The Catcher and the Lie

by Rita Oberlies

  By the end of the evening Nick knew there would be no turning back. His parents were as infatuated with Abby as he was. She was the missing link. He wondered if she grasped what had been left unspoken. Looking at her self-satisfied smile, he knew the answer was no. Instead of convincing his parents that she was nothing more than a wise-cracking friend, she had inadvertently left them planning his future.

  The season ended with a whimper not a bang. Bowing out of the division finals in five games was worse than not making the playoffs at all. Losing to New York, on their turf, only added to the nightmare. Poor Bridget was probably racing for the airport. It was uncharitable, but Abby was glad she had stayed home.

  She rolled onto her stomach, buried her head under a pillow, and ignored the drone of locker room interviews. Depression set in quickly. It rankled to admit that her sour mood wasn’t about the game, but about one man playing it. Within days he would be packing up and heading south. Whatever was between them, and really she hadn’t a clue what it was, would be over.

  Ben had been right. Keeping it light had allowed her to enjoy the past few weeks without succumbing to her usual neurosis. Her reprieve was over. Reaching out she snagged another pillow and squished it to her head, hoping to block the sound of her own thoughts.

  It worked. Nothing penetrated her brain until the sound of a fist pounding on her door had her jumping off the bed. The blurred red numbers on her nightstand confirmed her suspicion that dawn was eons away. Using the feel, bump and swear method, Abby finally reached the front door. The sight that greeted her was a shock. Not only was it Nick, but it was a smiling Nick.

  “Should I make excuses for showing up unannounced and uninvited?” he asked, pushing the door shut behind him.

  “No. But you might want to check that smile at the door. I think the winning team is the one who is supposed to be happy.”

  “Yeah well, I had five hours of teeth gnashing with the team. I was hoping to escape the doom and gloom.”

  Abby followed the track of his eyes, immediately regretting her choice in sleep wear.

  “Nice shirt,” he said, running his fingers along the hem. “You should probably keep it. After tonight I’m not going to be able to put it on again.”

  Abby looked down, afraid that she might be stretching the T-shirt out in all the wrong places. A blast of heat crawled up her neck. Her hands moved up to tug the soft cotton away from her chest.

  “Yup. Definite problem. If I even see that shirt I’m going to picture a pair of very round nipples poking out at me.”

  His eyes were dark, and his expression pained. She thought about tackling him to the couch but temporary sanity took over.

  “I demolished half a pan of peanut butter brownies after the fifth inning. My thighs are holding you responsible.”

  His fingers traced a slow path down the outside of her legs. “Honey, your thighs can hold me anytime, any way they want to.”

  “So witty, even at this hour,” she said, grasping his right hand and pulling him toward the kitchen. “Interested in a late night treat?”

  “I’m guessing that your definition of a treat doesn’t match my dictionary.”

  She leaned in, taking possession of his lips. No brownie could compete with the hot, sweet taste of his tongue. It had been forty-eight hours since she had been in his arms and she ached for him. This was not good news. He was leaving. Soon. She wasn’t a psychic but she could conjure up a clear picture of how his departure was going to impact her.

  Abby released his lips slowly, watching his face as she pulled back. “So, have you decided when you’re going to head south?”

  He remained silent for a moment. Finally he pulled out a chair and sat. “Grab what’s left of those brownies and come sit with me.”

  Abby retrieved the pan and two forks, placing them directly in front of Nick. As she pivoted away to claim another chair, he reached out and pulled her by the shirt onto his lap. “Stay close, Abs. We probably need to talk about the next few weeks.”

  Her bare legs brushed against the stiff denim of his jeans. She wasn’t enough of an actress to disguise her reaction. Thankfully, the goose bumps disappeared almost as quickly as they appeared.

  “Actually we don’t. You’ve got obligations now that the season has ended. And frankly, I need to start putting a little more focus on my work at the school.”

