Unsportsmanlike Conduct

by Melody Heck Gatto

  She jumped in the shower. The hot water felt good on her skin. The warmth relaxed her as it ran down her body. There was nothing else like the silence of a shower. Time seemed to stand still. Once she shut the water off all the chaos of life invaded her mind. She threw on a black tank top, and short athletic gray shorts and headed downstairs with wet hair. She hadn't planned on doing anything today except letting eagle-eyed Kat watch as she ate every meal. She bounced down the stairs and hopped off the bottom step.

  "Hey, sleepy head," Kat called from the living room. "Ian," she cooed down at the baby, "say good morning to Aunt G."

  "Morning," Gia answered. "Hey, my sweet little nephew." She kissed Ian's soft head. A whiff of baby shampoo and powder filled her nose. Babies smell so good. A smile crept across her face as she smoothed his silken hair along his head.

  "What do you want for breakfast? Kris and Pat will be home soon," Kat said as she carried Ian into the kitchen. "Coffee?" She handed Gia a mug. "Decaf, of course."

  "Um, what?" Gia asked confused. Patrick?

  "They had practice this morning. I told Pat to come over. They’ll be home soon. Kris is stopping to get those little sandwiches for lunch. You know, from that deli he likes?" Kat balanced the baby in one arm and popped some frozen waffles in the toaster with the other. "You know I suck at cooking, so I hope frozen waffles and some fruit are okay?"

  "Yeah, that's fine. Thanks." She thought maybe Kat had turned all domestic being at home, but apparently not. "So, I was thinking of going home tomorrow, what do you think?" She’d been less than a day and already felt she was being watched too closely.

  "Let's see how much you eat between now and then." Kat turned to Gia. "So, when are you going to tell Pat?"

  "Tell him what?" Gia took a sip of hot coffee.

  "That you want him," Kat said with a grin. "That you looooooove him." She giggled as she danced around with Ian.

  Gia never said it in so many words. Did she “love” him? She was so confused. She put her hand to her belly. She still needed to talk to Tyler about the baby, in case it was his. "Kat, I really thought it was just the sex. But he’s so sweet and he really cares about me. There’s no one else I’d rather spend time with…”

  “Cause you love him.” Kat giggled.

  “I never said that,” she said as she ran her hand through her hair. She forgot her hair was still wet.

  “You didn’t have to.”

  “Ugh. You’re infuriating. I need to fix my hair before they get home. What time did you say they would be home?"

  Why does Kat assume to know who I choose before I do?

  Kat laughed. "It's okay; you have time to get ready. I don't think they will be home till closer to lunch." She handed her the plate of waffles and some cut peaches. "Here, eat. Then you can go get ready. How many clothes did you bring anyway?"

  "Just an outfit. But I think you still have a few of my things, or I could just borrow something cute," she suggested with a mouthful of waffle.

  Kat laughed. "So you really like him?"

  Gia blushed. "I guess. I like how he makes me feel. I had only seen the cocky side of him. He's actually kind and caring, and I feel like I was meant to be with him. I don't really know how this even happened. I mean, a year ago I fought off his advances because I was Tyler's." Gia stopped and thought for a second. "It’s not just the sex, but it is really good."

  Kat winced and pretended to gag a bit. "Really, G?"

  “I’m joking, geez. Well, not really, cause, WOW. But it’s so much more than that. It’s his smile, his laugh, it’s the fact that I don’t want to be apart from him. I see how you and Kris act. He puts you before all else. Tyler never did that for me. Patrick does. The whole time I needed someone, he was there. I didn't go looking for this, it just happened." She put her hand to her stomach.

  I sure didn't plan on this.

  "Gia, just be careful, okay? Ty might demand to have Pat traded if he is your baby’s daddy." Kat added.

  "Yeah, I'm not so sure he won't, regardless." She took a minute to pop the last of the waffle in her mouth. "The frozen waffles were delish," Gia called as she ran upstairs to put herself together.

  Gia looked through her bag. She had her favorite pair of faded blue jeans shorts. Maybe a cute, comfortable outfit will make her feel better. She knew Kat had a bunch of halter tops, and she loved those. She was sure it would be okay with her sister if she borrowed one.

