Curveball

by Teresa Michaels

  “Jesus, Amber. This is not going to happen,” I snap at her, wiping my mouth. She looks at me in disbelief. “I want you to leave – now!” I shout.

  “You don’t mean that, Drew. You need someone to take care of you. I can be that person. I want to be there for you,” she unsuccessfully tries to sound compassionate as she once again closes the space between us. Could this room be any smaller?

  “Look. Amber. I don’t know what else to say. I’ve been through some messed up shit over the past few days. I don’t have the energy to fight with you, and honestly, I don’t care enough. We are not getting back together. We aren’t going to be friends. This is the last time we are going to speak. Seriously. You need to leave.”

  Amber, looking shocked, straightens up and grabs her coat from the back of a chair and storms out of the room. What the hell just happened?! I sit in one of the chairs and run my fingers through my hair and enjoy a few moments of silence.

  “Drew, everything ok?” Brett asks, entering the room. He hands me a cup of water and sits in the chair beside me looking apologetic.

  I take the cup and swig it down. “Thanks,” I tell him. “Oh, by the way…if you ever leave me alone again with some psycho bitch, I’m ending our partnership.”

  He laughs and holds his hands up in surrender. “She got here before I did. I had to pull her out of a news conference. She was actually telling the press that you two had recently reunited and that she was going to nurse you back to health.”

  “You’re kidding,” I sigh, though I’m not entirely surprised. She’s pulled far worse stunts with the media in the past.

  “I wish. She’s nuts, man. But, she’s not the only loose cannon whose come out of the woodwork, so be prepared. Several of your one-night stands have started talking, claiming to be more. You may have to take a paternity test or two.” I drop my head in my hands and sigh. That should go over well with Breanne.

  “Where are my parents?” I ask, not even wanting to know what else is going on. I know my past is going to bite me in the ass. Breanne knows most of it but the last thing I need right now is for her to read about it. Crap, are her kids old enough to read?

  “They’re talking with your security detail. Before that they were talking with Breanne. I was headed to the bathroom but saw her come in here. Did she get the honor of meeting Amber?” he laughs.

  “What?” I ask, horrified. Brett stares at me.

  “What?” he replies.

  I stand, starting to feel ill. “What do you mean Breanne came in here?”

  “Like I said, she talked to me and your parents for a minute and then I went to the bathroom when she was headed in to see you,” he shrugs. “She’s pretty hot.”

  “I didn’t see her,” I say, ignoring him. “Are you sure?”

  “Positive.” Brett takes in my expression.

  Shit! If I didn’t see her what did she see? I rake my fingers through my hair and begin to pace.

  “Did something happen between you two?” he asks. Does he mean with Amber in this room or with Breanne?

  “I’ve got to go talk to Breanne,” I tell him.

  “She already left,” he informs me. “Are you alright?”

  “I need to go. Can you arrange a car for me and my parents?” I ask.

  “Of course. Mind telling me where you’re going?” he asks in return.

  Crap, I don’t even know her address. I pace in frustration with my hands on my head.

  “If you need to find Breanne I’m sure your security detail can tell you where her team took her,” he suggests.

  “You’re a genius!” I grab his shoulders and squeeze him before heading to the door.

  “Drew,” Brett calls to me. “If your visit is going to require smoothing anything over I would suggest washing your face and changing your shirt.”

  I look down at my shirt. Even through all the grime and blood that’s built up over the last few days, I can still see that Amber left half her face on my shirt. Without a mirror to look in I know I must have her red lipstick on my face and neck.

  “Better yet, why don’t you go home and take a shower. You smell like shit!” Brett walks to the door.

  “Can you do me a favor while I go home and freshen up?” I ask.

  “Whatever you need, Drew.”

  An hour later my security detail pulls up to Breanne’s house. Several reporters are nearby, however, the police have done a good job of keeping them confined to a block away. They’ve set up roadblocks at either end of her street, only letting residents get by. It actually took some heavy persuading by my security detail to get through. Since I can’t be here to protect her it makes me feel somewhat better about her safety.

  With my parents walking behind me I step onto her stoop and knock. I’m not sure if I should ring the doorbell or not as it’s gotten kind of late. No one answers so I knock again. What time do kids go to bed?

  “Why didn’t you just call and tell her we were coming by, son?” my mom asks.

  “I’m not sure she’d answer,” I say. Explaining the situation to my parents was draining and embarrassing.

