Practice Makes Perfect

by Charlene Groome

  “You don’t mean that.”

  “We can’t be together. I don’t feel the same about you.” He breathes out. It was easier to tell her how much he didn’t care. Will she ever stop reaching for him? Why doesn’t she get it?

  “You could at least try,” she says, as though she had a pivotal moment.

  “I did try. We were together for nine months.” He’s just about yelling into the phone. Lauren is too much of a self-centered person to take no for an answer.

  “Come on,” she pleads. “One last time. I know you want me.”

  He laughs. “It wouldn’t be the last for you.”

  She lets out an evil gasp followed by a laugh. “See? You want me! You miss our time together.”

  “I have to go. I’m late.”

  “You told me to give it two months to see how we feel. It’s been that, maybe more,” she says.

  “It’s over.” He hangs up with an uneasy feeling. Maybe he should change the locks.

  “We need to start a new bin,” Meghan tells her staff, walking around the taped-off perimeter of the Coats for Kindness campaign, a traditional event hosted outside the doors of the Dome for people to drop off their donations and meet the players. “That one’s full.”

  “That’s two bins full,” Dana says. “If we can fill this next bin, we’ve succeeded at our goal.”

  “What did we do differently this year?” Meghan asks, pushing her arms into her sides after feeling the cool air find its way around her neck. She should have worn a scarf now that the November temperature is dropping, calling for gloves and a heavier jacket.

  “The players have shown up to meet fans, that’s huge.”

  “All but Jared Landry.”

  “He doesn’t like coming out to these things, does he?”

  “As far as I know he doesn’t,” Meghan says. “I don’t know what his problem is.”

  “Some people don’t like crowds. My brother’s like that. He’s shy. Doesn’t like the attention. He arrives late, leaves early . . . always looking for an excuse to leave.”

  “I’m not sure Jared’s like that,” Meghan says, changing her mind from what she first thought of him.

  “You know him or somethin’?”

  “Jared? Oh, no, no, I’m just guessing. I think you’re right. Must be a shy guy. He should make an effort though to come out and show his face. Fans look forward to meeting the team. He doesn’t realize that he’s disappointing people. Jeez, some people have escaped during their workday to come here. The least he could do is show up.” Meghan shakes her head. A chill goes through her bones, making her shoulders rise, and she inhales a breath.

  “The lineup is still long,” Dana says. “People are happy taking pictures and getting an autograph, I don’t think it matters who’s here today.”

  “It does matter. According to the recent online poll we did, Jared is one of the fan favorites. He should be here. What’s with him? Is he that important he can’t appreciate these people coming out to meet him?”

  “You seem to be the one disappointed.”

  “His name is on the event list! He was mentioned in the radio ad.” Meghan feels her heart race. “He doesn’t commit when I need him to. He better show up or else I’m taking him off the banners and every event we have left this season.”

  “It’s only November,” Dana says. “We still have events going on until March.”

  “I know. He can’t do this to us.”

  “Can you call him? Maybe he forgot?”

  “He didn’t forget.” She bites her bottom lip and looks out at the crowd of people. She’s pleased with the turnout. “I better go see how it’s going at the promo tent.” Meghan wanders over. She needs to stop talking about Jared like she knows him well. The last thing she wants is people to catch on that there’s something going on between them. As she scans the gathering of people, she spots a woman who reminds her of Lauren, her childhood BFF, walking like she’s on a mission through the open space, past the crowd. Her blond hair is straight and she has on a bomber-style jacket. She looks back and then hustles down the street. Meghan stares at her, wondering if it was her. It couldn’t be.

  “Hey, Meghan,” Keri says. “Great job today. I’m grabbing a bite to eat after work. Wanna join me and some girlfriends? We’re heading over to Milos.”

  “Okay, sure. That would be great. I’m starved.”

  “Me too. I’ll meet you there,” Keri says, and walks off.

