Текст книги "Just Play"

Автор книги: Taylor Hart

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Текущая страница: 9 (всего у книги 13 страниц)

26

Tiffany couldn’t believe she didn’t feel at all tired. Going through the morning list of opening chores didn’t bother her at all. She started coffee, said hello to the cook, gave Lou a brief run down of all the side work that she would do—the ketchup bottles she would fill and the silverware that she would roll—before the main group of customers hit the restaurant.

Lou had frowned and scrubbed a hand over his face. “What’s wrong with you?”

They’d been friends in high school. How could they not in Wolfe Creek? But, they weren’t close. They were casual friends. They worked together. He’d been a best friend with Katie’s first husband, but he’d had a thing for Katie for a long, long time. Tiffany knew, even in high school, he’d liked Katie. But he’d never liked Roman. Tiffany could see it in the way he stiffened when Katie and Roman would come in with the family. From what she’d observed, Roman didn’t particularly care for Lou, either. But after she and Katie had buried the hatchet, Lou hadn’t really talked to her about much. He was the suffer in silent type.

Small towns.

That’s how it was. People just got used to each other and moved on.

“You seem…different.” His eyes questioned. “Are you okay? Has this got something to do with Sam Dumont yesterday?”

“No,” she replied quickly, not wanting to brag about the fact she’d just had pretty much the best night of her life. She also did not want to explain that Sam Dumont was nothing like she’d thought he was.

He looked her up and down doubtfully. “Well, then get to work.” He waved her away.

Normally, she would have given him a sarcastic look or something, but she rushed away smiling.

Ding.

Looking up from the ketchup bottles, she saw ‘The Wanderers’ walking through the door.

Her heart leapt. “Hey.”

Joe, the lead singer/guitarists, grinned at her.

Her heart fluttered and she took in the two gage’s in Joe’s ears and the spiked overly highlighted blonde hair, that was longer on top and shaved on the sides. “We heard this was your shift.”

Letting out a laugh, she went over to them.

“Sup, Tiff?” Eric, the drummer offered, putting out his fist. Eric had long hair and a tattoo of a butterfly on the side of his cheek, complimented with the heavy eyeliner.

She grinned and knuckle bumped him back. “Hey.”

Luke, the tall and lanky, Rolling Stone t-shirt wearing keyboarder patted her on the back. “How are ya?” His hair was jet black and he also wore eyeliner, but he had a six inch Mohawk.

Grinning, she blinked, not understanding why they were there. “You guys want some breakfast?”

Joe nodded. “Let’s sit.”

She grabbed some menus and took them to a booth. After they sat, she laid out the menus and waited.

Joe looked at her with serious eyes. “We’ve been offered an official opening spot for the Iron Stix. That country-rock band. Have you heard of them? They recently sky rocketed on the charts. They’re from that little town, I think…” he hesitated, then snapped his fingers. “From Snow Valley, Montana. Do you know who I’m talking about?”

“Oh.” Her mind was humming fast. “The Real Thing, is that their song?”

Eric nodded and gave Luke a high five. “Yeah, baby, best song ever. But it does sound like a book title or something.”

Tiffany waited, her heart rate spiking.

“Anyway,” Joe continued, “they saw all of us perform the other night at MacCools and they only want us if they can have you, too.” His teeth flashed white and his smile stretched wide. “So what do you say? Join the band? Come on tour? This is our shot.”

Nodding quickly, Luke shoved out his bottom lip. “Come on, Tiff, we need your voice.”

Eric pretended to drum the table. “You make us rock, sista!” He winked at her.

She blanched, trying to take all of this in.

Joe put up two fingers. “After the first two month tour, if it doesn’t work out, if you want out, no hard feelings.”

Two months. Her mouth went dry. It sounded risky. She thought of her mama, but she knew, deep down, Mama would be fine. Sam had been right…she was afraid.

She was.

For a second, she couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t think. She could hardly get two sentences strung together to answer him, but as it turned out, all she needed was two words.

Then she grinned. “I’m in.”

