Fair Catch (Love and Sports Series) (45 page)

             
“Say go Bears!” Lexi’s mom said.

             
“GO BEARS!!!” They all said while Mason shouted.

             
Jake leaned down into Lexi’s ear and said, “Congrats, Lex.”

His breath caressed her cheek and all Lexi wanted to do was lean her head into Jake’s chest to seek comfort, comfort she had been missing for a while. Instead she just looked up at him and smiled.

              “I want to get a picture of just you and Jake.” Lexi’s mom said.

Traitor.
Lexi glared at her mom trying to silently ask her what the hell she was doing but her mom didn’t care. She kept waving her hands together gesturing for Jake and Lexi to get closer. Jake took the lead and wrapped both his arms around her from behind and rested his head on hers. Her mom counted off and Lexi smiled for what she thought could be the last time because she was going to lose it any second.

             
Before letting go, Jake pulled her in for a huge hug and kissed the top of her head. When he pulled away he titled her chin up and said, “What happened the other night was a huge mistake. I want to let you know that no matter what, I will always love you and I will wait. I will wait for you to find yourself and I will wait for you to come back to me because you are mine, Lexi. You and me are meant to be together and if that means I need to wait one, two or even five years for you to come back to me, I will. You hear me? I’m waiting for you and only you.”

             
He pulled her closer and placed a soft kiss on her lips before letting go and grabbing Mason by the shirt. They both walked away holding each other by the shoulders. Lexi felt tears trickle down her face. How was she supposed to react to that?

             
A soft arm pulled her in for a hug. “Shh, it’s going to be ok, baby girl.” Her mom whispered in her ear. Lexi just shook her head. “It is.” Her mom pulled her head down and caressed the back of her hair with her hand. “Time will heal all wounds.”

             
“What was I thinking Mom?”

             
Lexi’s mom gripped the side of Lexi’s head with her hands and made Lexi look at her in the eyes. “Believe me baby girl, it is hard now but it will get better. You made the right choice. He’s a good man and if he means what he said to you, then he will wait. What you need to do right now is focus on yourself. Find who you want to be.”

             
“I don’t know what that is.”

             
“Well, you have a world to discover so go out and discover it.” Lexi’s mom slipped a piece of paper into Lexi’s hand.

             
“What’s this, Mom?”

             
“Open it sweetheart”

             
Lexi looked down and saw a check for an inappropriate amount of money in her hand. Why was her mom giving her this?

             
“Mom, where did you get this money?”

             
“It’s from your father.”

             
Lexi shoved it back at her mom. “I don’t want his money.”

             
“He doesn’t know about it. He owes us both and I want you to take this and go explore the world. Come back when you are ready but you need to go explore.”

             
“But Mom you need the money more than I do…”

             
“Hush. I don’t want your father’s money and I don’t need it. Do this for us, go explore baby girl.”

             
Lexi didn’t know what to say. She looked up at her mom who was smiling and all Lexi could do was nod her head and then hug her.

Go explore?
By herself? This was a once in a lifetime opportunity and she was going to take advantage of it. This was just what she needed. She was going to clear her mind and find her new path.

             
A man standing behind Lexi and her mom cleared his throat. “Pardon me, Lexi I wanted to talk to you for a second.”

             
Professor Lyon was standing next to her with a huge smile on his face. Lexi excused herself from her mom’s embrace and walked over to a secluded area with her old professor.

             
“Sorry to bother you but this will only take a minute. I kind of overheard your conversation with your mom? Are you going to go travel after this?”

             
“I guess so.” Lexi responded nearly blown away by her own response.

             
“Well good for you but I want to let you know, if you’re interested, I have a job for you. A real job that does not require you to pick up dog poop.”

             
“A job, really?”

             
“Yes, when you get back I’ll give you all the details but you have to make sure to be back by September.” Lexi gave him a quizzical look. He laughed. “I’ll give you all the details later but just so you know, it pays well and the employers are extremely excited about having you on board.”

             
“Why so secretive?” Lexi asked wondering why he wouldn’t just tell her about the job.

             
“Because I want you to go out and enjoy yourself. Experience the world for what it has to offer.” He handed her a business card. “Contact me when you get back. Have fun, Lexi.”

             
Lexi shook her head in astonishment and waved by to the man who might have just possibly saved her life. Lexi looked down at the check again that had her father’s name on it. She was going to take full advantage of this opportunity and then when she got back to San Diego, she was going to start her new life.

                                                        ***

              Margo was waiting in the coffee shop for Parker so they could have their last coffee together before he went off to Atlanta. Margo didn’t really want to meet Parker because that meant that Parker was in fact really leaving. They made no plans to see each other on a later date so it seemed like Margo had to say good bye forever. She was dreading the meeting and almost thought about not showing up, she thought it might have been easier to just not have that awkward last good bye but she couldn’t do that to him.

