Hard Hit (IceCats 3)

Jaylin: Rude.

Me: I told you I can hang, Counselor.

Jaylin: Sorry, I read that as you’re hung.

Me: I’m that, too.

Jaylin: Yes, yes, you are. But on to my next question. Why does my sweet D’Artagnan need a chastity belt?

I look around once more, and still, no one is watching.

Me: He wants to get it on with Jean.

Jaylin: Oh yeah, no. She’s off-limits. Too much going on.

Me: That, and I don’t want her to quit because of him.

Jaylin: Oh, very true. Yes, buy that. But a whip? Why do I need a whip?

I’m grinning from ear to ear as I type back.

Me: So I’d be pussy-whipped by you.

Jaylin: Oh, my sweet Kirby, you’re already whipped, and I didn’t even need an actual whip.

Yup, I might as well fall right off the balcony because that’s how I feel right now.

I’m falling hard and fast for this gorgeous woman.

And I don’t need anything to brace my fall.

I want to fall.

Jaylin: I’m kidding!

Me: No, you’re not because you know it’s true.

Jaylin: LOLOLOL. No, really, I was kidding.

Me: You know damn well you’re not, and it’s okay. I want to be.

Jaylin: You do?

Me: Yeah, cause then that means you’ve accepted that I’m yours.

When she sends me the blushy emoji, my heart soars.

Me: Why don’t you admit you’re mine?

Jaylin: Because I refuse to do something like that over text.

Me: I can respect that.

Jaylin: Good. I guess we’ve got some things to talk about when you get home.

Me: I guess so.

Jaylin: Okay, get back to your game.

Me: I’d rather talk to you.

Jaylin: Well, duh. But we’ve got time after the game, don’t we? I took a nap this afternoon, so I’m awake.

Me: Good. I’ll call you ASAP.

Jaylin: I’ll be waiting.

Those three words give me chills. She’ll be waiting for me.

Could this get any better?

Chapter Twenty-One

Jaylin

* * *

Willa hasn’t spoken to me or looked in my direction since our little talk.

She also hasn’t told anyone about it, nor have I. Gossip is a killer in this office, so Feliciana doesn’t tolerate it. Not that I want to talk about it. I’m still appalled it even happened, but no matter what, I want Willa to succeed. She’s a good lawyer, a smart girl, just ill-informed, which probably stems from her family dynamics. I’m thankful that Kirby doesn’t care about our race, but I am finding there really isn’t anything wrong with Kirby. Believe me, I’ve been looking for something.

He’s good. So good. Sweet, kind, and so supportive. I know he wants me to stay over. I know he wants to occupy all of my time, but he doesn’t push. He wants whatever I’ll give him, and sometimes I feel like I’m not giving him enough. He has me being all mindful and caring about him, which is something I’ve never done for anyone other than Aviva and Callie. He’s too good to be true, yet he is. He has his faults, but he doesn’t let them define him. He could milk that abandonment by his mom and dad until the cows come home, or even dwell on Lilly leaving him and Celeste, but he doesn’t. He just loves Celeste; he loves himself, his career, his teammates. I mean, the way he worries about and cares for Evan is beautiful. He’s so in tune with his feelings, and I swear, I’ve never met a man like that. Above all that, he adores me. Worships me, and hell, he may even love me, which terrifies the ever-living shit out of me.

I really don’t want him to say that to me.

Not yet. Jesus, I’m not ready for that.

Though, I need to get ready. I can feel it. I have never, ever done long-distance with anyone. In my opinion, it’s stupid. Too much temptation, and one never really knows what the other is doing. It consists of way too much trust in someone, but here I am. I trust him. I fucking trust a man, and I’m not even thinking twice about it. Yes, it sucks ass that he is not home, and I miss him in a way I’ve never felt before, but he’s so thoughtful. When I wake up every morning, there is a “Good morning, sweetheart. Have a beautiful day.” text or something along those lines. He never goes to sleep without calling or texting me, and we FaceTime all the time. He’s just so considerate, and I find myself doing the same. I send back texts when I know he’s playing just to make him smile when he looks at his phone. It’s easy. There, I said it. Being with Kirby is easy. It’s fluid, and I can’t get enough.

A small grin sits on my lips as I type up a contract for a battered women’s shelter. The organization bought a new space, and I need to make sure they get everything they need and want. As I read over the contract, I tap my foot on my chair and ignore the movement around me. Without even looking up, I know Willa is walking by my office, but I won’t meet her gaze. I won’t give her an opening to speak to me. I can’t trust the words that would leave my lips, or even hers. I want to continue to respect her, so ignoring her is the best way for me to do so.