  After the event, Meghan drives a few blocks to the restaurant. She’ll have a meal, show Keri that she can hang out with her and they can be friends outside of work and she doesn’t have anything to hide. It doesn’t have to be a strict relationship where she only can hang out with her at events. She can get to know who Keri is and what her friends are like. Maybe she likes to do shots at the bar or has a passion for live music. Meghan looked up the restaurant beforehand and found they have a band that plays there Friday and Saturday nights.

  She walks in, scouting out the tables to see if she can spot her boss or a large table of women. As she walks in deeper, she sees a group of women bobbing their heads in conversation and sipping from their wineglasses.

  “You made it. Great,” Keri says. “I saved you a seat!” She points to the empty chair beside her and Meghan gracefully sits down. “Here’s the drink menu if you’re interested.” She slides the laminated menu over. “Let me introduce you.” She lifts her hand to the left of her, starting with the woman sitting beside Meghan. “This is Trina, and Charlotte, Chrissy, Lauren—”

  Meghan freezes. She can’t hear the other names, instead she sizes Lauren up, grins, waiting for her to say something, anything. Where has she been all these years? It’s the best friend she lost when she was eight years old. Meghan opens her mouth to speak. Her eyebrows rise, as she waits patiently for Lauren to ask how she is and to say It’s been a long time. How have you been? But she says nothing. Maybe this Lauren looks like her old friend Lauren, but it’s not her. They say we all have a twin. How exciting, a woman who resembles the same girl she once knew. The long, blond hair, narrow wrists, thin nose. Meghan can’t stop staring. It’s her, it has to be her.

  “Did you decide on a drink?” Keri asks.

  Meghan blinks. “Pardon?”

  “A drink? Did you decide?”

  “I’m going to have a glass of white.”

  “That’s what I’m having,” Keri says.

  Meghan looks up from her menu to study Lauren. It was her today. She must have come by to talk to Keri.

  “I saw you at the Coats for Kindness event today,” Meghan says, eyeing Lauren.

  Lauren looks over her menu.

  “You came by the event and didn’t say hi?” Keri asks.

  Lauren looks up. “It wasn’t me.”

  “It looked like you,” Meghan says.

  “Nope, not me.”

  “Sorry.”

  “Is Keri really bossy?” the girl sitting across from her wants to know.

  “Not at all,” Meghan says, looking to her right.

  “Good answer!” someone says, laughing.

  “Does she help out at events?” the woman sitting beside her asks.

  “Always!” Meghan says, reassuring her with a pleasing smile.

  “You two get along then?” the woman across from her asks.

  The waitress steps up to the table and takes her drink order.

  Meghan narrows her eyebrows and asks Keri, “Are they putting me to the test?”

  “Ignore them. I had an assistant once who drove me crazy, I had to be bossy. She complained all the time and said I ordered her around and she couldn’t do her job because I was constantly watching her.” Keri takes a sip. “Not true. The problem was she couldn’t do her job. Thankfully she quit.”

  “I hope you don’t feel like that about me,” Meghan says.

  “No, you’re doing a great job. You’re not planning on quitting on me, are you?”

  “No.”

  “Keri sa
ys there’s a lot of opportunity to chat with players. Must be fun, putting on these events?” the woman to her far right asks.

  “I like it,” Meghan says.

  “She’s always working,” a woman with dark hair says.

  Meghan just smiles.

  “Keri won’t tell us, but what’s it like working with the players?” Chrissy asks. “Do you get to hang out with them? Keri has, but she doesn’t give us details. We keep asking but she keeps saying—”

  “It’s unprofessional,” Keri says, cutting her off, finishing her sentence.

  The woman raises her hand as if to say, that’s what she was going to say.

  “We talk with players. That’s part of the job,” Meghan says, reaching for her glass the moment the waitress puts it down in front of her.

  “Do you get really close to them?”

  Meghan swallows a sip, seeing the waitress standing at the table with a notepad in hand.

  “We have to order,” Keri says, scrolling her finger down the menu to find what she wants.

