On the Mend (Carolina Waves Series Book 1)

by Tina Gallagher

  “Sorry about that folks,” I said. “My fiancé and daughter got back to town early and decided to surprise me.”

  The women oohed and aahed, then asked questions about Sabrina. I kept my answers vague, not wanting to invade her privacy. I’ll have to ask her what she’s comfortable sharing with the public.

  A short time later, Hannah wrapped up the event in her normal no-nonsense fashion. My teammates and I stood near the entrance, shaking hands, and thanking attendees as they exited the stadium. Once it was cleared out, security closed the gates, and the team headed to the locker room to change before heading to the post-event party.

  “Would you wipe that silly grin off your face?” Jack said.

  “Someday you’re going to fall hard and you’ll understand,” I said.

  He rolled his eyes and looked at Cal. “Listen to this sap. He’s not even married yet and he’s already trying to get me hitched.”

  Cal gave a half-assed chuckle, but it was obvious to anyone it was fake. I know he and his wife have been having issues, but since I’ve been MIA this season, I’m not sure what’s going on. But I’m sure he’ll fill me in when he has something to tell.

  “Sabrina and Lexi are coming to the party, so you’ll both get to meet her.”

  “Lexi likes her?” Jack asked.

  “She loves her,” I said. “And Sabrina is great with her. They’ve gotten pretty close over the past couple months.”

  “I’m happy for you. Really,” he said. “And I’m excited to meet her. Hell, I feel like I know her already after listening to you whine for the past eight years.”

  “You’re a douche, you know that?”

  “I’ve been told.” He chuckled.

  Jack’s cell buzzed. “Fuck,” he said, half under his breath.

  “What’s up?” Cal asked.

  “Cindy is blowing up my phone today.”

  Cindy, aka this season’s girl, apparently wasn’t handling the fact that the season, and their relationship, was coming to an end.

  “I don’t understand it. I’m very honest about what I’m looking for in these relationships. I’ve never had this trouble before.”

  “Women are complicated,” Cal said. “Better men than we have failed at figuring them out.”

  “Please don’t bring this subject up around Sabrina,” I said, only half kidding.

  “I can’t make any promises,” Jack said. “Come on, let’s hit the party.”

  35

  Sabrina

  Lexi led me through the stadium to a door with a sign that read, “Staff Only.” She turned the knob and pulled it open, leaning back with all her weight. I grabbed the door before it squished her and followed into the hallway beyond, feeling like I was entering a secret sanctum.

  Enlarged photos of Waves teams and individual players, both past and present, graced the walls. I didn’t have time to study the pictures like I would have wanted since I was trying to keep up with Lexi. She led me toward a noisy room with the door propped open.

  As she entered, a slender woman with a blonde bob said, “Hey there, Lexi. I’m so glad you’re here. We didn’t think you were coming.” She pulled Lexi into an embrace.

  Lexi pulled back. “Hi, Mrs. K. Is Ava here?”

  “Right over there.” She pointed to group of children huddled in the corner.

  Lexi took off, leaving me standing at the door with a stranger. The last time I’d felt so awkward was the first day of college when I entered the cafeteria and didn’t know a soul.

  “Hi, I’m Natalie Kasprzyk, John’s wife.”

  I shook the hand she’d offered and said, “I’m Sabrina Kelly, Dan McMullen’s…”

  Before I could finish my sentence, she squeezed my hand and said, “Oh my gosh, you’re Dan’s Sabrina. Come on, the girls are all dying to meet you.”

  She led me toward a group of women, each more beautiful and stylish than the other. I felt like Sandra Bullock’s Gracie Lou Freebush character in Miss Congeniality, pre-makeover. Lexi and I had just stopped in to see Dan. If I’d known I was going to meeting his teammates and their wives, I definitely would have made different clothing choices and put on makeup. At least my hair isn’t awful…Lexi and I are both sporting French braids, per her request.

