by Cd Brennan
“Why is this place locked up like this?” Rory took off his winter hat and ran his hand through his hair. It came out all mussed and, phew, way too sexy.
“Well first, you’re now in America, Rory. Security is big business. Guns amok—and that’s from a girl who loves her guns—and we are constantly fed a bunch of crap through the media that makes us paranoid. Second, the patients with dementia have a tendency to wander so everything is on lockdown.” And there she went again, up on her soap box. Her momma had said her opinions would get her into trouble, but Grace just couldn’t help herself. And when she was nervous, it was a thousand times worse.
“Oh, right.”
Yep, Grace was an idiot. Totally ruined the moment. They could have been exchanging kisses, but instead Grace had to go and open her mouth and spout off about gun control policy in the United States, which she was sure was tops on Rory’s priority list.
Rory stepped closer to Grace and reached out, at the same time bending his height down to her. He was going to kiss her! Her heart thumped out of her chest. Yes, she wanted him to, but no, she was at work. It wouldn’t be appropriate. Aw dayum, screw it anyway. Grace tipped onto her toes to meet him halfway, but just then the interior doors swooshed open and Renee was standing there. “Are you coming, Grace? As much as I love Mrs. Peas company, I have med rounds to do.”
Renee blatantly eyed Rory up and down, a smirk on her face. “But I can see why it’s taking you so long.”
Grace’s face burned. “Sorry, I’ll be right there.”
“Okay, hon.” She walked away.
“Sorry, Ror, but I have to go. You see, I’m still in my probation—”
“Just let me say what I came here for.”
Grace twisted her hands and glanced back inside. She didn’t want to make anyone mad, but this was Rory. “Okay, but quick.”
“Well, you see…” Rory hesitated than grabbed her hand. “I’ve been thinking about what you said last night…”
Go on, go on. Grace loved almost everything about Rory, but he wasn’t quick about anything. Slow and deliberate, he thought out every word, and most likely every action. The antithesis to Grace’s spontaneity, act first and think later. She should have known it couldn’t be quick with him, but she rallied her patience and squeezed his hand to reassure him.
“You were right.”
Good. Yep.
“I need to step outside of my comfort zone.”
Great. That would be good for him.
“Even though it scares the shit out of me.”
Yes, scary was good in life. Sometimes it had to be scary. She wrapped her other hand around their joined hands.
“I think I’d like to…”
Go on, go on.
“Start up a women’s rugby team here.”
Grace squealed. “That’s great, Rory! But I really—”
“You didn’t let me finish.”
Okay, shit. Grace had to still herself from bouncing on her toes. She was ready to sprint inside back to work. Even though she adored Rory, he had never really “worked” so didn’t realize how easy it was to lose said work.
Rory looked out the window and then back at Grace. He blew a big breath out puffed cheeks. “I’ll coach them.”
Grace took a step back.
Did he really just say that? That was great and all, and sure she’d pushed him to do something like this last night, but she’d never had an impact on anyone like this before. Never. Not even her younger sister. Definitely not her older brothers. They had never listened to her. And dayum, if it didn’t make her a bit weepy. She blinked hard. Then remembered she had to get back to work. “That’s great, Rory.” Yeah, she’d already said that. “I think it’s a great idea.”
Lawd, what was with all this greatness?
He eyed her as if he didn’t believe her.
“No, I’m serious. You’ll be a great coach!”
“Will you play with the women’s team then?”
Oh, right. Sure. A bit flustered at this all, she shook her head trying to get her thoughts together.
“You won’t?”
“No, no, I will.” She held out her hands to pacify him. “I’ll even help in any way that I can.”
That must have appeased Rory since he took a deep breath and then smiled. “Good, I could use it.”
From the corner of her eye, Grace could see Renee waving her arms over her head just inside the door. She squeezed Rory’s hand again and looked back over her shoulder. “I really have to get back to work. I’m glad you’re gonna give coaching a go.”
