Sidelined: A Sports Romance

by Violet Paige

  Kari didn’t seem to mind Skye’s goals and ambition. They worked in different divisions and spent all their breaks rehashing meetings, office gossip, and of course whatever current guy situation one of them was dealing with.

  Eventually the meeting proceedings shifted toward the client satisfaction survey results and Skye felt her shoulders relax. The eyes were finally off of her and for the most part she knew everyone had forgotten her embarrassing ten minutes in the spotlight. But she wouldn’t forget.

  As Greg reached for another donut hole on the oblong platter, she vowed this would be the last meeting she’d spend watching him stuff his smug face.

  “Thanks for the reports you sent over.” She tried not to laugh at the powdered sugar on his lips. “The one on the zoo was especially helpful.” He picked up another pastry.

  Her stomach twisted in a knot. The zoo file had been her favorite. In the three years living in the city it had taken work to get her to visit the zoo. The minute she walked through the gates it had become her favorite spot. It wasn’t necessarily the animals, and it definitely wasn’t the herds of tourists, but the flowers and tropical plants that grew everywhere made her feel like she had accidentally slipped into a rain forest. It was gorgeous and exotic; everything her life wasn’t. Research at the zoo became an unexpected sanctuary in her life. For once, creating an advertising campaign for such an oasis was the easiest project she’d ever had.

  “Glad I could contribute to the project.” She folded her planner across her chest. Greg wasn’t going to see how upset she was.

  He smirked. “You always contribute, Skye.”

  She brushed past him before she let a four-letter word drop and sought the quiet of her office. She closed the door behind her.

  There would be other pitches. She would have other opportunities. She hated that once she actually fell in love with one she had to hand it over to Greg.

  Kari shook her head at almost everything on the menu. Skye felt bad that food still wasn’t appetizing to her.

  “I think I’ll just have a club soda with lemon and the bread basket.” She placed the menu on the table.

  “You’re eating all carbs for lunch?” Skye was stunned. Kari was a stickler for her diet and had the figure to show for it.

  “I’ll run an extra thirty at the gym tomorrow. I can’t handle more than bread.” She took a sip of water.

  They sat outside at a downtown deli close to the water. It was a sunny, breezy day, and perfect for dining al fresco.

  “Enough about my stupid stomach problems. You left off in the middle of a very juicy story. You have to tell me more about this guy. A name for starters.”

  Skye adjusted her sunglasses.

  “His name is Bolt.”

  “What kind of name is Bolt?”

  “It’s his call sign. His real name is Ben Hardcastle. I like calling him Ben, I think.” She still wasn’t sure which felt more comfortable.

  “Oh, good lord. Do not tell me you hooked up with a Miramar pilot.”

  “Why, what’s wrong with that?” Skye felt a little wounded and concerned. What did Kari know about the Miramar pilots that she didn’t? Probably a lot. Skye’s social life consisted of office events and client parties.

  Kari shook her head. “Nothing. Nothing at all. I think it’s great you met someone. I shouldn’t have said that. Tell me what you did on night two.”

  “No, wait. What’s the big deal if he’s a pilot?” She didn’t know why but suddenly there were nervous butterflies skydiving in her stomach.

  “It’s just I had a friend who dated a pilot once, and he was gone all the time and well…he ended up cheating on her with some girl in Japan. It was a mess. Total disaster, but I’m sure this guy is nothing like that womanizing man whore.”

  Skye ran her fingers through her hair. “Right. I’m sure he’s nothing like that.” She thought about how easily he had seduced her back to her place two nights in a row. If he wasn’t a player, she didn’t know what one looked like.

  “What’s wrong? I said the wrong thing didn’t I? Shit. I shouldn’t have mentioned my friend. I’m sorry.” Kari pinched off a roll, but hesitated to eat it.

