Page 39 of Players Like Us (Reunion Gap #7)

D aniel poured a bourbon and sat out on the deck.

Meredith had fallen asleep an hour ago and he decided if she wasn’t feeling better soon, she was going to the doctor.

Tired, jittery stomach, throwing up… Enough was enough.

He didn’t like seeing his wife like this and had to make sure he wasn’t the cause of it, which was why he’d been staring at his phone for the past fifteen minutes.

No way did he want to make this call, but. ..

He’d do anything for his wife, and then there was Rachel.

Daniel owed her for all of the years he’d been unbending and unavailable.

Did he love the idea that she’d fallen for Neal Alexander?

No, but that wasn’t the point. He sipped his bourbon, enjoyed the burn before he punched out Alexander’s number.

The guy answered on the second ring. “Hello.”

“Neal? This is Daniel.”

“Is Meredith okay?”

No ignoring the fact that the guy cared about his sister. “She’s good. Actually, that’s not 100% true. She’s been really tired lately and her stomach’s been jumpy and she’s gotten sick a few times and…”

“So are you saying you’re making her sick?”

This was why the guy annoyed the crap out of him. “No, I’m saying I’m worried about her.”

Pause and a hesitant “Has she taken a pregnancy test?”

Pregnancy test? “I don’t think so. Why? Do you think she could be pregnant?”

“Excessive tiredness, upset stomach, I would start calculating days...and go buy a pregnancy test.”

“I hadn’t thought of that.” Daniel blew out a long breath. Pregnant? “I was starting to get really worried.”

“It’s not like I know much about the whole baby thing, but those are kind of the basics, I think.”

Pregnant. A baby. Daniel tossed back his bourbon, stared at the glass. A baby. “Okay, I’ll check into that.” Pause and then “Thank you.”

“Uh...sure. Is that why you called me? To talk about babies and pregnancy tests?”

Daniel shook his head, wished just once the guy would not be a smartass.

“I called for two reasons. Your sister wants to make everything right in the world and that includes me and you finding a way to get along.” Before the guy could toss out another wisecrack, Daniel said, “I’m not saying we have to hang out or watch ball games together, but. ..”

“My jaw and other body parts are safe?”

“Right.” Daniel stared into the night, wished he’d called Ethan for talking points to negate Neal Alexander’s smartass responses. Ethan always knew what to say and how to deliver a message.

“You must really love my sister to agree to this phone call.” A long sigh filled the line, followed by a quiet “I will try not to antagonize you, how’s that?”

“Sounds like an impossible task.”

Laughter burst through the line. “True, but Meredith is a dreamer so let’s give her a few shreds of hope we can get along.”

“Okay. Agreed.” Daniel supposed this conversation wasn’t horrible. “Thank you.”

“You’re watching out for my sister, so thank you.”

“Sure. The other reason I called has to do with my sister.”

Long pause. “I haven’t done anything recently that would warrant another punch.”

Which meant he’d done something in the past that would warrant another punch. Daniel opted to skip that part and not ask for details. “I’m not sure if you know or not, but my sister’s here in Reunion Gap meeting with your brother and his partner regarding their new restaurant.”

“I heard.”

“I guess you would since you’re the one who brokered the meeting. My sister told me a few other interesting bits of information about you.”

He ignored that comment. “She’s quite talented. I expect she’ll do very well.”

“So do I, but I’m not calling to discuss Rachel’s design talents. She told me all she’s ever wanted was to find her place and have success. Looks like she’s doing that and I understand you were a big part of it.”

“She did the work. I just tried to arrange situations so she could have an opportunity to showcase her talents. It really wasn’t a big deal.”

“It was a big deal and quite a surprise. I… I misjudged you, Neal. Or maybe I didn’t misjudge you, maybe you’ve changed.

Doesn’t matter because if you’ve done what she tells me you have and you’re running successful businesses that, again, Rachel shared with me, then maybe you have changed.

Or maybe you aren’t that different from Rachel.

Maybe we were the ones who couldn’t see you just wanted to be yourselves.

” The man did not speak for so long Daniel had to nudge him.

