Page 80 of Raging Fires

“Trust me. She couldn’t do anything more embarrassing than half the players have done. If she comes over drunk, I’ll call her an Uber and send her back. We won’t take her to the July 4th party. And if she’s asking for money, I’ll refuse—I mean, if that’s what you want.”

“I know all that. And it’s sensible. But… there’s just always been so much drama and chaos with her. It’s like, I don’t know, an aura around her. And she sucks everybody around her into it.” Kelli sighed.

“Kelli… what are you afraid of? I’m going to start clubbing and getting into fights because your mom is a bad influence?”

“Not when you put it like that. It’s just…”

Jake took both her hands in his. “Kelli, I get it. You hate it when things are out of your control. I understand. Kowalski was telling me all about the children of alcoholics—way more than I wanted to know, I’ll tell you. Neil denies it, but I know he fell asleep halfway through.”

Kelli slapped his arm lightly. “Don’t make fun of Justin. He’s a great guy.”

“I know. He’s the team’s guru. But there’s only so much psychoanalysis a guy can take.” He waved a hand, sweeping the topic aside. “But that’s not what I’m trying to say. What I’m saying is I understand better now why you like everything orderly and in its place and why you want things to stay on course. I think I even get why you like to keep that old car. And it’s good you’re that way because I’m not real orderly—” He held up an admonitory index finger, “And don’t you snort at me, girl.”

“That’s hard not to do, Jake.”

“Seriously, Kell, I realized why that chaos going on in my life back in Miami really upset you. How it reminded you of your mom. But I’m not your mom. I was twenty-two years old then and got handed a truckload of money, and I didn’t know how to handle it. But I’m not that guy anymore. I’m six years older and a whole hell of a lot smarter. And I’m not going to get sucked into your mother’s craziness. That’s the last thing you need to worry about.”

“I know. I don’t really think you will. It’s just, with Mom, the unknown is always looming there.”

“Then tell her not to come.” Jake shrugged. “But if you want to see her, Kelli, it won’t be as bad as you’re imagining. I’ll be there to help you. Toby and I will guard the palace door if you want.”

Kelli smiled at that image. “Thanks. So you’ll hang out with us when she’s here?”

“Sure. However much you want. You know, you don’t have to bring her here if you don’t want to. We’ll go pick her up at the airport and take her to the hotel. And have dinner there and talk. Or just sit in the lobby and talk.”

“That would make me feel better. I know it’s silly, but I just—it’s like I really don’t want her invading my life.”

“That’s not silly. Your home is where you feel safe. She’s not a knife-wielding maniac—at least I hope not—but she’s a danger to you emotionally.”

Kelli smiled. “You must have been talking to Justin a lot.”

“Hey, I’ll have you know I came up with that little tidbit on my own,” he said with mock indignation.

“And you’ll come with me to the airport? I’m okay with talking to her at the hotel; you don’t have to tag along all the time. But I really don’t want to meet her for the first time in however many years all by myself.” Kelli hated to sound weak—she was supposed to be strong and handle things on her own. She had learned that lesson long ago. Letting it slide back when she had been with Jake the first time had been a mistake. She’d allowed herself to rely on him, but the divorce had jerked her back to reality. And now here she was, asking for his help.

“I will go with you to the airport,” Jake assured her. “Just tell me when.”

“You promise?” Surely it was okay to let down her guard this once, to trust someone else to help out.

“I promise, Kelli. I’ll go with you to the airport.” He pulled her back against him and kissed the top of her head. “I’ll even be on time.”

“If you value your life, you will.” She teased, suddenly feeling ten times better. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to rely on Jake again. He really had seemed different the past few weeks.

“How about we do something low-key tonight so you can relax?” Jake suggested. “I’ll even let you beat me at Scrabble.”

“Really?” Kelli’s eyebrows shot up. “You hate Scrabble.”

“Only ‘cause I suck at it. But I know it’s your favorite. And for dinner, I’ll even make you Jake Riley’s famous spaghetti and meat sauce.”

Kelli refrained from pointing out it was less “Jake Riley’s” and more just Prego and ground beef. She did really love it and it was sweet of him to offer to cook.

“Sounds perfect.”

***

While Jake agreed that the dinner portion of the night was perfect, Scrabble was not. By the time they were an hour into a game, it became very clear that while, in many ways, he had changed, hating to lose had not been one of them. But at least Kelli wasn’t a totally obnoxious winner. So maybe the little dance she did every time she got a triple score was kind of annoying, but she also looked cute as hell doing it.

“Q.U.I.Z.” Kelli laid down the tiles happily. “22 points.”