  Anger clouded his eyes. “Nice and tidy. Let me see if I understand this. The screwing has been great, but now I need to get back to my real life. Am I close?”

  She leaned forward, needing distance from his body. “Crude but accurate,” she countered, stabbing her fork into a thick chunk of brownie.

  Nick shifted, causing the ridge near his zipper to rub against the soft flesh of her behind. “It’s not going to work. You want me to get pissed enough to walk away. Ain’t happening, sunshine.”

  Abby’s stomach clenched. His words struck much too close to the truth and she was ashamed. “I’m sorry, Nick. I just don’t want this to be difficult for either of us.”

  Strong hands snaked around her waist, locking her against his chest. “It doesn’t have to be. I’m not planning to stay in Florida for long. Right now I’m hoping I can wrap everything up in less than a month.”

  She wondered if he knew that he was sending all sorts of mixed signals. He had been the first to set limitations on their relationship. Unless his past problems had magically disappeared, nothing should have changed. The last thing she wanted was to get her hopes up only to have her heart broken. His hands were gentle but his expression remained fierce.

  “When I get back this secretive crap has got to end. I want everyone, including Kevin and Bridget, to know that we’re more than friends.”

  His words slipped past her defenses. She was too tired to analyze her reaction to his statement. Instead she allowed tiny seeds of hope to settle in the region of her heart.

  Chapter Ten

  She had been a fool. A consistent habit that now had her scurrying across her living room floor in a wobbly imitation of a crab.

  Ignoring phone calls hadn’t been enough to keep Nick from planting himself in her driveway. He was too damn late. Sixty-three days since he hopped a plane for Florida. Plenty of time for her to change her mind about picking up where they left off.

  When she reached the safety of her bedroom, Abby released a sharp sigh, praying for divine inspiration. The moment of truth had arrived. Of course, truth being a flexible term.

  The sound of the doorbell paralyzed her fingers as they tried to fasten a few more buttons on her ancient poet’s blouse. At least her butt and hips had a little more coverage. Nothing but liposuction could mask her chipmunk cheeks.

  Uttering an oath, followed quickly by a prayer, Abby opened the door to trouble.

  His mother had called him a damn fool. She had been kind in her assessment. The fact was he had been a world-class idiot. Abby had dodged his calls for over a month. Showing up on her doorstep reeked of desperation. He was desperate. If he was a betting man he’d wager that her disappearing act from the front window was another bad sign.

  Ignoring the fear that left his mouth dry and his hands sweaty, Nick punched the doorbell. He wasn’t prepared for what happened next.

  “Sightseeing or lost, Valente?”

  Her body blocked the small gap between the storm door and wood frame. The tone was light. The expression was not.

  “Perceptive as always, McCabe. I’m definitely trying to find my way.”

  She shrugged. “Save your brain cells. Invest in some GPS.”

  “Yeah well, I tend to do things the hard way,” Nick said, instinctively leaning closer. “Are you going to invite me in?”

  Hesitation flashed across her face. Not exactly what he had been hoping for. Relief washed over him when she finally stepped back. It didn’t last long.

  The changes to her face and body were subtle. The “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” face down on the couch was not.

&nbs
p; Her eyes tracked his expression. An emotion he couldn’t identify kept his feet rooted to the floor and his tongue rooted to his mouth. His chest hurt. The numbness that had carried him through the past few months disappeared. He wanted to hold the woman who had turned his world upside down. A lack of body armor kept his arms pinned to his sides.

  Sharp grey eyes and waves of chestnut hair almost obscured the thin lines that now stretched across her forehead. He had expected anger, was disappointed to see no fire burning in her eyes. They were flat. Something told him her stomach was not.

  Abby dropped to the couch, wrapped her legs underneath her, and locked her arms across her chest. The temperature in the room kept dropping.

  “Congratulations.” Abby pulled a nearby throw pillow onto her lap. “I hear you’re going to be a daddy.”

  Nick was speechless. His brain stumbled over what she wasn’t saying.