  They all place their orders and as soon as the waitress steps away, the question lingers.

  “So? How close do you get to the players?” the woman persists.

  “Not that close,” Meghan says, getting flashbacks of their night together, him kissing her neck making her have no control, lost in the sizzling moment.

  “We get close,” Keri says. “Some of us get closer than others, but it’s part of the job. Players need to know they can trust us.”

  Does she know about Jared?

  Meghan clears her throat and holds on to the stem of her glass.

  “Would you agree?” Keri turns to Meghan.

  She nods.

  “You’re close to certain players.”

  “Not really,” Meghan says quietly.

  Keri looks at her friends. “She says that but I see the guys talking to her all the time, especially one player but I won’t mention his name.”

  “Tell us!” a woman says.

  “I can’t.” Keri lifts an eyebrow at Meghan.

  She knows about Jared.

  “There is nothing between us, I mean a player,” Meghan says.

  Keri drops her head as though she doesn’t believe her.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Meghan says, feeling breathless. “I wish there was something between—” She stops herself. Jared’s name is on the tip of her tongue and then she thinks about Keri mentioning a friend of hers whom Jared used to date.

  “Whatever,” Keri says, waving her hand. “It happens. People who work together have a better opportunity to know each other, right?”

  “That’s how Travis and I started dating,” the woman sitting across from her says. “We kept bumping into each other in the elevator. Finally, he asked me to have dinner with him.”

  Meghan’s eyes perk up. “Are you still together?”

  The woman flashes her hand across the table to show off her ring. “We’re getting married next summer,” she squeaks.

  “Congratulations,” Meghan says, glancing at Lauren who has been quiet since she arrived.

  Does she recognize me or not? If she has the same laugh, maybe I could tell.

  “Where are you getting married?” Meghan asks.

  “In Victoria. That’s where my family lives and we’ll have our pictures taken at Butchart Gardens.”

  “It’s beautiful there.”

  “Have you been?”

  “A few times.”

  “We just have to send out invites in the spring and I have a dress fitting then—”

  “Do you have your dress already?” Meghan asks.

  “Yes!” She lowers her shoulders, tilts her head, and bats her eyes. “I fell in love with it in the store window.”

  That’s when I fell in love with mine.

  “It’s easy to do,” Meghan whispers. “So many choices though.”

  “I knew when I saw it on the mannequin that I had to have it.”

  “It’s the right choice, then.”

  “Absolutely.”

  “What does it look like?”

  “It’s a sweetheart neckline,” she says, tracing her fingers along her chest. “Sleeveless. At the waist it flares out like a ball gown.”

  “Beautiful.”

  “It even has sparkles in the gown. I can’t wait to wear it.” She shrieks.

  My dress was sleeveless, a mermaid style. I love that dress.

  Meghan sighs. “And your shoes?”

  “I haven’t gotten those yet. On my list of things to do.”

  “What color are your bridesmaids’ dresses?” someone asks.

  “Coral. The dresses are above the knee.”

  “Very summery,” someone says.

  “I got the idea from Lauren. I never would have picked the color, but when we were shopping, she showed me a similar dress and I thought it would we perfect. It goes with the whole garden feel.”

  “Where are you going on your honeymoon?” someone asks.

  “Costa Rica,” she answers. “Lauren’s family has been generous, allowing us to stay at their villa for free.”

  “How nice!”

  The woman is glowing with pride and excitement.

  “We’re so excited. I can hardly wait to lie on the beach and sip a drink from a coconut shell.”

  Meghan is trying hard not to stare at Lauren. She is certain that her parents had a place in Costa Rica when she was a child. Too many coincidences. Why hasn’t she said anything? How could she forget those days of climbing the tree fort in her backyard and buying Popsicles at the corner store after school?

  Lauren’s parents had money. That was the one thing Meghan remembered about her. She rarely played outside, her mother didn’t want to ruin her white wool carpet.

