Dirty Jock

by Sienna Valentine

  "Oh really?" he seethed. "You and I are the same, are we? Let’s compare. First let’s look at you. You're unrelated to Izzy at all, yet you showed up here trying to get me to sign her away before I’d even met her. You didn’t offer to give me time to spend with her and decide, you were trying to blindside me and take advantage of what you thought you knew from a few hours reading the tabloids. That about right so far? Did I miss anything?”

  I didn’t dare open my mouth as he glared at me before continuing. “Now here’s me. As her actual fucking father, I have every right in the world to Izzy. I have no obligation to spend any time at all with the woman that orchestrated this whole plan of getting me to give her up. Especially considering how crystal clear you were in how much you not only despised me, but considered me to be a complete piece of shit. And yet when I saw how much it would have hurt for you to let her go, I still offered to let you see her as much as you wanted.”

  He paused as he stared at me, lips pursed as he nodded slowly. “And how did you return that favor? By continuing to work behind my back to try and steal my daughter away. Yeah, Laney. Tell me again how exactly alike we are."

  "No, no, no," I protested, shaking my head. "That's not how it was at all! I haven't been working with her, I just spoke to her that one time and I've been regretting it ever since. I was wrong about you, I know that now! But we can still fix this, Tanner. That's why I'm telling you about Sunday. If I still wanted to try to take Izzy away from you why would I warn you at all? I want to help you."

  "I think you've done more than enough, I don't want or need any more of your 'help'."

  "Tanner, please." The tears were flowing freely now. I felt miserable and this whole thing couldn't have gone any worse. But he had to let me help him. "Surprise visits aren't even technically allowed," I said. I'd looked it up after getting the call from Miss Myers. They aren't allowed to just show up, although it isn't unheard of for them to try. If the person lets them in, then fine, but they didn't have to. "You can just turn her away. Or not answer the door."

  "Unlike you, I have no deep dark secrets I've been hiding. Let her come. You said yourself there's nothing for her to find here. I'd look far more guilty trying to avoid her. But maybe that's what you're angling for."

  He didn't get it. It wasn't about what he was trying to hide. "You don't understand," I began, but he didn't let me finish.

  "Actually, Delaney, I'm pretty sure I finally understand everything. At least enough to know not to listen to your backstabbing lies anymore. Now get the fuck out of my house."

  23

  Tanner

  "Uh oh, somebody heeeere."

  We'd finished dinner half an hour ago, and I could tell Izzy was getting sleepy but she was still just as eager as ever to help me finish tidying up. Having a couple of days to prepare for a surprise visit was more than enough, though, especially considering I'd already taken care of the major issues last week.

  Electrical outlets were covered. Table corners were cushioned. Breakables were all gone or completely out of reach. And Izzy had a bedroom fit for a princess after helping me pick out decorations at the store.

  All that left for us to do was tidy up, and we had already done most of that earlier, but my daughter was still happily pushing around a broom making noises like it was a vacuum cleaner. With hardwood floors throughout, I didn't even own one of those, so she must have been familiar with them from somewhere else.

  Laney's place, more than likely.

  I frowned to myself as I went to open the door. Every time I thought of that redhead I was rocked with a fresh set of conflicting emotions. Things had been going so well the other night, better than I would have ever hoped—that kiss we shared, I hadn’t been able to get it out of my mind even when I was most furious with her—and then she stabbed me in the back. And yet the more I brooded on it, the harder it was becoming to blame her. I'd spent years building up the very reputation that had concerned her so much in the first place. Acting selfishly, moving from bed to bed not caring who I left behind or hurt. Acting like... like my father. Who could blame her for wanting to protect Izzy from that?

  Only that wasn't who I really was, was it? My father had a family when he acted like that, I was out here alone. That was big difference. And now that I had a daughter of my own, I could be different.

  I would be different.

  I both hated the fact that Delaney saw me like that, and felt elated at the idea that she recognized how wrong she'd been. I was just as consumed by the memory of her lips against mine as I was of the feeling of her utter betrayal of my trust. The only thing that helped ease that pain was the fact that she'd done what she’d done a week ago and regretted it ever since. But it still stung.

  The whole thing was a confusing mess, but now wasn't the time to sort it out. I needed to focus on this meeting with Myers. I couldn't afford to be distracted by...

  Shit.

  "What the hell are you doing here?"

  Laney had her hands raised, palms toward me, as if to ward off the attack she knew she was in for the moment I'd opened the door. She wore a little smile and raised eyebrows that I had a feeling were a weak attempt at a peace offering.

  But I wasn't quite ready to forgive and forget, no matter how gorgeous she looked.

  "De-ainy!"

  Izzy wasn't holding any grudges, though. She ran for their customary greeting, but to her credit Delaney just turned her brilliant green eyes up to me in an unseen question. I nodded slightly. There was no point in taking it out on my daughter. Besides, I couldn't have stopped the crushing hug that Izzy threw towards Laney even if I wanted to—it was just nice that she at least acted like she needed my permission to accept it.