27

Sam ran up the hill toward the diner, already loving the familiar coffee smell that wafted out. He was even gonna be crazy today and not even eat eggs for the protein—he would go straight carbed out pancakes.

All kinds of outrageous thoughts and plans about him and Tiffany had been circling in his mind.

If she didn’t want to be a country star, that was none of his business. One thing he had determined was that he wanted her in his life.

Maybe she would come to Miami with him, but he assumed she would want to take things slow. He could do that and was, in fact, prepared for it.

He had too many thoughts. Too many dreams. Too many things he unexpectedly wanted with her.

And he was still scared. Terrified. Of himself more than anything else. He didn’t trust himself after what he’d done to Roman, and he really didn’t trust his heart. But…it was good to want something good. Maybe. Right? He shook off the doubt and focused on how he’d felt with her last night. The words from a song came to his mind, ‘if that’s wrong, then I don’t want to be right.’

Grinning to himself, he picked up the stroller, carried it up the steps, and opened the door. He loved the sound of the chime signaling their arrival. Gently setting Maddy down, he smiled at her. “Today we’ll get to finish all the pancakes, okay.”

Immediately, he scanned for Tiffany, but he only saw the two old men he’d seen the day before, sitting like sentinels guarding a castle. Both of them were eyeing him with almost threatening gazes, letting him know they wouldn’t put up with trouble in their diner. He grinned at them. “Hey there.” Man, this town was beginning to grow on him.

He didn’t go to the breakfast bar today. Instead he sat down with Maddy at a booth next to the window that overlooked the mountain. He had just finished buckling Maddy into the high chair when Tiffany came from the back of the restaurant. A huge grin on her face.

“Sam!”

Surprised, at her reaction, but not at all disappointed, he laughed and opened his arms.

She rushed into them and let out a giggle. “This is so crazy.”

He pulled back, evaluating her. “What’s going on?”

He loved the way she was holding him, but he was definitely confused.

Jerking back from him, she looked all out of sorts. “You’re not going to believe what I just did.” She hesitated and then let out another laugh, putting her hand to her mouth and shaking her head.

Her eyes were raw with emotion and he knew he would burst if she didn’t tell him what was going on. “Spill it.” He commanded.

She laughed, and her eyes fluttered as she swiped a piece of hair out of her face. “So that band from MacCools the other night, the one you hired, was here just a few minutes ago and guess what?”

“What?” He could feel her trembling. He was getting more nervous.

“They got offered an opening spot with Iron-Stix, but only if I join as their lead singer.” She let out a puff of breath and grinned. “So they asked me to come and I said yes.”

This had not been the news he expected, but warmth filled him. “Are you serious?”

She rapidly blinked. “Can you believe it?” Tears filled her eyes. “I thought about what you said, about being afraid. And I thought about how your father said ‘just play,’ and I want to do that. I want to just play my music. I want to be like you. The way you don’t quit. Even when it’s hard.” She broke into a grin as the tears spilled down her cheeks. “I don’t think I told you that I totally admire that about you.” She laughed.

“Wow.” He pulled her in, hugging her. “That’s amazing. You’re…amazing.”

She pushed back. “Do you really think so?”

He loved the way she looked so vulnerable and beautiful and happy. He grinned. “Of course I do. That’s why I got so frustrated with you when you wouldn’t take a chance…Chance.”

She let out a light laugh and hugged him, then pulled back. “Oh man, I have so much to do.” She shook her head. “We leave tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” If he were to describe this surprise in football terms he would have to say this would be like getting sacked by a kicker during a play. It sounded that improbable.

Her face held excitement and expectation and worry all rolled into one, and she was waiting for his reaction.

He recovered from the shock. “I’m really happy for you.” She was going to live her dream. He covered his disappointment that she was leaving so soon by picking her up in a big bear hug. “Woot! Ladies and gentleman, I give you Tiffany Chance—famous Country Western Singer!” He put her down and cupped his hands around his mouth and made a stadium noise.

