Out of My League, Part 3

by Sharon Cummin

“And?” Sammie asked.

  “He served me with divorce papers,” I said.

  “What?” she snapped out, getting back to her feet. “How? When?”

  “You took the kids to the park. I stayed here. There was a knock at the door, and I thought you'd forgotten your key. It wasn't you. The guy asked for me and then handed me the papers,” I said, as I looked at Sammie.

  “That was weeks ago,” she said, as she looked toward James.

  “Don't freak out,” I said. “I already sent in the papers to let them know I was disputing the divorce.”

  “You are?” Sammie asked roughly, as she looked back at me.

  “Not the divorce,” I said, “just the terms of it.”

  “The terms,” my dad cut in. “What exactly are those?”

  “Hold on,” I said, as I turned and took off to my room.

  I thought about shutting my door and locking them all out, but I knew I'd have to face them eventually. I reached into my purse, got the papers, and headed back down to the living room. Then I handed them to my dad.

  He began reading them and then let out a growl before handing them over to my mom. After she was done, she handed them to Sammie. Then she looked up at me.

  “Cassie,” she said. “He can't do that.”

  “I know,” I said.

  I heard Sammie gasp as she read them. James had been reading them from over her shoulder and got to his feet immediately.

  “Bullshit!” he snapped. “Not going to happen. I'll take that fucker out with my bare hands before he ever gets the kids.”

  “Wait a second,” Sammie said, as she got up, hurried to the other room, and came back with my broken phone in her hand. “Did you get the papers before or after this?”

  “Just before,” I said.

  “Can I see that for a second?” James asked calmly.

  He took the pieces from Sammie and put them back together. When he hit the button, the phone turned on and then went right back off.

  “Shit!” I snapped, as I moved fast to snatch the phone from him.

  He pulled his hand back and shook his head.

  “James,” I whispered, as the tears began to slide down my cheeks.

  “What is it you don't want me to see, Cassie?” he asked.

  “Please,” I begged.

  “Give it to her, James,” grandma snapped. “If she wants you to see what has her acting that way, she'll show you.”

  He let out a loud puff of air and handed me the phone, but there was no way I could miss the tension oozing off of him. My brother was pissed. Sammie handed me back the papers and then pulled James back to sit down with her.

  “I've sent in papers,” I said. “The ones saying that I was disputing the terms. I've also been in touch with several lawyers, and I found one that I really like.”

  “When were you doing that?” Sammie asked.

  “For the last couple of weeks. James got me a phone and computer. I've been researching and making calls from my room.”

  “Why didn't you say something?” Sammie asked.

  “You've been dealing with enough when it comes to me and the kids. I wanted to have everything I needed ready when I came to you two to ask you for money,” I answered. “I wanted you to see that I was taking care of things.”

  “Why would you need to ask for money?” my dad asked. “You and that fucker have a ton of it.”

  “He locked her out of their bank accounts too,” James growled out.

  “When?” my dad asked.

  “When he reported the cards stolen,” I answered.

  My dad was more pissed than I'd ever seen him, and my mom was whispering in his ear. I knew she was the only one that could calm him down, so I didn't say a thing.

  “I can't believe you didn't call me,” my dad said, as he narrowed his eyes at James after a few moments.

  “Don't,” I said. “This has been so damn hard on both of them and on the others.”

  “That's right,” he said. “My damn friend didn't call me either.”

  “Dad,” I said, “I had to beg them all. They wanted to call all of you. I wanted to get myself together before I told the three of you. It's bad enough that I had to have my brother take care of me. There was no way I wanted all of you to see the shambles my life had become.”

  My dad looked up at me from his spot on the couch.

  “I'm going to pay you back for everything,” I said, as I turned toward James. “The phone, the laptop, and everything else you've had to give me. The lawyer I found is pretty reasonable, and he was very honest with me. I swear I'll pay you back if you help me.”

  “I'll pay for the lawyer,” my dad snapped out.

