Knowing what was coming was usually better than the unknown. Even if the team had a reputation for being better than them, Owen could find something for his girls to feel better about. Maybe their center couldn’t jump as high, or their forward had a weak layup. Even the small things could give them positive vibes.
“This team is good. It won’t be a walk in the park today, so I hope you’re all well-rested.”
“Shoot. Is it ever a walk in the park?” Lia asked.
He chuckled. “One thing I want to warn you about is their audience. I went to an away game to watch them play and they had fans—a lot of fans—cheering and jeering loudly. Don’t let them get to you.”
Malik returned pushing the bin of balls. “I think we got that covered tonight.”
Owen turned to look at him. Malik lifted his chin to point toward the gym entrance. There was a line of people waiting to get in to watch the game. At first glance, it looked like at least half of them were wearing their team colors. They normally had a decent turnout of parents and friends at games to cheer the girls on, especially since they’d been winning. But the line at the door was beyond the norm.
“How?” Owen asked.
“You should know by now, Coach, that we have big mouths. Word spreads. You’re not the only one who can do some recon.”
Sure enough, as the girls started their drills, middle school and high school boys were leading the way to show people where to sit for the game. The opposing team arrived, and Owen introduced himself. Sandra came through with a smile and a nod. She greeted each of the girls by name and wished them good luck.
By the time they were ready to start the game, the bleachers were filled, and Malik was adding chairs along the walls. The cheering was thunderous when his team scored their first basket. He had a hard time calling out directions past the lump in his throat. This was proof of why the center was so important to the neighborhood.
As Keisha broke away dribbling down center court, a flash of movement by the door caught his eye. He looked toward the entrance. Evelyn was here. She didn’t come to games too often. She wasn’t into sports. But she came to support him. She tried to find a spot on the bleachers, but ultimately just ended up standing.
The whole time he coached, he was keenly aware of her presence. She wasn’t a distraction, really. It was more like he wanted to show her that he was okay after the call yesterday at work. If he could show her that the call didn’t affect him as much as she thought, they would go back to normal.
She’d caught him in a weak moment last night, and he’d needed her presence to recover from what had happened. He didn’t like relying on other people to feel better. He’d always managed to get his shit together on his own after a tough call. But last night, when Evelyn was standing in front of him, concerned for his well-being, he was hit with a strong urge to seek comfort from her.
Which was totally inappropriate.
So he’d coach the hell out of this game to show her yesterday was no big deal. He didn’t need her to worry about him. Because doing so might irrevocably change their relationship.
…
Evelyn wasn’t even completely sure what caused her to show up at Owen’s basketball game. She didn’t like sports, but after last night, part of her wanted to make sure he was okay. She’d never seen him so shaken up by a call at work. Then again, she rarely knew about the tough calls. It finally occurred to her that Owen typically avoided her after a call like that.
Which made her wonder how he handled it.
Bottling up that much emotion was not healthy. But watching him coach in this earsplittingly loud gym was nothing short of amazing. The yelling and screaming might give her a headache, but it didn’t seem to affect Owen or his team at all.
She understood some of the rules of basketball, so she could follow what the girls were doing, but when Owen was waving his hands and yelling what she assumed were directions, she couldn’t hear him and had no idea what it all meant. When a girl from the other team practically ran over one of Owen’s girls, he rushed to the court to check on her. After she stood, looking no worse for the wear—and offering the offending girl a nasty glare—Owen turned on the ref and the opposing coach. He was not having any of it.
She still couldn’t hear what he was saying, but in her head his voice rang clear as he stood up for his player.
Evelyn had never had a thing for athletes, or coaches, for that matter, but watching this side of Owen was pretty hot. His protective streak was more of a turn-on than she’d expected.
For the rest of the game, she spent more time watching him than she did the players. Occasionally, he looked over and smiled at her. He was back to normal, the Owen she could always count on, with no sign of the distress from yesterday. Maybe she was blowing it all out of proportion.
Owen and his girls won the game in the last few seconds. The crowd went wild, and Owen’s team surrounded him. They took a few minutes to high-five with big smiles before he pointed them in the direction of the other team, who were lined up to congratulate them.