“Thanks…”
Rory looked at Grace as if he wanted to say or do something more, but she was already tugging her hand from his grasp. She really, really had to get going.
At the last moment, he jerked her back quickly and then laid a quick kiss on her lips. “I’ll see you at home.”
She couldn’t move, but her insides were kinda jumping around like a Fred Astaire musical. Well, that answered that question. Floating on air, she input the code to release the doors for Rory. He ducked outside quick and turned. “See ya.”
She smiled and raised her hand half-heartedly. “Bye.”
And wow, her heart was goooone. Out of the park. Homerun hit with bases loooaded.
Grace turned on her heel, entered the foyer, and speed walked to the entertainment room where she’d left Mrs. Peas. Renee was nowhere to be seen, and the halls were eerily quiet, but maybe it was just the thrumming of her heartbeat in her ears that muffled everything.
Mrs. Peas sat alone, and when Grace raced into the room, she turned her attention from the cards that lay in front of her to Grace. She smiled, and thankfully Mrs. Peas smiled back. That meant she was living in real-time once again. As Grace slid into her old chair, her vision blurred. She grasped the edge of the table and blinked hard to settle herself. She’d been fighting a headache all day.
“Uh-oh.”
Mrs. Peas had that right. Grace waited a moment again until her vision came right. To try to stretch out her medicine until payday, Grace had been taking only two insulin shots a day instead of three. She took a long gulp from her water bottle. She’d get through this.
Grace pasted on a smile. “You ready to play again, Mrs. P? I’m fine.”
The older woman looked at Grace over the rim of her glasses. “No way.”
Yeah, she was right, but there was nothing to do for it except try to do better with her diet. Maybe they could advance her pay. Or maybe she could just borrow a few vials of insulin. Every morning, out of the break room, she passed the huge cabinet stocked with medicines for the residents, but she had no idea how closely they kept track. Renee would know, or maybe she’d even help Grace.
It was the main reason Grace had taken this job, out of her field, low pay, work that any person without a college degree could do, and that was for the benefits. Once she’d left Texas, her insurance with her folks also ended. It sucked that she even had to worry about this shit. For more reasons than one.
She’d had diabetes her whole life—it wasn’t a lifestyle choice. She’d been born with it. And since it was a pre-existing condition, she wasn’t even sure how much the health benefits would cover. It cost a small fortune to keep up her meds with no healthcare. And her pay had to stretch to ten million other things, too, including rent, groceries, gas for the guzzler Bluegill, and now, new gear for playing rugby.
Against her folks’ advice, especially her momma who was also a nurse, Grace had needed to move away from them. And that included their healthcare. The only way to truly know oneself and who she was supposed to be, Grace believed, was to remove herself completely from her comfort zone and plop herself right in the middle of everything that was not so certain. Without her entire family and a few select friends hanging over her shoulder while she did it.
Grace picked up one of the many flyers for the Sunset from a holder on a small coffee table and fanned herself. She wouldn’t panic.
When Grace
looked up, Mrs. Peas was waiting patiently for her, the cards still where they’d been before Grace left. Totally out of the blue, Mrs. Peas grabbed Grace’s hand and said, “Uh-oh.”
Chapter 10
Why the hell had he thought to do this?
To prove to Grace that he was worthy, that was why. And she wasn’t even here yet. He’d feel better if she was here. His stomach twisted, bile coming up his throat. He swallowed hard.
Rory had arranged for the first practice of the Blues women’s rugby team to happen the day after they started recruiting so he wouldn’t back down. Initial recruitment had all been social media and word of mouth. They’d do another push once Rory got settled in.
If he would have waited, it would have given him too much time to think on it. Too much time to back out. But now he was regretting that decision, too. How was he going to practice with the men’s team and coach the women’s at the same time?
The boys were starting to filter from the locker room, their eyes shifting to him momentarily before they congregated in the middle of the pitch. They all knew. It was all over the Blues website and social media. And he must look a complete wanker standing at the far end of the field under the uprights in the midst of the gear he had thrown together at the last minute. A bag of rugby balls, water bottles, first-aid kit.
