Fair Catch (Love and Sports Series) (35 page)

             
“No, I wasn’t actually.” Lexi felt her mouth drop to the ground. Where was the easy going Jake that she knew and loved, why was he trying to make things more difficult for her? She tried to give Jake her evil eye but he wasn’t having any of it. “I actually want to know what we’re celebrating. Maria, please sit down and tell us what brought you here.”

             
Maria eyed Jake for what seemed like forever and then finally took a seat in a chair opposite of the sofa so Jake and Lexi could sit together. Lexi took a seat and tried to put some distance between her and Jake but he wasn’t having any of that. Instead he scooted closer to her and put his hand on her thigh. Heat radiated up her leg from his light touch and she felt herself go red. She tried to casually shake his hand off but it was as if he glued his hand to the inside of her leg.

             
Her mom was fixated on Jake’s hand and that was when Lexi realized she was wearing a short robe so she tried to cover up what she might have been showing. She was mortified, not only was Jake in the apartment in the morning, but he was making a huge production of them being together in front of her mom. Her mom never saw Lexi with a guy so this was a new experience for everyone.

             
Jake cut through the silence. “So you were going to tell us what we are celebrating this morning.”

             
Maria shifted her gaze back up to Lexi, stuck her chin up and said, “This may seem strange to you…Jake, but I filed for divorce today.” She looked at Lexi. “I’m moving on.”

             
Finally her mom was freeing herself of a terrible past. Lexi felt like shooting to the roof to do a happy dance. Lexi was about to say something when Jake cut her off. “Maria, that’s great.” He got up and scooped her up in a big bear hug. “Good for you.”

             
“I beg your pardon?” Maria said. She shot daggers at Lexi. “You told him?” Lexi twisted her hands in her lap and tried to avoid eye contact with her mother. “I don’t even know this boy and you tell him about your family secrets? I can’t believe you would go and tell some nobody about my life. How dare you.” By now Jake had let go of Lexi’s mom and was standing to the side watching Maria attack Lexi.

             
Lexi could barely move she felt so paralyzed. She stole a quick glance at Jake who had hurt written all over his face and then looked at her mom who was fuming with fury. This was not the morning she envisioned. A beep went off in the kitchen which beckoned Margo into the room. Margo stopped mid stride and looked at the extremely uncomfortable situation playing out in the living room.

             
“Uh, coffee anyone?” Margo asked, trying to ease the tension. Jake went over to the kitchen, grabbed a mug and poured himself a giant cup.

             
“Look at me Lexi.” Maria said. Lexi looked up at her mom and wondered when she became so tough. “Were you going to tell me about how you’re a floozy and sleeping with random men?”

             
Mortification was not a good enough word for what Lexi was feeling at the current moment. Anger steeped her body. She was angry at Margo for letting her mom in the apartment in the first place. She was angry at Jake for not going with her lead and leaving her alone with her mom and she was angry at her mom for talking so poorly about her and Jake. Lexi finally found her words and snapped.

             
“Just one man, Mom. I’m not the floozy you might think I am. I’ve been seeing Jake for months now and we’re in love. I didn’t tell you because frankly I didn’t want him to meet you. Not when you walk around with bruises and black eyes as if nothing is wrong. Didn’t you wonder why I never came home?”

             
“Lexi…” Her mom said in a tight voice but Lexi didn’t stop.

             
“I’m happy for you Mom, I really am. I’m glad you have finally faced your demons and left dad but don’t you dare come into my home and start calling me names and making my friend and boyfriend uncomfortable because you’re insecure.”

             
Lexi glanced over at Margo and Jake who were both leaning against the counter in the kitchen with coffee mugs perched against their mouths and their eyes practically bulging out of their sockets.

             
Her mom looked at Jake and Margo and then Lexi. She put her head in her hand and said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so insulting.” She gestured toward Jake and Margo. “Please come sit down. I want to get to know you.”

             
Margo grabbed a box of doughnuts off the counter and Jake poured two more mugs of coffee and they spent the morning talking to Lexi’s mom. Jake told her all about football and the Scouting Combine, Maria looked impressed that Lexi could land such a man. Margo talked about her animal shelter and the fund raiser she was currently working on part time, of course. Lexi just sat back and watched her two lives mesh as one. After Lexi’s outburst, Maria calmed down and intently listened to all their stories.

             
Finally Jake looked at the clock and grimaced. He turned to Lexi. “I have to go. I have a meeting with my coach.”

             
“On a Sunday?” Lexi asked.

             
“Yea, sorry.” He gave her a quick peck on the lips and got up to grab his stuff from her bedroom. Margo picked up the coffee mugs and the empty box of doughnuts.

             
“I have to go to. I need to get in the shower and then head down to the shelter. Maria, it was good to see you again.” Margo gave her a quick hug and vanished into her room.

             
Jake appeared back in the living room, this time wearing a shirt and he had his backpack strapped to his back. Lexi sighed as she watched him approach her. She could never get enough of this man. He waved bye to Maria as Lexi walked him to the door. She blocked off her mom so Lexi could have a semi-private moment with Jake before he left.

             
“When will you be back?” She asked while grabbing at his shirt.

             
He stepped away and said, “Uh, don’t know. I might just stay at my place because I have a lot of things I need to catch up on.”

