“No,” he grunted. “You definitely didn’t tell me.”
She shrugged. “Sorry. I already bought my plane ticket.” White lies never hurt anyone. “Can’t change my plans.”
“Fine.” He stood up and moved towards the door. “Can I trust you this summer?”
“Of course.” She smiled sweetly and stepped close to him for a quick kiss.
“You know I love you, right?”
You only tell me like every hour.
“I do.” She forced herself to wink and smile as she shut the door behind him.
Slumping against the door, she tilted her head back. Colin was exhausting. But soon, she’d have an entire summer free. It shouldn’t make her feel as good as it did. It shouldn’t make a laugh burst free. She clapped a hand over her mouth and danced across the room, decision made.
She was going to the Caribbean.
Two
Mack shoved the contents of his locker unceremoniously into his gym bag, maybe for the last time in Columbus.
The loss felt real now, days after the game, but that wasn’t what weighed on Mack’s mind. He didn’t want to leave Columbus. That team was his family. They’d drafted him, developed him, and believed in him. He knew they’d get quite a lot for him on the open market. His play in the playoffs had only increased his value. There were plenty of general managers around the league who’d take on a player labeled as troubled.
Only, he wasn’t troubled. At least, he didn’t think he was. He’d taken a huge step this season when he cut down his drinking and increased his workouts.
If they traded him, they’d only be trading his rights, because he needed a new contract. His agent was working on it.
Mack left the locker room behind and made his way upstairs to General Manager John Simms’s office. Coach Scott let him in and clapped him on the back. Mr. Simms and Coach Peterson were seated on black suede couches. They smiled at him and told him to sit.
“Terry has to run to another meeting,” Coach Peterson started, “so your exit interview will be pretty short.”
Mack nodded.
“We saw improvements in you this year, son,” Mr. Simms took over.
“I’ve worked really hard the past few months,” Mack finally spoke.
“We know. I know it’s been a tough year on you, it has for all of us. First the incident at the charity ball, and then losing Walker.”
“I wish Josh could have been out there in that last playoff series.”
“As do we all.” Mr. Simms narrowed his eyes, regarding Mack for a long moment. “Listen, Grant. We’re trying to get a contract done with your agent, but I’m going to be honest, there’s considerable interest in you from around the league.”
“I want to remain a Blue Jacket.”
“Yes, I get that.” Mr. Simms scratched his bearded chin. “Look, you’re young. Chances are you’ll play for a few more teams before your career is over. That just means you’re in demand. Teams want you and are willing to overpay. I’m not saying you’ll be traded by any means, just be prepared for anything.”
“I will, sir.”
“Good. Well, I’m going to leave you in the hands of your coaches.” He stood and smoothed out his suit. “Have a good summer, young man.”
With that, he was gone.
Mack turned his attention to the two coaches in the room.
“Do you understand your summer training program from the trainers?” Coach Peterson asked.
“Yeah, I’ve got it.”
“Good. I’d like you training with the guys who are staying in town for the summer.”
“I’m planning on it. I’m heading out of town tomorrow, but I’ll be back and ready to go in a couple weeks.”
“Get some solid rest on your vacation, Mack.” Coach Peterson smiled as he led them out into the hall.
Mack nodded.
“Are you headed down to St. Croix with Josh and Taylor?” Coach Scott asked.
“Yes, sir.”
Mack didn’t want to elaborate. It still felt weird that Josh was dating Coach’s daughter.
They said their goodbyes and Mack rode the elevator down before walking home from Nationwide Arena, maybe for the last time.
He looked back at the building he’d played in since coming into the league. Its brick structure, highlighted by large windows near the entrance, showcased a massive image of him, their supposed star. His shoulders dropped as the building shrank into the surroundings and he crossed the street, leaving it behind.
His feet sped up until he was jogging towards home, his gym bag slamming painfully against his thigh. He needed to get out of Columbus for a little while so he could breathe.
Luckily, he’d be on a plane tomorrow.
###
“I’ll miss you,” Colin said as they stood in the doorway.
“Yeah,” Abigail said quietly. “Me too.”
She hoped the falseness in her words didn’t show in her eyes as he placed one hand lightly on each side of her face.
“Don’t let Taylor talk you into doing anything crazy while I’m gone.”
Abigail snorted, and he looked at her in disgust before the lines in his face smoothed out again. If anything, she was the bad influence on Taylor, not the other way around. Taylor was quiet and shy. Sweet. But Colin refused to believe the partying was Abigail’s idea. He only saw that Taylor’s boyfriend used to be a hockey player. That Josh was friends with Grant and anything having to do with Grant was automatically bad for her.
It didn’t help that Abigail tended to pick her biggest fights with Colin after spending a lot of time with Taylor. It wasn’t anything her friend did or said, that girl would never say a bad word about anyone, but when she was with her, she saw what she didn’t have. What she wanted. To be with someone who could make her laugh, make her love, make her live.
“Have a good summer,” Abigail said.
“I’ll call you whenever I can.”
“Sure.”
“You’ll answer?” he asked.