Her face burned red, and she laughed, hitting his shoulder in embarrassment.

The old men looked at him curiously with smiles on their faces now.

She laughed even louder.

“What’s going on?” Lou rushed out.

Tiffany turned to Lou with a big grin on her face. “I’m quitting, Lou.”

Looking baffled, he scowled at Dumont. “What did you do?”

She laughed again and peeled off the apron. “It’s not him, Lou. It’s me.”

He looked dumbfounded. “Why?”

She grinned and moved to Sam. “I’m going on tour. And,” she said with a mischievous look in her eye, “I’ll be joining Sam and Maddy for breakfast, and we’d like pancakes.”

Sam stared at her and wondered how he’d fallen in love…in only two days? He grinned. “Yes, let’s eat pancakes.”

28

Tiffany sat across from Sam, shoving in another bite of pancake and starting to feel sick from carb overload, but she couldn’t stop herself from laughing at another one of Sam’s silly impressions he was doing for Maddy.

Maddy was next to them in her high chair, completely sticky and happy, with so much syrup on her that every time she flapped her little hands down in the mess it sounded like a sticker ripping. “Gaa.” She blurted, happily chatting back at Sam’s silliness.

“That’s right.” Sam smiled at her, taking the wet towel next to him and trying again to wipe Maddy, but she started squawking. He finally gave up and put the towel down, shaking his head. “This girl.” He looked at Tiffany.

She held a napkin over her face, dabbing at her own messy syrup. The way he stared at her, like he could see into her soul, made her feel heady and light. Or maybe it was the fact she hadn’t slept in over twenty-four hours.

“What?” he asked.

Not liking that she was reacting so much to this man, she reached for her water and shook her head. “Nothing.”

Sitting back into the booth, he crossed his arms. A wide grin spread across his face, stretching the tiny scar above the right part of his lip that she found so attractive. “You did it.”

Excitement filled her. She grinned back. “We’ll be in Omaha tomorrow night, then Boulder in two days, and then Denver two days later.” She held up a finger. “Then Phoenix two days after that. It’s...” She’d never felt so happy and wired and filled with nerves in her entire life. She pushed back her plate. “Because of you.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Me? No.”

“Yes.”

Emphatically, shaking his head, he pointed at her. “No, that was all you.” He paused and grinned. “Wow, I just realized that soon I’ll be chartering a plane to see one of your concerts.”

The idea of anyone chartering a plane to get an opportunity to hear her sing was completely overwhelming.

The side of his lip turned up. “But I have news, too.”

Excitement stirred in her. “What?” She knew he was waiting to hear from Miami and he looked happy.

He shrugged, then a wide grin cracked his face. “Not as exiting as yours.”

“Come on,” she begged. Not used to being the center of attention, especially because Brett had always been the center, she rapped the table with her knuckles for emphasis. “Tell me.”

Picking up a napkin to dab the corners of his mouth, he sighed, acting all bothered. “I got my contract with Miami.”

She laughed at the way he tried to under play it, but he was blushing. It didn’t surprise her, but she was supremely happy for him. “That’s amazing.”

Lifting and then dropping a shoulder, he acted casual. “Yeah, starting quarterback.”

“That’s a big deal.” Warmth filled her, and she reached across the table and put her hand over his. “So you got your dream back, and I get to start mine.” She laughed. “It’s exciting.”

For a brief second, she could have sworn that Sam didn’t look that happy. Then he grinned and lifted his orange juice for a toast. “To dreams.”

She lifted a glass. “To dreams.”

He held it against hers. “It looks like I’m going to have to be a groupie sooner rather than later.”

Nervous electricity filled her. “Just as long as you’re not one of those creepy, stalker ones.”

He flashed her a grin. “I’m not promising, I’ll do what I gotta do to get noticed by you, even if that means taking off the shirt.”

29

When Sam woke up later that afternoon to the sound of a baby crying, he rolled over and checked his running watch. Four-fifteen. Sitting up fast, he paused, clearing the fog from his brain. He couldn’t believe how much had happened in such a short period of time.

