Practice Makes Perfect

by Charlene Groome

  Chapter 19

  “I’m heading out,” Keri says, standing in the doorway of Meghan’s office. “Are you leaving soon?”

  “Yes, I was just finishing something up.”

  “Have a good Christmas.”

  “I will. You too,” Meghan says.

  A guy wearing a blue uniform and badge around his neck appears in the doorway holding a small box. “I have something for Meghan O’Riley.”

  “That’s me,” she says, standing up from her desk.

  The man hands it over. “Merry Christmas,” he says, and leaves.

  Meghan repeats his greeting and stares at the box on her desk.

  “Who’s it from?” Keri asks, walking into her office.

  “I don’t know. It doesn’t say.”

  “Are you going to open it or save it for Christmas?”

  “I’m not sure,” Meghan says. “I kind of like the suspense.”

  “Any guesses who it could be from?”

  “I have no idea,” she says, reading the address. “I don’t know anyone from Ontario.” She pauses, staring at the address. Although it isn’t familiar, the word Brampton is visible. Could Jared have sent her something? She didn’t get him anything. They’re not together anyway.

  “I think I’m going to save it,” Meghan tells her. If it’s from Jared, she doesn’t want Keri to know. She would tell Lauren and who knows what would happen. “Have you spoken to your friend Lauren?” she asks. Maybe Lauren has said something to Keri about Jared.

  “I haven’t. She’s been working double shifts and I have been busy,” Keri says.

  “Has she mentioned anything to you about Jared?”

  “No. Why?”

  “Just wondering. They’re back together—”

  “They are?” Keri asks. “Are you sure? I don’t think they would be. She hasn’t said.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Because Jared broke up with her. Why would he get back together?”

  “Lauren is beautiful! And she fits the type, you know? A hockey player’s girlfriend? She was talking wedding the last time I spoke to her.”

  Keri shoos her. “No way. Jared didn’t want to get married and Lauren did. Lauren is the type who doesn’t take no for an answer and she was crushed when Jared broke up with her. If they are back together, it’s her doing. Jared is a softie.”

  Meghan sits back in her swivel chair, sinking into the cushion as though it will comfort the ache she has throughout her body. Thinking of Lauren and Jared together makes her sick. Why didn’t she do something sooner to get Jared? Why did she let him go? Instead of practicing her flirting, she should have been perfecting it and keeping what could be lost. If they are back together, they will be together permanently. They’ve resolved their issues whatever they may be.

  “Where do you and Jared stand?” Keri asks. “You two were seeing each other?”

  “Sort of,” Meghan says with a shrug. She stares at the box. What would he be sending her? She’s excited thinking about the possibilities, yet terrified to find something that will make her cry. Maybe he sent this before he and Lauren got back together. How long has he been in Brampton for?

  “Don’t wait around for Jared. From what I know, he’s sometimes too laid back and waits for people to make decisions rather than doing it for himself. Lauren used to complain that he wasn’t at all serious with her, going out on dates, spending extensive time together. He had his space and when she wanted to move in after being together for I don’t know how long, it was more than six months, he wasn’t interested. She told him they should get married and that’s when he broke up with her. He doesn’t want a wife or a serious girlfriend and would rather be a playboy. I don’t know what’s changed between them. Maybe Jared has changed.”

  “Maybe,” Meghan murmurs. Her fingers touch the edge of the box.

  “You’re better off without him. If he can’t commit and be with one girl, what’s the point of getting involved with him?”

  I really like him.

  Jared is different and if he doesn’t feel the same about her, then it won’t work. She doesn’t want to put Jared on the spot and make him feel bad for not loving her the way she deserves. He can have Lauren, even though he says he doesn’t want her. Her heart breaks at the thought. How will she know where she stands with him?

  “You’re right,” Meghan says, trying to believe it.

  “Enjoy your time away. Try not to think about work and have a good Christmas,” Keri says.

