Ball Buster

by Kara Sheridan

  Ty nearly choked on his beer. “Excuse me?”

  “I asked Sadie to marry me.”

  “What? When?”

  “Half asked,” Carson corrected. “Before we came here. I finally did it. I don’t want to lose her again.”

  “And what did she say?”

  “To ask her again tomorrow.”

  Ty emptied his mug. And refilled it with beer from the pitcher on the table. “What kind of an answer is that?”

  “I told her I didn’t want to pressure her at all but that I wanted her to wear the ring.”

  “Sonofabitch…” Ty slapped him on the back. “Would it be too premature if I bought you a celebratory shot of tequila?”

  “Of course not. But keep this between us for now. Just in case she says no.” Carson grinned, knowing Sadie wouldn’t.

  Two minutes later a waitress delivered the drinks.

  Ty raised his shot glass. “To you and Sadie getting hitched.”

  Carson clinked his shot glass against Ty’s and swallowed down the tequila. “How about standing up as my best man?”

  For the first time since they’d met four years ago, Tyrone Baxley was speechless. “I’d be honored. If she says yes.”

  They both laughed.

  Sadie and her friends came back to the table. The grin on Sadie’s face told Carson everything he needed to know. She’d told Barbi and Erika about the ring. It felt good seeing her laugh with her friends, especially at their old hangout. It never failed, after every home game in high school, half the school and the team would pack Chasers.

  Ty nudged him. “You know these guys?”

  Carson looked away from Sadie and turned around. His old teammates were standing together, waiting for him. “Harp! Georgie!” Carson high-fived them. “Jesus, Miguel—it’s been too long. And Jonathan.”

  “Ty, Solomon, and Donovan, come over here,” Carson said.

  They joined him.

  “Meet my offensive line from high school.” Carson made the introductions.

  Over the next half hour, everyone invited to the dinner showed up, including Leonard, which was a happy surprise for Sadie. They ordered enough hot wings and beers to feed a small army, then the pizzas started coming.

  A few hours later, Sadie nuzzled up to Carson as he draped his arm across her shoulders, comfortably seated in an oversized booth. “Okay, sweetheart?” he asked.

  “I’m sad Leonard had to leave early. Otherwise, I’m great. I can’t believe we’re all here. Harp is married with two kids. Jonathan owns a successful real estate company. Georgie is working on his doctorate, and Miguel travels all over the world…”

  “If you think about it,” Carson started, “all of us ended up successful.”

  “And happy,” she added.

  “That, too.” Carson kissed her forehead.

  “Get a room!” Ty said from across the table.

  “Or maybe we should just hit Record on our cell phones and make a sexy video to post,” Sadie teased back.

  “Been taking notes, girl?” Ty smiled.

  “I would never do that.”

  The same attractive cocktail waitress that had been serving the drinks all evening passed by and Ty grinned at her, the way he always did when interested in getting laid.

  “Ty?” Carson said.

  “What?”

  “Leave her alone.”

  “Just because you have a girlfriend doesn’t mean I’m willing to settle down.”

  Sadie lips curved upward into a sexy smile. “Ouch.”

  That’s when Carson noticed Jason standing across the bar staring at them.

  “Fuck.” He shot up from the bench. “I can’t believe that asshole showed up here.”

  “Who are you talking about?” Sadie asked.

  “Jason.”

  “Who’s Jason?” Ty asked, standing up, too.

  “A jealous prick that doesn’t know when enough is enough.”

  “Carson.” Sadie grabbed a fistful of his shirt. “Don’t make a scene. We’ll figure out how to deal with him.”

  Carson looked at her. “This is about respect, too, Sadie. And as long as he goes unchecked, that asshole isn’t going to stop.”

  “Please, Carson…We’re just starting to get used to the idea of me being here, starting new, living here again…” Sadie let go of his shirt and slipped out of the booth.

  “What did he do?” Ty asked Sadie.

  “Harassed me in high school for dating Carson…old news.”

