Practice Makes Perfect

by Charlene Groome

  Chapter 21

  Meghan’s cell phone rings on her desk, while she’s finishing typing on her computer. A quick glance at the display and her heart feels like it’s in her throat. Jared. She wants to talk to him, wants him to tell her she’s his. She’s tired of this battle that she’s trying to win against Lauren. Is he worth it?

  “Hello?” Meghan holds the phone between her ear and shoulder, leaning her arms on her desk as she concentrates on Jared’s voice. That sweet, sexy tone that makes her body rise with anticipation knowing she’ll be kissing those full lips of his.

  “Meghan!” His voice is direct, sending a chill up her spine.

  He’s mad.

  “What the hell is going on?” he asks.

  “You should tell me,” she says, playing him a little. “You didn’t show up at the event, so I took down your poster and took your name off the ads.”

  “You did that?” He changes his tone. “Why did you do that?”

  “Isn’t that why you’re calling?” she asks, stringing him along. Why can’t he tell her that he missed her and wants to see her?

  “No.”

  “Oh.” She bites her bottom lip.

  “Why did you take down my name? I’m part of the team! I work hard for the Warriors.”

  “Yes, you do, that’s the point. You need to be there, embracing your fans.”

  “I do!”

  “When you’re approached. You’re not there all the time. I thought this job meant something to you.”

  “It does!”

  “Then why aren’t you showing your team that you belong with them? You don’t even show me that I belong to you. If this is your dream job, shouldn’t you be respecting the opportunities that come your way?”

  “I’m grateful.”

  “I know you are, but nobody else does. You’re playing here because you’ve proved yourself worthy of it, but when you don’t show up for events when I ask you, what can I do? I can’t count on you. I thought I couldn’t, so I made room on the ads for people like Mason Ward and Eli Cooper.”

  “You placed Coop in front of me?”

  “Jared, you’ve been ignoring me. I’ve sent you e-mails to remind you about the events and you don’t reply.”

  “You can call me. You have my number.”

  “Right. Along with all the others who are supposed to attend. I was scheduling you for campaigns because well, I wanted you there . . . working with me . . . being with me,” she says, her voice cracking. She swallows. “I thought . . . I thought we could hang out together.”

  “I didn’t realize . . .”

  “You’re a popular guy on the team. A lot of people want to meet you. I didn’t know it would be a big deal for you.”

  “I—I didn’t know . . .”

  “You’re much harder to please than I first thought.” She stops herself, listening to him breathe. Has she hit a nerve with him? Why isn’t he responding to her?

  “Jared?” she says his name with gentleness. “Are you still there?”

  “Yeah,” he says.

  “I’m telling you the truth and if you don’t like it, that’s okay. I’m not trying to hurt you. I wish you could see that you deserve to be a part of these events like everyone else on your team.”

  He breathes hard, inhaling, exhaling, holding back to tell her something that is bothering him. She can tell, she’s had deep conversations with him before. “I don’t show up to events because of Lauren.”

  “Because she’s always there?” she asks.

  Jared nods.

  “She waited for you to come home,” Meghan says.

  “I have nothing to do with her.”

  “She seems to be around a lot. I can’t be with you if she’s thinking there’s a chance.” Tears are forming. She doesn’t want him to think she’s weak and easy to persuade. She’s holding her ground.

  “Why did you give me back the necklace?”

  “Because . . . I’m not sure where I stand with you. I can’t take something like that and wear it without reason.”

  “But I bought it for you. Do you like it?”

  “Yes, I like it, but I can’t have it.”

  “Why?”

  A tear falls and silently she wipes it away without leading him on that she is crying. “I haven’t seen you since before the holidays.”

  “I was on a three-day road trip and then I flew to Brampton.”

  She shakes her head, phone pressed to her ear hard so she doesn’t miss a word. “I know.”

  If she means this much to him, why didn’t she go with him?

  “Jared. I was that girl.” She pulls herself together. “I don’t want to be.”

