“When you were a kid, your parents bought you lots of stuff.”
Lauren puts her hands into her coat pockets. “I have to go and meet Jared.”
Meghan’s insides feel like they’ve turned inside out. Jared still has feelings for Lauren? She feels like her heart has been taken out of her chest and squeezed so tight that she can’t breathe.
Why didn’t she tell him how she felt? Why didn’t she go home with him that night? Is that all he wants in a relationship? Someone to sleep with and go with his career?
“You’re not together,” Meghan says, not believing her.
“We are together,” Lauren corrects.
“Did he buy you a ring?”
“Not yet,” she snaps. “It’s being made.”
“I don’t get you,” Meghan says. Has Lauren always been shallow? “You want Jared back because he’s moved on?”
“No. You’re after Jared because I have him, and you know he’s mine.”
“He’s not yours,” Meghan banters.
“He is mine,” Lauren says with a heightened, long, shaped eyebrow. Her stare is fierce, bringing Meghan to a halt. She sees something in her eyes that makes her hold back the fight. She can’t have this conversation at work. People can hear them, especially the players who are saying bye as they leave.
Is Lauren telling the truth? Is there no chance for Meghan? Why should she compete for Jared if she’s already lost? Lauren has already told her she’s competitive, what will happen when she finds out she and Jared have been seeing each other?
“I have to run,” Lauren says. “Jared’s waiting for me.”
Meghan is speechless as she watches Lauren trot off through the parking lot. Her whole world seems empty now and if she doesn’t have Jared, well, she can use her flirting skills to work on finding someone who really wants her. Meghan takes down the banner of Jared and makes a mental note to take him off the ads and replace him with Eli Cooper. The young ones are always eager to please.
Jared takes some shots at his empty net in his basement. Being by himself is wearing thin. When is he going to settle down and have the family life he always wanted? He loved having Meghan cuddled into his arms last night. He didn’t want to leave her one-bedroom apartment, it was like a hideout, nobody knew he was there. The best part was, he didn’t feel alone, he felt wanted. He checks his watch. He should go make an appearance at the campaign. Meghan is probably wondering where he is.
“Jared?” Loretta calls out, stopping him from taking another shot.
He looks up at his housekeeper who is walking the distance to talk to him.
“Lauren is here,” she says.
His stomach tightens. “Lauren? What the hell? What’s she doing here?”
“She’s sitting in the living room. She says she wants to talk to you.”
Annoyed that she’s in his house and he has no interest in what she has to tell him, he leans his stick against the boards and makes his way upstairs. He saunters down the hall and into the wide-open space. Lauren is sitting on his burgundy plush couch with her hands folded on her lap, rubbing her toes along the edge of the pattern rug under the glass coffee table.
As Jared comes into view, Lauren stands up and says hello.
“Hi,” Jared says. “Were you in the neighborhood and decided to stop by?” It is an honest question, but also a familiar one between them. Anytime she came over unexpectedly, she would tell him she was in the neighborhood. It was a long drive from her house, so for her to drive over, there had to be a reason.
He takes in Lauren’s height and skinny limbs. She carries herself well. Her hair is the same blond, hanging past her shoulders, high cheekbones and red lips.
Lauren puts her arms out and wraps them around his broad chest, giving him a little squeeze and releasing herself to him, bodies still touching.
“What’s this about?” he asks.
“I’ve missed you. Can’t I give you a hug?” She steps back.
“What do you want, Lauren?” He stands still, not hugging her back.
“I came by to see what you’ve been up to. I was at an event, thought you’d be there, but the promotions girl said you didn’t make it.”
“What promotions girl?”
“Meghan.”
His chest expands. She probably was wondering where I was.
“She said you didn’t show up.”
He shakes his head. “I didn’t make it this time.” He held off from telling her that he was on his way.
“Afraid of big crowds?”
“I didn’t feel like going,” he lies. “Why did you stop by?”
“I’ve been thinking about you. Wondered how you’ve been.”
“I’m good.”
Lauren reaches for his arm and rubs her hand down his bicep. When she gets to his hand, she wraps her fingers around his, pulling herself in close. “What do you say we pick up from where we left off?” Lauren skims his neck with her nose and begins kissing him. Her tongue licks him and he jolts backward, unmoved by her touch.
She laughs at his reaction and does it again.
“Stop, Lauren. We can’t do this.” He breaks away.
“Why not?”
“We broke up. There was a reason for that.”
“You’re going to say no because we broke up?” Lauren crosses her arms at her chest. “Who is she?”
“Who?”
“What’s her name?” Her look is suddenly innocent.
“None of your business.” Jared’s mixed emotions about Meghan hit him like a punch to the stomach. Why hasn’t he made Meghan his? Why is he waiting for her to make the first move? He’s so used to women, like Lauren, who throw themselves at him and he takes action, using them as girlfriend material when all he really wants is someone to come home to and be himself with. There hasn’t been anyone he can do that with. Until now.
“Then why won’t you kiss me back? It’s never stopped you before.”
“I . . . don’t know.”
“Then what’s wrong with you? Are you not feeling well?” Her face relaxes.
