by T. K. Rapp
“Is the new principal in?” I asked confidently and she nodded. “If he’s not busy, may I see him?”
“Dr. Putnam, Danielle Miner is here to see you,” she said over the phone.
“Now?”
“Yes, sir,” she said and winked at me.
“Oh-Okay. Send her in.”
“Thanks, Linda,” I whispered as I walked past her desk, toward the office where my career had been paused only recently.
Dr. Putnam was a tall, thin man with graying hair and glasses that looked too big for his face. He was dressed in brown slacks and a white golf shirt, sitting behind his oversized mahogany desk. He looked less approachable than Mr. Lopez, but still smiled and greeted me as I walked in.
“Ms. Miner, please come in. It’s nice to finally meet you,” he said, motioning to an empty chair. “What can I do for you?”
“I’d like to talk to you about my employment status,” I said.
“I understand that you’ve taken a leave of absence,” he stated, looking confused. “Are you here to resign?”
“What? No. The opposite. I didn’t take a leave of absence. I was forced,” I informed him.
“I don’t understand,” he said. “So why haven’t you been here?”
“I was told that the administration requested that I take a ‘vacation’ until all the hoopla around JT Hunter and me died down.”
“What do you have to do with JT Hunter?” he questioned, and I wanted to hug the man on the spot. He was probably the only person around who was oblivious to the story.
“We’ve been dating for a few months. And when a gossip site posted a story, making unflattering and untrue claims against me, the school didn’t like the light that was being shed on me or them.”
Dr. Putnam sat back in his chair and swiveled it side to side like a child, his index fingers steepled over his mouth. He leaned forward and punched a few things into the computer and stared at his screen.
“Ah. I see,” he said. “I’m looking over the notes in your file and this is actually quite ridiculous. I see no need for you to be disciplined over something that is out of your control, Ms. Miner.”
Finally! Someone else sees it the way I do.
“So does that mean I can come back to work?”
“Let me make a few calls and I’ll get back to you tomorrow?”
“Respectfully, sir, I’m not going to end things with JT because of my job. I love what I do, and I want to do it here, but I’m not willing to give up my relationship for a job.”
“Noted. And I’m sure you’re eager to get to your classroom and your students,” he said, smiling at me.
“Thank you, Dr. Putnam. I appreciate this more than you know.” I got up to leave, but turned around. “And what about River’s Kids?”
“Assuming everything is approved, it’s all yours.”
***
Millie called me when she heard the news, and invited me to go over for dinner. It had been a while since I’d seen Nick or Colton, so I was looking forward to a quiet evening with friends.
My family was pleased when I shared the news that I had been reinstated, effective immediately. They questioned what it meant for Tabor and me, and I assured them I was not ready to give him up. I just hoped that he would be willing to hear me out and forgive my poor behavior that night.
“The best way to get over someone is to get under someone else,” Millie said crassly as she enjoyed her second glass of wine after dinner.
“I’m not trying to get over him,” I argued. “I don’t know where things stand, but I’m not going to give up.”
“But…wait. What about this one—if you love someone, let them…”
“Stop. Please,” I laughed. “What are you, a fortune cookie gone lame? I don’t want to get back out there. I had what I wanted and I messed it up.”
“You know, Nick saw Philip again and he asked about you. He heard that you and Tabor broke up and wondered if you were up for hanging out.”
I sighed heavily and rolled my eyes. “That’s a hard no, thanks, Millie.”
“I know you’re not ready to date, but maybe seeing an old friend could cheer you up.”
“I don’t want to see him!”
“What’s your deal? Philip was a part of your life for a year. What harm is there in coming over and having a drink?”
“Come over…as in he’s coming over here?”
Millie nodded her head and smiled, proud that she’d pulled one over on me. But my blood was boiling and my body grew damp with sweat. If she couldn’t see the absolute rage in my eyes, then she was blind.
“When?” I asked, standing up and trying to locate my purse.
“What’s wrong?”
“When, Millie?” She flinched when I shouted at her, but I wasn’t playing games.
“Thirty minutes or so?”
I picked up my purse and started for the door when she threw herself in front of it. “What’s wrong with you?”
“You had no right!”
“Lighten up, Dani. It’s a drink, not a marriage proposal,” she shot back, rolling her eyes.
“Let. Me. Go,” I seethed. “Now.”
“Not until you tell me what’s going on. Why are you so pissed?”
“Millicent DeMarco. Move.”
She cowered at my use of her name, but remained still.
“I can’t see him.”
“You don’t still have feelings for Philip, do you?”
“Yeah, actually I do. Feelings of hatred. Murderous feelings. Castration feelings. Beat the living shit out of him feelings. Do I need to go on?”
“I had no idea.”
“No. But I’ve told you I don’t want to see him, and that should be enough of a reason. I shouldn’t have to explain myself to you or anyone else.”
“But he was so great, and you two together were adorable.”
“Yeah, we were so cute together—especially when he hit me. He was the perfect boyfriend,” I said, condescension dripping from my words.
“What?”
“Just let me go.”