  “When can I see you?”

  “Saturday.”

  “Tomorrow? Why not now?”

  “Because I’m working.”

  “I’ll come by and take you to lunch.”

  “That’s nice, but I have a lot to do today. Saturday is a big deal.”

  “So when can I see you?”

  “I’ll see you at the black-tie event,” she says. “I have to go.” She hangs up. Her hands are shaking, her body feels exhausted. This job was a lot to handle and adding Jared to her to-do list made it more stressful. She doubts he will be at the black-tie event. He won’t be because he’s a selfish, cocky hockey player who is only thinking about what pleases him. Meghan packs up her things. If only she could be the one to make him see what he’s missing.

  As she grabs her purse from under her desk, Meghan’s cell phone rings. She wipes her eyes, takes a breath, and says hello.

  “Your dress is ready, Ms. O’Riley.”

  “Great! I’ll be down this afternoon.”

  “Well, um, there’s one thing.”

  “Yes?”

  “It didn’t turn out very black.”

  “But it’s black?”

  “It’s black. A lighter shade of black.”

  “What? A lighter shade? Isn’t that gray?”

  “Maybe you can come and see it and decide for yourself. I’ve tried dying it twice and the silk, well, the silk didn’t seem to take the dye and I’m not sure why.”

  “Black’s the strongest color. The most potent, isn’t it? My dress was off-white, why wouldn’t it be black?”

  “It is,” the saleswoman says, stretching out her words. “It’s just a lighter shade. Are you able to come here and look at it?”

  “I’ll be right there.”

  Meghan gets to the alteration store and is met by the same woman she’s been talking to.

  “Ms. O’Riley! Hello! I have your dress. You know, it looks good. I think you’ll be happy with it.”

  “I can’t wait to see it,” Meghan says.

  “Let me get it.”

  A few minutes later the saleswoman scurries over with the dress wrapped in plastic. Meghan barely recognizes her dress. It’s black, or kind of black. Maybe it’s the plastic that’s causing a shadow and making it appear musty.

  The saleswoman unwraps the dress and lays it down flat on the counter.

  Meghan can’t breathe. The dress is ruined. “It’s not black,” Meghan manages to say. “This is not black.” She stares hopelessly at what was once a treasured piece of her life and now is something ugly.

  “I can tell you we used the finest dye. Black is a funny color to use.”

  “But it’s splotchy,” Meghan points out. “It’s not an even coat of color.”

  “Some silk will do that.”

  “How was I supposed to know?” Meghan stares at her dress in tears. “It’s not black. It’s gray. It looks like it was tossed in a washing machine. How did this happen?”

  “I will try dyeing it again—”

  “Will it stop the splotching?” Meghan touches the bodice.

  “I can’t guarantee that, but I can try to dye it again.”

  “What are my options?” Meghan looks at the saleswoman who shakes her head slowly and then returns her stare at the gown.

  Meghan ho
lds her head with her hand and rubs her left eye.

  “Do you need this dress soon?” the saleswoman asks, blinking. Even through her glasses, Meghan notices her concern.

  “Tomorrow.”

  “Leave it with me and I’ll see what I can do.”

  Chapter 22

  “What are you doing here?” Jared asks into the intercom. “I’m not letting you in.”

  “I have something you want,” his ex says.

  He runs his hand through his hair and turns on the TV to watch Lauren. “I don’t think you do.”

  She holds up his garage remote and waves it in the air. “I think I do.”

  “I’ll come out and meet you.”

  “Let me in and it’s yours.”

  “Don’t play these games. I don’t want to see you.” Jared didn’t think he had to be direct with her, but she’s pushing him and making him angrier. How does he get rid of her? Why is she not leaving him alone?

  “Fine,” he says. He opens his wrought-iron gate and heads out to meet her in his driveway. It’s cool with just a sweeping of snow, not like at home where he would have to have his driveway shoveled.

  He watches her park and get out of her car. Standing, he waits for her wearing his heavy coat. Lauren is dressed in tall boots and a long jacket.

