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CHAPTER TEN

John

“Looks like we’re the third and fourth wheel,” Becca says with a lazy smile.

“Maybe you should pretend to be into me.”

Becca mumbles under breath, “Pretend, right.”

An awkward silence stretches between us, and she takes off her coverup, revealing a body just as taut as it was in college. We lie in the sun until my fingers crawl to hers without permission. It’s as if our hands are filled with a magnetic force.

The pads of my fingers curl into hers, and her breath hitches, or maybe it was mine. I’ve wanted her for so long, it’s hard to comprehend that I may have a chance. Neither of us speaks, and I don’t know what she’s feeling, but my heart feels as if it’s rattling against my rib cage.

She nudges me with her elbow. “John. John. We fell asleep.”

I realize it all could have been a dream as I lift my sunglasses and see Becca’s skin pinkened by the sun. I sit up, placing my hands on my knees, glancing over my shoulder. All eyes are focused on us.

I lean into Becca. “Do you want to give them a show?”

Her chin lifts. “What kind of show?”

I stand, bringing her with me, then gather the hem of my t- shirt, pulling it over my head.

Becca’s eyes drop to my abs, and I can’t help but chuckle.

My feet shuffle in front of her, and I put the t-shirt over her head and adjust it on her shoulders.

A collective gasp pushes through the air.

“This kind.” I lean down and kiss her cheek.

Her chest heaves even though she’s trying to control it. “Are we still pretending?”

“That’s up to you, Sunshine.”

She bites her bottom lip, with a grin tugging at her lips.

As I’m staring at Becca, Oakley asks, “What are we doing next?”

Corbin scoots her back to his chest. “We’re taking a nap before dinner. Dawes, Jeremy, Austin, Federberg, and Coleman will be here tonight.”

“And Madison. Don’t forget about Madison,” Becca offers, but as soon as we get back to shore, and we get cell service, Becca’s phone dings.

She stares at her phone, then drops it by her side. “She’s not coming.”

“What? Why?” Brooke asks.

“Too many flights delayed. Her flight isn’t scheduled for two more days. So, she’s going to vacay in Chicago with Jamie, her stunt partner from college, and his family.”

“That sucks.”

Becca’s lips press together in a thin line. “Yeah, it does. But nothing is stopping me from drinking tropical drinks, testing my limits, and making new memories.”

“That’s the spirit,” Presley says. “When I came to Kentucky to try out for soccer, I was living in my car. I did what I had to do to get by. And you’ll come out better for pushing all the negative feelings from your mind. I’m a firm believer in mind over matter.”

I interrupt their conversation. “Brooke, aren’t you the one who hooked Flynn and Presley up?”

Flynn sneaks up on his wife and gives Presley a raspberry on her neck. “Brooke gave us both a place to live when the hockey plex was being demolished and rebuilt.” Flynn’s words linger, clearly lost in the past. “Good times.”

“Yes, they were.” Presley adds.

Federberg and Coleman, teammates a couple of years younger than me, lived like kings in the new hockey housing.

Brooke’s dad was our coach, and he wanted to build a lasting program and convinced the boosters that in order for that to happen, we needed state of the art locker rooms and housing to entice the future stars of Stallions hockey.

Becca throws her arms up, surrendering, then drops them to her sides. Her palms lightly smack against her thighs. “Why do I have the worst luck?”

The girls surround her, leaving no doubt that she’s not alone and head to do some shopping.

The guys and I stop at The Sandbar. Logan’s football team is playing a pre-season game, but after so many years with the Louisville Heavyweights, they give him extra time off and play the second and third-string quarterbacks.

In two weeks, he’ll join them on the field.

We grab the bamboo stools at the outside tiki bar. “Come on, O’Ryan. Come on,” another tourist urges.

I take a hefty drink of a local beer, wincing as it goes down. It’s stout and thick like an ale, which is not my thing, but I try to help the locals in any way I can. I glance sideways at Logan. “I can’t believe Denver traded O’Ryan.”

“I know. No one’s safe. He won the Super Bowl two years ago.”

“Do you know him? Were you in the same draft class?” I ask.

“Yeah. He’s a good guy… a little cocky.”

A wry chuckle escapes me as I raise my beer for another sip, and my eyes narrow in mock suspicion. “I don’t think we’re in a position to judge.”

We tip our bottles together in complete solidarity of our confidence. Greyson O’Ryan throws a fifty-five-yard touchdown pass, and Logan leans forward, studying the fat screen .

“Looking forward to playing against him?”

His response is quick. “Yep. You’re only the best if you continually beat the best.” He taps out something on his phone and shoves it in his pocket.

“I signed an extension with the Rattlers. No one knows yet. I never thought I would make this much money.”

Logan places his beer on the teakwood bar top. “But you’re still not happy.” He spins the deep-green bottle and when it stops, he asks, “So, what’s going on with you and Becca?”

