To be fair or unfair, depending on how you looked at it, my heart didn’t beat wildly in my chest when Scott mimicked Mason’s motions. Maybe it was my nerves that prevented me from feeling excitement or anything more. Could it have been the memory of that damn phone call on Christmas Eve that had interrupted us, or the one on New Year’s Eve?
Was it me? Did my subconscious purposefully do this? All I could think about was what was in store for me. If my tale was still being written, I wanted—no, needed to make sure I was the one who wrote each and every line, chapter, and page. It would be me who determined my happily-ever-after, me who decided which way my life would go. Had I allowed Scott to be my author?
Where did I go from here? That was the question.
As if a light bulb flashed in my head, it dawned on me. Short of yelling aha, I sprang from the couch, hurried to my bedroom, and threw open my closet door to grab the dark mahogany leather box that looked a little like a treasure chest. Some might call it a hope chest, but not me. No, this box held my dreams. No one knew I had this box, not even Sophie.
Granted, some of the things in it I had discussed with Scott over the years in hope that my dreams would somehow morph into ours. But he had never actually seen this box or what was in it, and right now, I couldn’t be happier about that fact. If you had asked me a couple of days ago, I would have been upset about that, but now I was relieved.
The hinges gently creaked as I lifted the lid. I pulled out my binder that contained my list and a stack of pictures wrapped in a red ribbon. Those were for when I got married someday, so I set them aside. Next were the pictures wrapped in a yellow ribbon; those were for any future children I might have. It was the pictures wrapped in purple that I was after.
With the stack now in my hands, I climbed atop my bed, crossed my legs, and pulled the ribbon to release the photos.
The first was my favorite. It was a glorious white-sand beach with waves crashing against the shoreline. Out in the distance were surfers riding waves.
Yes, this was where I was going to begin my story. On the sunny beaches of California. The others were of foreign places, namely Paris, London, Switzerland, Ireland, and Italy. Then there was my ultimate destination, Australia. To see Sydney would be an absolute dream come true.
When I was a little girl, I’d practice accents for the people of all of these places, except Asia, but Australian was by far my favorite. All my brothers would laugh when I asked if they’d ever take a girl down under. Little did I know what the innuendo was. But I was only ten, so they should have cut me some slack.
Even though these were all lofty goals, I intended to achieve them, but I never thought I’d be experiencing them on my own. I had pictured sharing the experience with someone, preferably a significant other, and seeing beautiful places through their eyes as well as mine.
Now I had a renewed vigor that pushed me toward attaining each and every one of my goals.
CHAPTER 8
~ Mason ~
My thoughts were scattered like a new puzzle just out of the box. First, there was the guilt I felt with regard to Amber. She was one of the first people I met when I moved here, and she meant a lot to me. The last thing I wanted to do was to screw up our friendship with thoughts of another woman when we were together. Even though she understood, and I knew our friendship could withstand it, that didn’t mean I didn’t feel like a piece of shit.
I needed to start hanging out with guys more. Women made great friends, but the one woman I wanted to spend time with was off-limits and across the country. That was the hardest part of all of this.
A run was precisely what I needed to clear my head, so the afternoon before school started again, I headed out to the shore and decided to pound the sand for a couple of miles. With every step I took, my leg muscles burned. The salty air coated my skin, creating a sticky layer of moisture.
As I was coming up on my third mile marker, my phone rang. I clicked the button on my headphones and unstrapped the phone from my arm, practically panting as I answered it.
“Hello.”
“Did I catch you at a bad time? You sound out of breath.”
Lucy’s voice sounded better than the music I was listening to. I slowed down until I was merely walking.
“Hey, Luce, I was finishing a run. Are you back from your honeymoon?”
“We are. I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner, but we were busy.” She let out the cutest giggle, which made me happy.
“Prescott’s trying to keep you to himself, and I can’t say that I blame him. I’d keep my gorgeous bride sequestered as long as I could.”
A bride. I laughed out loud at my own comment, but Lucy stayed quiet. Now that she was blissfully in love, she would want the same for me and everyone else she cared about.
“Something like that. So, I saw Gretchen yesterday.”
The sound of her name made my pulse speed up as if I were still running. “How is she?”
“All things considered, she’s good.”
That was ominous. “All things considered? What does that mean? Is she okay?” I made my way to the boardwalk and sat on a bench. “What happened, Luce?”
“Scott broke up with her.”
I closed my eyes and dropped my head until my chin hit my chest, which was heaving with deep breaths. “When?”
“Shortly after New Year’s Eve.”
Something in her voice made my nerves spike. “Why?”
The memory of my almost-kiss with Gretchen on New Year’s Eve burst into my head as if it were happening at that instant. If I was the reason for her breakup, I’d feel like shit. Would she have told him? I held my breath while I waited for Lucy’s reply.
“Let’s just say he misunderstood a situation.” She exhaled with a sigh that I felt in my heart. “She’s fine, but I don’t think I should say more than I already have.”
“I understand.”
