Page 106 of Nailing Heat

“Damn, son, you really liked this girl!” Meg shouts.

“I thinkImight really like this girl!” Amy adds in.

“Girls!” my mom scolds them. “Honey, you can’t let August down because of a girl. You said when you left us to go down there that the team needed someone who was going to stick around. How does that make you look if you leave because you started a relationship with one of the players that didn’t end well?”

Fuck, she’s got me there.

“Well, technically, I was allowed too. There is no fraternization policy, August had to remove it because there were a few other relationships that started within the team,” I reason.

“Dexter Michael, that is not the point, and you know it.” my mom scolds me. “You have to talk to her and then give her space to process. We all know your ex-wife and meeting her couldn’t have been an easy feat. She’s not exactly the warmest woman on the planet.”

“Yes, I know, Mom.” I sigh. “I’ve missed my ladies.”

Amy and Jo reply with a chorus of “Missed you too.”

While Meg says, “Missed you too, butthead.”

I shake my head. “You can’t be nice, can you, Meg?”

“I can be nice, but you would be worried if I was constantly nice to Dex,” she teases.

“We all miss you, honey,” Mom says. “But if you’re truly unhappy, come home. You can’t keep running from the problems that you create. You did that when you left the Patriots and if you leave the Blaze, whether it be to be a PA down there or not, you’ll still be running.”

“You’re right, Mom, thank you. I needed that type of perspective from you. This is why I call you guys. That and I miss our weekly chats.”

“We can start those up again, Dex. We’re always here for you. I thinkyouwere the one that was too embarrassed to talk with us,” Amy says, nailing the issue on the head.

“I was and I shouldn’t have been. I didn’t cheat on all of you, but I sure did disappoint you all. I love you. I apologize for not keeping in better touch,” I say, feeling so much better after talking to them.

“Dex, are you home, dude!” I hear August call from the entryway.

“Well, August is home. I’m going to see what he wants. Thank you for talking to me and for the advice.” I say grinning.

“Are you going to take it?” Jo asks. “Are you going to talk to her? Or least put yourself back in her life so that she can see what she’s missing?”

“I think I will.”

“Good,” Amy says happily.

“Glad we could help you, sweetheart. It’s been nice talking with you,” Mom says, wrapping up our call. “Call us and let us know how you’re doing. Or put it in the family group chat.”

I laugh; she’s come a long way with technology. My sisters had to spend so much time teaching her the finer points of texting. “I will, ladies. I love you all and miss you so much. Have a great night and we’ll talk soon.”

They all say a string of bye’s, and I love you’s before clicking off the line.

I head out to see what August is up to and to talk with him about formulating a plan to get Amelia back.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

~AMELIA~

I’ve been reading the same sentence again and again. But it’s not registering in my brain. Nothing is lately. He’s been gone from the apartment for a total of five days. Five days and finally I can’t smell him in the apartment anymore. But that doesn’t make me miss him any less. I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose. My friends will be here any minute for a girls’ night. I think it’s what I need-a distraction to help me keep my mind off of things. A knock sounds at the door, announcing their arrival.

“It’s open!” I call out to them.

The door swings open and in come the three women who have been my saviors since moving to Tampa. Mac, Cassie and Hendrix all come in wearing their pajama shorts and oversized T-shirts. The shock comes when Jase and August follow them into the apartment. August is carrying a stack of pizzas, and I can see beer in Jase’s hand.

“What are you boys doing wrecking our girls’ night?” I ask.