Taking things slowly and figuring us out step-by-step is important to Stacy, so I'm doing my best to respect that. But I’m not called The Hartbreak Kid for nothing. I'm definitely not used to taking things slow in a romantic sense. I'm used to jumping in with both feet and letting the cards fall how they may.
But she’s right. Now that I’ve got a little man in the mix, his needs are more important than my desires.
So, for Stacy and for Ryan, the two people who mean the most to me, I'm going to do things right. And if that means letting let Stacy take our relationship at her own pace, so be it.
I already know how I feel. I’m certain that Stacy is the one for me. I want to lay all my cards on the table, but I also don’t want to overwhelm her.
She’s all I crave, all I want, all I need. But I'm biding my time with the most patience I can muster. Besides, the best things in life are worth waiting for, right?
Our kiss certainly was. For me, it was earth-shattering. I’ve kissed my fair share of women, but I’ve never felt anything like the explosion of emotion that burst inside of me that first second our lips touched.
For a sweet prep school teacher, that woman sure knows how to lay it on a man. I shiver, sinking down on the corner of my bed, still thinking about our kiss. It was so hard to walk her to the door after. I’d have done just about anything to sweep her off her feet and carry her back to my bedroom, but she’d made it clear that she wasn’t ready to spend the night yet.
I’ve been riding a high ever since, seeing her beautiful face every time I close my eyes. Stacy’s even come to haunt my dreams, always staying just out of reach even though her ethereal presence is comforting and warm.
What means even more to me is that Ryan talks about her all the time now, too. He comes home from school saying how much fun he had and what projects he’s working on, and at his soccer practices I’ve noticed how his eyes always seek out Stacy beside me. Even though I cleared my schedule so I can always be at his practices, Stacy still joins us both to cheer him on.
I know Ryan loves that.
He’s finally acting like a little kid again, as if he can finally view the world through those rose-colored lenses of childhood instead of the dull, gray ones of pure grief.
And that’s all because of Stacy.
I glance out the window again, eyes catching on a sole puff of white cloud nestled just above the falling sun. I'm sure that’s where Jenny is seated now, eager to watch the festivities of the evening. She’d have loved going to an event like this.
“It was you, wasn’t it, Jen?” I ask softly, a smile lifting my cheeks as I watch the cloud glow pink in the fading sunlight. “You were the one who brought Stacy into our lives?”
I hold my breath as if I'm waiting for an answer and then shake my head. Of course, it was Jenny. She’s still looking out for Ryan and me no matter where she is.
I glance at my watch again, stomach dropping when I see the time. I’ve got to finish getting ready if I'm going to pick up Stacy on time. I can’t very well be late the first time I meet her friends.
My stomach is in knots as I finish getting dressed. I’ve never been this nervous, not even when I played in my first Super Bowl. I just keep thinking that I won’t be good enough for her friends or that they’ll be convinced I'm a bad guy because of how the media has portrayed me.
Oh god, what if they’re not fans of my team? What if we’re rivals?
New Yorkers are fanatical about their sports teams . . . I stop myself, lightly tapping my palms against my cheeks to stop my mind from running away on me.
There are no coincidences, there are no what if’s, there is only what’s happened and what will happen. We can’t change the past, but we can mold the future. Jenny used to love saying that to me, and now I know what that phrase really means.
I want Stacy in my life forever. I want her to know how special she is and how cherished she is by me and Ryan.
All I need is the right time to say so.
Chapter 18
Stacy
Ryan stays close to Jake’s side, his wide eyes taking in everything around him. Every time a nearby dog barks, he turns around to gaze adoringly at whatever fluffy creature has caught his eye.
The two Eckhart boys are a total vision—black, tailored suits and bright purple ties that Ryan has proudly picked out himself. They’re so delightfully adorable I can hardly concentrate on any of the other conversations going on around me.
Jake has been on his best behavior since picking me up in a limo he ordered at Ryan’s request, even stopping at the entrance of the event to take pictures with some of his fans and sign some autographs before heading in.
Ryan had waited patiently, occasionally pulling silly faces when he was caught in the frame of a flashing camera. Since Jake had promised Ryan to keep his interactions with the media minimal while his nephew was in his company, Ryan had become a lot more tolerant of sharing his uncle. The two were finally beginning to find that long-sought balance.
Standing in my circle of friends, Jake fits in perfectly. Well, metaphorically at least.
He’s a good head taller than even Donovan, who’s no slouch, and his massive frame dwarfs everyone else in the building. But I certainly don’t mind. I sort of love how Jake makes me feel dainty and delicate.
Even though I can tell Jake was nervous at first, now he’s grinning and laughing like he’s known my roommates and their boyfriend’s all their lives. He doesn’t even seem to mind the way Eric is gazing at him with adoring eyes. Jake’s much too wrapped up in a conversation with Donovan about how he can enlist his advertising services to change his image to notice Eric’s star-struck admiration.
“Maybe it’s time I settle and stop being The Hartbreak Kid, ya know?” Jake says, tucking Donovan’s card into his shirt pocket. “I'm ready for something more family friendly. Something Ryan can be proud of.”
Donovan and Chloe give each other one of those couple-y looks that Morgan and Eric do so well, though the one exchanged between the business power couple is one of mutual respect. Jake is nothing like what they expected, and it makes me swell with pride.
“Maybe you can get us a discount on tickets to your next game?” Eric asks, still following Jake around like he’s one of the puppies up for adoption.
Morgan, who’s been giggling while watching her awestruck boyfriend, flushes and jabs his ribs. “We can buy our own tickets, Eric!”
But Jake laughs and shakes his head. “Are you kidding? Friends of Stacy’s are friends of mine, and I never make friends pay to cheer me on. Just tell me what name to put the tickets under.”
“Eric King!” Eric replies immediately.
Jake pauses, his head tilting as he stares at Eric. “Oh, no way! Eric King? As in Social Kingdom’s lead singer? I literally just bought your last album to get me through my workouts.”
“You know me?” Eric gasps, blushing an even deeper red than Morgan’s lipstick.
“Are you kidding? My teammates and I blast your music in the weight room all the time. Hey, how would you feel about performing for one of our home games?”
Morgan and Donovan both reach instantly toward Eric, who suddenly sways on his feet like he’s been struck over the head by a bat. Morgan and Donovan smirk at one another, rolling their eyes while Chloe and I chuckle.