He thought about Tiffany and how her mother had run into the diner and thrown her arms around her and shouted, ‘Praise the Lord!’ at the top of her lungs when Tiffany had told her. Excitement for her wove its way through him.

If he were being truthful, he was slightly sad she would be leaving so soon. He’d looked forward to a couple more days with her in Wolfe Creek.

Grabbing his clothes, he rushed to the bathroom and almost slammed into Roman, who was headed to Maddy’s room.

“You and Maddy are keeping the same nap times now?” Roman teased.

“Yep,” Sam agreed and quickly shaved and showered. He hadn’t had time to fill Roman in all that had happened the night before because he’d been too tired. As he got dressed and cleaned up his things and his room, he thought about Tiffany. He wanted to go spend a few hours with her. He grinned, but first he had to tell Roman the good news.

He rushed down the stairs and found Roman wearing the pink apron and feeding Maddy.

“Guess what?” Sam stood at the counter across from him.

“You got the contract with Miami.” Roman didn’t even look at him, carefully scraping baby food off the backside of a spoon before placing it into Maddy’s mouth.

“How did you hear?” Sam threw his hands into the air and moved to the kitchen sink, taking out a glass and getting himself some water.

Roman looked at him. “They issued that contract early this morning. You didn’t think ESPN would be privy to that information?”

“But I haven’t even formally accepted.” Sam put down the glass and picked up an apple on the counter.

Roman shrugged. “You will. You know you will.” He glanced at him and then broke into a wide grin. “Those are some good numbers, Dumont. I’m happy for you.”

Happiness surged through him. He grinned back. “Thanks, man.”

Roman gave him a quick nod, then turned back to Maddy and spoke to her. “Yes, Maddy, we’ll have to go see your Uncle Sam play in some pre-season games, won’t we? We’ll be making some trips to the beach.”

Just thinking of Roman and his family coming to visit made Sam ridiculously happy. He moved next to Maddy and gently put his hand on her head for a second.

She grinned and then spit more food at Roman.

Sam laughed. “Good job baby girl.”

Roman scoffed, but didn’t even move. “Don’t encourage her.”

Sam tugged his phone out of his pocket, texted his agent, and asked him to put him in touch with some realtors in Miami. He wanted to find a place on the beach.

Roman cleared his throat. “So Mr. Starting Quarterback for the Surf, what’s going on with Tiffany?” Roman pumped his eyebrows. “How did Luke Bryant go?”

Sam put his phone down on the counter and sighed, running his hand through his hair. “Dude.”

Roman stood, taking the towel on the counter and then turning back to wipe Maddy’s face. “What?”

Sam shook his head.

Roman gave him a disbelieving look. “You like her. You really like her.”

Sam moved around the counter and sank onto a barstool, feeling uncertain. “I do.”

Taking off the high chair lid, Roman pulled Maddy out and passed her into Sam’s arms.

“Gaa.” She smiled and smacked his face lightly.

He snuggled into her.

“Wow.” Roman cleaned the counter and put all the extra food away. “Who would have guessed that you’d fall for Katie’s best friend?” He sounded amused.

Sam blew a raspberry against Maddy’s tummy, and she giggled. “It’s strange, isn’t it, Maddy?”

She giggled again.

Sam turned to Roman. “But Tiffany has big news too.”

Roman whirled back to Sam, rolling his eyes. “She’s leaving on tour tomorrow for two months.”

Flabbergasted that Roman apparently knew everything, he laughed.

“My wife’s best friend, remember?”

It was so weird and normal and completely crazy how much his life had changed since he’d come to Wolfe Creek.

Roman wiped his hands on a towel and moved around the counter, easily taking Maddy as she stretched her arms up for him. “Da. Da.” He nuzzled her neck, and she giggled again. He turned to Sam. “So what are you going to do about Tiffany?”

Sam shrugged. “She’s starting a life, I’m going to Miami, what is there to do?” It made him kind of sad.