“He hit you?” she breathed out, barely audible as she reached out to touch my arm. “When did this happen? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I took care of it. Look, I have to go before he gets here,” I demanded urgently.
“I never would have pushed if I’d known,” she defended sadly. “I’m so sorry.”
“We’ll talk later,” I said as I began to reach for the door, but a knock sounded from the other side. “Shit!”
“I’ll take care of it,” she said apologetically. “Go play with Colton.”
My hand was still braced on the door and I shook my head before turning to face her. I lifted my chin and took a deep breath. “No. I’ll take care of it.”
“This is my fault. I invited him here,” she conceded. “Honestly, I’ve got it.”
I didn’t argue with her, instead pulling the door open to find Philip, the man I had once loved, standing in front of me looking as handsome as I remembered. But there was an ugliness beneath that beauty. Jealousy, control, and misogyny were always there, waiting to show through. I’d been victim to his verbal lashings more than I was willing to admit, but the physical threats were far more recent and were the reason I had stepped away when I did.
“Dani,” he said with a smile, leaning forward to kiss my cheek, but I stepped away.
“Philip,” I answered curtly. “I’m sorry you came all this way, but I’m afraid there’s been a mistake.”
“But Millie said you’d be here and were looking forward to seeing me,” he stated, and I glanced at my friend, who winced at the truth.
“I believe the last time we spoke, I told you that I never wanted to see you again. This will be the last time I say it, so I suggest you turn around and forget that you ever knew me.”
His lip curled, a sneer appearing on his face, and I knew Millie was about to witness the ugly I knew too well. Philip was a master at preten
ding in front of other people; it was when he got you alone that his mean side appeared. Only this time, I’d embarrassed him.
“So you go out with JT Hunter a few times and you think you’re better than me? He dumped you, Dani. You’d be lucky to have me, because no one wants his sloppy seconds.”
My hand connected with his cheek, the snap so loud that Nick stepped into the room to see what had happened. He looked at Millie, whose hands covered her mouth, and then to me. But when his eyes landed on Philip, who took a step toward me, Nick lunged forward and pushed his hands against Philip’s chest.
“Listen, buddy, you need to go. I don’t know what’s going on here, but it doesn’t look good.”
“That bitch just slapped me,” he said, pointing at me.
Nick looked at me and I shrugged.
“Bitch? Really, man? All this talk like you want to get back together and then you call her names? If that’s what you do, I can see why she hit you.”
Millie’s hand reached for mine, my entire body shaking at the exchange. I hadn’t planned to slap him, but after a year of not doing anything when he’d said and done far worse, I saw red. She squeezed my hand and pulled me toward her.
“Philip, you need to go,” she said evenly. “And don’t come back.”
He started running his mouth, so Nick walked him outside and closed the door behind them, leaving me in the front entry with Millie. Her eyes welled with tears and she wrapped her arms around me.
“I’m so sorry, Dani. I didn’t know,” she cried.
“No one knew,” I admitted. “Except Tabor.”
“You told him?” she gasped. “You didn’t even tell me.”
“I know, and I’m sorry.”
“No,” she said. “That’s not what I mean. It’s just that you keep so much to yourself, and for you to open up to him…I’m just surprised, that’s all.”
“Why?”
“Because you don’t just open up to anyone, Dani.”
“But he’s not just anyone. He’s the person I love. I trust him with my life,” I said.
Millie smirked at my admission and appeared pleased with my words. “I know you do. So what now?”
“Well, now all I have to do is convince Tabor that I didn’t mean anything I said to him the other night.”
Before I could elaborate, Nick walked in and stared at the two of us, his eyes wide. “What in the hell was that all about?”
“I’ll explain later,” Millie said.
“Damn, girl,” he said, high-fiving me. “Hell of a slap.”
“What?” I asked. “But you liked Philip.”
“Hell, no! I just talked to him because he was your boyfriend. I never liked that guy. He was full of shit,” he added. “Not like Tabor. He’s good people.”
“You don’t have to hit me over the head with it. I get it. And trust me, I’m on it.”
“Good,” Nick and Millie said in unison.
“I need another glass of wine,” she added, pulling me behind to join her.
C h a p t e r 25
D A N I
I couldn’t recall a time when I had felt as nervous as I did on the night of Tabor’s first regular season game. Was it the game? Or was it seeing him and hoping that we could get back on track? I couldn’t be sure of either, but I was certain that I had to go and at least try.
I’d dressed in a pair of jeans and a shirt that had his jersey number—something Millie had let me borrow before I left her place. She’d warned me that if she didn’t get the shirt back, she’d hunt me down, but I laughed in her face because I had no plans on returning it.
She owes me after what she pulled.
When my friends and family learned that Marta had given me two tickets, they began begging and lobbying for me to take them. My brother-in-law offered to wash my car. Grace said she’d cook me dinner for a week. Millie went for the gut and tried to use the best friend card. But in the end, it was my dad I planned on taking. I knew it the moment Marta had asked me to go, and when I asked him if he wanted to join, he practically screamed in my ear.