  When no one comes to the door my father chimes in. “Just ring the doorbell, son. It’s getting cold.”

  I do as he says and ring the doorbell. Colin swings the door open, announcing that he’s got it.

  “Hi Mr. Scott!” Colin exclaims.

  Breanne’s father enters from another room. “Colin, I told you to wait. You never answer the door without an adult.”

  “It’s just Mr. Scott,” he protests.

  “Please, call me Drew,” I interject.

  Colin smiles at me and opens the door wider for me to enter. I step inside and motion for my parents to come in as well.

  “This is the real Mr. Scott,” I say, placing a hand on my dad’s shoulder.

  Breanne’s father shuts the door and we walk further into the entryway.

  “Who was at the door, dad?” Breanne calls from further inside the house.

  “We have guests,” he replies.

  “Guests?” she questions. She walks into the entryway holding Maddie. Aubrey’s arms are wrapped around her legs like a vine. When she sees me she looks surprised and uncertain. She glances at my parents and then back at me. “What are you doing here?”

  “I brought you something,” I tell her.

  She eyes me skeptically so I move to the side so my mom is in plain view. Breanne steps forward and lifts the lid of the large box. She closes her eyes and inhales deeply.

  “You brought me Sal’s?” she asks, her eyes warming.

  “And this,” I say revealing a fresh Boston Cream Pie from her favorite bakery.

  To my relief she smiles.

  “Let me take those,” her father says. “Please, take your coats off and come in.”

  Breanne sets Maddie down and turns to her girls. “Why don’t you two head into the kitchen and mommy will be there in a few minutes,” Breanne kisses their heads. Aubrey takes Maddie’s hand and reluctantly leads her away.

  Breanne turns to me. She’s wearing a fitted grey t-shirt and black yoga pants that cling to her curves in all the right places. Her hair is down and I can tell she’s showered. God, she’s beautiful.

  “You said you’d wait,” I say.

  She twists her hands and looks at the ground.

  “Brett told me you walked into the room. Why didn’t you say something?” I ask.

  “You looked,” she pauses, “preoccupied.”

  “It’s not what you think.”

  “You don’t have to explain,” she replies, holding her hands up.

  “I’d like to,” I tell her.

  She lowers her hands and waits.

  “I was trying to get her to leave. She’s like a vulture. She knew there would be publicity and wanted part of it. Before she came in I was going to get you so you could meet my parents. I couldn’t get her out of there. She wouldn’t shut up,” I explain.

  “So you thought you’d use your lips
to take her breath away?” she snaps. Ouch.

  “I’m only guessing what you saw, but let me set the record straight. I did not want her there. I don’t want her at all. She’s not back in my life.”

  “Drew, it’s really not my business. We’re friends.” I’ve forgotten that I haven’t told her how I feel, though how she hasn’t figured it out is beyond me.

  “You and I are more than friends, and you know it,” I say, taking a step closer. Hope briefly flashes across her face and I’m confident she feels the same. But the wounded expression that quickly replaces it reminds me that even if I didn’t intend to hurt her, I can’t dismiss the fact that she just saw another woman with her lips on mine. If the roles were reversed I’d be livid. I’m going to have to prove that she’s the only one I want or think about. If our families weren’t in the other room and she hadn’t just witnessed Amber accost me, I would take her upstairs and prove how committed I am to just her. Luckily, I have enough sense left in me not to do that. This is going to require time. Maybe by reigning in my physical need for her I can prove to her that I want all of her.

  “Then what are we, Drew?” she asks.

  Colin comes running into the room. “Mom, it’s getting cold. Come on!”

  “Ok, I’m coming.” Breanne turns towards me looking exhausted, and changes the subject. “Are you hungry?”

  I grab her hand as she starts for the other room. “We need to talk about this,” I tell her.

  “Not now.”

  She pulls away and walks into the other room.

  It’s late when my parents and I return to my place. I can’t even describe how hard it was to leave her. I can’t help but feel that where she really belongs is with me. I take out my phone and stare at the picture I took tonight of her laughing when she wasn’t looking. After saving it to her phone number I write and re-write a text to her several times before sending.

  Hi.

  Minutes pass and my mind spins, wondering if she’s already sleeping or ignoring my text. We were good when I left so she’s probably asleep, though I’m not sure what her nightly routine with the kids is like. Finally, my phone chimes.

