Текст книги "Game On"

Автор книги: Katie McCoy

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Текущая страница: 15 (всего у книги 17 страниц)

Chapter Thirty

I went straight to my room and called Mandy. She was the only person I could think of who would be able to help. Who would know what to do.

While I waited for her, I did my due diligence and transcribed the whole stupid, fucking interview, cursing both Tim and Rob in my head. And if Tim’s rant hadn’t been bad enough, I had forgotten to turn off the recording app at the end of the interview, so I had to listen to the whole thing all over again.

By the time Mandy got there, I was practically in tears. Without a word she enveloped me in a bear hug, which was an incredible feat for someone as petite as she was.

“Tell me everything,” she said, sitting me down on the bed and taking my hand.

I told her about what Tim had said, about Rob and his accusations. And I told her about last night with Nathan. Her eyes brightened when I confessed we had spent the night together but she said nothing, listening, her fingers laced with mine.

“Well, first of all, Tim is a douchebag,” she said with authority. “He wouldn’t know how to be a good guy if he got a PhD in the subject. And screw him for even insinuating that you’re unworthy of Nathan. You, Sophie Hall, are awesome and everyone that matters knows it. I know it, Chris knows it, Nathan’s family knows it, and Nathan definitely knows it.”

I sniffled. “Thanks, Mandy.” I knew that Tim was wrong about me, but sometimes you really need a friend to tell you that a jerk is being a jerk. But even her reassurance couldn’t help stifle the little voice in my head that said that maybe he was right about what Nathan thought of me. Not that he had used me, but that I wasn’t good enough for him. That I had allowed myself to imagine a future with him that couldn’t exist. That would never exist. The possibility of that being true sat heavily on my heart.

“And you’re right—nothing about this guy Rob’s story smells right. It doesn’t sound like Nathan to begin with and I can’t believe no one else he went to high school with would know about it.”

“The problem is that Tim doesn’t care. He’s going to print the story and that will put the proof of denial on Nathan. And even if he can prove that it isn’t true, just putting it out there could really hurt his chances with the majors.”

Mandy nodded seriously. “OK, so we just have to stop him from printing the story.”

“The only way we can do that is if we can prove to my editor that it’s fake and that it will damage the reputation of the paper if they print it.”

“So we have to find Becca,” Mandy concluded.

“But how? I don’t even know her last name.” I put my head in my hands, knowing that once I sent the transcript to Tim, he’d start writing the article and it would be a race against the clock to prove to Mike that it was based on false evidence.

Mandy smiled. “Well lucky for you, my dad’s the sheriff. He can ask his friends in Houston if they have an address for her. Bet if she knew Nathan, they know her last name and where she lives, or at least a number.” She paused for a moment. “And you said that this guy Rob was super sketchy, right?”

“Total stalker,” I nodded. “He was hoping that Tim would be able to help him find her again.”

“I would bet my brand new camera bag that she’s got a restraining order against him.”

“I hope so,” I said, thinking of that notebook of pictures he had collected.

“Maybe we’ll get lucky and find out that she lives near enough for his visit to have violated that restraining order.”

I gave her a big grin. “Which would mean that Tim essentially helped a stalker get closer to his victim. Oh, my editor will not like that at all.”

***

As it turned out, Rebecca Harten lived just outside of Austin in Georgetown, Texas and she agreed to meet with both me and Mandy. We pulled up outside a bright yellow one-story home with cheery flowers planted out front. Becca was sitting on the porch and got up to greet us as we pulled into the driveway. She was wearing pants, and though I tried not to stare, I noticed that she had a slight limp.

“Howdy,” she waved. “Heard y’all wanted to talk to me about Nathan?”

“If you don’t mind,” Mandy said, her camera bag swung across her shoulder as usual.

“Not at all.” Becca led us inside and into the kitchen, also yellow and beautifully decorated, with fun vintage knick-knacks lining the walls. “Can I get you guys some lemonade?”

She looked as beautiful as she had in her yearbook photos, and smiled brightly at us once we were all settled at the table.

“I have to admit, I’m surprised it took someone this long to come talk to me about him,” she said.

The glass paused against my lips. Oh no.

Mandy, on the other hand, played it cool. “And why’s that?”

