by Mari Carr
The one thing Charley hadn’t told her friend about was the elopement.
She wasn’t sure why she hadn’t. It wasn’t like it would make her look any less like a lovesick fool, but for some reason, that secret felt like something meant for just her and Alex.
She walked to the door and swung it open. “You’re earl—”
Charley appeared to have surprised Ben as much as he surprised her.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I—” He paused at the sound of her hostile tone.
While she was crying her heart out over Alex, all she could summon for her cheating ex was barely contained rage.
Ben girded his loins. “I came to pick up the rest of my stuff.”
“Oh. Fine.” She turned around and pointed to a pile of boxes in the corner of the living room. Packing up his stuff was the first thing she’d checked off her cleaning-frenzy list. “It’s all there.”
“You packed it for me? You didn’t have to do that.”
Charley shrugged.
“How have you been?” he asked.
She stepped aside, sighing heavily as she waited for him to enter. She was not in the mood to make small talk with him. “Might take you a few trips to get it all to your car. I’ll be in the kitchen.”
“Charlotte, wait.” He stepped into the apartment and closed the door.
She whirled around on him. “Charley. My name is Charley, Ben. It’s always been Charley. You know that.”
He ran his hand through his hair, and for a second, he appeared almost nervous. “I wanted to apologize for the way I behaved at the wedding last weekend. I got a little intoxicated and…I said some things I shouldn’t have.”
Charley had overheard the things he’d said to Alex at the bar, encouraging him to find a hotter, sexier woman.
At the time, she’d been drunk enough—okay, horny enough—that the sting hadn’t been that bad.
Right now, it hurt like hell.
“I’m not in the mood to talk about any of—” God, she was suddenly too tired for this. “I’ll be in the kitchen.”
She hadn’t made it two steps before Ben blurted out, “Beverly dumped me.”
Charley wasn’t sure what response Ben was expecting from her, but it was obvious she took him by surprise when she glanced over her shoulder and simply said, “Sorry,” and kept walking.
The fact that Ben followed her to the kitchen just confirmed how shitty her life really was at the moment.
“She was pissed off at me for the way I behaved at the wedding. Charlo—Charley. I made a mistake.”
“We all had too much to drink at the wedding,” she said.
He shook his head. “Not that. I mean with us. Beverly said I clearly wasn’t over you. And…she’s right. I’m not. I don’t think I ever will be.”
He wasn’t seriously here to try to get her back.
Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice…
“There is no us, Ben. That’s over.”
“I just thought…after seeing what Alex did to you…it made me realize how horrible I’d been.”
“What Alex did?”
Ben pulled his cell from his pocket, clicked a few buttons, and handed it to her. “You know how I read a couple of hockey blogs. This popped up this morning and…”
On the screen was a picture of Alex with a very voluptuous, beautiful, fake-as-hell blonde on his arm.
According to the caption and a quote from the woman, Jeanine Sheridan, she and Alex were a serious item and she’d been helping him through the tough loss in game seven of the semifinals. She’d even alluded to the fact there might be wedding bells in their future.
Charley’s blood turned to ice water.
For days, she’d been a powder keg of emotion, throwing off serious sparks.
Now, she felt nothing.
She was numb.
“Sounds like he’s been seeing her a while,” Ben said, as she handed the phone back. “I’m really sorry, Charley. When I saw that, I realized cheating was a shitty thing to do to someone you loved and I—”
“Get your stuff,” she said, wanting him to get the fuck out of the apartment.
He didn’t belong here, and if he said too much more, she wouldn’t be able to keep from slugging the asshole.
It was funny to her how a week ago, she couldn’t walk around the place without remembering Ben.
Now, as she looked around, every memory was of Alex.
“Marry me,” Ben said. “We can book flights to Vegas tonight and elope. Just like you always wanted to.”
It was too much.
It was all too fucking much.
She laughed.
Loudly.
Huge, gasping-for-breath, belly laughs, peppered with huge snorts.
Tears streamed down her face, but she couldn’t hold back the laughter, couldn’t reclaim control.
Jesus.
Ben looked at her like she’d grown a second head. “Charley? Are you okay?”
“I’m not marrying you, Ben. Today or ever.”
He frowned, then glanced at the PBR on the counter behind her. “Are you drunk?”
Charley rolled her eyes. “Don’t be a tool. I’m sober as a stone, so this rejection is real.”
He scowled. “Fine. I can see I made a mistake in coming here.” Ben returned to the living room, and he managed to get the rest of his shit out in two trips.
She basically held her breath until he was gone and then she sank down on the couch. With Ben out of the apartment, she’d expected the numbness to fade, the tears to start falling.
But nope.
Nothing.
She felt like a zombie.
A zombie who knew what to do.
Grabbing her phone, she texted Alex.
Not going to make it at all.
His response came back in less than five seconds.
Why not?
She didn’t need to explain herself.