  Abby laughed. “I guess no one would have predicted six months ago that the two of us would both be on the brink of parenthood.”

  Nick ignored the first wave of panic that hit him. “Abby, I tried to explain about my situation with Alyssa. Things didn’t happen the…”

  She raised her hand to stop him. “I should have called you, Nick. When you decided to stay in Tampa indefinitely, my life moved in an unexpected direction.”

  She pushed aside the pillow and stood. “About two weeks after your last call, I started seeing someone. Things just happened.”

  Nick’s legs gave out. He dropped to the spot on the couch she had vacated. “What exactly happened?”

  She cringed. “Oh, Nick. I’m sorry…I assumed you wouldn’t even jump to that conclusion. We were only together a short time, and let’s face it; protection was like a religion for you.”

  He lowered his forehead into his hands. Abby with another man made no sense. Sex wasn’t even on her radar. He had been her second lover and she was pushing thirty. He rubbed his temples hoping to get the blood moving again.

  “Do I know him?”

  She turned away, softly pressing her nose against the window pane. “Nick, let’s not go there. It’s personal and I want to protect that.”

  He thought about that. Not an unusual request. If her voice had been steadier he might have honored it.

  “I’m guessing if it was Mark the team grapevine would have already spread the good news.”

  Her back stiffened. “Let it go. I’m not in the mood to play games with you.”

  What exactly was the game? Abby was normally a straight shooter. Today her aim was off.

  “So, is there going to be a wedding?” Nick pushed himself upright.

  Abby flinched, slowly turning away from the window. The eyes that had been lifeless now burned hot.

  “Enough about me. Let’s talk about something mildly interesting.” She lifted her head defiantly. “How’s your wife? Judging from the picture in the paper, I’m guessing her due date must be only a few months away.”

  Nick straightened. “Ex-wife,” he corrected. “Alyssa and I are not legally married anymore.”

  She nodded. “That’s right. I’m so bad with details.”

  His jaw tightened. She made her point. His relationship with Alyssa had been a strange one, before and after the divorce. This time it appeared to have cost him more than he had bargained for. Mentally he backed up. Something still wasn’t clicking.

  “I’m surprised Kevin didn’t mention the happy news.”

  She shrugged. “He just found out this week. I waited a few weeks before telling anyone.”

  “You told no one?”

  “Most women wait a bit. That’s not unusual.”

  “It is if you kept the father-to-be in the dark as well.”

  Abby shrank back, using the couch as a shield. “Listen. I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m running a little late.”

  She was scared. Nick tried not to read into her reaction but his gut told him she was holding out on him. In the biggest way possible. Something warned him to back off. The woman before him didn’t do fragile. Until now.

  He stepped back, retreated toward the door. “So, when can I see you again?”

  “Excuse me?” She wrapped her arms across her stomach.

  “Well, unless you’re engaged, married, or hiding a gun-toting boyfriend, I want to see you. That was the plan after all.”

  “Right,” Abby said. “Why should we let a small thing like pregnancy get in the way of our relationship?” She sneered. “Oh, wait. Stupid me. We’re not in a relationship.”

  He watched her agitation grow, held back when every impulse had him closing the distance between them. A quick flash of headlights sidetracked his thoughts.

  “Expecting someone?”

  “More like someone was expecting me.” She slid past him toward the door.

  The arrival of a clearly confused Bridget only ratcheted up the tension. Her eyes darted back and forth, finally settling on Nick.

  “This is a surprise,” Bridget said, wrapping her arms affectionately around him. “Kevin thought you’d stay south until after the holidays.”

  “Yeah well, I was missing Boston even more than I thought I would.” He let the words settle, hoping to see some reaction from Abby. Her eyes remained fixed on her cousin.

  “This has been fabulous,” Abby said. “Thanks for stopping by, Nick. See you in April.”

  Bridget interrupted his dismissal. “Will you excuse me? I need to call Kevin and tell him we’re running late.”