“Well, we did date for two years during high school,” Becca responded. “We were even prom king and queen. I always see that when people start getting famous, like Nathan is, everyone wants to start digging in their backyard for skeletons.”

“We’re not looking for skeletons,” Mandy was quick to note. “We actually were hoping to disprove one.”

“Oh?” Becca raised an eyebrow at us. “Well, that’s a new one, for sure.”

I leaned forward. “Do you remember a classmate name Rob Robles?”

A visible shudder went through Becca and her face darkened. “Of course I do. That asshole made my last year a living hell. He’s pretty much the reason I ended up transferring.”

I exchanged a glance with Mandy. So far, so good.

“Well, he’s been peddling a story about you and Nathan to my paper, the Register,” I told her, watching her eyebrows go up. But she remained silent. “He says that you were in a car accident after prom—that Nathan was drunk and drove his car into a tree. He says that you were injured.” I kept my eyes steady on her. “And that you lost your leg.”

Becca took a deep breath and my throat twisted.

“Is it true?” I asked, afraid of what the answer would be.

Without a word, she leaned down and rolled up her right pant leg to reveal a prosthetic. “He’s telling the truth,” Becca admitted, and my heart dropped. “At least, the version of the truth that Nathan wanted to tell.”

I frowned at her. “What do you mean?”

She sighed, a look of embarrassment and shame coming over her face. “Look, I was young and stupid. And Nathan, well, Nathan is a good guy. He told me I was drinking too much. He told me I shouldn’t be driving. But I did, and we crashed, and when I came to in the hospital, he had told everyone that he had been behind the wheel. And because I thought losing my leg was punishment enough, I let him take the blame. I let him do the community service and bear the brunt of his parents’ disappointment and my parents’ anger and I thought that because no one wanted to talk about it, and that the files were sealed because he was underage, that it wouldn’t matter in a few years. That we could just all forget about it.” She put her head in her hands. “But now I guess it’s time for me to come clean. To own up the mistake I made. Both of them.”

I reached out and took her hand. “I don’t think Nathan would want that. We want to put this story to rest, to leave it between the two of you where it belongs, instead of airing it out in front of the whole world.”

Becca looked at me. “Tell me what I can do.”

Chapter Thirty-One

I left Becca’s house feeling triumphant. We had a letter from her explaining what had really happened and stating that she would sue the Register if they went forward with Rob’s version of the story. We also had a copy of her restraining order that proved that Tim, by bringing Rob to Austin, had violated that same order and put Becca at risk from a potentially dangerous and obsessed stalker. I was eager to get back to the hotel and send my editor a copy of these statements and a copy of the article I had written, to replace what I hoped would be a shelved piece on Nathan Ryder. The rest of the world could write thousands of words on him, but my professional relationship was officially severed.

I couldn’t wait to tell him.

But when I got back to my hotel after Mandy had dropped me off, I found that I didn’t have to wait. He was sitting outside my hotel room. And he looked furious.

“Nathan—” I approached him cautiously, my heart sinking in my chest.

“You went to see Becca?” he demanded, his face stormy. “Don’t deny it, she called me and said a journalist and photographer had been there to see her. When she described you, I realized what an idiot I had been.”

“Nathan, let’s go inside.” I didn’t want to have this conversation in the hallway, but he ignored me, his expression twisted with anger.

“I thought we had gone beyond all that.” His voice began to grow louder. “I thought that I could trust you.”

“You can trust me,” I insisted, pulling at his sleeve. “Just come inside and let me explain.”

He yanked his arm away. “This whole time you’ve been lying to me.”

“No!”

“Last night.” He could barely speak. “Last night meant something to me. Was it just part of the job for you? Get the dirt on Ryder, a bonus if he’ll fuck you?”

I flinched as if I had been slapped.

“As if you haven’t been doing the same to me,” I snarled at him. “Doing everything in your power to keep me from doing my job.”

“Well, it looks like you’ve done it. Gotten the on-the-record interview you wanted,” he shouted. “So why don’t you take the crap you dug up and go back to Houston where everyone will applaud you for what you’ve done? Maybe they’ll even give you a promotion.”

“Fuck you.” Tears crowded my throat, but I would not let him see me cry.

