Be Mine (Jackson Boys 2)

“Honey, I’m home,” I announce. I toe off my athletic flip-flops and toss the gym bag near the front door. Charlie shoots a disapproving gaze at my sloppiness, but if she can invite people over without telling me, I figure I can be a slob.

Speaking of surprise guests, I tell her, “By the way, Chip Peters is stopping by.”

She stops dead in her tracks. “Chip Peters? Why?”

“Because he’s got some film for me to watch.”

“Why is he sending you film?”

“The front office brought him in to be my QB coach for leadership reasons.”

“That sucks.”

“Yeah, it does, and I don’t know how it’s going to help. With the retirements and trades, there’s a boatload of new people. I don’t think we need Chip to help us get our act together. We just need more time.” But, like the coach pointed out, we only have two more weeks before the season starts. Shit, maybe he’s right and Chip will help.

“Can’t Peters just email you the film?”

“Probably, but he’s going to deliver it in person.” I pat her shoulder as I walk by on my way to the refrigerator. Inside, a Mountain Dew tempts me. I shove it aside and grab a jug of water. “Why’d I buy the soda?”

“For the same reason we have a giant container of cheese puff balls in the pantry. Because in the grocery store, you have the impulse control of a toddler.”

“Don’t insult Cassidy like that,” I joke.

“When is Chip coming over?”

“Dunno.”

“Can you call him and get him to come over now before the girls arrive? I don’t want to spring a strange man on Cassidy.”

“I can try.” I take my jug of water into the living room and grab my phone off the side table. “Chip’s not all bad. He can be a jerk at times, but the guy’s got a lot going on in his life.” I’m not sure how I’d feel if I only got to play six years in the pros before being taken out by a massive injury. Resentful, jealous. I’d definitely not be in the mood to celebrate every day. When I look at Chip, I see how easily my career could be over in an instant. So yeah, I’ve got a lot of sympathy for ol’ Chip.

“You know he tried to get in my pants multiple times the last two years,” Charlie informs me.

I give her a sharp look. “Do you want me to do something about it?”

In the past, Charlie’s always been touchy about me putting my nose where it doesn’t belong. Her dating life is her business, she says. Which is true to a certain extent. I’ve gotten fairly good at picking out which guys have potential for being decent long-term boyfriend material and heading them off before they can make a connection. It’s for the guy’s sake, really. Because as much as Charlie might want to deny it, she’s still in love with my brother, and any guy she hooks up with is always going to play second fiddle to Nate.

It’s best that I tell the lost boys to scram before she breaks their heart. She ruined a couple of my college teammates, not on purpose, just through sheer obliviousness.

“Can you?”

I scratch my head. “Yeah, I can say something to him. I get that he’s got a big ego, but he’s been a pro quarterback for six years. You have to have a big swinging dick to play at that level. Sometimes that bleeds over into off-the-field stuff.”

“You’re not an asshole,” Charlie points out.

“Because I have you and Lainey telling me I’m not worth more than two grubby cents.” I’m only half joking.

Charlie gives me a “who cares” shrug. “Someone’s got to do it.”

“Do the two of you have to enjoy it so much?”

The buzzer from the doorman interrupts whatever smart-assed comment Charlie was going to zing back at me.

She peers into the screen. “Damn, it’s Lainey. At least I’ll have time to warn her. Actually, maybe we’ll just go out for dinner while you and Chip meet.”

“What? No!”

She jerks back at the unintentional volume in my voice. I strive for a more reasonable tone. “I want to see Cassidy,” I explain.

Charlie gives me another arched look that says I’m not fooling her one bit. Fortunately, I’m saved by the bell. Literally.

I don’t even have to work at summoning up a civil smile because Cassidy’s dressed up in her Cinderella costume, complete with her fairy godmother star wand. The girl is so danged cute.

“Uncle Nick!” she shouts as I lift her off the ground. She waves her wand and nearly pokes me in the eye.

“Hey doll face.” I give her baby-soft cheek a kiss.

“I’m Cinderella.” She rubs her hand along my stubbled cheek. “You’re scratchy.”

“Didn’t know you were coming or I would’ve shaved for you.” Cassidy has made it clear on more than one occasion that she likes my face smooth. I’m not sure what Lainey’s preference is, although I did look up Erik Estrada on the internet. I’m not growing a ’stache like that. Cassidy would probably cry every time she saw me.