  “No. It’s ok. You’re probably right. I already had a feeling since he was in the military it was a bad idea, but then I got caught up in how charming he was. And we just had this immediate banter that I liked. He wasn’t afraid to come back at me with something smart-assy, you know?” Kari nodded. “Ahh, it doesn’t matter. I didn’t sleep with him and besides that he hasn’t asked me out again, so he’s probably already moved on.”

  She didn’t like how that sounded and she didn’t like the idea of Ben buying another woman a drink, or driving someone else crazy with his baby blue eyes. But she barely knew him. She didn’t think she could name five things they had in common. Everything about the two of them was physical. It was best to move on now before she got attached and he cheated on her with someone in Japan.

  “I think if he does call you should definitely go out with him again.” Kari smiled.

  “We’ll see.” Skye knew she had already convinced herself dating Ben Hardcastle was nothing but a recipe for heartache and disaster, even if she’d had the best orgasms of her life.

  Seven

  There was a Padres game at seven. He knew it was last minute, but the tickets went up in the ready room when he was in the air and Bolt didn’t see them until after his flight. He pulled out his phone to call Skye.

  “Hello? This is Skye Stephens.”

  He smiled. She was all business. It made him laugh. “Hey, it’s Ben.”

  “Oh, hey. Sorry I’m at work and didn’t recognize your number.”

  “I’m calling from the briefing room. You sounded very professional.” He pictured her in that tight black suit, with the skirt hiked to her hips. He had to remind himself about the tickets he was holding in his hand.

  She giggled. “I am at work.”

  “Right. Me too. I just landed, but I got a pair of tickets to the Padres game tonight. I was wondering if you would want to go.”

  “Tonight?”

  “Yep. Game starts at seven, so I could pick you up at six-thirty. You’re not far from the ballpark.”

  “Oh, wow. I don’t know. That’s in a couple of hours, and I have a pile of work on my desk.”

  “Skye, come on. We both know that a night with me and the Padres is way more fun than any spreadsheet you’ve got going on.” He heard her sigh into the phone and he knew she was rethinking her hesitation.

  “Six-thirty?”

  “Yep, six-thirty.” He smiled.

  “Ok, I’ll be ready.”

  “Cool. It’ll be fun. I promise.”

  “I’m counting on it. Bye, Ben.” She hung up and he glanced at the phone. He walked to the lockers to store his gear. For the first time in a long time, he had a date and he was looking forward to spending time with Skye. Even if she was making him work for what he really wanted.

  He knocked promptly at six-thirty. He wasn’t prepared for what he saw when she pulled open the door. Her hair was in a ponytail and she was wearing tight jeans and a fitted Padres shirt that dipped between her breasts. He knew he was staring.

  “Wow, you look great.” He thought of all the other things he could say to her.

  “Thanks. I got this shirt for a Padres promo we did last year, and I’ve never worn it. Seemed like a good night to try it out.” Skye locked the door behind her and turned to face him.

  Bolt winked. “I’m glad you saved it for me.”

  “They also gave me a big foam finger, but I left that in the closet.”

  He chuckled. “Yeah, good idea.” He tapped the elevator button. “So, how was your Monday?”

  Skye rolled her eyes. “Shitty. How about yours?”

  “About the same.” He reached for her hand as the elevator descended and laced her fingers through his. “Sounds like we could both use a few beers.”

  She nodded and the doors retracted. �
�That sounds perfect.”

  “Ok, then let’s go watch some baseball.”

  The ballpark was built on the water, so depending on your seats the wind could rip right through the concourse tunnels and chill you to the bone. Bolt happened to have those gusty seats. He wrapped an arm around Skye, pulling her against his chest while keeping a firm grip on his beer with the other.

  “You know I was surprised you called.” Skye sipped on the large beverage in her hand.

  “Really? I said I would.”

  “Yeah, I bet you say a lot of things.”

  “Ouch. That hurt.”

  “Do not pretend with me that you don’t get a lot of numbers. I know your type.”

  “Type, huh? I might get a few numbers here and there. But I called, didn’t I? Anyway, I was kind of surprised you agreed to go.” He liked the feisty side of her.