  “No,” I said. “I won't let you. I need to take care of this, and I know James will let me pay him back. This is my problem.”

  “This is our problem,” both my dad and James said at the same time, before my dad continued. “We are a family. We stick together.”

  “What are you going to do?” my grandma asked. “Are you coming back to Michigan?”

  “She's going to work for me,” James said, before I could answer. “She'll start the day after you guys go home.”

  “James,” I said.

  “You are,” he said. “That asshole can lock this shit up for a long time, Cassie. Not to mention how good it will look if you have a job. They'll see you doing whatever it takes to keep your kids taken care of.”

  “He has a point,” my dad said. “As much as I want you home with us, I think your brother is right. That way, you're already here. Jeff will try to lock you down in Michigan. If you're already here, that won't be so easy. We can come visit often. You have the others here too. Not to mention, you'll have family watching the kids while you work.”

  “No way!” I said. “I will pay for their care while I'm at work.

  “Yes way!” Sammie snapped out. “I didn't know. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have said the things I did to you.”

  “You had every right,” I replied. “I gave you so many reasons for you to react that way.”

  “No,” Sammie said. “I never should have made that comment about giving him the kids. I didn't mean it. I never would have let that shit happen. I just said it to light a fire under your ass. I had no idea that you already had one burning.”

  “He's not getting the kids,” my dad snapped out. “I don't know what the hell you two are talking about, but that fucker isn't getting an inch here. I don't care what we have to do.”

  “Why don't we all go to bed,” grandma said. “It's been a long day. We can talk some more tomorrow.”

  “That sounds good,” Sammie said.

  “I guess,” my dad said, just after my mom whispered in his ear.

  She hadn't said much, but I knew she had my back. It was her keeping him from losing his mind even more than he already was that mattered.

  “I'm sorry,” I said. “I'm so sorry for everything I've done to all of you. Not just lately, but since the day I met Jeff. I wouldn't change having the kids. They're my life. I just regret ever losing all of you because of him. That was my fault, and I am so sorry.”

  Without another word, hug, or anything, I walked through the room, up the stairs, and into my room. I shoved my broken phone and the papers into my purse. I set my new phone on my nightstand, got changed, and then got under the covers.

  I looked over at my phone and said a silent thank you to Parker for helping me, even though he had no idea he'd done it. Then I began thinking. What if he hadn't talked to his kids? What if he hadn't seen his parents? What if he was alone? I reached for my phone, brought it to life, and sent a text before I had time to talk myself out of it.

  Me: Merry Christmas! I hope you had a good day.

  I didn't expect a response, not after I hadn't answered any of his messages, but I couldn't help the happy feeling I got when I heard the ding that signaled his reply.

  Wannabe: It was fine. How was yours?

  Me: You know that shit storm I told you
about? Well, it blew in full force. I just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas. Goodnight, wannabe.

  I put the phone down, and the clerk from the store popped into my mind, the one from the whole stolen credit card debacle. She said I was lucky, that she'd had to do it all herself. She was right, I was lucky. Every single person in my huge family was going to help and support me, whether I wanted it or not. How could I have doubted any of them, I wondered?

  Tears were in my eyes, yet again, as my bedroom door inched open and my grandma walked in.

  “I can't talk any more tonight,” I said, as I reached up to wipe my eyes.

  “You don't need to,” she said, as she approached my bed. “Scoot over.”

  “What?” I asked, as she pulled back my covers.

  “I haven't seen you in so long,” she said. “There's no way I won't be right here all night.”

  She got in my bed next to me and pulled the covers up to cover us both. I'd just leaned my head on her shoulder when I heard the ding of my phone and felt my entire body go stiff.

  “Hhmm,” she let out. “Who's wannabe?”

  “Nobody,” I answered. “What did it say?”

  “Goodnight, princess,” she said.

  “Oh,” I said quietly.

  “Guess you don't want to talk about that either?” she asked.