“I’m fine. I think you should go.” He steps into the hall and waits for her. Lauren hasn’t moved.
“Can we talk?” she asks.
“You never want to talk,” he says.
“I think we could make it work again.”
He tries not to laugh.
“Why? We have chemistry. We have goals. We have each other.”
I didn’t love you then and I couldn’t love you now.
“We broke up because you wanted to get married. That wasn’t me.”
“But it is now?” she asks, batting her eyes.
“I don’t know.”
“You do know. You don’t want to say it.”
“Say what? That I don’t want to marry you? Come on, Lauren. I don’t want to hurt your feelings. I don’t know why you don’t see what I see, but a marriage wouldn’t last between us anyway. Why would you want to?”
He knows the question is going to start her up like a wind-up toy and she’ll let loose on him, but isn’t a marriage supposed to be about two people who not only love each other but want to be with each other? He didn’t mind Lauren for a day or two, but anything more than that and he had to make excuses as to why he needed to go to an extra practice or meet up with a teammate. She was okay for putting out, but horrible if she stuck around. That’s not what he wanted in a relationship. He wanted someone he could trust and have fun hanging out with. All Lauren wanted to do was have sex and go shopping.
“We care for each other . . . I’m devoted to you . . . I understand your career.”
“Is this what it’s about?” he asks, remembering when they were together Lauren wanted to be at every function that required a spouse or girlfriend to help out at fund-raisers. “My career? You love the attention and being associated with me because of what I do.”
“Isn’t that a good thing? I’m proud of you!”
“That’s nice, but really, you told people who you wer
e and that I was your fiancé. It was a little much. Okay, too much.”
“Sorry. I didn’t know that bothered you.”
“We weren’t engaged!”
“It was hard to explain who I was.”
“Girlfriend works just fine.”
“I’ll remember that for next time.”
“There won’t be a next time, Lauren. We’re not together. We will never be together. We don’t fit.”
“Don’t you want to settle down?”
“If I’m lucky. One day maybe,” he says.
Her shoulders drop and she wears a frown. “Do you want to have one last go?”
“You mean sex? You’d want to have sex with me and be gone?” He was not going down that road again. At least not with Lauren.
“Why not?”
“I can’t.”
“You’re saying no?” She bursts out laughing. “I don’t believe it.”
“That would just complicate things,” he says, thinking about Meghan and how he doesn’t want to lose her. He has to come up with a plan to convince Meghan that they should be together. She is the one he can’t stop thinking about. He has to get rid of Lauren. How would he explain her to Meghan? And would she understand?
He opens the wooden door, letting a rush of cold air fill up the corridor.
“Last chance,” she says, slipping on her heels.
“Take care,” he says, watching her trot down the driveway and into her car. “Oh, and Lauren?”
She turns around.
“Do you have my garage remote?”
“No, I don’t.”
Jared shuts the door, wondering where it could be.
“You and her getting back together?” Loretta asks, walking down the stairs behind him.
“Nope. I’m surprised she left that easy.”
“She’ll be back,” Loretta says, laughing as she climbs the stairs, keeping her hand on the railing. “She always does.”
“I don’t think so. She got the point,” Jared says. He looks up at his housekeeper. “I’m going out for a bit. I’ll be back later.”
After Meghan cleans up the event, she decides to stop by Jared’s house. Why didn’t he show up to the event and what was Lauren talking about? She has to drop off Jane’s leggings and his T-shirt. She forgot to give it to him. She has been using it as a nightshirt, unable to get away from his scent. It smelled like fabric softener, but it was his fresh scent that Meghan couldn’t get away from. She missed the time they had together and felt even closer to him when they were sitting on top of the mountain talking about stuff that mattered. Jared had opened up to her and she wondered if he had ever spoken to a girlfriend that way and told her of his past. He had to have, but Meghan wanted to feel special and unique so she thought of Jared as her secret crush and played with the idea of Jared being her boyfriend.
She pulls up to his house. The gate is open, so she drives up his driveway and parks her car as close to the front door as she can. Her legs move with excitement; she carries her purse like a sling and holds the items neatly folded as she reaches the door and rings the doorbell. She looks up at the massive entrance, suddenly intimidated by the grandness of Jared’s house. What made him buy a house so big? It’s beautiful and Meghan loves the thought of living in such a prestigious home. She waits another minute and rings the doorbell again. Maybe Jared is in his man cave shooting pucks or watching a movie.
She hears the door unlock a couple of times. Her heart races as she looks forward to seeing Jared’s face. Even though he didn’t show up to the event he was supposed to, she misses him and wants to see him. Excitement fills her, thinking of the possible kiss she could endure when Jared sees her.
The door opens and to Meghan’s surprise, Loretta is standing in front of her with a wrinkled up nose and forehead.
“H-hi, Loretta,” Meghan says. “Is Jared home?”
“No,” she says, looking past her. “I should have locked the gate.”
“I should have called first,” Meghan says.
“Yes, that would have been a better idea.”
“I came by to drop off his things.” Meghan holds them out for Loretta to take them and after a conscious delay, Loretta takes the clothing. “Thank you. Do you know when he’ll be home?”
