by T. K. Rapp
“Can I talk to you, for just a minute? I won’t keep you long,” I promised.
“Yeah, just a second.” She walked to the door and said something to her friends before meeting me at the bottom of the steps. Dani was so close, but I don’t think I’d felt further from her than I did at that moment.
“I wanted to apologize. I know I was a jerk at the hospital and the other day at my house. I feel like a dick for taking it out on you—you don’t deserve that. I just need to tell you in person that I didn’t mean any of it. Hurting you is not something I ever wanted to do, and I just hope that maybe you can forgive me.”
“I understand, Tabor. It was a lot to take in…I get it,” she answered, flashing a shy smile. “I just wish things happened differently.”
I reached out for her hand, and when she didn’t pull it away I took it as a sign that I was free to continue. I’d stand there all night if I had to.
“I need you, Dani,” I admitted.
“You don’t need anyone,” she revealed, no hint of bitterness in her tone.
“That’s not true.” I shook my head. “I need the woman I love to give me another chance. I came here to tell you that, Dani, to make sure you know that I’m a jerk and said some pretty stupid things, and I meant none of them. I took out my shit on the one person I want in my life.”
“Tabor,” she whispered as she looked at the ground. When her eyes met mine they were glassy, and I hoped it was because she felt the same way.
“Do you think that we can start over?”
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath and my hope started to vanish. “I don’t want to start over,” she admitted. “I want to move on.”
I didn’t expect her to jump into my arms or anything, but moving on wasn’t on my radar either. I thought we had something worth working on, but it was clear she didn’t.
“Okay.” I nodded and stared at our hands before releasing hers. “I understand.”
She looked up at me and shook her head with a smile on her face. “No, you don’t get it…crap, I’m totally fumbling this.”
“Did you just use a football reference?” I asked, unsure where she was going with her rambling.
“No…yes…I didn’t mean to…What I’m trying to say is that I don’t want to start over because it means making the same mistakes, or worse. I want to move on…with you.”
“That was mean,” I scoffed, stepping closer until she was in my arms. She was pressed firmly against my chest and I waited until she tilted her face to look into my eyes. “You did that on purpose.”
“Maybe,” she teased.
“I love you, Dani.”
“It took you long enough.” She smiled.
I moved my face down to her because I needed to feel her lips against mine. We had spent too much time apart and I had missed her more than I thought possible. Just as we were about to kiss, a horn honked, startling both of us.
“What the hell?” she shouted, looking over my shoulder.
“Abbi,” I grumbled, turning to walk toward the car, but Dani reached for my hand and pulled me back.
She wrapped her arms around my neck and my hands found her hips when our mouths finally connected in a kiss. I had missed everything about Dani, and I was determined to never miss it again.
The Beginning…
E P I L O G U E
The Future
The roar of the crowd was something Tabor never missed—mostly because he was only without it a short time before he was back in the game. The odds of his return were slim, but the media never gave Tabor enough credit.
Watching football eventually got easier for me…once I understood the game. But I still cringed when I heard the crack of the helmets or the someone stayed down on the ground too long. Tabor assured me that it sounded worse than it was, though I never quite believed him.
It was a warm September day and I was in the stands, my mom and dad on one side and Marta on the other. Abbi and Grace were sitting behind us with their families, which had grown over the years.
We were waiting for the team to take the field and I noticed that the stands were filling in quickly. It was rare that my parents came to a game, and Marta typically came to the season opener and maybe the last game. But this was a special occasion and I was happy to have so many family members share the day with us.
Especially my dad.
A few years after Tabor and I were married, my dad was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s and he was understandably devastated. Mom was amazing at helping him come to terms with what was happening. It was hard to watch, but seeing the two of them come together and grow stronger made all of us proud.
“These are good seats,” Dad said to my mom, looking at the bench where the coaching staff was standing. “Who’s playing?”
“Dad,” I said, getting his attention and pointing to the field, “it’s almost time.”
“It’s almost time,” he repeated. He looked around, trying to figure out what I was referring to, but seeing the players running out helped him.
“Is Tabor playing today?” he asked.
“Just watch,” Mom said patiently as she rubbed his arm.
We were grateful that his disease progressed slowly, though it didn’t buy us as much time as we would have liked.
“Where’s Tabor?” he asked again.
Before we could answer, the announcer started calling out the senior players’ names as one by one they made their way onto the field. We clapped and cheered as each one made his way out, and I watched with bated breath for the final name.
“And wearing number thirty-five…DJ Hunter!”
I looked at my dad, who was wearing a confused look on his face as he stared at the field, but we gave him a moment. I knew he’d realize it soon.
“Danny’s playing,” Dad said, and looked at me for confirmation.
“He is,” I answered, my eyes filling with tears.
“It’s the championship game, Dad,” I said, with so much pride I thought I was going to burst.