  “Nope,” I answered.

  “Goodnight, Cassie,” she said.

  “Goodnight, Grandma,” I said, as I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter 3

  Cassie

  I woke up early the next morning, not believing how well I'd slept after everything that had been brought to light the night before. My grandma opened her eyes just after I did, and I couldn't help but smile at her.

  “You're still here,” I said, more as a statement than a question.

  “I told you I was staying,” she said. “It's been way too long since I've seen you. Tonight I'll be sleeping with the kids.

  We both let out a laugh. The ding of my phone reminded me of the text the night before and had me practically crawling over my grandma to get it. Instead of seeing who it was, I quickly turned the phone off.

  “Wannabe again?” she asked, with a smile covering her face.

  “What?” I asked, totally forgetting she'd seen it. “No.”

  “You said James got you that phone, right?” she asked.

  “Yes,” I said. “I broke the old one, so I asked him to get me a new one.”

  “That's interesting,” she said.

  “Why?” I asked.

  “No reason,” she answered. “Does Jeff have your new number?”

  “No way,” I blurted out. “There was no way I was doing that to myself. He was tracking my phone.”

  “What?” she asked.

  “Oh, nothing,” I said, as I shook my head and inwardly scolded myself for saying that.

  I sat back against the headboard of my bed.

  “I'm so sorry I pulled away when I married him,” I said. “I wanted our marriage to work and thought putting every moment into him was what I should do. That was the biggest mistake of my life. I'm so sorry the kids weren't around you more. I'm also sorry I missed out on all of that time with you too.”

  “You did what you thought was right for you,” she said. “There's nothing wrong with that. You know I don't like him, never did.”

  “Oh, I know,” I said, with a laugh. “You were the only one that would tell him to his face. Seeing how close everyone is and how it's not like that with me anymore really hurts. Look at Lauren. My brother is closer to his brother-in-law's wife than he is to his own sister. Even my mom seems closer to her. She was so chatty with her at dinner. I know I have no right to be jealous. I did this to myself, but it doesn't make it hurt any less though.”

  “Cassie,” my grandma said, as she gave me a weird look.

  “Yes,” I said.

  “You said you've been here for two months, right?” she asked.

  “Sure have,” I answered. “I know you're probably as mad as dad about me coming here and not telling you. I just needed time to think. I needed to know what I was going to do before I told you.”

  “I get it,” she said. “All I want is for you to be happy, and I have a feeling you're going to be much happier now. It's all going to work out.”

  “You know what? I think you're right,” I said. “Never thought you'd hear me say that, did you? I'm happier with not a penny to my name and nothing but a vehicle. That's pretty sad.”

  “No,” she said. “It's not sad. You're not the same woman that married him in college. You've grown a lot. I can see it.”

  “I'm so damn mad at myself,” I said. “I don't regret being with him. I wouldn't have the kids if we weren't together. I'm just pissed that I did what he wanted. I did things to make him happy. I'll never be that stupid again.”

  “They aren't all like Jeff,” she said. You have four perfect examples of men surrounding you. Not to mention how great your grandpa was. Don't label them all just because of one asshole. What about Mr. Wannabe?”

  “No way,” I snapped out quickly. “Absolutely not.”

  Grandma let out a laugh as she got up from my bed.

  “I'll be downstairs,” she said, as she walked toward the door. “I have something I need to talk to your brother about.”

  “Grandma,” I said, just before she walked out my door.

  “Yes,” she said.

  “Thank you,” I said.

  “For what?” she asked.

  “Not hating me,” I answered honestly.

  “I could never hate you, Cassandra,” she said. “We all make mistakes. Just don't let it happen again. We're your family. You need to remember that. Family is always there for each other, especially this one.”

  I fell back on my bed, when she left the room, and thought about the night before. It really hadn't gone nearly as bad as it could have, and for that, I was happy.