For a moment his eyes filled with the same tenderness I had seen the night before, when we had been tangled together in bed, his kisses soft and sweet. When things had been perfect.

“Sophie, I—”

But I didn’t wait for the rest of it as I scrambled for my door. I slammed it behind me and waited until I could hear him walk away, counted to ten and then burst into tears.

***

As it turned out, sending the article about the shelter and the information about Tim’s piece wasn’t nearly as satisfying when your heart was totally broken. I managed to dig myself out of my fog long enough to drink a celebratory toast of mini-bar whiskey when I heard that Tim had been fired. And not just for trying to publish an article with no substantiated facts, but also for not caring about them, as he had admitted in his rant towards me, the same one I had recorded and transcribed, both included in my email to Mike.

But the victory felt hollow, especially when tomorrow came. It was finally time to leave Austin and head home. Mandy and Chris both came to give me a send-off. None of us said a word about Nathan, who I hadn’t heard from since our fight in the hall.

“I’ll send you the photos next week,” Mandy told me, giving me a hug. Mike had been thrilled with her initial photographs, but wanted to see the versions with the players before he signed off on the new article. “We’ll miss you,” she whispered.

Chris didn’t say much more, just gave me a hug as well.

I shoved my brand new suitcase—another unpleasant reminder of the mess I was leaving behind—into my beat-up car and got in. I didn’t want to leave. I didn’t want to go back to my soon-to-be empty apartment and a job that I wasn’t even sure I was excited for anymore. But I didn’t have anything to stay for.

Mandy leaned in my car window and gave me another hug.

“It will be OK,” she told me. “And I’ll see you soon.”

I had cried too much in the past few days, I wasn’t going to cry now. So I pasted a big fake smile on my face and waved out the car window at Chris and Mandy until I could no longer see them in my rearview mirror. Then I aimed my car towards Houston and got the hell out of Austin.

Chapter Thirty-Two

There wasn’t much to pack. A few possessions that would fit in my mother’s tiny apartment and even less things that were worth taking with me. My clothes were piled in the backseat of my car, along with my bed linens, stacked next to the boxes of books that I hadn’t even bothered to unpack since moving into this place. The furniture I was going to leave on the curb with a note indicating it was free to anyone who wanted it, and everything else could be donated.

I had spent most of the last week canceling my power and water, giving the apartment the scrub-down necessary to get my deposit back, and crying into a pint of ice cream. I wanted more than anything to be moving on, to not be thinking about Nathan, but that seemed to be pretty much impossible. I had however, come up with the brilliant idea of making a human-sized ice cream container that could double as a sleeping compartment. I figured it would be a bestseller among women who had done the same dumb thing I had—namely, fall in love with a guy they couldn’t have. There wasn’t much that could soothe that, but lots and lots of ice cream sure helped.

“You ready, hon?” My mom had come to help haul the last of my furniture to the curb and take the few possessions that hadn’t fit in my car back to her place. Asking her if I could move back in with her after I returned from Austin had been far less painful than I had feared it would be. It probably helped that when I drove from the hotel to her house, promptly bursting into tears on her doorstep and crying for several hours about my broken heart, she was quick to suggest that maybe I needed a break from living on my own.

She had been absent for a good deal of my childhood, leaving me in arcades and outside of bars while she looked for her next boyfriend and bill-payer, but the years (and apparently menopause) had settled her a little. I had to admit I had been a little surprised when she opened the door. Gone were the low-cut shirts and barely-there shorts, now replaced with pretty dresses, that while still shorter and tighter than the outfits most women her age wore, were positively puritanical on her. She had tucked me into my old bed that night, making sure to keep my stuffed unicorn at arm’s reach. It had done a great deal to ease the pain of Nathan’s hurtful words.

But weeks later, I was still heartbroken, and still missing him. A part of me thought of going back to Austin, of going to him and begging him to forgive me, but to my surprise it was my mother that held me back.

“You didn’t do anything wrong, hon,” she told me. “In fact, you saved his bacon. He’s the one that should be asking you for forgiveness. Not the other way around.”