Dad looked around and faced Mom. “Where’s Tabor?”
She smiled and pointed to the field. “He’s down there coaching your grandson’s team, honey.”
He looked at me and wore the widest grin I’d ever seen. DJ and my dad were close, and he was the only one who still called him Danny. And though it was hard to watch his grandfather deteriorate, my son made sure to visit him every week.
“Danny’s in the college championship,” Dad said as he started remembering what the day way about.
It was the first time Beachmont University had made it to the big game, and my son had helped them get there. It was a proud moment when DJ ran onto the field for the last time as a college athlete. He’d decided to forego the football draft and finish up his business degree, despite speculation he’d be a first round draft pick.
DJ and Tabor were close, but he didn’t want to follow in his dad’s footsteps, and we only wanted our son to be happy.
Tabor looked over his shoulder and spotted me, waving and grinning. He had taken over the head coaching position when no one else had wanted it. Many thought it was a bad move, but it kept us close to home and gave him the opportunity to do what he loved—working with kids.
He was surprised when DJ had decided to go to Beachmont so he could play football for his dad, but I wasn’t. Our son idolized his father. To have the opportunity to play the sport and be coached by one of the best defensive ends to ever play was a chance he didn’t want to miss.
The team walked over and joined the coaches for a huddle and DJ looked over at my dad, giving him his signature salute before facing Tabor. There were a few minutes before the game started, and the players were talking amongst themselves when Tabor looked at me again.
He walked toward me and my smile, which hadn’t faded, grew. There was a cement wall that kept us from getting too close to the field, but it had never stopped Tabor before. He grabbed a hold of the metal attached to the wall and lifted his
body as close to me as possible.
I leaned down and kissed him because it was our pregame ritual.
“Good luck,” I said.
“Don’t need it. I have you,” he said.
“Always.”
Coming Spring 2016…
The Girls of Beachmont Book 2
String Beans
by T.K. Rapp
Prologue
“I’m heading home, Alex,” I told my boss as grabbed my belongings. My long brown hair was caught beneath the strap of my messenger bag and as I wrestled with setting it free, I stumbled. Fortunately, I beat out clumsiness because I caught myself before falling over completely.
“Already?”
“Yeah, just finished with Sadie,” I smiled.
“How’s she doing?” he asked through a laugh, keeping his eyes fixed on the drum kit he’d been working on.
“She’s doing great, but then again, she’s your kid,” I reminded him with a grin.
I typically gave his eleven-year-old guitar lessons when a client canceled…and it was safe to say, she had been getting lots of practice time. She was a natural. Still, it would be nice if my regulars showed up. Will and I needed the extra money to help make rent.
“You and Will doing anything tonight?”
“I doubt it. He’s been working nights at the club and our schedules are completely messed up.”
“Marriage life, right?” he laughed again.
“Yeah,” I muttered before grabbing my guitar case and waving as I headed out the front door.
The warm afternoon air greeted me and the descending sun momentarily blinded me until I slipped my sunglasses on. We had had so much rain the last week that I was beginning to think the weather might be the reason for all the cancelations.
My beat up whit Beetle was parked in the back of the historic red brick building, right next to Alex’s new pickup. I was sure he freaked when he saw me pull into the spot near his new baby.
Will hated driving my car and teased me that the undercarriage was probably rusted and before long I’d be Fred Flintstoning my way to work. She may have been old, but she’d gotten me where I needed to go, even if it did take at least two times to get her started.
“C’mon baby,” I said, trying to start the car.
I turned the key again and the engine finally turned over. I started heading home to our one bedroom studio apartment a short fifteen minutes away eager to see my husband.
We moved to Spring Park after we finished college because Will said it would be good for our careers. Granted, there wasn’t much back home for music majors, but I wasn’t sure Spring Park was any better.
It took me almost two months to find my job at Hodges Music Store, and while I appreciated the work, it wasn’t exactly where I thought I’d end up. That’s why I went to college, right? But then again, I did select music as my major. I could have gone with something practical like business, but I was practical all my life.
Despite that one leap I took, I was always practical, even in our marriage.
We were a perfect match ever since we met at Battle of the Bands in Wheeler. I was there with my roommates because they knew I was friends with a few of the groups that were competing. All the girls had a thing for musicians, but that was never my scene. I always loved music, and could appreciate someone’s ability, but hooking up with talent wasn’t me.
Until Will.
Two Years Earlier
The third band was playing and I didn’t care for their style, so it was the perfect time to hit up the concession stand for another beer. Some guy was standing in front of me drunk off his ass and when he turned to leave with his beer it was sloshing all over the place. Will must have seen it coming because he wrapped his arm around my waist and swung me around so the beer missed me, instead sending the amber liquid all over his shirt.
He was an adorable mess. His brown hair was mussed, though I assumed that was him, not the beer. His concert tee was soaked so he pulled it over his head revealing muscular abs and a sexy smirk when he caught me looking.