  Mr. Keaton…when did you find time to tamper with my phone?

  I wonder how she likes the selfie I took and added to my contact information while she was sleeping on the car ride home. I can’t wait to call her so she can hear the Family Ties theme song I picked as the ringtone I assigned to myself.

  I’ll never tell…I miss you, Elyse.

  Me too, Steven.

  How will I sleep without you?

  Hold your pillow…should be in the middle of your bed where you usually rest your arm ☺

  Someone thinks they’re funny.

  It’s not the same. I want you…

  I can tell she’s typing but it takes forever for a short sentence to come through.

  You didn’t want me this morning…

  Well, that was blunt.

  You’re wrong. I’ve never wanted anything more.

  You have a funny way of showing it.

  I struggle with how much to say. I want this to be an in-person discussion, not a text message confession. I have to say something, though, or it will get awkward.

  I want ALL of you.

  I’m confused. There wasn’t much more I could have offered.

  I’ll spell it out for you the next time we’re alone to talk.

  Goodnight, Drew.

  Goodnight.

  My parents stayed at my place for a week after I returned. I took them sightseeing and did touristy things, as they had never seen much of Boston. For most of our excursions Breanne and her father joined us. Depending on the time and whether or not it was a school day or weekend, some or all of her kids came as well. Unfortunately, we were spotted together several times by the media and speculation of our relationship ended up being front-page news for several days, which put an end to our outings.

  Between the scrutiny of the tabloids wondering if I had traded my playboy ways for a relationship with a widower, and not knowing where we stood myself, I have been anxious to spend as much time with her as possible. But I’ve also made sure to keep it PG until we talk. No flirting. No innuendo laced jokes. And I’ve avoided touching of any kind, at all costs…though, there have been a few times when she has initiated a squeeze of my hand, or placed her hand on my knee when no one is looking. I’ve been on my best behavior…and it’s killing me. The more time I spend with her, the harder I fall.

  Since my parents left a few weeks ago, the time I’ve spent with Breanne has increased to all waking hours. If it hadn’t been for her father I probably would stay later each night, or at least try. But, being what it is, I leave her house every night when it ‘s time for the kids to go to bed. This has actually worked out well. I started rehab on my elbow and a physical therapist comes to my house at night. He encouraged me to throw gingerly for at least an hour a day to keep my ligaments loose. Since I haven’t wanted to risk any time away from Breanne I’ve spent the hour playing catch with Colin in their backyard.

  I’ve been surprised at how eager he is for ‘guy time’, and surprised even more by how much he opens up to me. We talk about school, girls and even his dad. About girls and school I’ve been happy to share my opinions and even my experience…as appropriate. But when it comes to his dad I just listen.

  It’s the first week in November and it’s been over a month since this incredible woman came into my life in such a tragic way. As the weather is mild for this time of year Breanne’s father has decided that he wants to grill. I offer to help and as always he refuses my assistance and tells me to relax. Instead of sitting with Breanne who is bundled up on the back deck sipping wine, I decide to play hide-and-go-seek with the kids. Not being able to be affectionate with her is proving to be more difficult than I had anticipated. The only solution I’ve been able to come up with is to avoid being in close proximity to her. It’s unbelievable to me that after the training I’ve undergone during my career and facing death and pain recently, that this woman is capable of bringing me to my knees so easily. What’s even more unbelievable is that she doesn’t even realize it.

  After the huge meal, the kids and I resume our game while Breanne reads and her dad cleans up. Maddie and I are partners and it’s our turn to find the other two. We round the corner into the backyard and I spot Colin and Aubrey hiding underneath the back deck. I can also see Breanne sitting on the steps. Just as Maddie is about to yell “gotcha” I bend down and whisper an idea in her ear, telling her it will only work if she’s going to be absolutely quiet.

  Colin and Aubrey are silently laughing as he turns and makes eye contact with me. Instead of running to tag him I hold up one finger to my mouth, indicating I want him to be quiet. He returns a puzzled look so I point to the stairs and mouth “scare mom” to which he nods. Colin turns to whisper the plan into Aubrey’s ear as Maddie and I quietly make our way to their spot. Once we’re all in position we each extend one arm through openings in the stairs and on the count of three we grab a different spot on Breanne’s legs. Her shriek confirms that we’ve scared the shit out of her and none of us can contain our laughter.