I had ulterior motives in bringing Dad. I’d need his encouragement to make it through the game, and he had the ability to calm me when needed. He offered to drive and I insisted on getting to the stadium early on the off chance I might see Tabor during warm-ups. I had a feeling the seats were good, because it was in Tabor’s nature to take care of Marta and Abbi.
I saw the Tabor-Dani reunion playing out in my head like it was a cheesy romance chick flick.
I’d be in the club seats, hanging out with Dad, when Tabor walked onto the field. He’d look up in the stands to see his mom and sister cheering him on, only instead, he’d see me. His smile would grow wide and I would watch with bated breath as he used his super-human strength to scale the stands until he was standing in front of me, questioning what I was doing there.
He’d wait for me to speak and I’d tell him that I loved him and I’d needed him to know right away. And as I was apologizing for my behavior, he’d tell me to shut up and then he’d kiss me. The stadium would erupt in thunderous applause as we made out until we realized that people were watching—our faces plastered on the Jumbotron.
Of course he’d still have to play, but he’d have a smile on his face the whole time he was on the field because I was there. The Quakes would win the game in the end and we’d celebrate by getting back together, and live happily ever after.
But then I remembered that my life wasn’t a movie, and I was hardly the heroine people would be cheering for. Fangurl Sports and the subsequent comments that went with her “articles” proved that already. I was being called stupid, idiot, gold digger, media whore, and unworthy all over that website. I’d had to stop stalking the page because it only served to anger me.
I found myself pacing while I waited for Dad to show up, because I had hours until the game started. It was torturous standing around with nothing to do but let my mind drive me insane.
“What was I thinking?” I said aloud. The answering silence was right: Nothing. I wasn’t thinking at all.
Marta had agreed to keep quiet about my presence at his game, but the longer I stood around, it felt like nothing more than a ridiculous game. I didn’t want to play games with Tabor. We deserved more than that; we deserved better.
My plan was to show up, cheer him on, and then talk after the game and tell him how wrong I was to let him go…to let him think I wanted out. But something inside me was telling me to do it now. Don’t wait.
“I can’t wait,” I said silently.
I needed Tabor to know I was wrong. He needed to hear it from me, and sooner rather than later. I didn’t want a break or a breakup or any other type of separation. The week we were apart was too much as it was. He was in my heart and soul and I had no desire to find a replacement for him. If our time apart had proved anything to me, it was that there was no replacement.
I found myself picking up my phone, dialing Tabor’s number, and waiting for him to answer. Each ring, I held my breath, but I was disappointed that after the fourth ring I got his voicemail.
“Hey, Tabor, it’s Dani. I was hoping you’d answer because I really want to talk to you. You’re probably getting ready for the game, but still, I just needed to say I…I miss you. And you were right,” I laughed softly. “You have no idea how bitter that tastes, but it’s true and you need to know that. I don’t want to hide us and I don’t want a break or a breakup. I just want you. However I can have you, that’s what I want…I wish you’d answered, because I hate saying all of this to your voicemail, but I love you. Please call me. I want to hear your voice before the game…Bye.”
I hung up and hoped that he’d seen that I’d called. Maybe my name flashed on the screen and he rejected it. But my hope was that he would see there was a message and would at least listen to it. I needed him to hear my words, and hoped like hell he believed them. Because every word was true.
Before I could dwell on the fact that he didn’
t answer the call, I looked over my shoulder when I heard the knock at the door. Dad stood on the other side, dressed in his Quakes jersey and baseball cap. I opened the door and he was practically bouncing up and down.
“You ready, honey?”
“Yeah, just let me get my purse.”
I was locking the door behind me, and when I turned to face him, he hadn’t walked to the car.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Yeah,” he answered, clearing his throat and making his voice deeper. “I’m good. Are you?”
“I’m fine.” I nodded and smiled. “Dad? Should I drive?”
He laughed nervously and handed me the keys to his pickup. “I think that’d be a good idea.”
I laughed and hugged him, because he was like a kid on Christmas morning.
The drive to Quakes Sportsplex was painfully slow, but you wouldn’t guess by the seventy-five miles per hour I was driving on the freeway. I swore that snails were passing me up, but I convinced myself to stay the course. I was on a mission and the sooner I got to the stadium, the better. And hopefully in one piece.
When I pulled into the parking lot, the attendant took a look at my pass and pointed to a gentleman across the way that began waving at me. I wasn’t sure where I was going, but the closer I got, I noticed we had to have the best location—directly in front of the entrance.
“Tabor hooks his mom up,” Dad noticed appreciatively.
“Looks that way.”
We both hurried out of the car, made our way to the gates, and waited in line. I took the opportunity to check my phone, but there were no calls and my heart sank. When I looked around, there were so many people that it felt like a cattle call. I waited for someone to moo, or make some other obnoxious noise. Hell, I was close to making the noise myself. I was becoming antsy because I was quickly realizing that I was one of many at the stadium. There was little to no chance of him spotting me among the hordes of fans. And as the time wore on, the chances of him calling were slim, at best.
“Any idea where we go?” Dad asked.