by Jackson Kane
“I'm not just an MVP on the field.” I leaned in giving her bedroom eyes and the hint of a smile that promised only trouble and a good time. She was still close enough that I could smell the citrus from the orange soda on her breath. I hadn't had a soda in years, but I craved a taste of it more than anything.
We shared a moment; a lull between words and obligations. I knew the moment like my own reflection in the mirror. For just a second we were completely alone. Just like we were that night we danced together. We couldn't come together that night, but today... There was a hole in time that could only be filled with a kiss.
A first kiss.
“Dad!” Came a tug at my leg and just like that the moment passed.
I sighed, switching gears hard. There was one thing in life even more important than moments like these. I dropped into a crouch to talk to my daughter. “What is it, my little coconut?”
The music clicked off and some of the lights in the empty parts of the building started snapping out. Closing time already? We were just having lunch weren't we? I couldn't believe how fast time flew with Judy.
“Will invited me over to play at his house and his mom said it was ok. Can I go play at will's house? Can I? Can I?” Jackie hopped up and down excitedly.
“I don't know...” I thought it over.
I was torn. Jackie needed friends, but what happened when we left Caldwell Hope? I could be in boardrooms all day, but the toughest decisions I'd ever had to make were as a parent.
“It's no bother for us.” Molly tussled her son's sandy blond hair as she walked by. “Luke always makes too much food. Judy knows the way. You can—”
Molly trailed off glancing at Judy who was uncharacteristically quiet. Judy coughed, trying to hide the faint glow about her from our near moment. Molly smiled. It was a small thing, but it saw right through Judy's charade.
“We'll set a few extra plates if you feel like joining us.” Molly hefted her purse and gathered up her son's things. I shook her hand and the kids hugged their goodbyes.
Molly hugged Judy and carefully whispered something into her ear.
What did she say?
The dinner offer did not sound appealing. I had no inclination to meet Lucky Luke again. Once was too many. I went to that show that banned him from Berlin. The way I saw it, he got off easy for what he did.
“Can we, Dad? Can we, can we, can we?” Jackie latched herself to my leg. Her face beamed as she looked up at me; a big gap toothed smile on her lips. “Pleeeeease.”
If I had a weakness it was certainly my daughter.
“Sure, Coconut.” I sighed. That Germany show was a long time ago. We're both very different men now. I doubt he'd even remember me. “Only for a little while.”
If there was one thing I couldn't stand, it was strained small talk with people I didn't like. But looking at Jaclyn's gleeful, chubby face... How could I say no to her?
Chapter 11
Judy
“Well?” Molly poured me another glass of wine. It was amazing how she could hold the same smirk for hours without cracking.
Garrett had to stop back at his hotel for a few hours before meeting us for dinner, so I just rode with Molly. She's been passively insufferable the whole time.
“What, well? Why are you well-ing?” I snatched the full glass from her eagerly and took a sip. “There's nothing to well about.”
Molly raised and lowered her eyebrows, then deepened her grin ever so slightly, but otherwise didn't say a word.
Lucas chopped veggies on the marble island, humming a quiet tune to himself. He was working out a new song in his head. He'd been bursting with inspiration for a while now. Lucas had put out a new album each year, like clockwork, since they had William.
It was obscene how jealous I was of Gloria and Molly, with their stupid perfect lives and stupid happiness...
“Do you like the wine?” Molly asked innocuously. The wine glass covered part of her perpetual smirk. God, even her eyes smiled smugly!
“Ahh! You're so nosy!” I cracked under her relentless glare. “Yes! OK? I like him. I hate that I do, but I can't help it! Happy? Are you happy now, you horrible, horrible friend?”
I put the glass down, and ran both of my hands over my face and hair, as I slumped into their bar on my elbows. I hated hearing it out loud. It sounded so hopeless and silly.
“Ha!” Molly's smirk became a wide toothy grin. “I knew it. You were glowing so hard at the end that, I could've plugged my phone into you and gotten a good charge.”
