Jaxon

What was that saying . . . All good things must come to an end? That’s exactly how Jaxon felt driving Lucy home from her doctor’s appointment.

Up until that point, everything had been going so well. He’d spent the night before hanging out at Lucy’s until she fell asleep cuddled against him on the couch. Brooke had already gone to bed and Jaxon wasn’t sure what to do. He thought about carrying Lucy into her bedroom, but he didn’t want to wake her. He opted to just gently lay her on the couch and cover her with a blanket. That is, after he sat there for a good long time just soaking up the feel of her snuggled against him.

She looked so small that he’d wanted to just curl up next to her and wrap her in his arms forever. He’d somehow managed to pry himself away and the next morning he’d shown up bright and early to take Lucy to class. She had his black coffee waiting when he arrived. He had to admit he was getting used to their new routine. Being greeted by Lucy’s smiling face every morning was definitely the best way to start his day. And today had been no different, until the doctor’s appointment. Well, more specifically the ride home from the doctor’s appointment.

“Lucy, I was in the room with you. The doctor said the best thing for your recovery is rest,” Jaxon argued.

“Yes, but he didn’t say I couldn’t go to the game.”

“Driving to San Diego and back so you can hike up and down stadium bleachers isn’t rest!”

“I can rest in the car,” she argued.

Jaxon rubbed his face trying to wipe away some of the frustration he felt. He wanted to scream. Things had been going so well between them that sometimes he forgot that Lucy was actually someone else’s girlfriend. Alex certainly wasn’t around much. Why wasn’t Alex the one taking Lucy to her appointments or having dinner at her dorm room? It’s not like Jaxon minded. He was glad he got to spend so much time with Lucy. But times like these hit him like a punch in the chest. She wasn’t his.

Jaxon waited until he was parked back in the campus lot before he spoke again. “Lucy, why is this game so important to you?”

“It’s not the game, it’s my word. I told Alex I’d be there. I don’t want to leave him hanging.”

“You mean like he does to you all the time.”

Lucy looked down.

Shit. Jaxon hadn’t meant to let that slip out. But there was no going back now. “It’s true, Lucy. I’ve never seen him be there for you. And I don’t know what the hell you see in him or why you’re wiling to jeopardize your healing to make him happy. I mean is he even going to acknowledge you’re there after he gets his two seconds of film?”

“That’s not fair,” Lucy murmured, hurt sharp in her eyes.

Jaxon’s eyes bore into Lucy’s. “Exactly.”

She dropped her eyes and Jaxon reached across the space between them and lifted her chin. “He’s not worth it, Lucy. Stop putting yourself out for someone who won’t do the same.”

Lucy

Lucy chewed on her bottom lip as Jaxon stared at her from behind the wheel. She let his words sink in. He was right. She knew he was right. And she didn’t even want to go to the stupid soccer game. Actually she sorta hated soccer. If she was going to drive all the way to San Diego she’d much rather go to the zoo than watch a bunch of primadonna soccer all-stars kick each other’s massive egos around the field. That’s all exhibition games ever were. A place for self-important athletes to get their over-inflated egos stroked by sponsors and fans. And Alex only wanted her there to take a few quick photographs and then she’d be completely forgotten while he went about being Alex Alvez: soccer-god.

Finally she pulled out her phone and dialed Alex’s number.

“What are you doing?” Jaxon asked.

“I’m calling to cancel.”

Lucy was afraid if she didn’t call Alex right now and tell him she wasn’t coming tomorrow she’d lose her nerve. She knew with Jaxon by her side she wouldn’t cave. He made her stronger.

Alex answered at the third ring. “Hola chica.”

“Hey,” Lucy greeted. There was chaos and voices in the background. Guys were cat calling and ribbing each other. Alex must’ve already been at the stadium practicing for tomorrow. Good, that would keep him from dragging her with him. But for now she needed to make him hear her. “We need to talk about the game, Alex.”

That got his attention. “What about it? Did you forget what time I need you here, lindezna?”

“I’m not coming, Alex.”

“Excuse me?”

“I can’t. I just had a follow up appointment with my doctor and he says I need to rest.”

“Shit, Luz. I’m not asking you to play in the game.” Alex lowered his voice. “I just need you by my side. You’re my good luck charm. And if you don’t come this will be the third game you miss. How do you think that makes me look?”

“I’m not trying to make you look bad, Alex. But driving to San Diego and back for a few minutes of face time isn’t good for me. And I need to start doing what’s good for me.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing. Good luck tomorrow, okay?”

Alex huffed a laugh. “Like you care.”

“I do.”

“If you really meant that you’d be here.” Then he hung up.

The inside of Jaxon’s truck was eerily silent while Lucy stared at her phone.

Finally Jaxon cleared his throat. “How’d it go?”

“Like I expected.”

“I’m proud of you. It was the right call.”

Lucy nodded, but couldn’t help wondering why she felt so bad when she’d supposedly made the right decision.

* * *

Lucy spent the rest of the night fighting her guilt at telling Alex she wasn’t going to make it to his game. He’d taken it harder than she’d expected. She knew he’d be mad but she hadn’t expected him to sound genuinely hurt. Alex was a lot of things. Cocky, self-centered, arrogant, smug, over-confident: they were all words that normally came to mind when Lucy thought about her boyfriend. But the boy she’d spoken to on the phone earlier was more than those things.

He’d sounded like the boy she’d fallen in love with so long ago. The one who promised he’d be her family when hers was taken from her. And when she’d told him she wasn’t going to come to his game the disappointment in his voice had been clear. She felt it tear the thin thread of their relationship even further, lengthening the distance between them.

Lucy wasn’t sure if she and Alex could ever get back to where they used to be. She wasn’t even sure she wanted to. They weren’t the same people anymore. They’d grown apart. They wanted different things. But through all of that, she’d never wanted to be someone who was okay with hurting someone she’d once loved. No matter how many times that person may have hurt her.