Something came up.
Something with bleach-blonde hair and fake tits.
This time, it took him a lot longer to reply.
When he did…
I rebooked your flight. You’re getting in early Saturday afternoon. Check your email for the ticket info.
Charley read his response three times, then went to her email. Sure enough, there was an e-ticket there.
I just said I wasn’t coming.
She could imagine his arrogant tone when she read his reply.
And I just said you were.
What the hell was wrong with him?
Are you insane?
Alex ignored her question.
There will be a car at the airport to pick you up to bring you straight to the game. I’ve booked a hotel room for us at the gala venue. You can change into your fancy dress after the game. Wear that green dress from the wedding. You look hot in that.
Her head was seriously about to explode.
Are you listening to me????? I’m not coming!!!! Take Jeanine.
There, she thought. That should take care of it.
Who?
His response took her aback, but before she could text back, he beat her to the punch.
If you don’t show up, I’ll announce our marriage to the press right after the game.
Charley reared back on the couch. Then she actually checked her contacts to make sure she was really texting Alex.
None of what he was saying made sense.
Why did her appearance there matter if he was dating someone else?
You won’t do that. Our parents don’t even know.
Alex didn’t miss a beat.
They’ll read about it in the paper.
Charley was pretty sure—sixty percent sure—he was bluffing about telling the press about their marriage.
Maybe fifty percent.
Why are you doing this?
Try as she may, she couldn’t wrap her head around his persistence.
Because you agreed to go to the game
and gala with me.
All she could figure was Alex Stone, stud of the century, was pissed about her trying to stand him up. Poor rich gorgeous sex god had probably never been rejected.
It was the only thing that made sense.
And yet, it didn’t.
None of it did.
She kept flashing back to her week with Alex.
Every single second of it had been perfect.
He’d been perfect.
He had given her a week she would never forget. He’d helped soothe her wounded pride and shown her that love wasn’t impossible, even for a gangly, inexperienced, rough-around-the-edges tomboy.
For the first time since he’d returned to Baltimore, she smiled—really smiled. If all he wanted was one last hurrah, then she was in. She’d show up for the game and soak up every bit of the night. She’d live in the moment with Alex for just one last night.
It wasn’t like the fallout from it could be any worse than this.
So on Saturday, they’d steal another night.
They’d drink, dance, fuck…and sign the annulment papers.
End it the way it began.
With a bang.
She took a deep breath, then texted him back.
Fine. I’ll be there.
Her heart ached when his reply returned quickly.
See you Saturday, sweetheart.
Dammit.
She’d been one cool cucumber up until that second.
Right until he called her sweetheart.
Then she fell completely apart.
Chapter Fourteen
Charley cheered as Alex sunk a goal—his second—into the net. Time was winding down on the third period.
According to the Jumbotron, immediately following the game, there would be a special presentation, where she assumed they’d announce how much money they’d raised for their cause.
A huge part of her couldn’t believe she’d almost missed this trip. The entire day had been like something out of a dream.
Alex had booked her a first-class ticket to Baltimore, then she’d been greeted at the airport by a limo driver, who’d brought her straight to the rink, where she’d been escorted to the owner’s box.
She was on her second margarita, surrounded by the wives and girlfriends of the other players, all of whom were super nice. Like her, they were dressed casually in jeans and Baltimore attire.
Charley was sporting her Alex Stone jersey.
They’d welcomed and included her in their conversations. A couple had even brought their daughters’ copies of Tomboy Tess for her to sign, which surprised her. Obviously, Alex had told his teammates that she was coming. She hadn’t really expected that.
Even the owner of the team and his wife had introduced themselves and said they were glad she could attend the gala tonight.
The exhibition game featured current and former Baltimore players going up against a college hockey team. It was a friendly game, and she could see how much fun it was for the younger guys to play against their idols.
All the money benefitted a charity organization headed up by the owner’s daughter that provided money to foster children so that they could participate in school athletics.
According to the owner, they paid for equipment, registration fees, and even provided transportation to practices and games, if necessary.
“You must be Charley. Alex said you’d be watching from the box.”
Charley glanced up to see an attractive man in an expensive suit smiling down at her.
He extended his hand. “I’m Colm Collins, Alex’s lawyer.”
Her chest tightened as he claimed the seat next to her.
While she’d come to Baltimore to sign the annulment papers, now that the lawyer was here, she realized exactly how much she hated giving up her secret, temporary status as Alex’s wife.
Charley fiddled with her wedding ring.
While she’d taken it off whenever she went out in public, she put it back on the second she was home and alone. She had intended to pack it in her luggage this morning, but at the last minute, she’d slipped it from her left hand to her right, not wanting anyone here to spot it and get the wrong idea, but not wanting to take it off completely either.
It felt funny on the wrong hand, yet something told her it would feel even worse when it was gone.
“Nice to meet you. I didn’t realize we were signing the paperwork here. I guess I thought we’d do that tomorrow.”