And that was the truth. Lucy was in an awkward position because she knew me better than anyone. She didn’t know the way I felt about Gretchen, but if I kept talking, she would. Knowing that would put her in a terrible position, but I needed to come clean.
“Luce, I need to tell you something.”
“I think I may already know, but go ahead.”
She might already know? Fuck. I was the reason.
“When I was at Prism ringing in the New Year, I almost kissed Gretchen.” I let out a long breath. “It took every ounce of willpower I had not to. I don’t want to put you in the middle, so I won’t ask any more, but I like her a lot and if she’s hurting because of me, then I need to make this right.”
Even if I had to call the douche bag myself. The problem with that was as soon as I heard his voice, I’d ask him about the mystery woman at the airport.
“I won’t lie to you, Mason, but I did hear something about that night. Talk to Gretchen. It’s her story to tell. Just know, she may not say anything. You know that’s not her style. In my opinion, Scott is hiding something, and Drake is sure of it.”
Yeah, hiding a side piece.
“I’d never hurt her. I knew she wasn’t single. That night plays over and over in my head. I feel so guilty for putting her in that situation, but I couldn’t let the moment go. She’s special.” It felt so good to talk to Lucy about that night. She knew and cared about both of us, so she understood.
“She’s single now, but I’d wait until she has time to figure things out to start anything with her.”
I knew she was right, but I felt like I’d been waiting since the day I first laid eyes on Gretchen.
“Thanks for telling me. I’m happy you’re back. Tell Drake I said hi.”
“You got it. I love you.”
“Love you too, Luce.”
* * *
The 405 was jam-packed as usual the next morning, but going back to work was a welcome distraction. It was the off season, which meant my job was training and looking at the high-school scouting reports.
Once I arrived at work
and settled in, the day was like every other. Each potential new player’s stats started to blend with the others. My head wasn’t in it the way it needed to be.
Giving in to temptation, I tossed my pen on my desk and pulled out my phone, then sent a text to the woman who’d been occupying my mind.
MASON: Hey, Gretch. You busy?
A few minutes passed before my phone beeped.
GRETCHEN: Hi. Getting ready to meet with a client. How are you?
MASON: I’m good. Just wanted to say hi.
GRETCHEN: Hi. But I need to run. I’m sorry, but I have a meeting.
MASON: Okay. Good luck.
GRETCHEN: Thanks. Are you okay?
Was I okay? That was a good question. What I wanted to say was No. I miss you. But instead, I sent something completely different.
MASON: Yes. It’s sunny and warm, so I’m fine.
GRETCHEN: You suck. I’m freezing.
I let out a laugh, not that she could hear me.
MASON: You could always come to California.
GRETCHEN: Who knows, I might. I need to get to my meeting. Talk to you later.
She might? My heart soared at that thought.
MASON: Bye.
GRETCHEN: Bye.
The rest of my day was spent watching game video after game video, looking at stat sheet after stat sheet. I thought about calling Amber to see how she was after my confession the other day, but then thought better of that idea. My head was all over the place, so the best thing for me to do was to go home and chill out for a bit.
Alone.
CHAPTER 9
~ Gretchen ~
With an added spring in my step, I entered Bopper’s diner, where I was meeting Lucy. A few days had passed since I’d spoken to her or anyone in my family, but I’d sent them each a text assuring them I was fine. My mother was concerned since she and my dad were going to their condo in Bermuda for a couple of weeks. She asked me to join them, but I had plans of my own.
When I walked in, Lucy waved from a booth in the back of the fifties-style restaurant. I raised my hand in acknowledgment and made my way across the black-and-white checkerboard floor. The overall ambience—with the red booths, the soda-fountain bar, and the rolled-up jeans and saddle oxfords the waitstaff wore—transported you back in time. Tables were filled with couples, mothers with their kids, and businessmen.
When I was in high school, this was our hangout. My dad said it reminded him of the show Happy Days, but that was before my time, so I smiled and nodded anytime he made that comparison.
As I slid into the booth, a waitress strolled up to our table and plucked a pencil from the bun in her gray hair. “What can I get you two ladies?”
“I’ll have a root-beer float and a cheeseburger with fries, please,” I said, and Lucy ordered the same. We both agreed that one day all the fattening food we’d consumed would catch up to us, but for now, we’d enjoy it and spend extra time at the gym.
After we placed our orders, we chatted about nothing special for a while, avoiding the subject of what happened on New Year’s Eve. Lucy must have opened and closed her mouth ten times, which made me giggle.
For the sake of putting her out of her misery, I said, “Go ahead, you can ask me. I know we skirted around the issue last Sunday.”
“How are you?” Lines of concern appeared on Lucy’s forehead.
“Honestly, I’m good.” When her brows raised as if she didn’t believe me, I said, “Really, I am.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Your brother will be as well. He was worried about you after your talk with him.”
After I let out a sigh, I realized I’d been so focused on me that I hadn’t even asked how married life was treating her.