  “Hi, handsome,” she says, puckering her red lips at him.

  He turns away when she kisses his cheek. He holds out his hand for the remote. “I’ll take that.”

  She pulls her hand away. “Don’t you want to talk?”

  He laughs nervously, wondering what her intentions are. “I have nothing to say.”

  She stands before him. “You don’t want to let me in?”

  He looks past her, gathering his thoughts. His jaw is clenched. “No.”

  “This is your last chance,” she says. “Take me back and I’ll make you the happiest guy.”

  He looks at her sternly. “We’re over. I want my remote.”

  She puts it in her bra. “Come and get it.”

  “I’m not playing games. I’ll call the cops and they can give it to me. Your choice.”

  She pouts. “You wouldn’t.”

  “Try me.”

  Lauren’s eyes start to water. “We had something special. I love you and you turn your back on me like I am nobody. . . .” She sniffles.

  Jared’s not buying her tears, but he doesn’t trust her. Those tears are fake. He would call her on it, but he wants her to leave. The longer she’s here, the longer she’ll think he’ll take her back.

  “You weren’t a nobody,” he says. “We had some good times.”

  “What is it? Why don’t you want me?”

  “We don’t belong together.”

  “How can you say that?”

  “You deserve someone better. You have a lot to give. You’re going to make some guy really happy.”

  She sniffles again. “But not you?”

  “I’m a difficult guy. You don’t want me.”

  “I do.”

  “No, you don’t. I’m not looking for a wife. You’re looking for a husband and that’s not me.”

  He’s hoping she’s buying it. What he would give to settle down with the right person, someone like Meghan. He can be himself with her . . . she would love him for who he is . . .

  “Lauren, please give me my remote.” He holds out his hand, staring her down.

  It takes her a moment before she reaches into her bra and pulls it out. “I bought a dress for the black-tie event.”

  “Why would you do that?”

  “I’m going with you.”

  “No, I’m going by myself.”

  “You invited me.”

  “I don’t recall.”

  “Jared,” she whines. “You promised me that I would go with you.”

  “I don’t make promises and if I did—” He stops himself. If he did, it was a lie.

  She pouts. “But I want to go.”

  “We’re not together. I don’t want it to end this way,” he says, fearing the unknown.

  Lauren’s eyes are perplexed. “You don’t?”

  “I hope you find someone who deserves you,” he says, trying to find the words to please her. He wants her to leave. What’s it going to take for her to drive away?

  “You don’t want to settle down—”

  “No, but you do.”

  “I can be that girl. I don’t need to get married.”

  “Yes, you do.”

  “I want to be with you,” she cries.

  “Lauren, listen to what you are saying.” He takes a second to find her eyes. “You need to be somebody’s wife, somebody who loves you.”

  She nods, looking down at the white, covered driveway. “Yeah,” she says.

  “I have to go in,” he tells her, shoving his hands into the front of his hoodie.

  “If you change your mind, call me,” she says. “You know how to reach me.”

  He watches her get into her car and drive around the cement fountain.

  She’s gone. Finally. He can get on with his life and be with the one who he wants desperately.

  Meghan walks into the alteration shop and the saleswoman scoots over to her, holding her hands up to her face. “It’s fixed!”

  “My dress?”

  “Yes, yes.”

  “That’s great news. So, it’s black?”

  The saleswoman shifts her eyes. “Not very black, but black. I’ll show you.”

  Meghan stands at the counter where the saleswoman grabs the dress wrapped in clear plastic from a nearby rack. “Here it is!” She takes the plastic off and lays the dress on the counter.

  Meghan stares at her dress. It definitely doesn’t look like the dress she fell in love with.

  “Do you like it?”

  Meghan is in disbelief. “It’s not black. It’s gray.”

  “It’s black. It will look darker with different lights. These lights”—the saleswoman looks up at the fluorescent bulbs—“make it look less dark.”