  “No,” Carson hissed. “We ran into him the other day and he posted insulting shit on Facebook about us. I sent him a clear message after, not to fuck with Sadie anymore.” He couldn’t hold back much longer; Jason needed to learn a lesson the hard way. Carson wouldn’t let anyone hurt Sadie ever again.

  “What’s going on, bro?” Solomon approached the table.

  Harp, Miguel, Jonathan, and Georgie came over, too. They’d been playing pool with Barbi and Erika.

  Carson pointed at Jason.

  “Oh, shit,” Harp said. “Not good…”

  Sadie’s heart dropped into her stomach as Carson and the rest of the men headed for the other side of the bar. Every fear she ever had about returning to Fairhope came rushing back. She didn’t want any negative attention. Didn’t want to be the cause of Carson getting into trouble. Didn’t want the town fixated on Sadie’s father being the town drunk. Breaking up with Carson was the end result of all her fears, justified or not.

  In a small place like Fairhope, the fruit didn’t fall far from the tree. And she’d be ruined if she stayed. Her career…the life that she’d built.

  Her whole body started to shake. Thank God Barbi noticed. Her best friend slipped behind her. “Sadie?”

  “I-I need to go.”

  “No you don’t, sweetie.”

  Sadie spun around. “I tried to talk Carson down. If he gets into a fight, if any of them do, Ty, Solomon, or Donovan, they might get cut from the team. And what about Jonathan, Miguel, Harp, and Georgie?”

  “Let them take care of Jason.”

  “But all the hard work we’ve done…”

  “Jason needs to get his ass kicked. No one I know would get mad at Carson or any of those guys for defending you, Sadie. This town let you down before, it’s not going to happen again.”

  Tears rolled down Sadie’s cheeks. “I don’t want Carson to get into a fight over me, Barbi. Please, go talk to him.”

  “Stay here,” Barbi said, “I’ll be right back.”

  Sadie nodded and watched as Barbi walked across the room to Carson and whispered something in his ear. She desperately hoped Barbi could talk some sense into the man she loved, because Sadie felt like she was going to have a panic attack, something that hadn’t happened in a long time.

  She inhaled through her nose and exhaled through her mouth several times.

  “Barbi is right,” Erika said. “Everyone knows what Jason and his sister did to you. But no one said anything because it was easier to ignore it.”

  “Not you, too,” Sadie said.

  “Let me get you a drink.”

  “A shot of whiskey might help settle my nerves. Thank you.” She made the mistake of taking a last look at Carson—just as he wrapped his big hand around Jason’s throat.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Carson didn’t give Jason time to react. He grabbed him by the throat, lifted him off his feet, and slammed him through the set of double doors and forced him outside. He blocked out the world around him—the only thing in his sight was the man who had hurt his girl.

  “Motherfucking prick,” he seethed, his fists itching for violence. He no longer cared about his reputation or football. He had enough money to live comfortably for three lifetimes. All that mattered was Sadie. “You get one shot at telling the truth. Why are you harassing Sadie Reynolds?”

  Jason swallowed, breaking out in a sweat. He stared up at Carson—too frightened to talk.

  Carson pushed him, and Jason stumbled b
ack, smacking into someone standing behind them. Carson looked around, there were dozens of people gathered, many with their cell phones recording everything he was doing. Might as well make the end of his career count.

  “Why?” he asked again, stalking closer to Jason.

  Just as Carson drew his fist back, Ty stepped between them. “Listen to me,” he said calmly. “Save those hands for the game, okay? I’ve got this.”

  Before Carson could protest, Donovan locked his arms around Carson’s waist from behind, holding him back while Ty landed punch after punch on Jason’s face. Once he collapsed in a bloody heap, he kicked him in the ribs. “Didn’t your mama raise you better? The next time you want to fuck with someone—call me.” Ty reached in his back pocket and pulled out a business card, the kind most of the players had printed up to give to women they wanted to sleep with. He shoved the edge of the card between Jason’s lips, leaving him out cold on the ground.

  “Goddamnit,” Carson cursed at Donovan. “Let me go.”

  Donovan chuckled and let him loose. “Don’t get your jock strap in a wad. Ty knows what he’s doing.”