  "Me cleaning!" Izzy announced as soon as she was done with the hug. She ran over to where she had dropped the broom and started vrooming around the apartment again.

  "What the hell are you doing here?" I repeated. It wasn't that there wasn't a part of me that was happy to see her, maybe even a big part, but I was still pissed off. I still felt like my reaction the other night was justifiable, but at the same time I also knew it was blown well out of proportion. I was far from ready to admit that, though.

  "Good, Miss Myers isn't here yet," she said, watching Isabella slide her make-believe vacuum cleaner around my living room. She was still standing in the doorway and I wasn't sure if I was going to invite her in. At least not while she continued to ignore my question. I stood in her way until she met my gaze.

  "Tanner," she began. "I'm sorry, I really am. I should never have told Miss Myers anything, and although I felt like I had a good reason at the time, I know that part of that was colored by my own desperate desire to hang on to Izzy. I should have given you more of a chance. Obviously I completely misjudged you. I have no doubt at all that you're going to be a great father."

  That was more than I expected, and it left me at a loss for words for a moment. Laney stared at me uncertainly, and then bowed her head slightly and sighed.

  "I understand if you're still angry with me, but I really needed to warn you about something."

  I stepped out of her way and let her pass, closing the door and then speaking first before she could continue.

  "I am angry," I nodded, "but more at myself and how I reacted. I'm not going to apologize for how I've been living my life these last few years, but that means I shouldn't expect anyone to judge me any differently than you did because of it. At least not until I prove that the Tanner Garrick you see in the media isn't the only side of me."

  "You have," she nodded quickly.

  "Not to everyone," I shrugged. "Myers wouldn't be on her way for a surprise visit if that was true."

  And maybe you would have called to tell her not to come at all if you really believed it, too.

  The thought came and went quickly from my head. I knew it was stupid and unfair and would have likely done no good anyway, but it reminded me that I hadn't quite let go of all of my anger yet.

  Laney
's face turned serious. "Which is what I need to talk to you—"

  This time she was interrupted by the front door. There was only one person that could be this time.

  "Uh oh," came a little voice from the hallway leading into the kitchen. "Somebody heeeere!"

  Laney still looked like she wanted to finish her thought, but it would have to wait. I wasn't about to keep Myers waiting, even if this was supposed to be a surprise visit.

  "Mr. Garrick," she greeted me as soon as I swung open the door. "I'm glad I caught you. I was just in the neighborhood and thought I'd stop by for a quick visit and to see how things were going with Isabella. Do you have a few minutes?"

  I threw on the best fake smile I had at my disposal, which was one most people were accustomed to seeing staring back at them from the cover of a magazine. "Of course," I replied, as if I were completely oblivious to her lie. "Although if I'd known I was going to have all of this unexpected company I would have made tea or something."

  I ushered the older woman in and watched as her eyes widened at seeing Delaney.

  "Miss Chase! I didn't expect to see you here...?"

  This time it was Laney's turn to dial up the faux happiness. "Oh, hello Miss Myers. So nice to see you again. Yes, I just stopped in for a visit as well." She reached out to Izzy, who had stopped in between us to stare at the new arrival, and smoothed her dark hair. "As promised, Mr. Garrick has been very accommodating in allowing us to visit."

  I was used to Laney calling me Garrick, but prefixing it with mister was a new one. She obviously didn't think that telling Myers about how familiar we'd become lately was a good idea, and that felt like a good decision to me.

  "I see." The CPS worker pursed her lips, fixing a dark stare on Delaney for a moment before sniffing and turning away. I could see her gaze begin to sweep across the apartment as if already looking for the first infraction to pounce on.

  "Would you like a quick tour?" I asked. "Maybe Lan—Delaney here can watch Izzy for a few minutes."

  After a curt nod of approval, I led the woman through my apartment. I started her in the kitchen, then back through the living room and upstairs, showing her Izzy's bathroom and bedroom but skipping my own. I was fine with demonstrating that I had nothing to hide, but there was no reason to let her do any more snooping then necessary.

  Throughout, she did her best to point out small issues here and there, but I could tell she was disappointed, if not frustrated, at not finding something more substantial to complain about. I had a feeling that the potentially negative effect on Izzy’s feeling of independence caused by her underwear drawer being too high for her to reach on her own wasn’t going to help turn a family court against me.

  "Thank you for the tour," she huffed, as we returned to the living room. Izzy was lying on her stomach on the floor, coloring. Her head and the picture she was working on were obscured by the toddler sized table she was lying half-under. The very table I had bought so that she didn't have to color on the floor.

  "Mr. Garrick has done wonders since I first dropped Izzy off," Laney chimed in. "I barely recognize the place. He's put in a lot of work and effort to make sure it's safe."

  Miss Myers shot her another glare and then nodded, the graying bun on the back of her head bobbing up and down before she turned back to me. "Indeed. Well done. However, if you have a few more moments there is something else I wish to discuss."

  I gestured to the couch and waited for the two ladies to sit before dropping down into my arm chair.

