancy weren't done arguing.

"Fred worries too much."

Nancy threw her hands in the air and I chuckled to myself. It was good to know I wasn't the only one who frustrated her to that point.

"He's your agent. It's his job to worry and take things seriously."

"For now," Jimmy grumbled under his breath.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Nancy's arms were now crossed over her chest and her face was bright red.

I was starting to consider if it was time for me to break things up for a bit.

Family drama wasn't my thing, and I would've preferred to avoid it if at all possible.

This was starting to get out of my comfort zone, and I wanted it to stop, but Jimmy decided to drop a bomb before I could make my move.

"I was going to wait until after I made my decision to tell you, but I guess now's a good time." Jimmy took a deep breath. "I'm considering breaking my contract and leaving the NFL."