  “Why do you say that?” she taunted.

  He wondered if he should be so blunt with her, but she seemed like she could take it. “Because you seem a little uptight at times. I figured you were done with the fun.”

  Skye wiggled out of his wind-bracing hold. “Uptight? You sure know how to compliment a girl.”

  “I don’t mean uptight, uptight, just a little rigid.” He shook his head as soon as he saw Skye’s expression. “Ok, rigid was definitely the wrong word to use. Dammit. I’m going to stop talking now.”

  She giggled. “No, I think you should keep going. You’re proving my exact point.”

  “And what’s that?” He was glad she wasn’t genuinely mad with him.

  “That you are the kind of guy who likes to have fun and that’s it.”

  Bolt scanned her eyes. “Are you saying I’m not deep?”

  “I didn’t say that. You think I’m uptight and I don’t think you’re serious enough. How about that?”

  He touched the beer to his lips and tried not to smile. “I guess that’s calling it fair.”

  It was only the bottom of the fourth inning and Bolt was already ready to start making his way back to Skye’s apartment. In truth, from the second she opened the door he didn’t want to leave. Something about her tapped into his more primal side, and it took more self-restraint than he wanted to admit to keep his hands off her. He was freezing and if he had to stare at the chill bumps on her breasts another second he would probably pounce on her right in the ballpark. He couldn’t stop thinking of all the ways he wanted to warm her up.

  “Are you enjoying the game?” He wrapped his arm around her and felt her ease into his shoulder.

  “I’m not much of a baseball fan, but yeah it’s good. Just wish we weren’t in a freaking wind tunnel.”

  “Yeah, sorry about that. I guess there was a reason these tickets were up on the board at work. How about we head back to your place and watch the rest of it on TV and neither one of us will have to freeze?”

  She eyed him suspiciously. “My place?”

  He put his hands up. “I know the rule, don’t worry. But please, I think my hand is frozen to the plastic cup.”

  She giggled. “Ok, let’s go.”

  Bolt smiled, knowing he could probably at least make it to third base tonight.

  Eight

  “What’s wrong with you? I have never seen you inhale that much coffee.” Kari noticed.

  “Ben stayed over last night.” Skye wanted to crawl back in bed but the alarm went off as usual, and she got ready for work. He left at five and they had maybe slept three hours. Skye yawned.

  “Shut up! He stayed over last night? On a Monday night? You have turned into a wild woman, Skye Stephens.” Kari giggled.

  “Very funny.” She was supposed to be looking over a pitch for a new sunscreen client, but sun protection was the last thing she was thinking about. Ben’s hands between her legs and his mouth on her body was all she felt.

  “Skye, where’d you go?”

  “Oh sorry.” She blushed. “I don’t know what I’m doing. I wasn’t going to go out with him again, but he called with the tickets and he sounded so cute on the phone so I said yes. And then that of course led to us going back to my place, and then you know the rest.”

  “I wish I knew the rest. I seriously need your sex life.”

  Skye cleared her throat. “It’s not sex.”

  “Oh right. Your almost sex life. I’d take that too.”

  Skye’s forehead pressed into the desk. “This is stupid isn’t it?”

  Kari stared at her. “What? Having a good time with a guy who wants to keep seeing you?”

  “I’m playing with fire, and we both know it. I just can’t stop.”

  Kari leaned in. “And why do you think that is?”

  Skye shrugged. “I think part of me wants to see if he can make it to the one-month mark.”

  “But?” Kari urged.

  “But the other part of me thinks as soon as he does he’s going to be done with me. He’ll leave. He wouldn’t be the first.”

  Kari looked upset. “Do you hear what you’re saying? You are not giving yourself any credit. You are beautiful, smart, successful—any guy in this city would love to date you. If Ben’s as hot as you say he is, he wouldn’t hang around you for sex. He can get that somewhere else.”

  Skye straightened her shoulders. Everything her friend said made perfect sense. Ben didn’t have to ask her to the game or take her out for beers with his friends.