“Thanks,” I said, as coolly as I could muster. “Wasn’t necessary, but thanks.”
“No worries,” he smiled. “Having fun?”
“Yeah. What about you?” I asked, stepping up to order my beer. “Can I buy you a beer?”
“Isn’t that what I’m supposed to say?” he smiled, but not offended by the offer. He looked up at the stage and nodded at the band playing. “So what you do you think of them?”
I didn’t even wait to think of my response, I already had an opinion.
“They’re trying too hard. It’s not bad, but where’s the passion? Where’s their soul? I want to feel their words, but all I feel is screaming and angst…and not in the good way. They just sound soulless.”
When he looked at me, his mouth was slightly agape, but he recovered and handed me my beer as he took the other.
“Don’t hold back,” he laughed. “So what’s your name?”
“Viola, but everyone calls me Vi.”
“Well, Vi, maybe I’ll see you around? Talk music sometime?”
“Yeah, Sure,” I said and started to walk off, but he called my name and I had to turn around.
He was holding a black sharpie in his hand. “So, does that mean I get your number then?”
I smiled at him and scrawled my name and number on his forearm, wondering if he’d be able to make any of it out through the sea of tattoos that covered skin.
The crappy band finished playing as I was joining my friends and the MC announced the fourth band would take the stage soon. My roommates were laughing and carrying on, but I was too distracted by the image of Will to participate.
It was twenty minutes later when the fourth band took the stage. I was getting settled in when the lead singer stepped to the mic. I knew he couldn’t see me, but I knew he was talking to me.
“Hey everyone, I’m Will Banks and we’re Sound Venom. I was just talking to a friend who said that she needs passion, so here we go.”
My eyes were wide and felt my cheeks flushed, but no one knew he was talking about me.
I watched as Will strummed his guitar and began singing lyrics to a song I’d never heard. He was so handsome up there and in his element. There were no excessive lights, no crazy on-stage dramatics, just the band and their music. It was perfect.
He called me later that night to ask what I thought and I was a little surprised that he didn’t play the game. Most guys played the game, but not Will. We talked all night and met up in the morning for coffee so we could talk some more.
Three months later, we were engaged and six months later, we were in front of the justice of the peace, getting married after our last class of the day. Our parents were against it, but there was nothing they could do or say to dissuade us.
It wasn’t incredibly romantic, but it was exactly what I wanted.
Will was able to bring out the fun and spontaneous of me and I tried to keep him on track. We couldn’t have been more different, and I liked that.
Polar opposites.
I needed direction, a plan, something to work toward. Will liked to go with the flow and see what happened.
Unfortunately, the go-with-the-flow mentality didn’t pay the bills. A six months into marriage, the going got tough…
Real tough.
We were fighting over bills and school all the time and struggling to make ends meet. It wasn’t what I expected married life to be, but we had more good days than bad.
It was nearly a two years after we married that, Sound Venom broke up. Damn shame because the guys were amazing. It was hard on Will because he missed collaborating. Every once in a while, we would try to do something together, but our styles were so different that it never really meshed. He was beating himself up because he felt like a failure without his musician brothers and ended up having to get two jobs and dropped out of school.
But he limited the time he spent working because he wanted to continue mak
ing music.
Will was a dreamer. I was a realist.
***
I pulled into my parking spot and grabbed everything before I headed inside. Will worked crazy hours at The Firehouse, so we were lucky if we shared a bed for more than a couple of hours. I hoped that I could have dinner made by the time he got home so we could catch up before he left to tend bar at the club.
He made serious bank when he tended bar.
But I wasn’t an idiot. I knew the reason he made such great tips was based on his sexy as hell rocker looks. I had gone to the club to listen to local bands play and I saw the way women looked at him. It always makes me laugh because he gave them a smile, or so they thought, but his eyes were always glued to mine.
They could have the dream, I had the guy.
Our apartment was on the first floor, which was a good thing. Will liked to play his music a little loud, but I figured the old lady that lived above us was probably deaf because she never complained. And the guy to our right was always too high to care. We had never had a chance to meet any of the other neighbors, but no one had told us to keep it down. A surge of excitement rolled through me when I heard the music knowing that he was already home.
Acknowledgments
First, I have to thank my husband because this book wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for a simple conversation we had one night. You are my sounding board and biggest supporter. I love you. I thank God for you and for allowing me to pursue this dream.
This book was made possible by the letter “K” Kayla who kept me on track and the letter “D” for the Dunn Bros. people who kept food in my stomach. It takes a team, people!
My betas – Lisa, Erin, and Blue – your encouragement, suggestions, and notes made me laugh and meant more than I can tell you. Goose, I miss you and I’m so ready for you to get back to the world of the writing. Kari Gardner, thank you for fixing me and making sure I didn’t break anything unnecessarily.