I knew she was right. The drama-filled story that Tim had attempted to pass off as news had been killed, keeping Nathan’s name out of the gossip pages. There had been murmurings around the office about the upcoming MLB draft, but I had done my best to ignore it, even turning down Mike’s offer to let me go back to Austin and cover it. The announcement was going to be made today, so no doubt Nathan and his family would be holding a press conference. But I didn’t want anything to do with that story in a professional capacity. In a personal capacity, well, I couldn’t deny that I wanted to see Nathan again, but I knew that it was better if I stayed away. Better for both of us.

“Everything done?” my mom asked, wrapping her arm around my shoulder and dropping a kiss on the top of my head.

I looked around my empty apartment, expecting to feel sad, expecting to miss it just a little, but I was ready to move on. This apartment had been a part of the old me. The Sophie that had dated guys like Nick and let co-workers like Tim tell her what she was worth. I wasn’t sure who the new Sophie was, but I knew I was done with the old one.

“I’m ready to go,” I told my mom, and she stood by as I locked the apartment for the last time and dropped the keys off at my landlord’s door.

“Oh,” Mama said as we approached our cars, parked next to each other in the driveway. “I almost forgot.” Leaning through her open window, her butt sticking way up in the air, she seemed to be grabbing something she had left on her passenger seat. Wiggling out, she winked at the small crowd of tenants who had happened to catch a glimpse of her impromptu show. If I wasn’t used to it by now, I would have rolled my eyes, but I was more interested in the thick envelope in her hands.

“This arrived this morning.”

The return address was Mandy’s, which made sense since she was the only one besides payroll that had my new address.

“I’ll see you back at home, OK, hon?” Mama gave me a kiss on the cheek.

I barely managed a nod. “Uh-huh.” I stared down at the envelope. What could Mandy possibly be sending me? I managed to shake myself out of my trance long enough to wave at my mom as she pulled away.

I got into my car and tore open the package. A stack of glossy photographs slid out onto my lap, accompanied by a folded piece of paper. I picked up the first picture and my heart stopped.

It was Nathan, looking as adorable as ever, at the animal shelter. He was seated with one of the kids from Yvette’s school while she read and he balanced a handful of kittens. I flipped through the rest of the photographs, finding more of the same. Nathan in his uniform with Yvette, Nathan outside the animal shelter, Nathan posing with a beautiful tabby cat in his arms, Nathan holding up a picture book and grinning. But he didn’t look happy. There was a definite sadness in his eyes and my heart ached just looking at him. For a moment, I cursed Mandy. She really was the world’s worst wing-woman, sending these to me. I wasn’t the one who needed to be won over. I was head over heels for the guy. He had rejected me.

A tear slid down my cheek and I pushed aside the photos, revealing the piece of paper that had accompanied them. The piece of paper I had too quickly forgotten. I unfolded it and my pulse skipped at the sight of the familiar handwriting.

I carry your heart with me(I carry it in/my heart)I am never without it(anywhere/I go you go, my dear; and whatever is done/by only me is your doing, my darling) -e.e. cummings.

And beneath it:

I’m sorry. Nathan.

My hands shaking, I grabbed my phone and dialed my mama’s number.

“Hon?” she answered.

“Change of plans, Mama,” I told her, starting my car. “I won’t be home tonight. I’m going to Austin.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

I should have changed, I thought, as I walked into a conference room buzzing with journalists and photographers. At least my hair looked good, I thought, pushing the brown waves over my shoulder, realizing my hands were shaking. Oh god, what was I doing? Being brave, I hoped. Smoothing down my plain gray T-shirt and rubbing my suddenly damp palms on my worn, but thankfully freshly washed jeans, I scanned the room for a familiar face.

And there was Mandy, sitting towards the front with Chris. When she saw me, her face lit up like a Christmas tree and she gave Chris a nudge. He glanced back and his smile was just as broad. Some of the nervousness in my stomach subsided as they rushed over to me, both enveloping me in a hug at the same time.

“I was afraid you weren’t going to come.” Mandy was practically vibrating with excitement.

“I just got your letter,” I informed her as she began to fiddle with my hair. “Are you grooming me?” I asked, both amused and grateful.

“Oh no,” she assured me, but had opened her purse and pulled out a tube of lip gloss and mascara, which she handed to me and I immediately took. “I just thought you might want a touch-up.”