God, he can be so needy, she thought.
“Yeah.” She stopped herself from sighing, angling her body so he was further out the door.
He smiled tentatively and leaned forward for one last kiss, rough and claiming.
When he finally broke away and stepped back, she relaxed. He might as well just lift his leg and piss on me.
He got into his car and pulled away.
I’m not his. I belong to no one but me.
She walked back into Taylor’s house and slammed the door behind her. Taylor poked her head around the corner, raising an eyebrow in question.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” Abigail stomped into the living room and threw herself down with a groan. Taylor followed her and relaxed into the couch beside her.
“Well,” she grinned. “Whatever Colin did this time, forget it. Tomorrow we’ll be drinking Pina Coladas on the beach.”
“Just you and me.” Abigail’s grin spread to match her friend’s. “Oh, and Josh, but he may as well be one of the girls anyway.”
Taylor started giggling, and soon both girls were heaving for breath.
Abigail threw her arms around Taylor and let out an excited howl.
“To summer!” Taylor raised an imaginary drink.
“To us!” Abigail knocked their hands together. “Nothing can distract me from getting both my tan and my drink on.”
###
The cab pulled up to the drop-off zone. Mack and Josh climbed out and pulled their bags out of the trunk before it sped off.
“Taylor texted me this morning,” Josh said. “They’re going to meet us at the gate.”
“They?” Mack pulled the handle of his bag higher so he could comfortably roll it behind him as they walked inside and towards the ticketing counter.
Josh’s silence lasted too long, and Mack was not a patient person.
“What aren’t you telling me?” he as
ked.
The sound of wheels rolling across the shiny tile floor permeated the space between them. Josh glanced sideways when they stopped in line.
“Abigail decided to come last minute.”
Mack did a double take. He couldn’t have heard him right. Abigail? The girl that basically cut him out after he punched her boyfriend. The girl who drove him wild. She’d intrigued him enough to want to spend more time with her and that was a first.
She’d been the one to turn him down. She had a boyfriend who she must’ve loved a whole hell of a lot.
God dammit.
“Does she know I’m coming?” His voice wavered in the danger zone and he could tell Josh knew it. His temper was as legendary as his partying.
“Dude, would she be here if she did?” Josh put a hand on his arm to keep him in check, but Mack shrugged it off. He wasn’t going to lose control, even though it would feel so damn good.
Instead, the corner of his lips hooked up into a smirk. “This should be good.”
“Be nice.”
“I’m always nice, Josher.” He laughed. Plans were already forming in his mind. He was going to get answers. Why didn’t she choose him? What was it about that douche that was so special? The guy made accusations that were harsh and untrue and yet she stayed with him.
First he’d get his answers.
Then he’d make her his.
This vacation just got a whole lot more interesting.
###
Airports suck ass, but they get you to better places. Abigail looked up at the gate next to theirs. A direct flight to Nashville. Home. Or at least, the home she’d known growing up. It wasn’t like it was exactly homey and warm.
Most of the people from school were spending their summers with their families, but Abigail couldn’t imagine going back there. The day she’d gotten the scholarship to Ohio State had been the best day of her life; her way out.
It hurt to even think about her parents or her brother or the fact that they’d tried to keep her there by any means necessary. Luckily, she had Taylor. Her friend gave her a place to stay for the summer while she worked. Taylor’s boyfriend even bought her plane ticket to St. Croix.
Turning away from the line of people boarding their plane to Music City, she rummaged in her backpack for her Chapstick just to have something to do.
“They’re here,” Taylor squealed beside her.
Months later and she still gets excited every time she sees him. Abigail shakes her head with a laugh. At the beginning of the year, she would never have expected her roommate to turn into this happy, giggly girl. She’d been grieving, and it took her a while to move past the death of a boy she’d loved.
Now she was in love again. She’d found it twice. Abigail had dated more than a few men, but had never been able to make herself surrender that part of herself. Because that’s what it was. Surrender. Vulnerability.
Taylor bound over to Josh, and Abigail’s eyes followed her as she stepped into his arms. A man walked up beside him and patted Taylor on the back before scanning the chairs nearby. His gaze locked onto Abigail’s and her heart stopped. Then it sped up. It wasn’t rational, the anger that seeped into her mind. She didn’t understand why it was happening, but before she knew it, she’d gotten to her feet and walked over to them.
“Seriously, Tay?” she said, focusing her laser stare on her friend.
Taylor shrugged as if to apologize and say, “What can you do?”
“You could have told me.”
“Aww.” Grant held a hand over his heart. “I’m happy to see you too, Abi.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“I can think of a lot better things to call you.” His voice lowered suggestively.
“Keep it in your pants, Mackenzie.”
Josh chuckled, and he was the next recipient of Abigail’s glare.
“You.” She poked him in the chest. “Traitor.”
She turned on her heel and marched back to her seat, crossing her arms over her chest as she sat down.
Her seat wobbled as Grant took the one next to her.