  Natalie introduced me to each woman in turn. They were all friendly and gushed over my ring. And, they all seemed to know a lot about my relationship with Dan. I’m still trying to figure out when he had time to tell them we were engaged, nevermind anything else.

  Natalie said, “I’m thrilled Dan found happiness. We’ve been trying to set him up for years, but he wouldn’t cooperate.” She smiled. “Obviously he was waiting for someone special.”

  I smiled back, not sure how to respond. Thankfully, Dan and his teammates arrived before I had to. The noise level increased with their entrance, but Lexi’s voice screeched above the din.

  “Uncle Jack!”

  She ran across the room toward a Ryan Reynolds look-alike, who reached down and picked her up.

  “How’s my favorite girl?” he asked and kissed Lexi’s cheek.

  “I’m hurt.” Dan placed his hand over his heart. “My baby runs right by and ignores me.”

  “Daddy, I’m not a baby,” Lexi said, dragging out the first word.

  “You’ll always be my baby,” he said, and kissed her on the head as he walked to my side, threading his fingers through mine.

  Lexi rolled her eyes, “That’s silly. Someday I’ll be grown.”

  “Even when you’re grown, you’ll be my baby, remember?”

  Apparently, they’d had this conversation before and Lexi shrugged, seeming to realize she wouldn’t convince him otherwise. She looked from Dan to me and smiled.

  “Uncle Jack, did you hear the news?”

  “What news is that?” He set her on the floor.

  “Daddy and Sabrina are getting married.”

  “As a matter of fact, I did hear that news.”

  His eyes drifted to our entwined hands then back up to my face. How a man could fit so much appeal into a single glance and small smile, I’ll never know. It didn’t work on me, of course, but I could understand how he could get women to drop their panties without much effort.

  Lexi pulled me from my thoughts when she announced she was going back to her friends. The men watched her walk across the room, then turned back to the conversation.

  “Sabrina, this is Jack Reagan,” Dan said, finally making an official introduction. “Jack, Sabrina Kelly.”

  “It’s nice to finally meet the woman who whipped Dan’s ass back into shape,” he said, eyes twinkling. “And who stole his heart. Congratulations.”

  “Thank you. It’s nice to meet you as well.”

  Jack was about to say something else when his cell phone buzzed. He looked at the screen and frowned.

  “Everything okay?” Dan asked.

  “For the most part.” Jack shrugged. The two men shared a look and Dan shook his head and laughed. “What?” Jack asked.

  “You knew your luck couldn’t hold out forever.”

  “Luck? There are rules and agreements. When they’re understood and followed, luck shouldn’t have to be involved.” His phone buzzed again and he cursed under his breath. “I have to go. Congratulations again. I’m going to say goodbye to my girl. We’ll have to go out one night and celebrate,” he said before walking toward Lexi.

  Dan put his arm around my shoulders and pulled me to his side.

  “I’m so happy you’re here,” he said, kissing my temple. “I didn’t think you’d get to meet everyone until the wedding.”

  I looked around the room and cringed. If all the people in the room are invited, along with our families and other friends, we’ll need to hold the wedding at the Taj Mahal.

  Dan chuckled, reading my mind as usual. “Don’t worry, it’ll all work out.”

  “We were just stopping by to say hi, I wasn’t expecting to meet people. I’m really not dressed for the occasion.”
/>   He took in my blue T-shirt and khaki shorts. “You look beautiful, as usual.”

  I tucked my head into his shoulder. “I’m not dressed like them.”

  “That’s why I love you,” he said, kissing my forehead. “I always want the real you, not some Stepford wife.” He shifted so we stood face to face. “Please don’t think I want you to be anything but the amazing woman you are.”

  I blinked to hold back the tears his words had produced. He really is sweet sometimes, and I told him so.

  36

  Sabrina

  Dan led me around the room twice, and I was introduced to players, their significant others, the owners, staff, and management of the Waves.

  I’ll never remember all these names.