  “You as well,” Meghan says. It will be impossible to keep Jared out of her mind. She’ll open the gift from him, thank him for his generous thought, and not talk to him on a personal level again. It was a huge mistake contacting him and pressing him to come to events when she should have let it go and not care so much about her job. It’s just a job, she thinks. She shouldn’t let one player get to her and ruin the relationships she has with the Warriors. All players aren’t like this, she decides. Never again will she practice flirting and involving herself with a hockey player. It didn’t get her anywhere and now she’s heartbroken and disappointed that she’s no further ahead in the relationship department.

  Meghan makes herself hot cereal and as she waits for the microwave to ding, she stares at the parcel. Curious as to what’s inside, she’s not sure what Jared thinks she is. He’s never called her his girlfriend and doesn’t treat her that way, more like a really good friend. If she was his girlfriend and he did think of her as someone who means more to him than that girl, shouldn’t she be talking to him more? Is he hiding something from her? He already told her that he wasn’t seeing Lauren. Then what is it?

  Maybe she should have bought Jared something, but then, they aren’t together. He obviously sent this out of guilt.

  The more she thinks about what’s inside the box, the more curious she becomes.

  Meghan carefully strips off the masking tape from the box, slowly opens the cardboard flaps, and peeks inside. She pulls back the tissue paper, revealing a white card on top of a royal blue box. Her heart starts to race as she reads the hand-printed note.

  Meg,

  I look forward to counting the stars again with you, when I get home.

  Merry Christmas,

  Jared

  Meghan picks up the little box, eager to know what it is. Why did he send her something? Her arms are a tad shaky as she opens the gift. Jared had thought of her. Does he want her as his girlfriend or is this just a memento for what he expects from her when they see each other again? As much as Meghan wants him, she will not be at his beck and call, even if he tells her how much he wants her. Nope. She won’t do it, she tells herself. Being with Jared has rattled her senses. Is there someone like him in her future? All this practicing, trying to learn the technique of flirting with a guy, did get her further in love, yet, getting burned had made her distance herself. Did Jared want someone like Lauren? It didn’t surprise Meghan that Jared wanted someone glamorous who looked like she could be a model. Lauren presented herself as though she was a celebrity, someone worth a second look.

  Meghan bites her bottom lip and begins to open what appears to be a jewelry box. Maybe Jared meant to send this to Lauren, but then he wouldn’t have gotten the Dome’s address and Lauren’s mixed up. Unless he was thinking about sending it to Buckley’s Bar and Grill to surprise Lauren at work. But then, they did count the stars that night on Burnaby Mountain. That’s what he’s talking about.

  She looks inside and pulls out a sterling silver necklace with a star pendant attached. Meghan lifts it up and dangles it in front of her face. It’s the fanciest necklace she’s ever owned and probably the most expensive. This wasn’t bought at a department store and certainly not at any street vendor. It’s beautiful. She reads the note again, making sure that Jared had written her name and not Lauren’s. Had Jared and Lauren shared an intimate moment under the stars as well? She holds the jewelry for a minute, studying it before deciding to put it on.

  Did Jared go ou
t of his way to buy her the gift or did someone go shopping for him? Then she remembers a conversation they had. He told her a gift is when you go out of your way to buy something for someone.

  Where does that leave them? She goes into the bathroom to look at herself in the mirror, studying the long chain around her neck. She touches the star, remembering that night. Should she call him and thank him for the gift? It would be the right thing to do, yet he’s at home with his family, busy catching up with them. She will pay him a visit and tell him to keep the necklace. She can’t accept a gift like this, one that tells her he wants her while he loves someone else. She won’t let Jared play her this way and she is not going to wait around for him to change his mind.

  Chapter 20

  Meghan drives with the little box sitting on the passenger seat. She turns up her radio, getting lost in the song and rehearsing what she will say to Jared. She swallows, gripping her steering wheel, reminding herself that she has every right to feel betrayed. He led her on to believe that she was the only one. Why hasn’t she spoken to him? He told her he was only going to be away for a few days.