             
She looked down at her cell phone to check the time, he was fifteen minutes late. That was strange of him. She took a sip of her drink and thought about the trip Lexi was taking. Margo just dropped her off at the airport before she came to the coffee shop. Margo was so jealous. Lexi’s dead beat dad was at least good for something. Lexi planned a month in Europe followed by a month in Australia and then she was headed off to Hawaii and some other tropical islands. It seemed like a dream.

             
Lexi didn’t even act like she was scared. She was more eager than anything. More power to her Margo thought. There was no way Margo would be able to travel around the world by herself, she would be too scared. They made sure to pack her a taser and some pepper spray so she could be somewhat safe when she was alone. Lexi was saving money by staying with some host families so at least she wouldn’t be alone all the time.

             
“This seat taken?” Margo looked up and saw Jake standing in front of her. Lexi was an idiot for breaking up with him, he was a god wrapped in muscle.

             
“No, please sit down.” Margo responded.

             
“So, how is it going?” Margo knew he was just being pleasant. He most likely wanted to know how Lexi was doing. Poor guy. He used to have a spark in his eyes but now, he looked sullen all the time. Lexi was breaking his heart and all Margo wanted to do was fix it but she knew she couldn’t pressure Lexi, that would be the worst thing to do. What a stubborn best friend she had.

             
“It’s going alright. What about you? You don’t look so great.”

             
Jake leaned back in his chair and blew out a long breath. “No, not doing so well. My training is kicking my ass and a little blue eyed blonde is kicking my heart. God, I know you must be sick of hearing it but I miss her so damn much. I don’t understand, I thought after graduation she would have called or something. It’s been a week and a half and I haven’t heard anything.”

             
“You mean she didn’t contact you before she left?”

             
Jake sat up straight in his chair as concern crossed his eyes. “Left? Where the hell did she go?”

             
Oops, Margo thought, her and her big mouth.

“
Uhh…”

             
“Margo, where did she go?” Jake said through gritted teeth.

             
Margo fiddled with her cup in front of her and Jake stopped her hands. Margo looked up at him and caved. “She went to Europe.”

             
“Europe?” Jake nearly screamed. “What the hell for? Please God don’t tell me she is moving there.”

             
“No, no, she is just visiting.”

             
“Jesus, I thought I almost just had a heart attack. For how long?”

             
Margo shrugged her shoulders. “’I don’t really know?”

             
“What do you mean you don’t know? She must have a return flight.”

             
“Well she does have another flight but it’s not back here.”

             
Jake slammed his fist on the table they shared, startling the crap out of Margo. “For fucks sake Margo just tell me what the hell is going on.”

             
Margo didn’t really think Lexi would have wanted Jake to know where she was but then again Margo couldn’t sit across from Jake with such hurt in his face and not tell him.

“She got a bunch of money for graduation and decided to travel the world. I don’t know when she will be back. All I
know is, she’s alone. She is traveling to multiple points in the world and has enough money to do so.”

             
Jake leaned back in his chair again. “She’s alone? What if something happens to her?” Jake rubbed his chest where his heart was and if Margo didn’t know he was one of the healthiest guys she ever met, she would have assumed he was about to have a heart attack. “I don’t know how I’m going to get through this.”

             
“Get through what?” Parker stood next to their table looking down at the both of them with a huge grin on his face and a green tea in his hand.

             
“Did you know about Lexi leaving town and traveling?” Jake asked

             
Parker slightly cringed and then nodded. Jake swore under his breath. “Sorry man, I thought she would have told you.”

             
“Well she didn’t!” Jake jumped out of his chair. “Did she tell you when she would be back?”

             
Parker shook his head. “No, sorry man. She didn’t know when she would be back.”

             
“Jesus. Thanks. See you later.” Jake shook Parker’s hand. “Good luck in Atlanta, man.”

             
“Thanks.” Parker took Jake’s seat and they both watched Jake stalk out of the coffee house with one thing on his mind, Lexi.

“Man, I feel bad for the guy.” Parker looked over at Ma
rgo and smiled. “Sorry I’m late, I was on the phone with my agent. How weird is that? I have an agent.”

             
“You’re all grown up.” Margo said in a teasing tone. “When do you leave?”

             
“Shortly, I just came in to say bye to you, I can’t stay long.”

             
Figures, Margo thought. It was all for the best though, she didn’t want to make saying good bye to Parker a long drawn out process. She just wanted to get it over with.

             
“Well thank you for squeezing me into your busy schedule.” Margo meant for her comment to be a joke but it came off more as a snide remark and Parker picked up on it. He reached across the table and grabbed her hand in his.

             
“You know I’ll always make time for you. You’re one of my best friends.”

             
“Alright.” Margo couldn’t look at him or say anything else because she was going to break down if she did.

             
“You’re like a sister to me, Margo. I could never not make time for you.”

             
Ouch! Like a dagger to her heart. A sister? Wow, she thought if only he knew the very un-sisterly like thoughts she had about him. That solidified her future with Parker. They were friends and would never be more. Margo didn’t think anything would change between them but she always wondered if there was a possibility but after Parker’s sister comment that squashed all thoughts of being romantically involved with him.