Del was already there rallying the boys. He was a good captain. Early to practice and games to talk with each of them. Today he was working again on the haka. He was determined that every player on the team was going to learn the war dance so they could perform it at the beginning of each match against their opponent. Just like the All Blacks team did. Del didn’t care they were only a small club in northern Michigan. He believed that a person, any person, any team, could be as big as they wanted to be. Believe, he’d whisper to each player as they readied to go on the pitch before a game.
With Rory, Del would always do the hongi, touching his nose and forehead to Rory so that they would breathe the same air, the ha, the breath of life. Maybe Del thought Rory needed it the most since he didn’t bother with the rest of the lads. Only Rory. Or maybe it was because Rory vomited before every game, and Del thought he could use some extra help from the Maori spirits to keep his stomach contents down. So far, it hadn’t worked.
And he didn’t want to offend Del. No one questioned the captain. Well, except Irish, and he was a bit of a wanker.
As if summoned by Rory’s thoughts, the tall Number Five lumbered through the tunnel from the parking lot to the edge of the pitch with Gillian following close behind. She was carrying a small toddler and walking next to a blond woman. That was new.
Rory looked at his watch. His heart was already racing. Only seven minutes until start, and not one female player on the pitch. Plus, he had to do his own warm-up yet. He busied himself checking the air in the balls, but really it felt like all eyes were on him. Heat rushed to his face and neck. His vision blurred, and he lost focus on the ball in front of him.
“Where’s your team, Rory boy?” Dick called out. Fucker. Could always count on the prick to be, well, a prick. A few of the other lads laughed, which was always Dick’s goal. At least Mitch was decent about it. “You want me to help set things up with you?” What was there to set up and for who? Not one female player had shown up. Not even Grace.
A new fella, TJ, offered, “I can put on a skirt on and join your team, Ror.”
Most of the boys laughed at that one, but Del spoke up. “No one is going anywhere. Rory’s got this.”
Got what? Got a bunch of equipment sitting at the end of the Blues rugby pitch. And the only action the gear was getting was to hold up the men’s team from practicing.
What if he just left? Walked off the field? Never to return to rugby or the Blues or Michigan or the States or…Grace?
“I’m here.” He could almost hear her voice calling to him.
Yeah, he couldn’t leave Grace.
“Rory!” Another shout.
Rory looked up to see Grace jogging across the field in new shorts, a long-sleeved jersey, and new cleats. His heart stopped for a moment. She’d made it. And she looked sexy as hell. At least he had Grace.
“Sorry, I’m late,” she huffed as she came to a stop in front of him. “We had a meeting at work after my shift, and it went on foreeeever.”
“Nae bother.” Rory smiled at her. He really wanted to take her into his arms and hold her tight to say thanks, but now everyone was watching, including the coaches.
“I mean, really, my boss went on and on about work performance. No slacking off. No visitors. Don’t take longer breaks than you are allowed. He’s totally old-school. I’d love to get one of those jobs like at Google where they have nap beds and allow you flexi-time for work.”
He pointed at her rugby boots. “I like your cleats.”
A big smile for Rory for that. “Thanks. I would have asked your advice, but I really didn’t have a choice. It had to be the cheapest ones they had. I picked them up on my lunch.”
“They’re perfect.” Just like Grace.
“Heya.”
They both looked up to see the blonde who had been with Gillian standing there. Rory had been so focused on Grace he hadn’t noticed anyone approach. And then there were two other girls who had come out of nowhere standing to his other side.
“I’m Junette, Gillian’s friend. She talked me into giving rugby a go so I can get fit and lose my baby fat. From having a baby.” Junette tossed her hair behind her back. “But I’m sure you got that. Okay, I’m a bit nervous, I have to admit.”
Grace saved her. “Me, too.”
One of the girls that had approached finally spoke up. “I’m not. I played in college but moved up here for work.”
