Starry-Eyed Love (Spark House)

I fall into step with him as we walk down the hall to the locker room. “That’s because I haven’t been dating someone when we’ve had something like this.”

“Is this official now that her event is over?”

“We’re seeing each other, yes.”

“Wow, you’re moving fast on this one. The last time we talked, you were taking her out on a date, and now you’re what, a couple?” Trent looks shocked in a way I didn’t expect.

“I told you I wanted to pursue her, and you were the one who pointed out that I’ve basically been dating her this entire time with all the stuff we’ve been doing together. I like her a lot.” I follow him into the locker room.

“Yeah, but ‘a lot’ as in you want to get her naked as often as possible, or ‘a lot’ as in you want to call her your girlfriend?”

“Uh, both?”

“Oh. Wow. And you’re sure she’s not just using you for all the golden opportunities.”

“I know you’re just looking out for me, but London isn’t like the Jessicas of my past.” I don’t want to get dragged into the paranoia of it all either.

“You’ve only known her for a few months. She could be pulling the wool over your eyes.”

I hold up a hand to stop him. “She’s not.”

He scrubs a palm over his face. “I get that you’re into her, Jax, but she turned you down when you asked her out the first time.”

“Yeah, but then she asked me out again.”

“After you started working together and she knew who you were. And now you’ve introduced her to some of the most influential people in the country. I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but it seems a little convenient.”

“She was in a relationship at the time.” I’ve explained this to him before, so I don’t know why he feels the need to push this angle.

“What if that’s what she wants you to believe?”

“Look, I need you to stop feeding the paranoia. I haven’t been this interested in someone in a long time, and I don’t want to mess this up by letting your worries dictate my actions. I’m not asking her to move in with me or marry me, for fuck’s sake! I’m taking her to the charity event. That’s it.”

Trent blows out a breath. “Shit. Sorry. Look, man, I’m not trying to be an asshole. I just don’t want to see you get duped again. You’re usually very cautious and very private, and you’ve been neither of these things when it comes to London. I hope you’re right, but if you’re as serious about her as you seem to be, you need to give Selene a heads-up. When was the last time you brought someone other than Selene to an event?”

He has a point. “I think she’s been dodging me since the Colorado event.”

“Why would you say that?” Trent stops rummaging in his duffel.

“I’ve left her a couple of voicemails that have gone unanswered, and her PA is the one responding to emails. I figured she was just busy with whatever she’s got going on, but now I’m wondering if that’s it. We haven’t been together in a long time, not since before Peru.”

“Together as in…” Trent lets it hang.

“I don’t need to spell that out for you.” I arch a brow. “Before that, it was probably closer to a year. She was dating that soccer player. Whatever his name was. Anyway, that’s beside the point.” I wave the comment away. “The last time, which was more than half a year ago we agreed that it was the last time.”

“Who put that on the table? You or her?”

“I don’t know. It was a conversation and we came to a mutual agreement that it was better for us not to go there anymore.”

“Right. Okay.” Trent rubs between his eyes, like this conversation is making him uncomfortable. “Do you want me to talk to her?”

“Let me try one more time. If she’s still avoiding my calls, I’ll take you up on that.”

“Okay. I’ve always got your back, you know that. Except in the shower, you can loofah your own back.”

I chuckle and clap him on the shoulder as I pass, heading to the showers. “And I appreciate that.”

* * *

As promised, I attempt to contact Selene, but again, my texts go unanswered and my call goes to voicemail. I would prefer to speak with her directly, but she’s not leaving me with much of a choice. I leave a voicemail letting her know that I have a plus-one for the Mills Hotel charity event and that I wanted to give her time to plan accordingly. I also request that she call me back, but I’m not holding my breath on that.

The next morning Mitchell shows up at my office door about three minutes after I sit down at my desk to review the charity event from the weekend and go over the one we’re hosting next month at the Mills Hotel.