“I’d intended to be here for the entire game, but I got held up at the office.” He looked up at the time clock.
There were three more minutes left in the game.
“Damn. We’re cutting it close. Would you mind coming with me?” he asked. “Alex asked if I’d escort you down to the rink for the end of the game.”
Wow.
Apparently, Alex wasn’t wasting any time with this annulment.
And just like that, her amazing day bottomed out.
She stood slowly and followed Colm down to the rink. They stood at the entrance to the tunnel that led directly to the ice. Charley could hear that the game had ended, and there were a lot of workers at the other end, rolling out a long red carpet.
“Are you sure he wanted us to meet him here?” she asked.
Colm smiled. “No.” He pointed toward the ice. “He wants us to meet him up there.”
And without another word, he headed up the tunnel. She hesitated for a moment, but in the end, curiosity won out. She’d never expected to have the opportunity to stand this close to an actual professional hockey rink.
They’d just reached the end of the tunnel, the rink stretched out before her, when the announcer started speaking.
The view from this spot was absolutely amazing. She looked up and around at all the seats, spotting the people she’d just been sitting with still in the owner’s box.
The Jumbotron flipped from the final score of the game to live video. The camera was focused on Alex, who was slipping over the wall and back onto the ice. There was a puppy in his arms.
What the hell?
Charley looked away from the screen and watched as he and the squirming pup skated toward the end of the red carpet.
He smiled when he saw her, and she figured he was amused by their matching outfits. She lifted her arms and struck a silly pose in his jersey, which made him laugh.
“Ladies and gentlemen. Tonight, we have a special presentation. If you will please turn your attention to the end of the red carpet, you will see Baltimore captain, Alex Stone.”
The puppy had calmed down now that they were standing still, resting peacefully in the crook of Alex’s arm. Alex had a microphone, and he lifted it as he looked around at the stands and began to speak.
“A couple of weeks ago, I was feeling about as low as a person could feel. I know I don’t have to explain to any of you why.”
Charley recalled the game, the devastating loss. The murmur in the crowd proved Alex hadn’t been alone in his disappointment.
“Then I had the chance to reconnect with an old friend, a former hockey teammate from my childhood. And I’d like for you to meet her.”
Alex was looking at her.
“Come on, sweetheart,” he said, just to her, not into the mic.
She couldn’t move.
Surely he didn’t mean for her to walk out on the red carpet in front of everyone.
He shook his head and chuckled, the sound reverberating through the arena, thanks to the mic he’d raised. “She’s a little shy, everyone. Maybe you could give her some encouragement.”
Loud cheers filled the arena as Colm gave her a gentle push toward the ice.
“Go on, Charley. He’s waiting for you.”
She took a couple of steps, then froze again. The rink looked enormous from this vantage point, and she really wasn’t used to so many people looking at her.
“She’s not used to being on the ice without skates. Little bit like a fish out of water,” Alex joked, still speaking in
the mic, and there was a lot of laughter now mingled with the applause.
Of course, his words had the desired effect on her. She narrowed her eyes at him and started walking toward him.
A dare was a dare was a dare, and it was clear he didn’t think she’d make it all the way.
“What are you doing?” she murmured, once she stood next to him.
He ignored her question. “I’d like you to meet Charley Matthews, author of the Tomboy Tess series.”
She looked around, sort of amazed by the noise of the cheering. She caught sight of several young girls standing near the glass, looking at each other in amazement and jumping up and down like they were seeing a movie star or something.
“Alex,” she whispered.
“As I said, I was about as low as a man could get after that last game. Then Charley came back into my life and a light went on. Anyone who knows me knows that I’ve spent most of my adult life promising to remain a bachelor until the day I die. You could probably find at least two dozen interviews where I’ve said the same.”
“What are you doing?”
“I’m hoping Charley will continue to make a liar of me. Without going into too many details, we eloped in Vegas a couple of weeks ago. Charley wants to annul it. I’m hoping to convince her to change her mind.”
There was a collective “ah” from the crowd.
“I love you, Charley Matthews, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you so last week, sorry I left without saying those words to you. Because God knows, I do.”
Charley’s mouth fell open when Alex dropped to one knee on the ice in front of her. He twisted the puppy’s collar and there, dangling from it, was the biggest diamond ring she’d ever seen in her life.
The arena erupted, filled with deafening applause, cheers, stomping.
Alex pointed toward the Jumbotron.
She looked up and saw the words, “Will you stay married to me, Charley?”
“I…I…” She nodded, tears streaming down her face. “Yes. God, yes.”
Alex grinned as he slipped the engagement ring from the collar.
Then he narrowed his eyes when he realized she wasn’t wearing her wedding band. She held up her right hand and gave him a rueful grin.
He laughed and handed her the puppy so that he could slip the wedding ring back on the correct hand before adding her engagement ring.