  She opened the closet to see her extra clothes were still there, in addition to some of Kat's clothes. Kat had everything organized: the tees were all together, the long sleeves together, and the tanks and halters were together. Gia giggled, her closet didn't look this organized. She saw a white halter-top and pulled it out. "Cute."

  "If you like it, you can have it." Kat's voice startled her. She stood in the doorway with Ian on her hip. She didn't hear her even come up the stairs.

  "Really? It’s super cute," Gia said.

  "Yeah." She waved her hand. "I'm not big on anything white anymore, especially with this little guy around."

  "Thanks." Gia turned her back to Kat and slipped the shirt on, throwing the tank top she had been wearing on the bed. She admired herself in the mirror. The white fabric sat loose around her middle, hugged her chest and left her shoulders bare.

  "That's cute," Kat smiled. "I'm going to put Ian down for a nap. I'll be down shortly," she said and disappeared into the baby's room.

  Gia brushed her hair out. Her long, dark hair hung down around her face. It was wavy from letting it dry on its own.

  Her bare feet smacked against each wooden step as she hurried downstairs. She really loved Kat's house. It was beautiful and homey. It had been Kris's house until Kat moved in. Gia hoped to have a house as nice as this someday. She always felt like she was on vacation when she visited. The walls were bright, and the big rooms had a lot of natural light.

  The air was crisp this morning, not too hot yet, so she headed out to the back porch to sit in the shade. She curled up a love seat with oversized cushions and plopped her feet on the pillow beside her. Kat told her yesterday to take it easy and she enjoyed basking in the warm air and nice breeze.

  She closed her eyes and must have dozed off for a little while, because the sound of the door sliding open woke her. She assumed it was Kat, because she was the only other person that was home, until she felt warm lips brush across hers.

  "What the?" She opened her eyes to see Patrick kneeling next to her, his face close to hers.

  "Hey, sleeping beauty." His smile was sweet, and it made Gia's heart warm.

  "Hey, Patrick. I didn't hear you come in." Gia yawned and sat up. "Guess I fell asleep."

  "We know," Kris called from inside the house, laughing. "We were going to lock you out there and see how long it would take you to notice," he joked.

  "Stop teasing her. She doesn't feel good," Kat lovingly yelled at her husband.

  "Don't mind them," Patrick whispered. He scooted beside Gia. "I was worried about you," he confessed.

  Patrick tried to put his arm around Gia, but was only able to slide it along the back of the seat behind her. Her body was too far away. He brushed the hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear. Gia bit at her lip.

  Patrick leaned in and kissed her lips softly, wincing slightly. She assumed that he bumped the cut on his lip. Patrick pulled away a little and looked up to see Kris standing in the doorway of the porch. "Can I help you?" he asked his cousin.

  "Nope. I'm good," Kris said as he proceeded to walk out onto the porch and sit down, a beer in his hand.

  Patrick smirked and flipped his cousin the middle finger, shaking his head. "Ass."

  Gia's phone rang. Tyler.

  She hated that he was calling. She did need to talk to him, however, she let it go to voice mail. Yeah, she was chicken but also getting irritated. This was getting old fast. She wanted her life to get back to normal, and hiding out here wasn’t going to accomplish that.

  "Kat!" she c
alled into the house. "Kat!" she found her sister in the kitchen getting plates for the sandwiches.

  "What?" Kat huffed, looking tired.

  "You’ve seen me eat. I ate last night and I am eating today. I’m sleeping and I'm drinking. I want to go home with Patrick tonight," Gia said, feeling like she was fourteen again and asking for permission. She changed her tone and said nicely, "I’m ready to get back to my life."

  "Look, you can do what you want. I just wanted to make sure you were feeling better before I sent you home on your own. Speaking of that, how are you going to afford your place without a job?" Kat asked.

  "Oh, um." She hadn't given her apartment much thought. She needed to get her shit together.

  "First of all, did you go see an obstetrician yet?" Kat asked.

  "No. I just found out like two days ago."

  "Okay, well call mine. You need to get checked out," Kat answered. "Here's her number." She entered it into Gia's phone. "If you want to move in here, you're welcome. It will at least save on rent and utilities." Kat carried the tray of sandwiches out to the porch. She stuck her head back in and said to Gia, "Think about it, okay? And grab the napkins."