“Look, if my sister has finally found the success she’s craved and is doing work she loves, why is she so miserable? Why was she crying tonight?”

More silence, and a soft “She was crying?”

Now Daniel had his interest. “Lots of crying. Ugly crying. Soaked my T-shirt crying. And I think you’re the reason.”

“Look, I’ve stayed away from her. I’m not—”

“Stop. I’ve screwed up more than anybody, so here’s what I’m going to tell you. Did you ever think she’s miserable because you have stayed away? Because she needs you to not stay away?”

“Did you ever give another person so much power they could destroy you? And you gave it to them but they didn’t want it? But then they changed their mind and decided they did?”

Okay, now they were getting somewhere. “Please do not ask your sister that question. I’ve screwed up so bad I thought I’d never see her again.

” Daniel dragged a hand over his face, laughed.

“I friggin’ named a collection after her and revealed my identity, but I wasn’t sure it would be enough for her to give me another chance. ”

Neal laughed. “Didn’t you know creating a personalized collection of a woodcarving will do it every time? More people should do it.”

The guy did have a sense of humor and it wasn’t all aimed at being a smartass.

Maybe there was hope for him. “Here’s what I know.

You’ve somehow turned into a decent guy, and my sister realized that before anybody else did.

Or maybe she didn’t, but somewhere along the way you both changed and you belong together.

But you’ve been hurt, she’s been hurt, everybody’s been hurt.

You’re going to have to get over it because the longer it goes on, the more unfixable it becomes.

I can give you a whole list of friends who’ve been through that.

Not good. We all acted like jerks. Our significant others hurt us. Life moved on and it sucked.”

“Gee, that sure is a testimony for love and happily-ever-after.”

“That’s the part that happens before the trust comes in. But once it does, that’s the sweet spot and you’ll do anything to keep it.”

“Was this supposed to be a pep talk?”

“It can be whatever you want it to be. Hell, forget I called you. I’m doing this for my sister and I’m doing this for my wife because I love them. I’m done fighting with you and I’m not going to take another swing at you. If you lose my sister this time, that’s on you. Good luck.”

The mystery man from Claudia’s had finally requested to meet Rachel. Claudia couldn’t hide the anticipation in her voice when she delivered the news. “He’s chosen Calvin’s Chop House, 7:30 p.m. Can you make it tonight?”

“Tonight?” Not the best choice, but it was hard to say ‘no’ when the man had been paying to keep her availability open.

What was one dinner? Yes, she’d rather work on Tate and Jameson’s proposal, and she definitely did not want to meet at Calvin’s, but she’d get through it.

Memories of the evening she’d spent there with the man she couldn’t forget rushed through her, made her wish the mystery man had chosen a different location.

“Yes, that’s what he requested, if possible.”

“Sure.” The request forced her to put sound to the decision she’d been considering for almost a week. “I believe I have a few more days left of this arrangement and once it’s complete, I don’t plan to renew it.”

“You don’t?” Disappointment slithered through the line. “Really? This has been a very lucrative proposition for you, Rachel. Are you certain you want to give it up?”

“Perhaps someone else can benefit from it now. Also, I’ve appreciated the opportunity to work for you, but I don’t think the companion business suits me any longer.”

Pause and then “I’m sorry to hear that. Are you certain you won’t reconsider? We could negotiate the terms...”

“No, thank you, but I will always be grateful for this opportunity. Claudia’s helped me out when I really needed it.

” The money she’d made from the mystery man had kept her in the apartment, caught her up on past due bills, and even made it possible to save a bit.

That last one hadn’t happened in a long time.

But continuing at Claudia’s didn’t feel right any longer.

Since her return from Reunion Gap, she’d been contemplating a lot of things, but mostly how to live a more authentic life.

And this mystery man? No doubt he was an eccentric with too much money and the desire to control people and situations.

Of course she didn’t know this, but something was off or he wouldn’t be doling out money like it was coming from a Pez dispenser.

When Rachel finished her conversation with Claudia, she worked on her proposal until it was time to get ready for dinner.

Claudia had informed her the man wanted to meet her at the restaurant.

Fine, she’d prefer that than having him pick her up at her apartment.