             
Lexi felt her gut twist. He was pulling away. She spoke to him in a low whisper. She didn’t want her mom seeing her getting in some kind of tiff with her boyfriend.              

             
“Jake, are you mad at me?”

             
Jake ran his hand over his face. “Now’s not the time, Lexi.”

             
A cold wind passed between them. Jake had never acted so cold toward her, she didn’t know how to react so she turned into a blubbering girl.

             
She grabbed his arm and pulled him closer. “I’m sorry if I upset you. Please don’t be angry.”

             
He reclaimed his arm and pulled out his car keys from his pocket. “I got to go, I will call you later. Let your mom know I had a nice time.”

             
Lexi felt tears start to well up in her face so she went after him in the parking lot.

             
“Jake, wait.” He stopped in his tracks but did not turn around. “Please don’t be mad. I’m sorry.”

             
He turned toward her.  “Do you even know what you’re sorry for?” Lexi felt her mouth go dry. She couldn’t even answer because she was so taken back by the hurt that was pouring out of him. “That’s what I thought.” He opened his car door and got in, before he shut the door he said, “Go back inside, you’re practically naked.” Then he slammed the door and drove off, without a good bye kiss or even a hug. Lexi had never felt so torn before in her life. She knew why Jake was mad, he was mad because her mom had no clue who he was. They were planning on living together after college and she never even mentioned him to her parents.

             
Lexi quickly wiped away the tears from her face so her mom wouldn’t see her at such a weak state and walked quickly back to her apartment so no one saw her in her robe that kept blowing open in the breeze.

             
When Lexi got back to her apartment her mom was standing right next to the door. She most likely watched the entire encounter with Jake. When Lexi shut the door and faced her mom she knew her mom heard everything from the look on her face.

             
“Lexi, I need to talk to you.”

             
“Not now Mom.”

             
Her mom had a tone in her voice that Lexi never heard before, it was strong and demanding. “Now Lexi. Sit down.”

             
Lexi took a seat on the couch and her mom sat next to her. Lexi wished it was Jake again who was sitting next to her.

             
“Lexi, tell me what you plan on doing after you graduate.”

             
Completely exasperated, she should have expected such a question. It was the million dollar question these days. Lexi didn’t want to be having this conversation right now, she wanted to be chasing after Jake and making sure everything was ok between them.

             
“I don’t want to talk about this right now.” She tried to get up but her mom stopped her.

             
“Well you’re going to young lady. You need to have a future.”

             
“I do!” Lexi shouted. “But that future just walked out of here pissed at me because I was too ashamed to bring him home and tell you about him.”

             
Lexi saw the hurt flash through her mom’s eyes but instead of backing off her mom rolled with Lexi’s punches. “So Jake is your future?”

             
“Yes of course, Mom. I love him.”

             
“Well of course you do dear.” Her mom was talking in a soothing voice now that made Lexi remember the days of when she was a little girl and her mom would tell her stories about princesses being rescued by their handsome prince when she was braiding her hair. “But when Jake is off playing football, what are you going to do?”

             
Lexi shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ll find something. Jake doesn’t really want me working. He said he wants me to be able to relax and he is going to support us.”

             
Lexi’s mom patted her hand and shook her head. “Don’t do it sweetie. Don’t do what I did at your age.”

             
“And what is that, Mom?”

             
“Don’t fall for a man that is promising you the world. That is what I did.” Lexi was about to interrupt her but her mom held up her hand. “Please let me finish. I’m sure Jake is a great guy and would never do what your father has done to me but that is beside the point. I let your father take over my life, I let him decide what I was going to do and it left me with nothing. I’m fifty five and just starting to gain work experience. Don’t let that be you. Don’t make the same mistakes I did. You need to find yourself first before you attach yourself to such a strong alpha of a male.”

             
“But Jake would never leave me.”

             
“Honey, I know it may seem like that and you might be right. He might never leave you but what if he did? Where would you be? You would end up exactly where I am, working an entry level job living with a friend just trying to make ends meet. Make something of yourself first sweetie. If Jake loves you the way I think he does then he will let you find your way. And if he is a decent man at all, he will help you find the path you’re meant to take. Don’t settle to be a trophy wife, you’re better than that. You’re stronger than I ever was and there is a future out there for you, a bright one. Go out and seize it.”

             
Maria pulled Lexi in for a big hug and then got up. Leaving Lexi on the couch trying to process everything her mom just said to her. Her mom walked toward the door and turned around.

             
“Thank you for letting me in and being there for me when I needed you the most. It seems like you have a wonderful life here and wonderful people around you. Just remember, you’re meant to do something big and standing in a man’s shadow is not in your future. Don’t be me, learn from me. I love you, sweetie. Call me if you need anything.”

             
Once her mom was completely gone, tears instantly fell down Lexi’s face. Was her mom right? Was Lexi following in her mom’s footsteps? Lexi never gave thought to what might happen if her and Jake ever broke up or if Jake got sick of her and tested the waters with other women when he was out on the road. That would be a typical move her father would do. Would Jake turn into her father? She always heard that women chose to fall in love with men who resembled their fathers. Was she one of those women? Jake had never been physical with her and he always supported her, no he couldn’t be like her dad.

             
Although, he was quite demanding when it came to her not having a job. He only wanted her to be there for him, nothing else. Was he trying to control her? She shook her head, no. He loved her and just wanted her to be with him at all times like she wanted to be with him.