  For the most part, they seem like a tight-knit group, and everyone has been very welcoming. The women thought it was sweet that we found each other again after ten years. Dan used the explanation I gave Lexi when asked why we broke up back then.

  A man wearing khaki pants and a white polo shirt sporting the Waves logo embroidered on the sleeve entered the room and approached us. Dan introduced him as Max Rigsbee, one of the team trainers.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” he said. “I’ve wanted to tell you how impressed I am with both the routines you put together and the progress Dan has made.”

  “Thank you, but I can’t take all the credit. He’s the one who had to do the work. Without his commitment, my routines would be worthless.”

  He smiled and looked at Dan. “I like her, Dan. Be sure you hold onto her.”

  While Dan responded to Max, he looked directly into my eyes. “I fully intend to.”

  “Before you leave, would you be able to stop in my office? The team signed some balls for my son’s class, but I haven’t seen you to get yours. Would you mind?”

  “Not at all,” Dan said. “I can sneak away now.” I nodded when he looked at me for confirmation to his statement. “It shouldn’t take long,” he said to be both Max and me.

  Natalie Kasprzyk approached me when Dan left.

  “Is your head still spinning?”

  “You could say that.” I chuckled.

  “I know it’s a lot to take in, but for the most part it’s a good group. None of the players are prima donnas and the wives are friendly. The team John played for when we first got serious was horrible. It’s not fun dealing with players who think the team revolves around them, or women who are always on the make. It’s bad enough we have to deal with groupies, but you shouldn’t have to worry about another player’s wife hitting on your boyfriend or husband.”

  “I can’t imagine.”

  “Thankfully John got traded to the Waves and things are different. The players are all down to earth, and the wives and girlfriends who come around are focused on their men, not anyone else’s.”

  “And the groupies?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “They’re always around, unfortunately. It drove me crazy in the beginning, but now I don’t pay attention.”

  “How do you manage that?”

  “Well, for one, I have the children now so I’m not around as much to see it.” She chuckled. “Honestly, I finally just realized that I have to trust John to do the right thing, even when I’m not there. And thankfully, the guys on this team who hook up with groupies don’t bring them around. Jack usually brings whoever the girl of the season is on road trips, but his women are a bit classier than your average groupie.”

  “Girl of the season?”

  She nodded. “Did you ever see the movie Bull Durham?”

  “Kevin Costner and baseball? I’ve seen it a million times.”

  “Jack is kind of like Susan Sarandon’s character, Annie. He dates one girl for the season. Once the season ends, he moves on. Then he’ll find another girl for the off-season.”

  I didn’t know what to say to that, so I didn’t respond at all. At that point, a couple of the wives joined our conversation and added their thoughts to the subject, and the three of them ended up laughing over stories of “incidents” that had happened over the years. I managed to offer a laugh, but wasn’t amused.

  I didn’t realize it could be so bad. Obviously, I’ve heard that professional athletes are bombarded with offers of sex, but I didn’t relate it to Dan and me. My thoughts and feelings are all over the place. I trust Dan, I do, but I don’t want women bribing their way into his hotel room or trying to sneak into our house.

  I asked the location of the nearest ladies room and excused myself, leaving the women to their stories. My stomach twisted as I thought about what Natalie and the other wives had said. I wondered if Dan has hooked up with groupies. I know he wouldn’t bring them around Lexi, but she wasn’t with him on the road. I know if I asked he’d be honest, but I’m not sure I’d be able to handle it if he said he did.

  I washed my hands and checked my appearance in the mirror. Considering how shaken up I feel on the inside, thankfully I look relatively normal on the outside.

  As I left the ladies room, I met Dan in the hallway as he returned from Max’s office. His lingering kiss did a bit to soothe my nerves.

  “Sorry about that,” he said. “I didn’t think I’d be gone that long.”

  “Duty calls.” I smiled, but it must have fallen short.

  “Everything okay?”