  Meghan pulls up to his house. The gate is shut. Is he home? She’ll have to call him and that wasn’t part of the plan. She was hoping to knock at his door and hand him the opened cardboard box without saying too much. He will know by her actions where they stand.

  Meghan gets out of her car. Her boots crunch the snow as she walks over to the intercom and presses the button. Her heart is in her throat. What if Lauren is here and she interrupts them doing whatever they are doing? She doesn’t want to think about Jared doing whatever it is with Lauren. What she wouldn’t give right now to see him answer the door shirtless, just one last time so she can remember him as the sexy guy that he is. But it’s winter so the chances of that are slim.

  “Hello?” the woman says through the intercom.

  “Loretta! Hi, Loretta! It’s Meghan!” she shouts, jumping up and down. She is rubbing her hands together, trying to stay warm.

  “Yes?”

  “Is Jared home?” Meghan grits her teeth.

  “No, he’s not.”

  “I have something for him. Can I give it to you?”

  Loretta huffs. “I guess so.”

  Meghan runs back into her car and waits for the iron gate to open. She drives up and runs to the front door with the cardboard box. She presses the doorbell and stands tall.

  The heavy door opens slowly and Loretta appears, wearing a white apron and black pants, holding a duster in her hands. Her hair is out of place, as though she had taken it out of a ponytail and left it. Meghan wonders how hard this lady works. Can there really be a lot to do in a house that’s barely lived in?

  “Hi, Loretta,” Meghan says. “Did Jared say what time he would be home?”

  “No, he didn’t.”

  “Okay, then. May I leave this package with you?” Meghan hands over the box. “And can you please tell him thank you, but I can’t accept this when we’re not together.”

  Loretta stares at the box. “It was a gift?” she asks, her voice airy.

  “Jared bought me something. . . .” Meghan says, looking down at the box. “It was nice of him, but we’re not together, so I can’t have it.”

  “A gift?”

  “Yes,” Meghan says.

  “He has lots of money. Keep it!” Loretta shoos her hand.

  “No, I can’t. It wouldn’t be right.”

  “Why wouldn’t it be? It was a gift.”

  “I know. But it reminds me of him. Have you seen much of him?” Meghan wants to know, although the answer might frighten her, knowing very well that Jared has probably come around with Lauren.

  “No, I haven’t,” Loretta says. “I’m usually gone before he gets home. With the weather and steep hills, I don’t like being out too late. I’ll tell him you stopped by. Meghan, is it?”

  “Yes. Thanks.”

  “Did you stop by yesterday? Someone rang the doorbell, but by the time I got to the door they were gone.”

  “No, it wasn’t me.”

  “Couldn’t have been anyone important. Maybe they had the wrong house. Who knows.”

  “Thanks for telling Jared that I stopped by.” Meghan turns on her toe to leave when she sees a white car pull up. Her heart picks up pace as though she’s expecting to see Jared in the driver’s seat. That adorable smile he flaunts and his wholesome build make her body electrified, yearning for his touch. Kissing him. She stares hard at the vehicle. The white Mercedes stops in front of the pathway that leads to the front doors. It’s driven by a blond woman. She puts the car in park.

  Lauren.

  What’s she doing here? She watches her get out of her car. She is wearing black knee-length boots and a long black coat with a tie around her waist.

  “Hi,” Meghan says, as Lauren walks up the driveway.

  “Hi,” Lauren says. “What are you doing here?”

  “I was thinking the same thing,” Meghan admits. “I came by to see Jared.”

  “I guessed that,” Lauren smiles. “Something came up at work? You need him for a promo? He didn’t show up and you’re tracking him down?” She throws back her head. “He’s getting a reputation now, isn’t he? I’ll have to talk to him about that.”

  “Loretta says Jared’s not home.”

  “Who’s Loretta? Her?” Lauren asks, pointing a thumb toward the door.

  Meghan swings her head to look behind her. “Yes.”