“I don’t. I’m his housekeeper, not his mother.”
“I thought you might know. Okay, well, I’ll get going,” Meghan says, stepping away from the doorway. “I’ll try giving him a call.”
“I don’t plan on seeing him today,” she mutters. “I’m going home.” She pauses, folding her apron in her hands. “It’s none of my business what’s going on between you and Jared, but I don’t trust the other woman.”
“What other woman?”
“The blond, his ex-girlfriend.”
Meghan’s face falls, her stomach sinks. Does he want to get back with Lauren?
“Jared and I are . . . friends.” Meghan swore she didn’t want to be that girl, but here she is not knowing where she stands and waiting to have her heart broken unless she acts fast.
Chapter 17
Jared showers and dresses after the game. He is wearing a dark suit. His hair is still damp and his facial hair has new growth. He’s going home. He should have called Meghan again, but she’s not answering her phone. She did say on his voice mail that she was disappointed with him and upset that he didn’t show up for the event. How many of these things does he have to commit to? Why does the team have so many things going on? Jared just wants to play hockey. He didn’t sign up for everything else that involves the sport. He loves the game too much to turn his back on charity and wouldn’t have the heart to not support the ones that pull at his heartstrings. He’s never played for a hockey club that is as involved with events as the Warriors. What’s Meghan thinking? Maybe he should talk to her and tell her to slow down, it’s too much. If he went to her house right now, it wouldn’t be too late. Maybe she would be in the mood and want him to stay. The thoughts of lying in bed with Meghan again get him all heated and focused on driving to her house. He hopes he’d remember how to get there.
Jared can see down the corridor that the visiting team is leaving the Dome. From a distance, he spots a player, dressed in a black suit, looking back at him. His hand is on his hip as he waits for the bus to load their gear.
“Jared,” the voice calls. The guy, dressed in a gray suit, heavy black coat, and black loafers, makes his way toward him. He is shorter than Jared and stockier.
Jared’s heart races. His chest hurts, muscles are tight. This is the last guy he wants to see, let alone speak to. If seeing him on the ice wasn’t enough.
“Good game,” Corey finally says when he gets close.
Jared doesn’t move an inch for him and says nothing. He stares at him like he has something horrible tasting in his mouth.
“You still hold a grudge against me,” Corey says.
Jared looks past the player’s shoulder. If Corey only knew how much Jared hated him he probably wouldn’t be standing in front of him making small talk.
“It’s been ten years . . .” Corey says.
“It feels like yesterday.”
“That hit you gave me . . . it was deliberate.”
“I got a penalty for it,” Jared says. “You’re lucky the ref intervened because I could have done some damage.”
Corey puffs out his chest. “You think I killed Luke, don’t you?”
Jared grunts. Every time he’s brought back to that day, it hits him hard like a punch to his gut. Why did Luke have to die? He was so young. He hadn’t even lived his dream. He was a kid . . . they were kids. Jared was here living out the life he wanted and he’s gone.
“You could have helped him,” Jared says as though he’s numb. He can barely speak, trying as best as he can to stay the distance with Corey, afraid he could unleash on him.
“I did everything I could. We were eighteen. What could I have done differently?” Corey’s mouth is a sarcastic grin. “Tell me. Wha
t could I have done?”
“For starters, you weren’t smart enough to wear life jackets.”
“Luke didn’t want to wear one.”
“Stop blaming Luke. He’s dead! He can’t defend himself.”
“I shouldn’t have listened to him. We were only going to go on the water for a little while. We were hungry and thought we could catch dinner.”
“And fry it up?” He laughs. “Luke wasn’t an experienced fisherman. The lake has trout, nothing too exciting.” Jared remembers because that day there was talk about fishing and the people who knew the lake spoke about where they could rent boats. Someone there had a small boat and Luke and Corey somehow got permission to use it.
“What happened on the boat?” Jared asks, holding that dislikable stare.
“You know what happened. Luke got up and reached for a drink and he fell in, hitting his head on the bow.”
“How does that happen? How did he hit his head? He would have had to go backward.”
“He lost his balance, slipped on some ice that spilled out of the cooler. It all happened so fast.” Corey runs his hand through his hair, looks to the ground before giving him a sobering stare. “If I could have prevented the accident, I would have. We were good friends. . . .”
Jared nods, trying to accept his explanation.
“I helped the best way I knew how . . . I’m sorry that you think I could have done more. Believe me, I wish I could have and it would have made a difference.”
“You know what struck me as odd?” Jared asks. He’s never brought this up, it was a question that has been burning inside him since that day. “Luke didn’t drink soda. He was the healthiest guy I knew. Luke was scouted and wanted to be in the best shape of his life. His diet was precise. Even when we were away, he made sure that he had meals planned because he didn’t want to be thrown off schedule when he went back to Seattle.”
“Come on, Luke wasn’t all that strict,” Corey mimics.
“Yes, he was,” Jared says. “He bought power bars by the boxes and drank milk by the gallon. He was the healthiest guy I knew.”
“Not the Luke I knew.”
“How so?” Jared stares.
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