Page 67 of Nailing Heat

The seasons with the Blaze and the university are going to overlap, leaving Mac at home to fend for herself for a bit. She’s not depending on Danny, but they don’t spend a lot of time apart.

Mac sighs heavily, “I’m okay with it, I guess. I’m happy for him. He’s doing something he truly loves. I’ll miss having him around all the time. It’s sort of already started. He spends a lot of time at the pool or in his office, running practice or preparing for the upcoming meets. We spend time together when we can.” Her voice trails off.

“Kinda makes the time you do spend together that much more special,” Cassie smiles gently at her. “Plus, you’ll always have us.”

“Absolutely. You can totally come over here and hang out anytime you want. It’ll be nice to have some company,” I tell her.

“Won’t that interrupt you and Dex?” Hendrix teases me.

I flush and shake my head. “Just because we’re kissing doesn’t mean that anything else will develop.”

“Do you not want something more to happen with you two?” Cassie asks me.

Hendrix leans forward in her chair, “If you don’t like him that much, you should tell him that. Or at least tell your face. It lights up every time you see him.”

I grin. “I mean that he’s going through a divorce. That has to leave some scars, right?”

Cassie nods, “Yes, I’m sure it does. Have you two talked about why he got divorced?”

I shake my head, “No, I haven’t brought up the topic to him. Last night we were talking about movies we enjoyed, books and college experience. He didn’t mention her, and I didn’t ask.”

“How do you think he’d react if you did?” Cassie asks.

“I don’t know. Like I said, he seems to be pretty private about that whole stage of his life.”

“Well, your owed some sort of an explanation. At least if this relationship is going to be successful.” Mac leans over and squeezes me hand. “I’m sure it’s going to be a tough conversation, but I promise you it’s one worth having.”

“I would even know how to bring it up. I’m notthatexperienced with relationships, you know. If that’s even what this is, it’ll only be like, my fourth one,” I explain, wringing my hands as I talk.

“And that’s okay, I haven’t had that many either. I think we’re all in the same boat, we’re married to the game. And I’m sure as someone who was on the track to be pro, he’d understand that. Just have the conversation, you’ll feel better. He just might too.” Mac smiles gently at me, and I nod in return. “Besides, he may be friends with August, but he sure doesn’t act like him.”

Hendrix howls. “No, he sure doesn’t. At least we know that Dex can be nice.”

“August was nice to me today at the field. Making sure I knew that I would have all the support I needed from the team. And that I would have a home here once I was healthy again,” I reply.

“He was obligated to do that.” Hendrix quickly dismisses the thought that August was being sincere.

“I don’t know, Hen, I think there might be more to him than you want to admit.” Cassie grins at her.

“I will believe it when I see it,” Hendrix replies. The grudge she holds with August runs deep. So deep that I’m surprised that her comments and banter with him has not found her in trouble. Thankfully for Hendrix, she’s a hell of a keeper, so that fact doesn’t hurt.

I try to hide a yawn behind my hand but Cassie spots it.

“You look like you’re getting tired,” she says, rising from her seat. “We should let you rest.”

“No, you can stay,” I stifle another yawn.

“No, you need your rest,” Mac says, getting up to leave.

“Alright, I’ll see you later. Thanks for coming over.” I say with a smile.

“You betcha, we’ll see you later,” Hendrix says, gently leaning over me so that she can hug me.

There’s a chorus of goodbyes before they are all gone. I sit there thinking about what our conversation. I wonder when an appropriate time would be to ask Dex about his divorce. Will he share the information readily? Sighing, I decide it’s better to join a fictional world than to ponder the real one. And that is how Dex finds me when he returns.

Chapter Twenty-Four

~DEX~