Fair Catch (Love and Sports Series) (42 page)

             
There was a knock at his front door. Jake ignored it. He didn’t want to talk to anyone. The brief thought that it might be Lexi crossed his mind but he pushed that thought back. She wouldn’t be at his place, not after the things she said to him. He fell back on his bed then heard another knock but this was more of a banging that kept rapping at his door. Jake let out a frustrated growl and charged toward his door.

             
He whipped it open and yelled, “WHAT!”

             
In front of him stood Parker with a depressingly sorry look on his face. Jake didn’t want his pity so he went to slam the door shut but Parker pushed his way through.

“Jake
, I want to talk to you.”

             
“Well I don’t want to fucking talk to you.”

             
“You might want to.”

             
What the hell did that mean? Jake gripped Parker’s shirt and pushed him up against the wall of his entry way. “What the fuck did you do?” He pushed him harder. “Was this your idea? I swear to God I will rip your balls off and use them as a hood ornament if it was.”

             
“Jesus.” Parker said while trying to break Jake’s clasp. “I didn’t even know Lexi was upset.” Parker tried to fight off Jake but even though they were evenly matched in size, Jake had rage coursing through his body giving him the edge.

             
Finally, Jake let up on Parker’s shirt and walked toward his living room while running his hand through his hair. He heard Parker following him so he turned around and shot Parker a warning glare.

“Why are you here?”

              “I wanted to see how you were.”

             
“You come to laugh? Gloat? See how I’ve completely fallen to rock bottom after Lexi ripped my heart out. I know you’ve always pined after her. I’m sure you’re enjoying this.”

             
Parker shook his head. “I’m really not. Watching Lexi cry her eyes out is not at the top of my list of fun things to watch and there is nothing I can do about it. Lexi and I are friends, that’s it Jake. When are you going to get that through your thick skull?”

             
Jake sank down on his couch, put his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. Then he remembered what Parker said, Lexi was crying…a lot. He shot his head up. “So you saw her?”

             
Parker took up residence in the chair across from Jake. “Yea and she’s a fucking mess, man.”

             
“What the hell? Why is she doing this?”

             
“That’s why I came over. I thought I would give you a little insight. She still loves you, she told me just now.” The vice that was closing off the breath to Jake’s lungs loosened from Parker’s words. She still loved him. He knew it. He knew she didn’t mean any of the words she said.

Needing to be with her,
Jake shot out of his chair and grabbed his keys. The only reason he didn’t make it out the door was because Parker stopped him.

“Where are you going man?”

              “I’m going to get my girl. Now get the fuck off of me.”

             
“You can’t do that.”

             
Jake spat back, “And why the hell not?!”

             
“She needs time. You need to give her time. If you crowd her now you’re going to ruin everything. She needs to find her path, man.”

             
Jake shoved Parker to the side. “I’m her path. You have no clue. You haven’t been around lately. I’m what she needs.”

             
Parker shook his head. “I might not have been around lately but I’ve been there for the past three and a half years and I’m telling you, if you go over there now you’re going to ruin any chance you have at getting her back. Please listen to me when I tell you, she needs to do this on her own. She is stubborn as shit and when she says she needs to find her way, let her.” Jake loosened the grip on the door knob he was planning to rip off the door in order to get to his Jeep. “Give her some space.”

             
Jake dropped his head. “I don’t want to give her space.”

             
“I know but you have to.”

             
Unfortunately, Jake understood what Parker was saying. Lexi was one of the most stubborn women he knew and when she had her heart on something, she went all out, hence why she just broke the all-time hits record. He had to let her go, even though he didn’t want to. If he didn’t let her go, he might never get her back. Jake threw his keys on the ground and slid to the floor so his back was against the door. He didn’t like looking like a pansy in front of Parker but right now he didn’t care too much.

             
“Christ, this is so fucked up.” Jake muttered while rubbing his eyes with the palm of her hands. Parker slid down next to him.

             
“I agree but all you have to remember is that she loves you. She loves you so much.”

             
“I don’t understand why she is doing this if she loves me.”

             
Parker was silent contemplating his words but then broke the silence. “Don’t you see, man? She’s trying to separate you from her father.”

             
Jake felt the rage boil back up inside of his body. “How many fucking times do I have to tell her? I am not that bastard of a father she has.”

             
“You can’t tell her, you have to show her.” Parker said quickly. Jake didn’t interrupt Parker, he let him continue. “She needs her independence. Her mom warned Lexi about becoming her. Lexi watched her mom become so dependent upon her dad that she swore she would never be like her mom and when her mom tried to get away and stick up for herself, find her own way, her dad just beat the shit out of her. As if he was trying to show her he belonged to her. I know you are nowhere near her father, but Lexi is testing you. She saw herself becoming her mom and now she is trying to become the independent woman she once was. She is testing you to see if you will let her.”

             
It all clicked in Jake’s head. “Well, Jesus. I can help her for fuck’s sake.”

             
“She doesn’t want your help.”