Roman moved into the living room.

Sam followed, seeing Josh with some of his friends climbing up into the tree house in the back yard. “You know he’s climbing, right?”

Roman shook his head. “He plays like he’s never been hurt.” Roman stared at him for a second, then his eyes flicked to Sam. He grinned. “I guess that’s a good thing, right?”

Sam plopped onto the floor next to Maddy. “What?”

“Playing like you’ve never been hurt before.” He lifted his eyebrows. “You could approach this relationship with Tiffany that way.”

Sam huffed out a breath. “Okay, Obi Wan Kenobi.” Sam grinned at him.

“What?” Roman frowned and sat next to them, picking up a toy and tossing it at Sam.

Sam easily deflected it and laughed. “I appreciate the wisdom.”

Roman rolled his eyes. “Somebody has to talk some sense into you.”

Liking this interaction with Roman, Sam pretended annoyance. “What are you, my new shrink?”

“Oh, no.” Roman put both hands up. “Couldn’t pay a man enough for that job.” But he gave him a warm smile.

Wisdom. That’s what Roman was trying to give him. Sam thought about what Roman had said. Watching Roman pick up a car and make a zoom zoom sound at Maddy, he decided to tell Roman the truth. “I don’t trust myself, dude. I like her. I…” he thought about how good she was.

“What?”

He hesitated before let the words out. “I’m a cheater, and she’s pretty much perfect. I can’t. I just…”

At this, Roman sat up, moving to the couch. He leaned back and let out a long sigh.

“Don’t…” Sam said, going to his feet and to the opposite couch.

“You have no idea what I’m going to say.”

“Then what?” Whatever Roman was about to say, he deserved, but it didn’t make it easier to hear.

Roman didn’t respond for a few seconds. Then he let out a puff of air. “You’re different than you were.”

This had not been what Sam had expected to hear. “What?”

Roman waited for a beat, then said, “I’ve known you for a long time…in football years.”

Sam nodded. “Yes, you have.”

“I have watched you go from newbie to,” he said, hesitating, “to too big for his britches, to…” he shrugged, “to a pretty decent guy.” He winked at him. “You’ve grown up.”

Sam’s heart was beating fast. It was really good to hear Roman say that.

Roman leaned forward intently. “I’m telling you, Sam. You’re ready to trust yourself again. So get going.” Roman took Maddy from off the floor and put her on his lap.

Nervous jitters went through Sam’s gut. He stood. “But I told you I’d help with the kids the next couple of days.”

Roman smirked at him. “Go hang out with Tiffany tonight, don’t worry, I’ll let you clean the kitchen when you get back.”

30

He showed up at the cute, older home that looked like it was from movie Pleasantville. It had a perfectly immaculate yard and black shutters. His heart was pumping so fast it reminded him of how he felt before the first game of every season—jumpy. But it was a good anticipation.

Reese answered quickly, pulling him into a big hug and repeating ‘Praise the Lord, my baby got her shot.’

Happy couldn’t begin to express how pleased he was that Tiffany was getting a chance to live her dream and that her mom was so supportive. He laughed and looked around the quaint home. “Is Tiffany here?”

The enthusiasm on Reese’s face immediately fell. She went from looking like she was eating something sugary to something that was sour and spoiled.

“What’s wrong?”

Reese shook her head, letting out a breath. The big earrings she wore tinkled back and forth. “Tiffany likes to hike behind our house on a trail into the mountains.”

“Okay.” Sam didn’t understand why this seemed to upset Reese.

Her lips pinched. “She left about an hour ago. But…” She hesitated.

“What?” Sam wanted to shake her. Her hesitation made him nervous.

Rolling her eyes, she pointed past Sam to a black car in the driveway. “The jerk ex showed up a couple of minutes ago, and I told him she wasn’t here. He just took off to find her.” She shrugged. “He knows where she goes.”

Without thinking, Sam backed out of the house. “Where’s the trail?”

Reese pointed to the side of the house. “It’s that way. Just keep going. You’ll run into them.”