  Chapter 4

  Parker

  I couldn't believe her ass gave me, Pete Parker, the it's not you it's me excuse when she blew me off. I was pissed and had honestly never felt so used in all my life.

  She had walked out of my place and never looked back. When I confronted her in the bathroom at Sammie's place, I was taking a huge risk. Sammie would have been pissed if she'd seen us together, but I didn't give a shit. I wanted to know what the fuck was going on, and I wasn't waiting another second to do it. It didn't take long for both of us to spew out shit we shouldn't have, and my blood was boiling. Then she flinched, and just like that, my anger was gone. It wasn't the first time it had happened, and she knew it too. The look on her face changed instantly, and she was practically begging me to let her leave. I did, but there was no way we wouldn't be continuing our conversation. I didn't give a shit what she thought, she was going to talk to me.

  When I went home that day, I looked around my place and let out a laugh. Did she really not know? How was that possible? What kind of crazy fan did she think I was? My walls were covered in Pirate stuff. Not to mention the fact that I was in most of the stuff. How the fuck did she miss it? She couldn't have. She had to be fucking with me, right?

  I'd never met anyone that confused the shit out of me like she did. She was driving me nuts, and I couldn't take it. I grabbed my phone and sent a text asking if she really hadn't known. When her reply came, I couldn't believe it. Her family was right, she really wasn't into the game like the rest of them. Her throw earlier had been pretty awesome, so I had to wonder, was she really not into it, or did she not like it because of them? Was that the one thing she used to keep herself set apart from the rest?

  What started as an innocent question sent in text quickly became heated. That seemed to be how it was with her. It didn't take long for things to go from 0 to 60 in the blink of an eye. Then she did it. She used it's not you, it's me, and I thought my head was going to explode. Fuck her! She was a mess, and that was something I did not need in my life.
>
  I tried to let it go, I really did, but my mind kept going back to the one place it shouldn't have, her. I'd been with a gold digger before, one I thought had loved me for who I was. I also knew what kind of woman Cassie was. I'd been warned, even if the words had never been directed at me. Not to mention what I'd seen with my own eyes. I knew, yet there I was, thinking about her.

  I'd promised myself that I wasn't going to get attached to a woman, not ever again. I'd been doing a fine job of it too. Then she came along and began stirring up trouble. She was cocky, irritating, and a total pain in the ass. What was it with her, I wondered? Why couldn't I just let it go and sink my dick into someone else, someone that was nothing like her?

  I'd gone to the bar for the next couple of days. There were beautiful women walking over and telling me how great I was. I could have had a different one each night, even more than one if I'd wanted. They would have listened and given me what I asked for, no questions asked. That was what I needed, but it wasn't what I wanted. What I wanted was Cassie's smart mouth wrapped around my cock. I wanted to spank that ass for every shitty thing she'd said to me. I wanted to be buried balls deep inside of her, while I pounded away every bit of stress she was causing me. Fuck! Why her? Why was the one woman I wanted the one I knew I needed to stay far away from?

  I gave in a few times and sent her messages, but she didn't answer back, not once. Fuck her, I thought, for the hundredth time in just a few days.

  Christmas had been like any other day for me. I stayed home, ate a frozen dinner, and sat on my ass watching television, trying to pass the hours as quickly as I could. Sammie's place was closed, so I hadn't even had that to take my mind off of the day. It was bullshit. I could have gone home to see my parents, but I didn't. They'd invited me, but I'd turned them down when my bitch of an ex told me she might actually let me see the kids. I knew it was a risk, but I had to take it. I sat there waiting like I always did, and she did the same thing she always had. She fucked me over and then left town with them. What was even worse was that they were only fifteen minutes away from my parents, and none of us could see them. It was bullshit, and there wasn't a damn thing I could do about it. If I was traded to another team, it would be even worse. While I wanted to be a top player and take my career up a notch, I wanted to stay right where I was. That was where my kids were, and even if I barely got to see them, I knew they were close by.