“The Dark side is too strong with you...”
Molly cackled evilly and tapped her fingertips together rapidly.
“Frustrating, isn't she?” Lucas set down a bowl of mixed veggies and dip, then went to check on Will. He winked at his wife, then kissed her on the cheek as he passed.
“What the hell am I going to do, Moll?”
“Please.” She held up a hand stopping me. “Use the full title, Darth Moll.”
“This is serious,” I whined, and slapped the table like a child throwing a temper tantrum. I took another sip of wine and pulled myself together. “I can't fall in love with him. I NEED something from Garrett. The fate of the whole town rests in his hands.”
“That's a bit much.” Molly grabbed a carrot stick and swirled it around in the dip.
“It's not!” I snatched the carrot away from her and chomped down on it. “Caldwell Hope is in rough shape.”
“Richard and Lucas are doing what they can...” Molly's tone went somber. She saw it too. The graduating class at her school this year was at an all-time low. She was worried, but she was a master at not freaking out.
Me on the other hand...
“I know. I know. And that's great, but they're just a band aid. Jobs need to come back, and the only way that happens is with this stadium. I feel selfish about even fantasizing about him. I'm in way over my head. I should ask someone else to show him around.”
Richard and Lucas King were technically billionaires, but not really. They decided to pass on their father's inheritance to their children instead of taking it for themselves. That left them with only what they'd made for themselves, which was still a lot of money but nowhere near a billion dollars. They helped with small loans and charities as much as they could, but there was only so much they were able to do.
Gloria told me about it once and it made my head spin. I couldn't imagine giving up that kind of money.
“Didn't he expressly say that it had to be you—” She asked.
“Yes! He's tormenting me.” I interrupted her, gesturing loosely enough that I spilled a few drops of wine on the marble-topped bar.
“You know he's into you right?” She asked dipping a piece of broccoli into the dip. I snatched it from her a second later. “Come on!”
“Of course I know that.” I ignored her indignant shout and ate the veggie. “Look at me.” I chewed the broccoli loudly; little bits of green peppered the air. “I'm a goddess. Who wouldn't want me?”
Molly slowly shook her head at my self-deprecating humor.
“I don't know, Moll.” I swallowed. “Ever since we danced together at that masquerade he's always been in the back of my head, even if I didn't know who it was that I was dancing with at the time. He was supposed to be this prince charming that I'd never see again, and then boom he shows up on his white steed to save me years later.
“Except...” I trailed off.
“He's kind of a dick?” Molly asked, dipping another veggie. This time she guarded it with her other hand.
“Yes! And he might not even decide to save us in the end. You know what the worst part is? He's only kind of a dick. He's so sweet around his daughter that...” I sighed, slumping back in my stool. There was more to Garrett Walker than what everyone knew. But it would be so much easier if there weren't.
The doorbell rang.
Molly and I shared a look. The white knight had finally arrived.
“You want me to answer?” Molly asked,
crunching on her snack.
“No. I'll do it.” I stood up, then took another big gulp of liquid courage. “Any last words of wisdom for me?”
“Hmm.” Molly's face went sullen with concern as she weighed her thoughts. “I think you need to…use the Force.”
“OK. That's it. I hate you.” I straightened out my clothes and checked the black mirror that was my phone. I showed Molly my teeth and she gave me the double thumbs up that there weren’t any broccoli stowaways.
Molly yelled for Will and Lucas, then turned back and pushed me toward the door.
I took a last last sip of wine, exhaled and walked over.
Garrett loomed in the doorway. With his height and winter layers on, Garrett blocked the rest of the world from view.
He'd shaved since the adventure park and, without the stubble that darkened his face, he looked a little younger and was brutally handsome. His pale blue eyes washed over me like glacial runoff. Pleased with what he saw, a faint dimple appeared in his cheek as his lips curled into a small, simple grin.