“I’m sorry if you don’t think you can control yourself around me,” he grinned, remembering his own anger to hearing she’d be there. They were made for each other, and she’d see it eventually. “I am pretty irresistible.”
He winked. She shoved him. Josh and Taylor laughed.
“Just shut up. All of you.”
There was no more fight behind those words as everything began to sink in. She was headed to a tropical island with a hot professional athlete who she may or may not have feelings for.
Just great.
Three
The last leg of the trip was on a small Cape Air plane from Puerto Rico to St. Croix. It flew low enough to enjoy the beauty of the island and the surrounding waters. Greens and blues swirled together to create the tapestry that was the Caribbean.
Abigail had never seen the ocean before. Her parents had never been ones to take their kids anywhere. They couldn’t afford it, and didn’t want to take the time. Pushing her sunglasses up her nose to get a better look, she pressed her face closer to the window from her seat right behind the pilot. He pointed out a few things to them as he began the descent towards the island.
“Taylor,” she yelled over the noise of the plane. “It’s the ocean.”
“I did tell you we were going to an island, right?” Her friend laughed.
Green foliage dotted a landscape that was both mountainous and flat; both dry and forested.
The airport came into view, its yellow buildings faded from the sun. Abigail looked over at Taylor, who grinned in excitement. An entire day of traveling with the likes of Mack wasn’t fun, but it brought them here, and Abigail was determined to have a good vacation regardless of the big, strong, sexy man seated behind her. She squeezed her eyes shut.
What is wrong with me? She thought. I’m on a friggin’ island, stop thinking about stupid men.
Opening her eyes, she began to see the island differently. This is her escape; her freedom. She was young and a little crazy, and this place was about to become her bitch.
They climbed out of the plane into the warm afternoon air. She inhaled deeply and spread her arms wide.
“We’re here!” she called to Taylor, who wrapped her arm around Abigail’s shoulder as they practically ran across the tarmac. The airport was teeming with people waiting for another plane to come in. Abigail and Taylor pushed their way through the crowd before stopping to wait for the boys to catch up.
Josh took Taylor’s hand, and together the four of them went to baggage claim. A woman stopped them on their way, pointing back to a welcome booth.
“Rum?” she asked.
“Is that even a question?” Abigail responded. “I’m in love with this place already.”
The woman smiled. “Cruzan rum is made on the island. It’s practically the designated drink.”
They all laughed at the joke. Grant stepped behind Abigail, a little too close for comfort, to reach around her for his free shot.
“I could use about ten more of those.” He looked at Abigail, but she turned away and led Taylor towards the carousel where their bags were about to show up.
A little while later, Josh looked at his map once more and pulled the rental car up in front of a bright pink house. Taylor laughed as they gazed up at the hideous, peeling paint.
“Don’t judge before you see the inside,” Josh piped up. “I swear this place came recommended.”
“Whatever you say, Joshy boy.” Grant clapped him on the shoulder before taking the keys from his hand and opening the front door.
They walked in, the only sound being Grant’s surprised whistle. White tile spread out in front of them, past island chic decorations and colorful walls, all the way to a wall of sliding glass doors that led out onto a deck with the most incredible view Abigail had ever seen.
She ran across the house, no
t taking in many of her surroundings, and threw open the doors.
Stepping outside, she looked across the pool towards the ocean. “Oh my freakin’ God. I guess it pays to have a trust fund.”
“Abigail.” Taylor pinched her to shut her up, but Abigail just shrugged before kicking off her shoes and running across the deck. Moments passed as everyone watched her plunge into the sparkling pool.
She came up laughing, her eyes trained on Grant in challenge. “Well?”
That was all it took for the rest of them to follow her in, clothes and all.
###
Mack pulled his sopping shirt over his head as he made his way towards the room he’d chosen. Taylor and Josh took the master, leaving Mack and Abigail with rooms that were side by side and connected by a bathroom.
He laughed at the state of her beautiful curls and ducked into his room as she tried to shove him. What he didn’t understand was why she seemed so pissed at him. She was one of the few girls he’d hooked up with that had no reason to be mad. He’d wanted to see her again. He’d been good to her. He’d fought for her.
And she was treating him like he was an imposition on her vacation. If anything, he was the opposite. He wanted to make it a vacation she’d never forget.
She was fiery. He liked that.
Chuckling once more, he threw on some dry clothes and went outside to wait for everyone else by the car.
They tried to follow the map they grabbed at the airport, but it wasn’t easy. The road they took was narrow with a drop-off into the ocean on one side.
“Pizza?” Taylor asked, pulling a nearby restaurant up on her phone.
“Yes!” Abigail and Mack said in unison. She scowled at him and he smirked.
See, perfect for each other, he thought.
The place they stopped at was a little hole in the wall. A bar stood against the backdrop of the ocean, surrounded by picnic tables right there in the sand. A small shack that housed the kitchen was off to one side.
“Sit anywhere you like,” a waitress called out.
Mack sank into his chair and sighed. This was perfect. Waves crashed against the rocks nearby, reminding him they weren’t at just any pizza place.
Confessions (New Beginnings #4) Page 2