  "Food. All right! Even if it is healthy." Patrick shrugged as he made a face at Kris.

  "Lookie what I found!" Gia walked out on to the porch with the napkins and a bag of chips she found in the cupboard. "Chips!"

  "Now that's what I'm talking about." Patrick laughed.

  "Oh yeah," Kat said. "I forgot I had those."

  "Forgot?" Gia looked at her with an eyebrow raised. Everyone knew Kat liked her junk food as much as Gia did.

  "I haven't been eating all my usual junk. I’ve been a good girl and following my health nut of a husband, and I feel great. Gia, don't look at me like that. I look hot as hell. Plus, I still have the occasional goodies." She smiled as Kris leaned over and placed a small kiss on her lips.

  Gia wanted a love like that, her own fairy tale happily ever after.

  "These sandwiches are pretty good," Patrick said as he finished his first little sandwich. He reached over and grabbed another one, along with some chips.

  "So Gia, I was thinking about you needing a new job. Why don't you see if they are hiring down at the bakery? Maybe you'll get free pastries," Kris said with a laugh.

  "Ha ha. That's actually not a bad idea," Gia said as she took a bite of sandwich. "In the meantime, I need to figure out what I’m doing about my apartment. I don't want anyone paying for my rent." She smiled at Patrick. It was a nice gesture though. "Well, I am good until the end of the month anyway."

  "I told you that you can always move in with me," Patrick said, grinning up from his plate.

  Gia took a second sandwich and a handful of chips.

  "So who was calling you before?" Patrick asked.

  Gia took a breath before answering. “Tyler. I let it go to voicemail.”

  “Maybe he finally wants to talk.” Patrick looked down at his plate, then took a hold of Gia’s hand, “That’s a good thing, G.”

  "I know, I’ll call him tomorrow. I need to get my thoughts together."

  She was just making more of a mess for herself dragging this out. She knew they were over so why was she so afraid to hear those words from Tyler?

  Patrick pulled her into a half hug. "So Gia, are you feeling better?" he asked.

  "Yep, I feel fine. I think I just needed some actual rest and food." She laid her head on his chest.

  "Good, because you need to take care of yourself and the little baby growing inside of you." He smiled.

  "Pat, are you staying for dinner?" Kat called from the kitchen.

  "Sure. Thanks, Kat."

  "Awesome, I'd love to see more of the Pat and Kris show." Gia giggled. She loved when they bickered and taunted each other; it was hysterical.

  "So, what's for dinner, beautiful?" Kris asked Kat as he grabbed her hips and pulled her onto his lap.

  She let out a little gasp, then giggled. "Depends, where do you want to order from?" she laughed. "You didn't think I was cooking did you?" She shook her head.

  Patrick laughed. "Well, we know Kris will want some tasteless, leafy health food crap." He smirked at his cousin, waiting for a reaction.

  "Fuck you, dude." Kris flipped Patrick off. "And if I wasn't picking some health food shit, I sure might now. Ha!" Kris was always so quiet when Patrick wasn't around. Together, they tormented each other like brothers.

  "Anyway," Kat cleared her throat. "Anyone want to swim?"

  "Sounds good to me. I told Pat to bring his swim trunks with him," Kris said.

  "G, you might have a swim suit here. Wanna go look?" Kat asked. "Gia?"

  Gia seemed to snap out of a daydream. "Yeah, sure.”

  CHAPTER 17

  GIA

  "So what are you going to do?" Kat asked.

  "What do you mean?" Gia snapped.

  "You and Pat. You finally realize how much he means to you. But Tyler is calling you now.”

  "I know." The weight of her sister's stare was too much to handle. “Kat, I hope he just wants to talk about the pregnancy. I mean, what else could he possibly have to say to me? I think his silence has said it all.”

  She didn’t want to call; she wanted to be angry at him for running out on her in the hospital. She understood he was probably scared. That’s the only thing that made sense. I mean what happens if the baby was his?

  "G, be with Patrick as long as you’re happy and not locking yourself in your bedroom for days on end. AGAIN. You need to choose what’s best for your baby. But you’re going to have to talk to Tyler about the baby sometime. You started this with both of them. I don’t care which one you end up with-as long as you choose." Kat took Gia's arm in hers. "Just remember that I’m always here for you, sis. C'mon, let's go find our bathing suits."