             
Jake blew out a frustrated breath. “That’s what being in a relationship is all about, helping each other, being there, and taking care of each other.”

             
“Yes, you’re right but there is a fine line between helping her out and running her life.”

             
Jake shot Parker a warning glare.  “I was not running her life. She could fucking choose whatever she wanted to do.”

             
Parker held up his hands in defense. “I know, but you have to put yourself in her shoes. She has seen the extremes of what a guy can do so if she senses any kind of control you are taking away from her, she is going to push it to the extreme.”

             
Shit. Parker was right. He didn’t want Parker to be right but he was. Lexi was so sensitive when it came to her family and if he reminded her of any negative aspects of her family,then he could understand why she needed to separate herself and re-group. It didn’t make sense in the real world but it made sense in Lexi’s world and he had to accept that.

             
Finals were right around the corner and then he would be heading off to start training with the Thunder’s trainers. His life would soon be fully consumed by football and he hated knowing that the last free weeks he would have would not be shared with Lexi. But if he thought about it what were a few weeks compared to a lifetime without her? He needed to give her some space and time to figure things out.

             
“Alright.” Jake said in a defeated tone.

             
“Alright?” Parker asked confused.

             
“I’m going to give her the space she wants. I don’t like it but I don’t’ want to lose her either.”

             
“Smart.” Was all parker said.

Chapter 18

             
Lexi stood in the dugout waiting for her name to be called. She just played her last game and her emotions were out of control. They lost in the second round of playoffs but at least they were able to lose at home where all her friends were, her family not so much. Her mom was the only one present, her dad lost the privilege to watch her play when he started beating the hell out of her mom.

             
It had been a couple of weeks since she last spoke to Jake. She missed him terribly but she wasn’t going to go back to him. She couldn’t. She couldn’t end up like her mom who completely relied on her husband. Her mom now struggled paying the bills on a tiny apartment while she worked like a dog just to stay afloat. Lexi tried convincing her mom to ask for alimony during the divorce filings but her mom refused to take anything else from her dad. Lexi admired her mom for her decision even though it was slowly putting her mom in an early grave. Watching her mom fight for herself inspired Lexi even more to land on her feet after college.

             
Texas once again approached her but Lexi declined and this time it had nothing to do with Jake. She didn’t really want to be a coach even though softball had been her whole life, that was the sole reason why she didn’t accept the offer. She needed to separate herself from the sport that had run her entire life ever since she could remember. She had applied to a couple of odd jobs but didn’t really get any bites and there was nothing that really called out to her. She would be nervous if it wasn’t for Margo. She hooked Lexi up with a temp job at the animal shelter until she got a real job. Lexi had to be able to pay the bills somehow. She wasn’t too worried, she knew she was going to find her way and at least she would be providing for herself. Things were going to be tight but she would be finding her way.

             
Lexi looked out on the field and took in all the sights, sounds and smells. Before the game she put some of the dirt from the infield in a bottle for keepsake and laid out in the outfield with Margo, looking up at the sky like they did their freshman year, marveling at the fact that they were going to play softball for Cal U.

The last four years had been
a dream come true especially the past year. Finding a man that loved her was something she would never let fall from her mind. She loved Jake, she truly did but she just couldn’t be with him right now.

             
Lexi was knocked out of her thoughts when the announcer said, “Number seventeen Lexi Knox!” Lexi was escorted out to the field by her mom where she met her coach in the pitcher’s circle. It wasn’t until the game ended and she got out to the pitcher’s circle that she noticed the crowd in the stands and around the fence. It was completely packed and the cheering from the supporters nearly bowled her over.

The right field fence was taken completely up by the football and baseball team, most likely Jake and Parker’s doing and the stands were filled with future Cal U softball players. There were signs with her name plastered against them and chants filling the air. Never in her life had she ever experienced something so wonderful. Her mom was crying next t
o her and it took all the energy in her body not to break down.

             
She was finally getting the recognition for her past four years of dedication to her school that she deserved. She soaked up the moment and committed it to memory. The way the warm breeze crossed her face as she looked out at her adoring fans was something she would remember forever. Margo, the only other senior on the team, joined her and they held each other while basking in the cheers.

             
Margo leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Remember this, girl. This is all for you.”

             
“You too.” Lexi said while looking up at her.

             
Margo pointed to a tall, handsome figure standing front and center in the stands and said, “No this is all for you. He did this all for you.”

             
The man standing in front of her made Lexi’s heart beat so fast that she thought it was going to pop right out of her chest. The photographer made Lexi and Margo stand together while looking out at the field as he took pictures of their back, as well as their front with the crowd. It was a moment she defiantly wanted captured. She turned and looked over at Jake who was cheering and smiling at her. Damn him, Lexi thought. Her heart was already weak, she didn’t need him doing such amazingly sweet things for her.

             
Once the crowd died down and she hugged pretty much everyone she came across, Lexi took once last look at the field all her blood, sweat and tears were shed on and stepped out of the dugout. She was startled when she saw Jake leaning up against the outside wall, waiting for her.