  “Mmm Hmm.” I nodded.

  “You sure?”

  He studied me for a moment and it thought he was going to push for answers, but he smiled put his arm around my shoulders.

  “Let’s get back inside and say our goodbyes.”

  Dan

  Something is off with Sabrina. She’s smiling and saying all the right things, but I can tell she’s shaken about something. But what could have happened in the time I was gone?

  I’ll have to talk to her later at home. Otherwise it will drive me crazy.

  “Daddy, can Ava and the others come over swimming?”

  I’m kind of exhausted, but I know Lexi has missed seeing her friends. I looked at Sabrina.

  “Are you okay with that?”

  She looked shocked that I’d asked, but then nodded. “Sure.”

  “Thanks!” Lexi took off to her circle of friends to announce a pool party. Of course, I’d have to talk to all the parents to make it official. I spent the next several minutes doing just that, and had it turn into a full-blown picnic, parents and other adults included.

  While I was putting together a party, Hannah had taken the opportunity to grill Sabrina on her background information. They were tucked into the corner of the room, heads together, as Hannah scribbled in her ever-present notebook.

  I texted Jack, who said he’d try to stop by. When I mentioned it to Cal, he said, “Thanks, but I actually have plans.”

  “You and Marsha up to something fun?”

  He looked down and rubbed the back of his neck.

  “Actually, we’re separating,” he said. “I’m moving out tonight.”

  “Oh man, I’m sorry. Where are you going?”

  “I’m not sure. I’ll probably just get a suite at the Marriott.”

  “Why don’t you stay at my place until you figure things out?”

  “No, I couldn’t. Not with you and Sabrina just getting settled.”

  “You can stay in the pool house. You’ll have total privacy, and you won’t have to worry about us getting in each other’s way.”

  “Are you sure?” he asked.

  “I’m positive. At least it will give you time to figure out where you want to go,” I said. “And who knows? Maybe things will still work out.”

  He shook his head. “I don’t think so. I’m just not what she wants. And honestly, I don’t think I love her like I should. You and Sabrina made me realize that.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Like you, I screwed up a relationship back in the day. And the thing is, I can’t stop thinking about her, even after all this time.” He let out an embarrassed chuckle. “My marriage is falling apart, and I
can’t stop thinking about the girl I left behind at the start of my career. How fucked up is that?”

  “Do you know where this girl is? Are you planning on trying to get back together with her?”

  “I’m sure I could find her if I wanted to, but no. I need to figure some things out before I’m worth anything to anyone.”

  “Sounds smart.”

  “I’m gonna head out and go grab some stuff,” he said. “I’ll see you later. And thanks again. I really appreciate it.”

  “No problem.” Cal had just left when Hannah released Sabrina. I made my way to her side. “You ready to get out of here?”

  “Sure,” she said. “How did the party planning go?”

  “A good number can make it.”

  “Do we need anything?” she asked. “I can stop on the way.”

  “We should have most of the major stuff on hand. Mrs. Evans keeps things pretty well stocked.”

  “How about desserts?”

  “We could probably use some. I’m sure the kids will appreciate that.”

  “Any requests?”

  “No, just use your judgment.”

  I signaled for Lexi that we were heading out. She said goodbye to her friends and ran to our side.

  “Are you coming home with Sabrina or me?”

  “Sabrina.”

  Why did I even ask?

  “That’s great,” Sabrina said. “Because we have to stop on the way home for dessert. You can help me choose.”

  “Awesome!”

  “Come on,” I said. “I’ll walk you to your car.”

  “You don’t have to do that,” Sabrina said. “We’re way out of your way.”

  “Not negotiable,” I said, and walked my girls to the parking garage four blocks away. I’ll have to remember to get her a pass to the garage adjacent to the stadium.

  37

  Sabrina

  Cars lined the driveway and I maneuvered my way around them to my usual parking space in front of the garage. I stepped from the car and sounds of the party floated from the back of the house.