  "As a professional athlete, it is my understanding that you spend a lot of time 'on the road'." The way she said those last three words sounded as if they left a bad taste in her mouth that she was trying to spit out. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Delaney stiffen. "I would like to understand what your plan is for Isabella's care during that time. Obviously traveling so often, with such a young child back home, is fraught with difficulties that can lead to a whole host of major problems as a child matures. From abandonment issues to attachment issues and everything in between. Without a stable home environment and a loving, consistent and familiar person to raise her while her only parent is away so often is simply asking for trouble. And of course, taking her with you would be so much worse. Given how important and pressing this issue is, I'm sure you've thought a lot about it and I would like to hear your plan. In case there is any advice I can offer."

  Even if I couldn't smell the trap she was laying, the smile that slowly curled across her face would have set warning bells ringing in my head. I didn't have a plan, but she was making it very clear that she expected one. It was also very clear that she had phrased that speech very precisely, intentionally closing off any easy outs I might try to take, like suggesting I bring Izzy with me or that I find a nanny to watch her while I was away. I was also sure that it was no accident that she had specifically said that Izzy needed a “loving, consistent and familiar person”, knowing—thanks to Laney—that I had no nearby family to call on for help.

  At least now I knew what it was she had been trying to warn me about.

  For the first time since Myers had shown up, I was floundering with no idea what to say. I opened my mouth, but there was no plan behind the words and even I feared what they would be. I knew no matter what they were, they would be wrong. There was no answer here that would satisfy her. This was the trap she had come here to spring, and this was the path she was going to take to try and wrestle Izzy back away from me. But before I could give her the ammunition she needed, Laney interrupted.

  "That's all been covered," she said. "Mr. Garrick and I have agreed that in those cases, I would look after Izzy."

  24

  Delaney

  I'd like to say that it just slipped out in the moment, but the truth was I'd been thinking about offering myself as a solution ever since I learned about what Miss Myers had planned to focus on this morning. It seemed like the perfect solution, at least for me.

  I’m sure it would have sounded better to Tanner, too, if I had run it by him first. That had been my intention this morning, but instead the surprise I’d meant to only spring on Miss Myers ended up shocking Tanner as well. The worst part was that doing it this way put him on the spot, where he could hardly say no, and as such was just as likely to reinforce his belief that I was secretly working against him as it was to assure him that I was only trying to help.

  But I had no idea what was really going through his head because his face didn't betray a thing. He only nodded, keeping his focus on the CPS worker. When I finally turned to look at her myself, she was staring at me with her mouth slightly open and bulging eyes.

  Well, at least he won't think we're in this together.

  "Is that... excuse me, perhaps there's been some sort of misunderstanding. We're talking about Mr. Garrick and whether he has made clear and substantial plans for the care of Isabella, because if not, that would have serious repercussions toward our initial agreement as to his--"

  "No, I understand completely," I said, cutting her off. "Your concern was whether Izzy would have someone that loved and cared for her, someone she was familiar with and would be a stable figure in her life, during those times where her father had to work or be otherwise occupied without her. As you yourself have said in the past, I've already demonstrated my love and commitment toward Izzy, so we were sure you would agree that I would be the perfect choice."

  Miss Myers opened her mouth again, but then shut it. Then she repeated the movement. It wasn’t until the third time that words finally came tumbling out. "I just want to make sure that you understand what this means, Miss Chase." She raised her eyebrow at me, and the darkness of her pupils bore into me like they were attempting to dig into my brain and change my mind.

  "Completely," I said, standing up as a cue that it was time for her to leave. "It means all of your remaining concerns about Isabella's well-being have been taken care of, which I believe also means that aside from the few upcoming visits that you have actually, properly, sc
heduled, you can finally close the case on this one. I'm sure that's a relief to you, as you probably have a lot of other work on your plate."

  When Miss Myers continued to sit and stare up at me, Tanner quickly rose to his feet as well.

  "That's great," he agreed. "Well then, I guess that's it. Thanks so much for stopping by today to check up on us. Izzy, say goodbye to Miss Myers."

  "Bye bye," came a sleepy little voice from under the table.

  With no ambiguity to her dismissal remaining, she finally rose. "I see." There were tight lines around her mouth as she nodded at Tanner. "Good night, then." She left without a word to me, but she did manage to cast another dark look in my direction before the door closed behind her.

  "Wow." Tanner walked in a daze back to his chair.

  "I'm sorry," I said immediately. "Obviously I'm not going to hold you to any of that, I mean, you do need to figure it out, she's right about that, but you don't have to use me. As a babysitter, I mean." I was rambling now, but I couldn't stop myself. "I just figured it was the best way to satisfy her. I tried to warn you—"

  "It's okay," he nodded, staring straight ahead from his seat, as if studying the leather of the couch in front of him in great detail. I sat down, off to one side, and waited a few more moments.

  When he didn't continue, I spoke again. Normally I was okay with silence, but this time I was worried about what it was hiding. "I didn't mean to spring that on you, I swear. I meant to make the offer the other night, but then we..."—started making out—"...got distracted and..."—we started fighting and you threw me out—"...then things got complicated. Anyway, that's why I came over this morning, I wanted to discuss it with you before she showed up but—"