She headed for her room, glad Bri had asked her to join her. She needed to exert some energy and get sappy emotional thoughts of falling for Jaxon out of her head.
* * *
Tuesday morning, Jaxon headed over to the gym to meet Linc, and after a competitive game of hoops, he showered and dressed in his jeans and a black tee. The locker room was empty, and he glanced at his friend, who was packing up his duffel bag. Throughout the game, Jaxon had gone back and forth on how to tell Linc his news. And now that they were alone, the time had arrived.
“Got any plans now?” Jaxon asked because he had a stop to make and could use some help.
Linc glanced up from zipping his bag, his blond hair falling over one eye. “Nope and I don’t have to be home until dinner. Why?”
“Feel like going shopping with me for an engagement ring and wedding band?”
Linc began to choke and Jaxon slapped him on the back.
“Sorry. I thought you said you wanted to go shopping for an engagement and wedding ring,” Linc said.
Jaxon couldn’t help but grin at his friend’s reaction. “Yeah … well, remember I mentioned Austin and Bri thought me settling down was a good way to calm management and restore faith in me?”
“Yes, but you said no way in hell.”
“That was true until I met a woman who needs the stability of marriage, too. A woman I like, have chemistry with, and who agreed to marry my sorry ass.” Jaxon picked up his bag and lifted a hand so the duffel hung behind his shoulder.
“Did she also agree to an open marriage? Because I can’t see you doing this otherwise. I mean, there’s no way you’ll marry someone and not get laid.”
“Actually she agreed to a real marriage, so that takes care of that.” He started for the door when Linc spoke.
“Wait. You’re going to be faithful to one woman?”
The shock in his friend’s voice would have made Jaxon burst out laughing if someone hadn’t walked into the locker room. “Let’s take this outside,” he said, wanting privacy.
Usually they used the gym at the stadium, but sometimes they didn’t want to take the forty-minute ride there and they hit up a local place instead. They strode through the main area where all the equipment was located, passing people who stared at their familiar faces as they headed out into the blazing Miami sun. Luckily no one stopped them for a picture or an autograph.
Jaxon headed to his car and Luke joined him at his vehicle.
“You’re serious?” his friend asked, his expression one of disbelief. “Who is it?”
“Damn serious. It’s the woman who got caught leaving my house and became a social media sensation.”
“A groupie?” Linc asked, disgusted.
Jaxon shook his head. “Hell no. She’s special. Macy is smart, gorgeous, and she’s got her hands full with her fifteen-year-old sister.”
Linc had narrowed his gaze at the word special. Jaxon picked up on that and realized his slip. But it was true. Still, better he stuck to the facts.
“The kid’s mother wants her back after being an absentee parent, and being splashed all over the internet is going to hurt Macy’s case. Us getting married will give her a solid family situation in order to help win custody. And we know management will be relieved I’m settling down.”
Linc dropped his bag onto the ground. “Let me get this straight. You’re going from a bachelor who fucks anything that walks to a guy with a kid. Overnight.”
“You’re a dick. But that about sums it up. I’m going to get my life together.” He wanted that. Having dinner with Macy had been nice. Normal. And he wanted to help her with Hannah. He also desired to get her back into bed. “That’s the plan and I believe we can help each other. Not to mention it’s good for me to focus on something other than myself.”
“Wow.” Linc stared at him for a long while. “Why do I get the feeling you really like this girl?”
Jaxon shrugged, thinking of the simple meal in her small kitchen, the way she wanted to help her sister, and her beautiful brown eyes. “Because I do. Now will you help me pick out rings?”
Although this was a marriage of convenience, he and Macy would be together for a prolonged period of time, and he wanted her to have a ring suitable for the wife of a Major League Baseball player.
“And will you come to the wedding on Saturday at my house?” he asked before Linc had even replied about ring shopping. “There’ll be an evite in your email later today. Bri’s at the top of her game.”
“Jesus. You’re serious.” Linc ran a hand through his hair. “Lizzie isn’t going to believe this,” he said of his wife. “Okay, sure. Make sure you sign a prenup,” he reminded him.
“Austin already has it in the works. Called me first thing this morning. I don’t anticipate a problem in that area. Macy isn’t with me for my money. She wants the same things I do. Marriage and stability.”
Linc stared. “Every woman you’ve ever been with wanted your money.”
“Macy doesn’t and you’ll see that once you meet her. I’ll drive to the jewelry store and bring you back to your car afterwards.”
A couple of hours and many thousands of dollars later, Jaxon had a Tiffany ring in his pocket that he hoped would fit, matching wedding bands with a promise they’d be sized properly by Friday, and he dropped off his still-stunned best friend back at the gym where they’d started.
Once he was alone, he picked up the phone and called Bri on the audio of his car while driving to Macy’s house.
She answered on the first ring. “Hey, bro. Everything good?” she asked.
He pulled onto the highway as he replied, “It is. I bought rings, so I’m trying not to panic, but I’m okay.”
Bri grumbled something, then said, “Just don’t hurt her.”
“I don’t plan on it,” he said, offended.