Shaking my head from left to right, I say, “Same thing that’s always been under the surface. But I’m not good enough for her. She’s never wavered on the fact that she doesn’t date athletes. Plus, Corbin would…”

“Don’t pretend to know what Corbin would do. Emmaline’s brother hated me with a passion. At least you and Corbin are best friends. So, if it’s nothing, why the show on the boat? Your t-shirt. The kiss on the cheek.”

I lift one shoulder to my chin. “I kiss all the ladies on the cheek. So do you.”

“Not one that lingers. You’ve got it bad. Does Corbin have any… ahhh. Now I get it. That was your way of letting her know that you don’t care what Corbin thinks and at the same time making him realize you’re interested in her. Crafty. You’re good.”

“You make it sound like it was premeditated. I just acted in the moment.”

“Well, take my advice with a grain of sand. If you want it, go for it. Harper changed my life. Being her brother’s best friend wasn’t easy but well worth every moment of agony.”

My fingers loosen around the bottle, playing with the label. “Can we keep this between us?”

Bryce startles me standing behind me. “Sure. Just between us.” I glance over my shoulder, finding Reed and Flynn too. “You do remember when Emmaline was Jolie’s nanny, right? Sometimes, what we see as wrong, is right.”

“It’s not me… it’s her. ”

“Have you asked her to go on a date with your sorry ass?” Reed ribs me.

“No, but after Corbin and Oakley’s Mamaw died, we talked every day and almost all day on weekends. Then she left me a voice message that she couldn’t ‘do this.’”

The only noise comes from the television and the distant rolling of the ocean. Logan breaks the quiet when the Heavyweights score on third down, tying the game.

I push back from the bar. “I’m headed to the villa to shower.”

Reed slaps my bare back. “Don’t forget to put on a shirt.” The fuckers all laugh like a clan of hyenas.

Back in the quiet of my room, I replay my friends’ words in my head, wondering if he’s right. Maybe I should ask her on a date. Put myself out there. I thought I had but when I mull it over, all I’ve given Becca is flirty innuendos.

A shower and nap later, I get ready for dinner, renewed with a plan to be sure she gets the message loud and clear.

This time, when we meet in the lobby, there’s a flurry of activity and chatter. Dawes and his ex-wife Christina have arrived, along with Federberg, Coleman, and their wives.

“Hey,” I shout across the room. The guys meet me halfway with warm embraces. We don’t see these three as much since they’re not in the league. We usually get together at weddings and reunions. My hug with Dawes lasts longer since we played three years together. “Good to see ya, man.”

“It’s been too long. Almost a year since Corbin and Oakley’s wedding… reception.”

“Are you and Christina back together?” She went to a different college, but they dated on and off the entire four years. Got married. And divorced.

“Yeah, she couldn’t live without me.”

“I think you’ve got that one ass backward,” I tease. “Congrats. I know how much you love her.”

Gradually, the group clusters in the center of the marble lobby.

The number has grown to twenty-four people.

The resort employee comes over. “I’m sorry, Mr. Dawes, but the room was cancelled by mistake, and we’re sold out.

When you changed your arrival date last minute, the reservationist must have deleted the old reservation and not saved the new one.

We’ll put you up in the resort a few miles down the beach. ”

Dawes, ever the people pleaser, hesitates but says, “Okay.”

I jump in. “No. We want you and Christina with us.” I pull out a wad of cash, showing it to the employee. “Are you sure we can’t find him a room?”

“I’m sorry, sir. It’s peak season, and everything is sold out. I’ll be at the desk. Let me know what you decide.”

Dawes mumbles under his breath, “Great, Christina will be upset. Not what I need when we’re just finding our way again.”

I look to Corbin, Reed and Bryce, all former Stallion Hockey captains, “Any ideas?”

But Logan chimes in, “The way I see it, there’s only one option. John has a queen bed in his villa. Becca has two twins and since Madison isn’t coming, she has one available for John to sleep in.”

Nobody makes a peep, waiting on Corbin to say something. It’s a guy thing. A code. Corbin must be okay with me sharing a bungalow with Becca. It seems like hours go by, probably because I’m holding my breath.

Corbin’s eyes get all squinty. “I don’t think it’s a good idea… not at all.”

“Why? We don’t want Dawes miles away, so they feel like they’re missing out,” Reed explains. He takes Corbin aside while the rest of us watch. All we see is Corbin’s back and Reed’s head since he has a few inches on Corbin.

When they rejoin us, Corbin says, with a heavy dose of reluctance in his voice, “If Becca agrees, then it’s okay with me. But keep your hands to yourself.”

As I nod, he calls Becca over and explains the situation. Becca’s face stretches as her mouth hangs open. “Umm,” she glances at me, “Are you okay with this? ”

Okay. I’m more than okay.

“Only if you’re fine with it.”

“Yeah, I’m good with it. You’re probably neater than Madison anyway.” She half-laughs, then her eyes drop to the floor, looking like an innocent schoolgirl.

I wink. “You traded up.” I love the smile she’s trying to hide.