  Nick didn’t miss the strange smirk she flashed as she escaped down the hallway toward the guest room. Kevin was about to get an earful. So was Abby.

  “We need to talk, honey.” She opened her mouth to protest but he cut her off. “Let’s not make this worse, okay? I’m sorry for a lot of things right now.”

  She winced, immediately causing him to regret his words.

  His need to touch her overrode common sense. Desire hit him hard as his hands settled gently on her hips. A small path of freckles along the curve of her neck had him sinking closer. Immediately he felt the small shudder that racked her body. She pulled away.

  “I need air,” she said, grabbing a bright pink coat from a nearby rack. “Tell Bridget I’ll be back in ten minutes.”

  He wanted to give her the space she needed, but too many questions lingered to let her go unchallenged.

  “Tomorrow, Abby,” Nick promised, slowly releasing the back of her jacket. “I’ll be back and we are going to talk.”

  The door closed quietly in his face. He had been stupid and careless. The ache in his chest wouldn’t diminish until he had some answers. He only hoped they would be the ones he was prepared to hear.

  A light click of boot heels had him pivoting away from the window. He expected scorn, was humbled to see concern reflected in Bridget’s eyes.

  “You didn’t know?” She folded her coat along the back of the couch.

  “Not a clue,” Nick said. “Has she talked about it with you?”

  “If you’re asking if I know who the father is, the answer is no. Until twenty minutes ago I had you down as a long shot.”

  He pressed the heel of his hand over his eyes. A fresh wave of anxiety assailed him. “How stupid am I? I thought I’d come back and just pick up where I left off two months ago.”

  “And where exactly was that?”

  It felt like another betrayal. Opening up about his feelings for Abby after they both agreed to fly below the radar. Unfortunately his back was to the wall.

  He moved away from the window and motioned toward the couch. “She’ll be back soon, so I’ll give you the condensed version.”

  Other than an occasional sigh, Bridget remained mute. Her face stayed impassive long after his throat stopped working. This time she stood and began to pace.

  “So, tell me Nick. Any truth to those rumors about your ex?”

  Another curveball. He ignored the unexpected hurt that came with her question. “Alyssa’s pregnant. As for the rest I think I�
��ll let you figure that out on your own.” He paused, pushing off of the couch. “I’m going to leave before Abby returns. No point in making things worse.”

  He made it to the door before she delivered her next surprise. “Be patient, Nick. She’s hanging by a thread right now.”

  Well, that was one thing he understood in spades.

  Chock it up to another bad choice. She deserved to freeze. Functioning on auto pilot, she fled her house without gloves or hat. A sharp blast of wind left everything but her brain numb.

  Nick had already cut through her evasive tactics. Unless she betrayed her own moral code, there was no way she was going to slip out of this situation without the truth emerging. She was nauseous and this time it had nothing to do with the life blooming inside of her.

  Trapped. She couldn’t escape the situation. And wasn’t that ironic? Everyone, both within and outside of her circle, would assume he had been trapped. Athletes were always prime targets for avaricious females. Get knocked up and never worry about where your next meal came from.

  Abby was ashamed, embarrassed even. But neither of those emotions trumped the excitement burning in her chest. The pregnancy had been a shock of epic proportions. Nick had been so damn careful when they were together that she went through three test kits before accepting the possibility that the results were accurate.

  The day she stepped out of her new obstetrician’s office she had actually dialed Nick’s number in Tampa. An answering machine was all she got. By the time she tracked him down, her desire to share the news had all but disappeared.

  He wasn’t ready to come back. Worse, he wasn’t willing to tell her why his plans kept changing. It was like a valve shut off inside of her that day. Whatever they had shared hadn’t been a beginning. It had been a beginning, middle and end. They were over.

  She hadn’t said the words. Couldn’t accept them in fact. But her voice must have betrayed her. Nick had gone into panic mode.

  Just a few more weeks. No more. This is so damn complicated, Abby. Tell me you understand.