“Claire!” he says sharply. “Why dae ye think ye could ever ruin anything? This was the first time I actually enjoyed my run. Well, except for almost running into a tree trying tae stare at yer arse in those pants.” He laughs when I spit a mouthful of smoothie out. “So I put together a list of whit we need tae dae before May.” I listen silently as Alex lays out what he has to accomplish before leaving for England.
“Do you have to stay in LA any longer?” I ask.
“Naw, I thought I might just pack my stuff up and come back tae stay in Fort Worth. I can move tae one of those long-term hotels or something. I dinnae have any furniture. We rented this apartment furnished, so it’s just a couple of boxes of personal stuff.”
“I have an idea. I might know of a small apartment that is currently vacant that you could rent short-term. Izzy lived there until she moved in with Grayson, then Matt moved in until he moved to Lily’s. His gym equipment is still set up in the garage and most of the furniture is still in it. I can call Lily about it when we get back to your place.”
“How far from yer school is it?”
“Really close. I’d say it’s a ten minute drive at the most.”
“Perfect. Ye can move in with me then. That way I dinnae have tae worry aboot yer roommate’s romps.” When I start to protest, Alex pulls me up from my chair, steering me toward the door. “Ye can call as soon as we get back. Let’s catch an Uber, I dinnae want tae see strawberries again on the way home, yeah?”
I call Lily as soon as I get out of the shower. Sitting with my legs crossed on the couch in my yoga pants and one of Alex’s T-shirts, I tell her everything that’s happened in the last few days.
She has me call Grayson’s office to ask Matt about the apartment. They put me on speakerphone in Grayson’s office while they ask me every detail about Alex’s contract. They also discuss his schedule like it’s a business transaction. I notice him looking at me, amused when he catches bits of the conversation between his calls to his family.
Catching Coach Blake in his office, I make arrangements for Alex to use the field and workout room on campus. He assures me they have all of the testing equipment so they can monitor his conditioning as long as he needs them. I think he is excited about the publicity that having a world-class player train at the campus will bring to the soccer program. I assure him Alex will need to scrimmage with the best players regularly.
When I get done with Coach Blake, I pull my research out, spreading it across Alex’s dining room table. I need to get at least a better start on the writing than I have so far.
“Dae ye mind if I sit here?” Alex whispers with a grin.
“You can sit here, but don’t try any funny stuff. I already know your game, mister,” I answer, giving him my best stern expression. Feigning shock, he places his hand against his chest.
“Ye cannae possibly mean me. I always act like a gentleman.” He plops down on the chair. After several minutes, he starts to fidget. “I’m gaun tae see if Tim wants tae go lift so I leave ye alone.”
“Please do. I really need to work on my dissertation in peace.” I ignore him again, refocusing on my research. Soon he gives me a quick kiss before heading out the door.
Alex’s apartment didn’t take long to pack up the next day. Since it was furnished, he just had his clothes and a handful of boxes of personal items. We decided to have them shipped to his new apartment to be stored until he moves to England. Correction, we move to England.
I still can’t wrap my mind around what’s happening. I’ve heard stories about the lives of European soccer players. I’m not sure I want the rock-star lifestyle that goes along with that life. Alex keeps telling me that together, we can face anything. I guess I’ll just have to believe him.
12
Alex
Ikeep telling Claire that together, we can face any challenge. I just have to keep working on making her believe it. We’ve settled into the small apartment in Fort Worth that was Matt’s. I’ve worked hard at convincing her to stay here most nights, although she refuses to give up her campus apartment.
We’ve been together a wee bit over five months now. I’ve spent these last months working on getting in the best condition I’ve ever been in. Claire has poured her soul into her dissertation, preparing for her presentation today.
“Ye’ll be brilliant,mo ghaol.” She looks up at me with a quick smile before returning to her notes. Her head cocks to the side the way it does when she is trying to figure something out.
I quickly return to flipping pancakes to keep myself from pulling her across the bar before pounding into her. I’ve never been able to resist the way her brows crease in concentration when she does that. It’s when I can feel everything she is or is meant to be: her compassion, her intelligence, her beauty. I shake my head, thinking of the hell I would get if my brothers heard any of this.
“What are your plans for today?” Claire asks when I set a plate of pancakes in front of her. I watch in fascination as she drowns them in syrup.
“I thought I could pick ye up for lunch tae celebrate? I willnae see ye for dinner since, apparently, poker night includes food. Should I be worried aboot being part of poker night?” Filling my plate with pancakes and bacon, I join her at the bar.
“From what I’ve heard, you should be very worried. I think it all depends on if you can hold your liquor. You also have to watch Matt, he’s a savant from what they say.” I’m not too worried about holding my alcohol, I am Scottish after all, but my poker skills are only average at best.
Claire kisses me by leaning over the bar, pulling me by my shirt to her. Once again, I have to fight the urge to pin her against the bar. But she is on her way to defend her dissertation, so I don’t want to get in the way. After cleaning up, I drive us to campus to work out until Claire is done.
Lunch is soup and salad at a local bistro on the way back to the apartment. I add some fruit for dessert, knowing I’ll have to work off any alcohol I drink tomorrow. I’ve probably told Claire ten times that I have no doubt she was brilliant, but she still frets over how she did.
“Ye’ll find oot next week, then all ye’ll have left is the ceremony,” I assure her again. I told Man City I would not arrive in England until after her degree ceremony. We have to leave the week after, however. “We need tae start packing for England, Claire,” I say, bringing up the subject.
“I know,” she answers. “When do we leave?”