Great, some experience. That would help. The girl was fit and almost as tall as Rory. The woman next to her piped up, “I’ve never played. I’m just here with Brittany.” She gestured at the college player next to her. “She says it’s a great sport to keep you fit, so I’m willing to work hard.”
They all seemed like they had a good attitude. It was a start at least. “First things first—”
Josh yelled out, “Rory, get your Scottish ass over here for practice!”
“We’ll have to change our practice dates so they don’t fall on the same days as the men’s team.”
Brittany’s friend said, “I waitress at nights, so I might be able to come, might not, depending on my schedule.”
“I’m pretty flexible,” Brittany said. “I work days as a counselor at the women’s shelter, no nights or weekends.”
“My schedule is all over the place, so not sure either,” said Grace, “but I’ll do my best to be here.” She had picked up a rugby ball and was twirling it in her hands as if she were an old pro after the men’s practice. It was cute.
Everyone looked to Junette, who had yet to give her input. “Well, it all depends for me. Like, is my kid sick? Can I get a babysitter? Which are expensive, by the way. But I’ll try to make most of the practices. Gillian convinced me so she’ll have to help. Ha! And my folks might, too…”
“Hello, I’m here!”
A groan escaped Rory. He’d know that voice anywhere. Jenn. She’d said it as if they’d been waiting for her all along.
She sauntered onto the field with as much flare as she moved everywhere. She waved at some of the boys on the men’s team as if she was the Queen in her motorcade. Her practice gear all matched, down to the socks, and Rory couldn’t imagine how she could breathe in her skin-tight shirt. It made her boobs stick out a mile which, most certainly, had been her plan all along. They looked like two big half melons on a table. They couldn’t be real. No way, especially in one of those sports bras the girls should be wearing. The ones that made their breasts look like a log roll.
The girls looked on her suspiciously as she approached. Must have been instinct for them to be wary of Jenn. And they were right. She was like the Leanhaum-Shee of Scotland, a female vampire who preyed on men.
She sidled up next to Rory and ran her hand down his arm, which caused him to shiver. “Hi, Rory, great idea to start a women’s team.” It had been Grace’s idea really. “I think you’ll be a great coach.”
He could imagine the collective groan coming from the other girls. And when he looked up, their faces expressed as much. But they were going to be a team, so he’d have to bring them all together. “Thanks. I appreciate your confidence. I’ll introduce everyone quick before we start. I think you’ve met Junette, Gillian’s friend.” Rory gestured at Junette who gave Jenn a pinched smile in return. Yeah, no love lost there.
“This is Grace.” Rory laid his hand on Grace’s back for a moment, just so he could. He’d been itching to touch her since she arrived.
“Good to meet you.” Grace stuck out her hand, which Jenn took limply in her own, a quick shake, and then wiped her hand on her shorts. Someone gasped, but Grace kept her smile in place.
“The others are Brittany and… I’m sorry, I never got your name.”
“Jordyn.” She was chewing gum, and she snapped her jaw down a good one at Jenn across their tight circle. Feck, this was going to be an uphill battle.
The men’s team had started their run around the pitch.
“I guess we should get started, too. Follow me.” Rory motioned to the five of them and took off after the lads. He fell in behind the last of the boys with the girls at his heels. Brittany ran ahead and joined the mass of men while Grace moved up beside Rory. She gave him a quick look and smile before she focused again on the run.
Junette and Jordyn were huffing and puffing behind him, and they hadn’t even made it around the first corner. But if Grace believed in him, he could do this. It would be a bit of work, but he wouldn’t let her down. He couldn’t lose face. That would make him, as a man, as appealing to her as a dish of haggis. Only the Scots loved the stuff.
As they rounded the next corner, a girl who had been standing on the sidelines waved to Brittany and stepped up with her. After Brittany leaned into say something to her, the girl shouted over her shoulder. “Sorry I’m late, couldn’t find the place.”