  “Meghan?” a voice asks, taking Meghan’s attention away from Lauren.

  Meghan looks up, stunned to hear her name.

  “Are you getting married?” the woman asks.

  Meghan shakes her head. “No, I’ve never been married.”

  “Sorry, I thought, just assumed you were, you really seemed interested and well . . .”

  “I was engaged. It didn’t work out.”

  “That must have been hard,” Keri says. “Sorry.”

  “I’m fine now.” Meghan gives her a lasting grin. The waitress puts down their dinner plates. Meghan’s cell phone rings. She reaches into her purse and pulls it out, sees the number. Her stomach turns as she sees his name come up. What can she say to Jared? He’s blowing her off. Now he’s calling because he’s home and wants her at his disposal? She can’t talk to him now. She tosses her phone back into her purse and begins to eat. She’s not that hungry though. Thinking about Jared makes her insides go haywire. If only she could forget about him and the sex they had, then maybe she would be able to move on and pretend that what they shared didn’t happen. If only it was that easy.

  Her phone rings again. She unzips her purse and again, she sees Jared’s name. She clicks off the ringer and puts the phone back into her purse. She needs space from him. It’s the only way she’s going to be able to forget about him. Unless he hunts her down, but she is doubtful. He’s not interested in a real relationship. He wants an affair and she won’t have any part of it.

  Chapter 14

  “How can Lauren not remember me?” Meghan asks Brie from her cell phone. “We were sitting across from each other.”

  “Maybe she had a brain injury and she doesn’t remember her past, like amnesia or something.”

  “She was looking right at me!”

  “Why don’t you go see her? Talk to her?”

  “I could. What if she doesn’t want to talk to me?”

  “You were eight years old. Why wouldn’t she want to talk to you?”

  “I don’t know. She was the rich girl. Maybe I don’t fit in her circle of friends.”

  “You’re doing pretty good for yourself.”

  Her desk phone lights up, catching her ey
e. “There goes my phone again. I better go. I have a meeting at two o’clock.”

  “It’s two now.”

  “I gotta go!” Meghan disconnects and carries it with her along with a binder and pen, not bothering to answer her desk phone. She runs into the boardroom where everyone is sitting around talking until she is at the door. Keri gives her a stern look.

  “Sorry, I had something to finish up.” Meghan takes a seat, opens her binder, and picks up her pen.

  “We’ll get started,” Keri says, standing up at the head of the table. “The end of the year is fast approaching and we have some events coming up. One is at Metrotown, where we will be collecting toys for kids.”

  Meghan’s cell phone vibrates on the table and the screen lights up Jared’s name.

  Keri clears her throat. “We’ll have a tent set up and there will be appearances—” Keri looks down at the phone just when Meghan scoops it up to put her phone on silent mode. “Sorry,” she whispers. Her cheeks feel a little warm as she sees Jared’s name on her phone.

  “As I was saying, we have players who will make appearances. . . .”

  Meghan sinks in her chair. Did Keri just see Jared’s name? Why would he be calling her? What does he want? I have to tell him we can’t see each other. It won’t work. An affair is one thing, but that’s not what Meghan wants. She wants more. Where is she going to find someone to date? She looks around the room. Not interested in any of the guys sitting in the meeting. She should ask Brie or Sara if they know any single guys who are looking for a relationship or at least a date.

  “Did you send out the invites yet?” Keri asks, snapping Meghan’s attention from her daydream.

  “Pardon?”

  “For the black-tie event. Did you send out the invitations?”

  “No. Not yet. It’s on my things-to-do,” Meghan says, pointing her pen at her notes.

  “When do you plan to do that?”

  “Today, actually.”

  “Good. That leaves roughly six weeks before the fund-raiser. Most people who have come to this annual event already have it marked on their calendar. Did you want to talk about the details?” Keri asks.

  “Sure.” Meghan stands up and flips through her notes to the page with the information. “It’s at the end of the year, December thirtieth, but most of you are aware of the date. . . .”