  Gia went through the clothes she had in Kat's spare bedroom until she found her bikini. It was one of her favorites. Who doesn't look good in a hot pink bikini? She grabbed her round sunglasses and headed downstairs. Kat met her in the living room with towels and Ian in her arms.

  "Can he swim?" Gia asked. She didn't know anything about babies and he was only a little over a month old.

  Kat secured a little hat on his head and even baby sunglasses. He was so stinking cute! Kat sat him in his little carrier.

  "Eh, he can go in the water. He has a special water diaper on, but I don't keep him in for long. I mainly sit in the shade with him. Kris will sit with him while I swim." She picked the baby carrier up and handed Gia the towels. "We also have this cool floaty thing. It's like a baby raft with a sun visor over it to protect the little guy from the sun. He loves it.” They made their way out to the yard.

  Gia looked down at the pool where her brother-in-law and Patrick stood in their swim trunks. She couldn't take her eyes off Patrick. She forced herself to look away so she wouldn't be distracted and fall down the porch steps.

  Kat and Gia crossed the grass to the pool. "I thought maybe I should call Tyler this afternoon." Gia looked to her sister, hoping for some advice.

  "That sounds like a good idea." Kat nodded.

  "I'm sort of nervous ..." Gia trailed off as they reached the guys.

  "Wow, Gia," Patrick said, eyeing her from head to toe. "I like pink." He flashed her a toothy grin.

  Gia giggled. She set down a bag with her suntan lotion and things on a lawn chair. Kat set down the baby carrier in the shade then shot Gia a look.

  "Okay." Gia opened the big bag and grabbed her phone. "I'll be in shortly," she said, and hurried back up to the porch. Settling in on a porch chair, she tucked her legs under her. Scrolling through the phone, she found Tyler's number and hit send.

  "It’s about time you called back,” Tyler answered.

  "Yeah, so how are you?" she said softly, trying to keep her conversation private.

  "I’m here. How are you feeling?"

  "Better. Thanks," Gia answered.

  Her heart wrenched. Hearing his voice brought
back all the guilt over the pain that she caused him. Her heart hurt, but she didn’t miss him. Looking over at the pool, she saw Patrick on a lawn chair watching her and looked away. How did I ever get into this situation in the first place?

  "Good to hear. Is the baby still doing okay?"

  "Yeah, it's fine. So …" Gia became impatient with all the small talk. Maybe they could do this over the phone, so she wouldn't have to look in those hazel eyes.

  "I think we should meet up and talk."

  Crap! "Okay …" Why can’t we do this over the phone? She held her breath, hoping he didn't want to do this today.

  "How about tomorrow? Um, how about your apartment? You want me to bring dinner?"

  "Okay, I guess. What time?" My apartment? Really? Could he have picked a worse place? "How about four?" she said quickly.

  "Okay, see you then, I guess," Tyler said, and they both hung up.

  She took a small breath without looking up at Patrick and walked back across the yard. She glanced at her sister, who nodded in approval, and put her phone away, turning the ringer off. She was done with the outside world for now. She was trying to avoid stress, not bring more on herself.

  Gia eyed the beers Kris brought out for him and Patrick. She really wished she could have one. She slid her hand across her stomach.

  "Any idea what that was about?" Patrick quietly asked Kris as they hopped into the water and made their way to the deep end.

  Kris shrugged his shoulders. "Don't worry about it. Just remember one thing: everything happens for a reason."

  "Maybe," he said to Kris.

  "You finally ready G?" Kris called to her with a smile.

  "Yep." She slowly slid into the pool. The water felt chilly at first, but her body quickly got used to it. The gentleness of the water against her skin calmed her worries. Her stress disappeared. For now anyway.

  Gia swam the length of the pool, her hands gliding through the cool water. As she swam closer to the end, the water got deeper. She moved her arms and legs, treading water just a few feet away from where the guys stood. It was six feet where they were and too deep for her to stand.

  Holding her nose, she disappeared into the refreshing water. Breaking through the water, she popped up quickly and moved her arms and legs to keep afloat. She pushed her hair back against her head.