Head spinning, heart pounding, he picked up his phone to text Macy and see how things were going when the cell rang in his hand and Austin’s name flashed on the screen.
Austin. The same brother Jaxon had sworn he’d never be like. He’d believed he wouldn’t fall in love quickly like Austin had with Quinn. He’d thought he didn’t need or want someone in his life who could disappoint him the way Katie had. The way his father had.
And then came Macy.
The phone rang again, startling him out of his thoughts, and he answered. “Hey! What’s up?” He strode back into the family room as he spoke. “Did you keep things calm with management for me? I haven’t heard from anyone, so I assume what happened last night with the party will get swept under the rug?” he asked Austin, his manager.
“It’s been quiet … which can be good or bad,” Austin said, “but that’s not why I’m calling.”
Jaxon sat down and glanced at the television, which had the same movie from earlier playing on screen. His brother sounded serious, so he hit the mute button to avoid any distractions.
“What’s going on?” Jaxon asked.
“I’ve had some quiet interest in you, and Eagles ownership seems willing to talk to them. I wanted to give you a heads-up.”
He bolted upright in his seat. “Interest from who?” he asked, stomach churning.
Florida was his home. His family was here. His teammates were another type of family. He’d been here for years and had hoped to play here until he retired.
“San Antonio,” Austin said.
“Texas.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“They have World Series potential,” Austin reminded him unnecessarily.
Nobody knew the baseball landscape as well as Jaxon.
“And that’s the one thing you don’t have yet.” Another unnecessary reminder. Not to mention his age and time were ticking away for him to achieve that one goal. He’d all but come to terms with not earning a ring.
“I don’t know how I feel about this,” Jaxon muttered.
“You may not have a choice. I got a heads-up but San Antonio can be calling the Eagles as we speak. I’ll work on the best package I can get for you if it comes down to it. I’m sorry, man. You may have gotten married for no reason, on your end anyway. A trade may happen anyway.”
“I’ve got to go.” Jaxon didn’t want to have a conversation with Austin about marriage and Macy. He disconnected the call and tossed the phone on the sofa.
So much for thinking they could be a real family. If there was one thing he knew for sure, Macy and Hannah’s life was here. Hannah went to school here. He’d seen their reactions about potentially moving school districts in state. They weren’t going to pick up and go to Texas just to be with him.
And why should they?
This had been a marriage of convenience, not love. True, they’d imagined it lasting much longer than a week, but the fact was, Macy no longer needed him. Once she informed her former stepmother that Hannah didn’t come with a hefty bank account she could access, Macy would secure custody of her sister. And if this trade happened, San Antonio knew what they were getting in Jaxon and wanted him anyway.
Austin was right. No marriage necessary. He could go back to his playboy ways, and Macy didn’t need to be saddled with a guy who’d barely be around. Pitchers and catchers reported in a month, and he was ramping up his workouts starting this week. He was too busy to worry about a wife and a family anyway.
And even as his gut twisted at the thought of losing Macy, he knew it was for the best. Because he knew how it felt to ask the woman he loved to go with him cross country, and worse, he remembered how it felt to get turned down. And with his feelings for Macy more adult, deeper, and more real than those he’d had for Katie, he was better off being the one to walk away.Chapter ThirteenMacy arrived back at Jaxon’s house and heard music coming from the workout room. Leaving him alone, she headed to Hannah’s room to check on her. She knocked and walked in. Hannah sat on her bed, notebook open, and she met Macy’s gaze as she entered the room.
“Can we talk?” Macy asked.
Hannah nodded. “I just finished my homework.”
She gathered all her books into a pile and pushed them aside, shutting her laptop, too. Without all the makeup, she looked so young and vulnerable, and Macy wanted to do her best to make this as easy as possible for her.
“I just came from seeing your mom.”
Hannah looked at her with big eyes.
“And I think, in her own way, Lilah feels bad about what happened and what you overheard. It doesn’t change the fact that she wanted custody of you for the wrong reasons. But I did make it clear to her that you’re staying with me.”