It was genuine and nice. I didn't know if it was the wine, but seeing him sent a warming calm rippling through me.
“Hi,” I tucked my hair back and prayed I hadn't missed any broccoli. I did manage to hold back from smiling too big and looking like a complete fool.
“Hi, Miss Judy!” Jackie's small, adorable voice stole all the attention before Garrett could respond. She squeezed herself between us and waved.
“Hey there, Miss Jackie.” I extended a hand in greeting.
“Don't take my thumb!” She cried, then spotted Will and pushed past me.
“Don't mind her. I guess they're best friends now,” Garrett said in his deep, wonderful voice. His accent shined through more when he was being playful. “Unlike my daughter, I'm a vampire and need to be invited inside.”
“Yes!” I stupidly swept a hand into the room. “Please come in, Count Chocula.”
He greeted Molly, who'd walked over and took their coats. Garrett wore a neatly pressed, charcoal gray suit without a tie and a white button down shirt with the collar relaxed. His cologne was subtle, but exotically decadent. It made me imagine us on a private beach at dusk, surrounded by a lush green forest.
“Dad's on a call with his manager,” Will announced. He offered Jackie a tour of the house. Jackie looked at her father, he nodded then off they ran.
“Ah,” Molly's mouth pulled to one side in mild annoyance. She must be no stranger to him receiving all hour phone calls. Then she just shrugged and accepted it as she always did. “No rest for the wicked. More wine for us. Garrett?”
“Please.” He accepted a glass.
“Did you find the place alright?” I asked, sitting across the bar from him.
“Turns out it's a bit of landmark. You know you're a Pokémon Go stop, right?” he asked Molly.
“Really?” I took out my phone and checked. “Ohmygod, Molly. You totally are! How'd you find that out?”
“Wonderful,” Molly groaned, obviously wanting no part of this. She sipped her drink.
“My daughter plays religiously.” He shook his head in resigned acceptance, then stopped and looked up at me quizzically; a devilish expression on his face. “What level are you?”
“Twenty—” I caught my words, but not the flush I felt in my face as Molly started to laugh at me. “Twenty somethings,” I attempted to clarify, “Like myself, don't play kids games obviously.”
Garrett and Molly gave me disbelieving looks, then laughed.
“Hey!” I protested, cutting my losses. Whatever. I was a nerd, so what? “We were all just playing video games a few hours ago. I don't want to hear it.”
For the next hour or so, we talked comfortably while waiting for the roast to finish in the oven. To my surprise Garrett asked a lot of questions about Caldwell Hope, which Molly and I answered the best we could. Working at a school, Molly was the gossip queen; she knew more of the inner workings of what was going on than I did.
For the first time since he'd been here, it finally felt like we were having a meeting. I might've been half in the bag, but it felt really productive. Garrett was curious about zoning and other technical aspects, and was soon even offering up advice for ways the stadium could actually work.
I dared to hope. Maybe we weren't as screwed as we thought...
Then Lucas finally stepped into the room and everything fell to shit.
Chapter 12
Garrett
“You...” Lucas said as he recognized me.
Lucas looked similar to how I remembered him. He wore a vintage tee and fashionably distressed jeans with no shoes. His hair was pulled back and his beard longer now than it had once been.
The fiery look in his eyes dashed my hopes that he'd have forgotten me.
“It's been awhile.” I stood up to greet him and extended a hand. Let bygones be bygones.
He brought his hand up, but it wasn't to shake mine.
Lucas threw his weight forward and decked me. The half full glass of wine I was holding smashed against the floor. The blow wasn't hard enough to knock me down, but I'd be feeling it for the next week or so. I exhaled, snapping my head back to guard against another strike and deliver one of my own.
Instead I got an accusing finger pointed into my chest.
“How dare you come into my home after what you did to me in Berlin!” Lucas roared, ignoring the startled cries of Judy and Molly who looked on in horror.