  “There used to be a younger lady. She had to go. I think she was snooping through Jared’s stuff. I caught her going through drawers.”

  Meghan listens carefully, nodding her head slowly, taking in Lauren’s story. “So, you told Jared to get rid of her?”

  “Yeah.” Lauren raises her eyebrows.

  “I was just leaving,” Meghan says. “You’re expecting Jared home?”

  “He should be. We’re heading out to dinner.”

  “I see.” Meghan takes a couple of steps toward Lauren in the direction of her car.

  “He’s always late.” She blows out some air. “I think I’ll get him a watch for his next birthday.” She giggles to herself.

  She hadn’t hit upon that dilemma with Jared yet. “I heard Porsche makes watches.” Meghan bites her lower lip. Maybe she should keep some comments to herself.

  “How do you know Jared likes Porsches?”

  “I heard him talk about it once.”

  “He has a nice car.” Her body lengthens as she stands on her tiptoes and raises her chin to the sky. “I love riding in it. Makes my stomach feel like it’s floating on air. Cruising around the city . . . it’s a powerful ride.”

  He told me no one’s ridden in the passenger seat.

  Meghan nods with anticipation. How much more is Lauren going to brag? It’s obvious she and Jared are an item and when it comes down to looks, they suit each other perfectly. Does Lauren fit in his arm like a piece to a puzzle? Does he wrap his fingers in her hair before he kisses her deeply on the mouth? Does Lauren feel the solidarity of his body with hers? Or, every word they speak? Does she dream in his eyes without saying a word? Does he hug her back and ask for another?

  A twitch pulls at the side of her mouth. She blinks her eyes afraid they’ll water any moment and she can’t tell Lauren how much she is in love with her boyfriend. Lauren had him first. They have a relationship and if Jared wanted something from Meghan he would have let it be known. The hard and fast rule of falling for a guy who doesn’t fall first, is he won’t fall at all. A guy knows what he wants just as a woman does, except a guy draws a line between girlfriend and friend. He knows what woman he wants to be with and clearly, Lauren has it all: the bombshell look and the attitude to go with it. Meghan is just a woman who loves a good hockey game, is comfortable in a pair of sweats, and works out to combat stress. A real woman is what she is and if Jared prefers a little fake n’ bake complexion and salon-done hair every day, then Meghan is definitely not for him; no matter how hard she practi
ces, she’ll never be the one he desires.

  “Are you still working at Buckley’s?” Meghan asks, as she takes another step in the direction of her car. She is at a short distance now, wondering where the high-fashion blond will be strutting herself if she’s dating a wealthy jock.

  “I don’t work there anymore.”

  “You don’t?”

  “I don’t need to. I was saving to pay off my car loan,” Lauren says with a wave of her hand at her new Mercedes.

  “Fancy,” Meghan says.

  “I might as well park it and wait for him,” Lauren says, throwing her head back laughing as she walks back to her car. “Jared will be home any minute.” Her burgundy lips spread like she’s forcing her mouth to move as though it’s never stretched before.

  “Right. I better get going.” Meghan’s chest feels like it’s sinking to her stomach. She wishes she never stopped by. She’s not playing this game, waiting for Jared to come home to see both of them as though begging for his attention.

  If only she could walk away and leave him as a memory. The idea of Lauren at his house for different reasons of her own makes her angry. She swore she wouldn’t be that girl and he’ll have to prove to her that she’s not.

  Meghan gets into her car and drives away, only to pull over on the road where she’s not being watched by Lauren. She dials his number and when she gets his voice mail she leaves a message. “Jared, it’s Meg. I haven’t spoken to you since you got home. I guess . . . I guess I know why. Good luck at tonight’s game.” She feels a wave of emotions as she drives home. Even if he did return her call, she doubts she’ll hear from him tonight. Meghan’s sure that his head is in the game and she’ll be in bed by the time he gets home. Why did she let herself get involved with him? She knew he was too good to be true.