  Meghan raises an eyebrow. She doesn’t have time to find a new dress, she needs it for tonight. This is all she has, looking down at the once elegant mermaid-style wedding dress. A part of her is sad to let go of the memory because it signals a change in her life to move forward. Now she has. She can forget about Colton and be glad that the past is not her future.

  Chapter 23

  Keri joins Meghan at the back of the ballroom, which has been converted into a Vegas-like theme with showgirls offering drinks on mini trays and a stage for the band that will play when the speeches are over. There are roulette tables, craps and poker tables; all moneymakers for Children’s Hospital.

  “Everyone’s here.” Megan looks around. “Except I haven’t seen Jared. Big surprise.”

  “He’ll show,” Keri says.

  “I don’t think so,” Meghan says, moving her foot around in her heel. Her foot feels achy, so she stretches her toes inside her shoe. “We had an argument. If he’s not here by the time the guests have finished their dinner, then I doubt he will be showing.”

  “Don’t worry about him. We have to find Ted. He needs to make a presentation when the dessert comes out. Where is he?” Keri scouts out the room.

  “I just saw him,” Meghan says, looking at the table the general manager was sitting at. Meghan lets her hand grace her hip, feeling the texture of the fabric that once was a graceful, elegant dress with all its off-white color and what it stood for. Now, wearing it as a shorter, gray dress has her feeling less luxurious than if it had been black; but nevertheless, she is relieved she is wearing it one last time.

  “When the presentation is over, people can mingle and gamble. It looks like people are just about done. Can you go find Ted? Also, what players are presenting the donation check?” Keri asks.

  “Alex, Mason, and Jared.”

  “Jared’s not going to make or break the event. Sure, he’s a big part of it, but if he doesn’t show, oh well.” She shrugs. “We can pick another pla
yer, no big deal. Mark Buckley would be a good one. He’s a father and is very outspoken. Why didn’t we pick him to do the presentation?” Keri asks.

  “Because Jared is popular. He’s a fan favorite and his stats are excellent and well—”

  “Don’t worry about it. We have enough on our hands to worry about one player. We have things to do,” Keri says. “We have to find Ted. He’s supposed to be making the first speech.”

  “Right!” Meghan says, looking around.

  “Go find him!” Keri demands.

  Meghan shuffles around the tables trying to spot Ted Walker. He could be talking to someone at another table, she thinks, browsing around the perimeter, trying to make herself less noticeable by walking sideways along the back wall.

  Dana hustles over to Meghan as she is looking around the room for Ted. “We have a problem.”

  “I’m trying to solve one right now,” Meghan says, unable to look at her coworker, afraid she’ll miss Ted.

  “The lead singer for the band is stuck in traffic. Apparently he went to the wrong hotel.”

  “How is that possible?”

  “What should we do?”

  Meghan thinks, backing up so that she’s against the wall. “They can play without him.”

  “They can’t. He’s also their guitarist.”

  “I don’t know. I guess tell them to play something without the guitar,” Meghan says, her eyes straining. “Have you seen Ted? I can’t find him.”

  “Last time I saw him he was heading downstairs.”

  “Downstairs? He’s supposed to be giving a presentation in a few minutes.”

  “He’s probably having a smoke break.”

  “He doesn’t smoke. At least I don’t think so. There’s a deck on this floor to smoke on.” Meghan leaves the ballroom, her head bouncing from side to side as she looks for Ted. There are a bunch of people gathered by the washrooms, all in suits. With one sweeping glance, Meghan doesn’t recognize anyone so she moves faster down the hall to the stairs, turning the corner and racing down the stairs on her tiptoes so that her heels won’t slow her down. As she gets to the bottom, racing as fast as she can and holding on to the railing for support, she flies around the corner and lets go prematurely, her fingers slipping from the lacquered wood, causing her to spin around and lose her grip. She reaches out to grab the banister, but it’s too late, she is falling, her heel catches the edge of the worn carpet of the last stair. She falls forward, there’s a snapping sound as she lands on the marble floor.