“Speaking of my oldest sibling, how was your honeymoon, Mrs. Prescott? How was Saint Martin?” If I hadn’t started out Sunday dinner with a bang, I would have asked her then, but I’d apparently been a mood killer that night.
A broad smile grew across her face. Her tanned skin from her Saint Martin honeymoon gained a rosy hue as she blushed. “It was spectacular. White sand, crystal-blue water, and hot sun.” She sighed. “Although, he could have taken me back to our place and I would have been happy.”
Lucy was definitely a woman in love, and knowing it was my brother who was the lucky recipient of her feelings made me glad they found each other. I hoped to be so lucky one day.
“I’m so happy for you both.” I smiled and took a sip of my water.
“I’m happy too.” Her bright smile faltered a bit. “Gretch, I need to tell you something, and I don’t want you to get upset.”
That didn’t sound good, but I could guess it had something to do with Mason since they were best friends.
Lucy wiped her hands on the napkin she had set on her lap. “I’m so torn because I want you both to be happy. As you know, Mason is my family. He’s the only family I had prior to meeting Drake and becoming a Prescott. So I don’t want to betray a confidence, but you’re family too.”
“Sweetie, it’s fine. Mason and I are just friends. I’d never want to put you in the middle of anything.”
“I know, and I appreciate that. But something has been bothering me, and that’s partly why I wanted to see you today.” She pushed her drink to the side, rested her hand on the table, and leaned forward. “Mason told me about New Year’s Eve.”
“Oh, that’s okay. I would have told you, anyway. Wait, what exactly did he say?” My heart sputtered in my chest, and I wasn’t exactly sure why that was. Probably nerves.
“I’ll tell you because I love you, and I’d want to know if I were you.” She started twisting the ends of her hair.
“So, tell me. Trust me—after the bomb Scott dropped, I can handle anything.”
“He told me he had to do everything in his power not to kiss you at midnight. To really kiss you, whatever that means. He feels guilty because you had a boyfriend. I know this is weighing on him.”
Warmth ran through my veins at the mere thought of that night. “Why? He didn’t do anything wrong.”
The waitress came with our order. I sprinkled some salt, doused my fries with ketchup, and popped one in my mouth.
“Really, Luce. I’ve been replaying that night and the video Scott showed me over and over in my mind. Maybe to an outsider it looked bad or good, depending on who you were. But it was nothing.”
I shrugged, happy knowing Mason didn’t see the video. Thankfully, Scott wasn’t a vindictive social-media user, or that video might have ended up only God knows where.
Lucy took a bite of her burger and studied me as she slowly chewed her food. “I think my best friend may think otherwise.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think he likes you. No, that’s not true.”
He didn’t like me? “You’re not making any sense. Did they spike your root beer?”
She rubbed her temples with her fingertips. “This is coming out all wrong.”
“Just say it.” I loved Lucy, but for a smart woman, she had trouble articulating what she wanted to say.
“I’m worried for the both of you. Once Mason finds out he was the cause of the breakup, he’s going to be upset because he cares about you.”
“Oh, okay. But he wasn’t the cause. I think he was more of an excuse for Scott.” I shrugged. “And for the record, I care about him too.”
“So you’re not mad?”
“No, I think Mason is great. And since we’re being completely honest, I’m not going to lie and say I’m not attracted to him, because I am, but now isn’t the time to act on that. It wouldn’t be fair to him or me.”
It didn’t go unnoticed that I didn’t care if it was fair to Scott. He was out of the picture now and was of zero consequence. The only issue might be that he would be proven right, but whatever.
Lucy relaxed and started eating more of her lunch. “Good, so you won’t be upset that he’ll be contacting you soon? He was pretty set on wanting to make sure you were good.” A
smile crossed her face.
Once again, I shook my head. “No, I won’t be upset, and he already texted me.” Maybe that was why he asked how I was. “From now on, stop being so cagy. Don’t turn into one of my brothers. I’m not a china doll, ready to break.”
She let out a laugh. “I think if you were made of steel, they’d still treat you the same way. No one aside from Mason, and now your brother, has ever treated me that way.”
“Drake is one of the good guys. All of my brothers are. As annoying as they can be, I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world.”
* * *
The following day, I received another e-mail from Jonas West. After a bit of research, I found out he was a hotshot sports agent who represented some of the biggest names.
His e-mail stated he wanted to meet with me to discuss his website and individualizing it for his clients, to showcase them in a way that would drive traffic to his main site rather than that of each athlete. This was completely in my wheelhouse and would be extremely profitable.
Jonas was based in New York City but was in DC for meetings, and requested an in-person meeting. To say I was excited was an understatement. Not only did I assume the offer would be attractive, but the man Jonas West was as gorgeous as they came. The pictures I found online could have been from GQ and not ESPN articles.
We decided to meet at the office building where he had been working. The receptionist at the office greeted me with a smile, then led me to the office he was using.
After I smoothed my hands down my cream-colored blouse, which was loosely tucked into the same color pants, I swiftly knocked on the door before opening it.
Charmed: A Prescott Novel (The Prescott Series Book 3) Page 7