As she watched the entire thing play out, Evelyn realized that this was yet another family that Owen had created for himself. He had pockets of people who cared about him everywhere. How exactly do I fit in?
Jamal had told her that she was one of them, but she wasn’t. His family treated her like she was one of them, but she wasn’t. And the kids at the center were completely removed from her. She and Owen were best friends, but what exactly did that mean? He talked about the kids, so she was familiar with them, but she didn’t have a place here.
She was so lost in her own thoughts that she didn’t notice Owen coming up on her. Suddenly she was being swept off her feet in a big circle.
“I’m glad you made it. This was a big win.”
“Congratulations. It was an awesome game.” She patted his shoulder. “You can put me down now.”
The look on his face said he hadn’t considered how his display would appear to everyone else. He took her hand. “Come for pizza with us to celebrate?”
“You sure?”
“About what? Pizza? Pizza is best way to celebrate with kids—cheap and easy. They eat a lot.”
“No,” she answered with a smile. “I mean about me tagging along. Shouldn’t you be hanging with your team?”
“Of course you can eat with us. Most of the families are coming. You’re my family.”
For a guy who didn’t like to talk much, his words smoothed out the questions and concerns that had been bouncing around in her head for the last hour.
She might not have much of her own family, but if Owen was willing to share his, she’d take it.
…
Friday morning, Owen got off work and took a nap before going to pick up his rented tuxedo. If Evelyn kept dragging his ass to these fancy events, he might have to invest in a tux of his own. Normally, on Fridays, Evelyn tried to get off work a little early, but with the award ceremony and the follow-up episode, she’d said she was going to work late.
He hadn’t seen her since she’d stopped by to watch the basketball game. He’d loved having her with him and the team, when they’d gone out for pizza, but he missed his time alone with her. He texted her to see if she wanted to go out for dinner tonight.
As much as I’d love to, I can’t.
Working late?
Yeah, but then I’m meeting a friend for drinks.
A friend. No name. That burrowed into Owen’s nerves. Evelyn had a date.
Okay. Have fun. See you tomorrow.
See you then.
The conversation irritated Owen in an irrational way. He knew Evelyn dated. She’d said as much. But then she said she wasn’t actively looking. What the heck was this then? And why not just say she had a date?
He flipped through the contacts in his phone. He had women to call. Tara was usually up for a good time. He scrolled to her name and paused. There was a reason why he’d said no to plans with Tara to be with Evelyn.
H
e wasn’t a hundred percent sure what that reason was, but it was there. Tara was sexual release with little emotional connection. She was nice, but there was nothing else there. Evelyn was everything else. Which was why her date tonight irritated him. He felt like they’d been working toward something. Something that would make her dating bug him. They obviously weren’t on the same page.
Instead of a hookup, he opted to go for a run with his other best friend. Probie scrambled as soon as he heard the leash. He knelt and rubbed his dog. “Yeah, boy. Who needs women?”
After a three-mile run, Owen didn’t feel any better. He was still thinking about women. First, Evelyn, wondering what was happening on her date. Then Nina and all the things she’d said about Evelyn. How Evelyn would never be satisfied living life like he did. She would want the whole package with one guy.
He took a quick shower and called his brother. “Want to go out for a few beers?”
“Uh…it’s Friday night.”
“Yeah. So?” He paused. “Wait. Does Alicia tie up all of your Friday nights because you’re about to get married? Doesn’t she know she has a whole lifetime for that?”
Dave laughed. “Alicia’s not even home. She’s having a girls’ night.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“There is no problem. I figured if you weren’t working, you’d either be on a date or with Evelyn.”
Owen grunted. “I do have more to my life than getting laid and hanging out with Evelyn.”
“Really? Have you started doing those things together? ’Cause that would free up some time.”
“No. I’m not sleeping with my best friend.” Why does everyone think he and Evelyn should be fucking? “Do you want to go out or not?”
“Tell me where.”
They met up at a sports bar in between their houses. Although they saw each other pretty often, it was usually at family things. Especially since he’d proposed to Alicia. Owen missed hanging out with his brother. “How are the wedding plans?” he asked.
Dave shrugged. “Alicia is doing all the planning. She just tells me where to send the money.”
“It’s your wedding, too.”