I laughed and leaned down to watch myself in the compact mirror as I applied the shimmering gloss and much-needed pop to my unadorned eyes. At least I hadn’t been crying that morning and I looked clean and fresh, not puffy and sad. But still, even the last-minute makeup couldn’t hide the nervousness written all over my face.

“Take a deep breath,” Mandy demanded, and I did. It was going to be the first time I saw Nathan since our fight and I hadn’t prepared at all. In fact, the only thing I had been preparing for in the past few weeks was the possibility that my heart was going to be completely and irrevocably broken for the rest of my life. I knew I was being dramatic, but I had fallen hard and fast for this guy and right now, his romantic note in my pocket, and I was hoping that he was ready to return those feelings.

“It’s going to be fine,” Chris added, putting a big, strong hand on my shoulder. “Dude’s been miserable since you left.”

I shouldn’t have been glad at that information but considering I had spent our time apart shoveling ice cream into my mouth and crying at my favorite romantic movies, I felt those feelings of pain were only fair considering the circumstances.

“He kept asking about you,” Mandy confessed. “Only he wouldn’t do it directly. He kept asking about the article, trying to be all subtle, but totally failing. He was completely surprised when I told him you weren’t doing the piece on him anymore.”

“I tried to tell him,” I explained, but Mandy just shrugged.

“Men.”

“Hey!” Chris objected. “I don’t think that’s fair.”

“How long did it take you to ask me out?” she reminded him. “And who had to prompt you to do it?”

Chris looked appropriately sheepish. “OK, I guess you’re right.”

“And that’s why I love you,” she responded, her face immediately going red. “Uh, I mean…” she muttered, looking down at the ground.

My eyes widened. Had she just said “I love you” for the first time? Oh my god! I moved back so Chris could act accordingly and thankfully he did.

He immediately took her into his arms.

“I love you too, Mandy,” he told her and gave her a sweet kiss. She giggled in his arms, her eyes moist and her face glowing with happiness.

I felt myself getting a little teary at the romantic gesture, and when I turned away to give them some privacy, I found myself face-to-face with a pair of Ryder green eyes.

“We were hoping you’d come,” Nathan’s mom Sara said, before sweeping me into a hug. I hugged her back, needing the comfort and security of a mom right now. Any mom would do.

“I think Nathan wanted me here,” I told her, holding up the piece of paper that Mandy had sent me with the photographs. At least, I hoped that what he had intended.

“Of course he did,” Sara took my arm and led me to the front row where she and her family were seated. They all greeted me with the same warmth and excitement that Sara had and I took a seat, feeling both welcome and nervous.

“How is he?” I asked Matt, Nathan’s dad, who was next to me.

“He’s good.” He gave me a smile. “A little grumpy, but I’m pretty sure that will change the moment he sees you.”

“He missed you.” Sara leaned towards me.

“Oh,” I said needlessly. Before I could say anything else, the entire room broke out into whispers and cameras began flashing all around us.

Sara took my hand and gave it a squeeze. “Here we go.” Her face was bright with motherly pride. I felt my own heart swell, knowing how huge this moment was for Nathan and his family.

But that same heart stopped when he stepped out onto the stage looking like he had just stepped straight out of a fantasy I never knew I had.

I had seen him in his uniform, in everyday clothes, and in the buff (my personal favorite, to be honest) but I had never seen him in a suit before. My pulse skipped as he crossed in front of me, the gray fabric perfectly molded to his body. And what a body it was, I thought, remembering the marble-cut muscles of his stomach, arms, and chest. If I was lucky, I would be taking that same beautiful suit off this evening and worshipping the body hidden beneath.

Nathan took a seat next to two other men, who I could only assume were his manager and press agent. Those green eyes of his scanned the crowd, and the tension on his face lifted when he found the row where his family was seated. And then his eyes found mine.

The entire room seemed to fade away, the flashing lights and chattering voices disappearing. For a moment it was just him and me, the two of us sharing this moment together. And I knew, without him saying anything, that I belonged here, that I belonged in the audience with his family, here to witness this incredibly important moment of his life. And I knew, without a single doubt, that I belonged with him.