  “Wasn’t his fight.”

  “Sure, it was. We need you to play, Carson. Ty knew better. If he wants to sacrifice himself for the team, let him do it.”

  Carson scrubbed his face, frustrated and angry—wanting a piece of Jason himself. But the man was still sprawled on the ground, people snapping pics of him. Social media was about to be inundated with video clips and pics that his coach would see.

  Sadie…Damn it. He needed to get to Sadie.

  As he turned around to go back inside the bar, she was there, looking devastated, her beautiful face streaked with tears.

  “Sadie. Sweetheart…”

  “I can’t believe this happened,” she said. “You and Ty are going to get fired, Carson.”

  Carson knew he should give her some space, but he made a promise once he’d reunited with her to never let things between them ever get out of control again.

  The next afternoon in her hotel room, Sadie sat with Leonard on the balcony, trying to make sense of everything that had happened.

  “Why?” she asked again and again. The videos and pics were damning—pretty much documenting the full confrontation between Carson and Jason, and Ty’s violent beatdown.

  “I’m sorry,” Leonard said. “Wish I would have stayed.”

  “To do what?” She swallowed a mouthful of ice water. “Lose your job, too?”

  “Carson and Ty deserve a chance to tell their sides of the story,” Leonard said. “As for Charles…”

  Sadie palmed a stray tear from her eye. “Our boss doesn’t care, Lenny. I’ve been pulled off the project and have to fly to South Carolina today and out again tomorrow.”

  “Where is he sending you?”

  “To Nebraska.”

  “For what?”

  “There’s a pharmaceutical convention in Lincoln and he wants me to represent the company at the services booth.”

  “You’re not a goddamned intern, Sadie. You deserve better.”

  “I need this job.”

  Leonard shook his head. “What about Carson?”

  Sadie gazed at the beautiful diamond ring on her finger. “I can’t handle talking to him right now. I need some time to think about what I’m going to do.”

  “You’re wearing his engagement ring.”

  “I know.” She felt guilty. And was the biggest emotional coward she’d ever known. Instead of facing her problems head-on, she’d shut Carson down, told him she couldn’t deal with their personal issues until she settled her professional problems first.

  “Are you breaking up with me, Kitty Kat?” he’d asked.

  “Ask me tomorrow,” she’d said.

  Well, it was tomorrow, and she wouldn’t take his calls or return his texts. She felt responsible for everything.

  “I’m glad you’re taking over the project,” she said to Leonard, trying to sound positive.

  “You know I’ll do everything I can.”

  “I know.”

  “But Sadie…”

  “Yes?” She met her friend’s concerned gaze.

  “There are better jobs out there.”

  She clicked her tongue. “No reputable firm will touch me for at least a year after the media shitstorm I just caused.”

  “You have a point. But we could branch off on our own, right? Hell, we did all the work with the Warriors. We could pitch the NFL ourselves and start a firm. I’m open to anything at this point.”

  “I appreciate it, Lenny.” As much as she loved the idea of being Leonard’s partner, for now she was stuck with Charles Longley and would likely get demoted and have her pay cut in half.

  “Leslie is going to get my office,” she said.

  Leonard shook his head. “Over my dead body. Think about what I said about starting our own business, okay?”

  “Did I ever tell you how much I love you, Leonard?” She kissed his cheek. “Thank you for standing by me.”

  “I didn’t do anything, Sadie. I tried to get Charles to listen to reason, but he’s got his head up his ass, swears we might lose the NFL opportunity if you stay here.”

  “Please help Carson and Ty straighten this out with the owner and their coach.”

  “I’ll do everything I can. The police are investigating, talking possible assault charges against Ty.”

  “I know.” Her shoulders sagged.

  Her phone lit up again and vibrated. She had new text messages from Carson and Barbi.

  Carson: Please, baby. Come back. We need to talk about it.

  Barbi: Don’t blame, Carson. It’s my fault. I told him to punch Jason.

  Sadie gulped, anguished and confused.

  Carson: Remember everything we promised each other? Don’t run away again. Please. I love you.