“What I did to you?” I wiped the smear of blood from the corner of my lip. I slapped his hand away and shoved him. That buried anger I felt for him bubbled to the surface. I was an idiot to think he'd changed. Guys like him were always selfish assholes. “You got what you deserved.”
“My band dropped me for that!” Lucas shouted. “You opened your big fucking mouth to complain, instead of settling it with me like a man! Aaron Miller was right about you.”
My eyes narrowed to slits. I was a heartbeat from putting this spoiled rock star on his ass.
“Lucas.” Molly stepped between us, her sharp, dark eyes stared daggers into her husband. “The kids are here.”
Sure enough, Will and Jackie stood in the hallway and watched their fathers get ready to kick the crap out of each other. The two cowered together in fear. I felt horrible. God, this whole night was such a mistake. I should've known better.
What the fuck was I thinking?
I quickly scooped Jackie up and reassured her that everything was OK. To his credit Lucas did roughly the same with his son. Jackie was shaking when I picked her up. She hugged me like she thought she was never going to see me again.
As hits went, I'd taken harder. Looking down at her cherub face made me wonder how she would've dealt with seeing me get tackled by a three-hundred pound football player. I was reminded exactly why I left the sport and was again glad I did.
“Holy crap, are you alright?” Judy asked me, rushing over.
Almost automatically she touched the side of my face. Her fingertips felt like fire on my bruised cheek, but I didn't recoil. I didn't mind the pain. Having her that close and feeling her concern was like a warm cup of hot chocolate, after being out in the cold all day.
I couldn't remember the last time anyone tried to comfort me.
“I'll get the coats.” Judy glanced back at Lucas angrily, then stormed off.
He and Molly were arguing about what just happened. I didn't care as long as I could get Jaclyn out of here quickly. I wish she and her friend hadn't seen that.
“Are you OK, Dad?” She asked when we got to the door.
“Yeah, sweetie. Adults are just...” I couldn't find the word I was looking for.
“Adults,” Jackie said, with wisdom far beyond her years.
I scoffed, seeing the truth in the innocent statement. “Yeah. Never grow up, Coconut. Being an adult is overrated.”
Judy came back with a pile of clothing and began handing them out. I noticed that she had her own puffy coat in the pile.
“Would you mind dropping me off?” She asked with eyebrows turned up slightly. It wasn't an urgent pleading expression, but she obviously didn't want to be here anymore. “I know it’s bad out there, but I don’t think I'm too far out of your way.”
I couldn't blame her; I sure as hell didn't want to be here either.
“Sure,” I replied, helping Jackie into the last of her winter coat, gloves, scarf, and hat. “My driver, Byron, is a Marine vet. He can drive anywhere.”
The snow had picked up while we were at the King residence, enough so that the ride to her place took twice as long as it would've otherwise. My limo driver was from here and assured me that it wouldn't be a problem, as long as they went slow.
At some point Jackie had fallen asleep laid out between us; she had her head on my lap and her legs on Judy. I'd asked Judy if she minded, but she didn't. It looked like she enjoyed it even.
“You ever thought about having kids?” I asked.
“I've thought about it.” Judy laughed, looking down at Jackie wistfully. “I love kids, but come on...”
“You're great with her,” I said. Judy shrugged and looked out the window. Odd. Was that a sore subject? “I understand kids aren't for everyone. Hell they definitely weren't for me back in my MVP days.”
“What changed?” Judy asked distantly, gazing at the heavy snowfall through the tinted windows.
“Fate, I guess.” Fate was also cruel. It gives and it takes away.
For a few minutes we sat in silence and the lights automatically dimmed into a low, cool driving hue. I pushed away thoughts of Heidi.
Judy battled whatever was going on in her own head. I wished I knew Judy better. I wanted to remove some of the anguish that was plainly written across her face.
Five years ago Judy danced into my life so briefly at the exact wrong time, and now again at the exact wrong time we had these three not-dates before we parted ways forever. It was almost déjà vu, but so much worse.