He looked so handsome sitting up there, that gray suit begging to be stripped off, those lips begging to be kissed. Next time I would be patient. I would take my time with him.

His press agent raised a hand and the noise hushed to a murmur.

“We are happy to announce that Nathan Ryder has accepted an offer to join the Houston Astros as a starting pitcher for the upcoming season.”

The room erupted in applause, immediately followed by the scrambling of journalists, calling their questions out to the stage.

“Nathan! Are you excited to be returning to your hometown?”

“Nathan! How does your family feel about this new opportunity?”

“How do you feel about the Astros coach?”

“Are you worried you’re too inexperienced to be a starting pitcher?”

“Do you think the other players will welcome you onto the team?”

“How soon will you be moving back to Houston?”

“Nathan! How will this affect your personal life? You’re going to be a big star!”

He leaned forward into the microphone and the room quieted again.

“I’m incredibly grateful and excited for this opportunity. While Austin has been nothing but wonderful and supportive of me as a player, I am looking forward to returning to Houston, which will always be home to me.”

Clearly his manager had him prepare a speech. Very smart.

“I won’t be answering any questions today, but I will be holding a fundraiser for the Austin Animal Shelter next month and all of you are welcome to come—and donate. Raising money for my favorite charity tends to put me in a talkative mood.” He glanced at me when he said that and gave me a wink. “Thank you all again for your support, and I’ll see you in Houston.”

There was an audible groan of disappointment as Nathan waved and stood, following his manager and press agent off the stage with flashbulbs popping all around him.

“Come on.” Nathan’s mom grabbed my arm, pulling me to my feet. “We’re going to meet him backstage.”

“It’s called the greenroom, Mom.” Maureen shook her head fondly.

“Whatever,” Sara waved her off. “Nathan is expecting us.” She looked at me. “All of us.”

***

By the time we pushed through the crowd and got past security, Nathan was already surrounded by a swarm of people. I watched with amusement as Chris crashed through all of them and grabbed Nathan in a huge bear hug, somehow managing to lift his six-foot-two friend off the floor and give him a big shake. Mandy was next, not as dramatic, but no less enthusiastic with her congratulations. Then Nathan’s family descended on him, wrapping him in hugs and proud smiles. I could see Sara wiping the tears from her cheeks as she cradled his face in her hands.

I wanted nothing more than to join the fray, but I knew it wasn’t my turn yet. That Nathan, when he was ready, would find me.

I didn’t have to wait long before those green eyes found mine. The crowd seemed to part as he came over to me, the room once again fading into nothingness as he swept me into his arms, claiming my mouth with a kiss.

Oh I had missed this, I thought, as I kissed him back, trying to put everything I had to say into that kiss. I vaguely heard the sound of cheers, but I ignored them, focusing on the wonderful, perfect feeling of his mouth against mine.

When we finally broke apart, Nathan’s eyes were starry and I’m sure mine were too.

“Hi,” he managed.

“Hi.” I smiled up at him.

“You came.”

I held up his note. “How could I not?”

He grinned. “I’m very glad you did, Ms. Hall, since we never really got that final interview.”

The cheeky bastard, I thought. But I could play along. “I’m glad you reminded me, Mr. Ryder.” I put my hands on my hips, enjoying the way his eyes drifted down the length of my body. My clothes might not have been new or fancy, but they fit me exactly right. “Am I to assume these answers will all be off the record?”

“Actually.” Nathan took my hands. “I was thinking I would be the one asking the question this time. Entirely on the record.”

My heart was in my throat.

“Sophie Hall.” He was completely serious now. “I love you.”

“That’s not a question,” I told him, my heart racing in my chest.

He smiled at me. “No, but I wanted to say that part first. My question is—Sophie Hall, will you move in with me?”

I was speechless, but he wasn’t done.

“I know we’ve just met and there’s a lot we still need to learn about each other, but I can’t think of anything I want more than to come home to you every day and spend each night with you in my arms. So what do you say?” He looked adorably nervous.

I cleared my throat. “This is on the record, right?”

He nodded.

I flashed him a huge grin. “Yes! Of course, yes!”

Then his mouth came down upon mine and the rest of the world disappeared as I kissed the man I loved.