  Barbi: Don’t blow it, Sadie. You’ve come so far. You and Carson are meant to be together. Please, please call me.

  For a moment, she almost convinced herself to dial Carson’s number. Or Barbi’s.

  But she couldn’t, not yet.

  The hotel phone rang, and she rushed to pick it up.

  “Hello?”

  “Ms. Reynolds, your cab is here.”

  “Thank you. I’ll be right down.” She hung up.

  “Your ride?” Leonard asked. He was leaning against the balcony door.

  “Yes.”

  “Did you see the latest posts on Facebook?” he asked, scrolling through his smartphone.

  “I don’t want to know.”

  “You need to look, Sadie.” He crossed the room and shoved his phone into her hands.

  Sure enough, dozens of new posts had been made.

  Carson Savage confronts bully that threatened his old high school girlfriend.

  Ty Baxley beats up his best friend’s romantic rival—saving Apollo’s hands for the game…

  Then the pics…

  Sadie’s face was plastered everywhere. Sadie Reynolds is back. More beautiful than ever. More troubled than ever. More elusive than ever. Runaway sweetheart causes mayhem in Fairhope, Alabama. You thought she nearly cost Apollo his career before—this is the NFL we’re dealing with now. Maybe the UFC is recruiting.

  The tags made her sick to her stomach, and she ran to the bathroom to throw up.

  “You okay, Sadie?” Leonard called.

  “I-I’m okay.” She felt dizzy and exhausted suddenly, the whole world closing in around her.

  This is why she had stayed away from Carson and Fairhope. She loved Carson so much it hurt. But she’d let him down again, just by being back in Alabama. She rinsed her mouth out with cold water before she returned to the main room.

  “Don’t go,” Leonard said. “We can figure something else out.”

  Sadie shook her head and hugged him. “Maybe I can come back after I’m done in Nebraska.”

  Her bags were packed and waiting by the door. She picked them up and glanced back at Leonard, who looked like he�
��d just lost his best friend.

  “Call me when you land, sweetheart,” he said.

  Chapter Thirty

  Thanks to the Warriors’ loyal fans, Carson, Ty, Donovan, and Solomon had made it out of the bar unhindered. Ty ended up spending the night at Carson’s apartment after Sadie called a cab back to Mobile. Barbi and Erika came by that afternoon to check on Carson and see how they could help.

  “Kelly just texted,” Barbi told Carson. “Jason is still at the hospital. He doesn’t want to press charges even though he has a broken nose and two broken ribs.”

  Carson thanked her and looked at Ty. “Twitter and Facebook are on fire.”

  “Yeah.” Ty scrolled through his cell. “Did you see the posts about Sadie, too?”

  “Welcome to small-town Alabama,” Erika offered.

  “Jason knows he’s busted,” Barbi said. “And if I know anything, once this story circulates for a few days, he’ll get chased out of Fairhope.”

  “Jesus Christ.” Carson started pacing. “I want Jason’s head on a fucking platter.”

  “Getting biblical on our asses?” Ty asked. “Street justice, bro. Bet the bastard disappears by tomorrow.”

  Even if he did, Carson planned on making his life a living hell. But for now, all he wanted was to talk to Sadie. “Sadie won’t accept my calls or answer my texts.”

  “She’s probably at the hotel. Maybe I should drive over…” Barbi started.

  “No,” Carson disagreed. His girl hated to be crowded. “All we can do is wait.”

  Barbi looked shocked. “You? Wait?”

  “I promised to be a better man for her, Barbi.”

  “This isn’t the right time. We need the old Carson to rear his ugly head,” she said.

  “What do you want me to do?” Carson asked, willing to try anything at this point. Concern was eating away at his gut. But goddamnit, he was a simple man, sworn to protect the ones he loved.

  “Call the hotel,” Ty directed.

  Carson dialed the Royale. “Sadie Reynolds’ room, please. This is Carson Savage.”

  There was a pause, and then Blake, the concierge, got on the phone. “Good evening, Mr. Savage.”

  “Blake—I’m glad you’re still at work. Did Sadie Reynolds check out of the hotel today?”