  “Yeah, you’re right. I don’t know why my guard is up all the time.” An involuntary smile crept across her face. “So I should keep seeing him despite the fact that he’s in the military? Despite the fact that I don’t know much about him? And despite the fact that our relationship is the most physical relationship I’ve ever had?”

  “Absolutely.” Kari’s hand slammed on the mahogany desk, making Skye giggle.

  “Ok, it’s settled.”

  “It’s settled.”

  One Week Later

  Skye stared at the screen on her desk. No matter how many times she went over the campaign slogans, they all sounded the same—boring and ordinary. How many different ways could you tell people they needed to wear sunscreen at the beach and pool? ‘Fun in the sun’ had been played out.

  She glanced at the clock. It was almost eight. The floor was quiet. Kari left hours ago with everyone else. The rumbling sound from her stomach reminded her that the last time she had eaten was at lunch.

  She scrolled through the usual take out places programmed into her phone. She realized she had tried every deli, Chinese restaurant, and pizza joint in a five-mile radius. Tonight, she settled on a turkey and cheese from Sandy’s Sandwich Shoppe.

  “Knock knock.” Greg rapped on the door.

  “What are you doing here? I thought everyone left.” Skye looked behind him, hoping someone else was still lurking in the office.

  Greg was one of those guys who looked like he probably played football in high school. He had an athletic build that over the years had been padded by more than one box of donuts. The receding hairline he tried to hide with longer hair on top, made him look older than he really was. Skye knew they had graduated from college the same year, so he wasn’t even over thirty. Unfortunately, she knew more about Greg than she wanted to.

  “You know, working on the tourism account. I’ve gotta stay ahead of it.” He smiled.

  “Right.” Her stomach lurched. She reached for her bag and folded her laptop into the front pocket.

  “You leaving already? I was going to see if you wanted to split a pizza.” Greg walked further into her office sanctuary.

  She stuffed a notebook behind the laptop and looked up. “Pizza? Ahh…thanks, but I’m picking up dinner on the way home.” She had never been more excited that she decided to eat at home.

  “Oh come on. We could talk about the account. You can fill me in on the people on the tourism board.” He leaned on the desk. “I think I’ve got a bottle of wine. Let’s try it out.” His grin was practically Cheshire Cat-wide.

  Skye held in a gag. “Um.
I’m really finished for the night.” She tapped the switch on her desk lamp and stood.

  Greg sighed, “That’s too bad. I was hoping to get your analysis on the account. Maybe even let you take the lead on the zoo campaign.”

  Skye stopped fidgeting with the snaps on her bag. “The zoo campaign?”

  “Uh-huh. Isn’t that your baby?” Greg didn’t budge.

  “It was.” Skye thought about the gondola that sliced through the park, and the panda exhibit. Sunny days on the bench watching the tourists take group photos and line up for snocones.

  “I bet we could work something out.”

  She hated the way he said that. He was dangling the one carrot in front of her he knew he had. There was always the chance he would use all her ideas, take credit for them, and stab her in the back in one quick move. On the other hand, it was a chance to get back on the largest account the firm had. She could handle the zoo marketing and sunscreen ads at the same time.

  “Alright.”

  Greg’s eyebrows shot upward. “Ok. Let me go get that wine.”

  Skye raised her palm. “No wine. And I’m going to run to Sandy’s and pick up my dinner. But when I get back we can start.”

  Greg slid his hands in his pockets. “Your loss on the wine. It’s a Mystic Vineyards classic.” He bit down on his lower lip, and she noticed his eyes had settled on the top of her cleavage. It made her want to button the top buttons on her blouse.

  “Greg, I’m not staying late at work to drink with you. If you’re saying I can work on the zoo campaign with no strings attached, I’ll come back with dinner. If not, then you’re on your own.”

  He held up his hands. “Strings? You don’t think I’m using this account for anything other than professional reasons, do you?” His smile said otherwise.