“The wedding is important to her. I’d be happy with a judge and my family.”
“I thought she was keeping it small.”
“She thought by making it a destination wedding, it would be small. But word travels, and people want to come to the wedding and turn it into a vacation.”
“How many people?”
“Still not huge. I think she said fifty?”
They sat in silence for a while, watching the baseball game on the huge TVs.
“What’s on your mind?” Dave asked.
“What do you mean?”
“I like seeing you, but it’s not like you to call to have beers. You obviously have something you want to talk about or ask me, so out with it.”
“As someone with a semi-objective opinion, why do you think my marriage to Stacy didn’t work?”
“Because she cheated on you,” Dave said as if Owen had lost every brain cell in his body.
“I don’t need you to state the obvious. But it didn’t just happen. Obviously, something was lacking. I didn’t see the signs.” He took a drink of beer. Then added, “And don’t question my skills in the bedroom. I’ve never had any complaints.”
Dave shook his head. “Stacy was…I don’t know…flighty? Insecure? You were gone a lot. She didn’t know what to do with herself. A person can only do so much sitting around waiting and wondering.”
Owen thought about it. Back then, he’d taken on every extra shift he could. He’d wanted to provide them with a good life. Stacy had complained about the hours he put in on the job. He just kept promising that it wouldn’t be forever. Maybe if she’d had her own things to do… Besides another man. But when he was around, she’d complained they hadn’t done exciting stuff together. He’d had enough excitement at work, so at home he wanted calm.
No matter what he did, it hadn’t been enough. At every turn, he’d felt like a failure. He’d wanted to give Stacy everything, but he couldn’t quite get there.
He’d never talked about work, because it made her worry too much. They didn’t have hobbies together. Outside of sex, the connection hadn’t been there. Had he not tried hard enough to forge that connection?
“What made you think about that?” Dave asked, bringing him back to the present.
“Something a friend mentioned. She said that Evelyn would want to get married again, or at least have a serious relationship. It got me wondering why I haven’t found one.”
“You haven’t tried.”
He couldn’t argue that point. Early on after the divorce, he had, but since he’d forged his friendship with Evelyn, not really.
“I like my life. It’s full. I have sex when I want it. I have a great job and good friends. I love my time at the youth center.”
“Companionship. If you’re getting it from your friends, maybe you don’t need the serious relationship.”
He remembered what Evelyn said about having someone to come home to. Right now, when he felt that need, she was there. But for how long?
Chapter Four
All day Saturday, Evelyn worked with a bundle of nerves rolling in her stomach. The damn awards ceremony shouldn’t matter. She’d never even been nominated before, so that should be enough, but it wasn’t. She wanted to win, but she wished it were for any other episode. All week, they’d been looking at footage from last year’s show as she tried to decide what would work for part of the follow-up.
She’d been tight-lipped around Harry, not wanting him to shoot her ideas down. Trent, the show’s host, was on board with whatever she told him to do. He was easy to work with, so she couldn’t complain about him, per se. But she didn’t particularly like him, either. She didn’t know what was wrong with her lately. Nothing fit quite right.
Stepping into her sleek black gown, she worried she might not be able to zip it up. Everything in her life was a little off. A knock sounded as she slid into her heels, the back of her dress still gaping. A second later, the door opened, and Owen came in.
Damn he looks good in a tux.
“Wow. You’re ready?”
“Just about. You don’t have to look so shocked. I left the studio early to make sure I was on time.” In fact, Harry had shoved her out the door early in the afternoon. It was as if no one trusted her to show up as scheduled.
He looked her up and down, the sensation raking across her nerves, setting them on fire.
“You look amazing.”
“Thanks. You’re not so bad yourself. Can you zip me up?” She turned her back to him.
He tugged at the material, and she instinctively sucked in. They were silent as he slid the zipper up, his fingers grazing her skin. When it neared the top, he paused and swept her hair to the side. He stepped closer, close enough that his breath caressed her neck as he clasped the top.
Her dress was completely fastened, but neither of them moved. His hands felt so natural on her body. Fuck. She had to stop thinking like that.
Stepping away, she stuffed her purse with her phone, keys, ID, and some cash.
“How was your date last night?”
She paused at the question. “What date?”
“Late drinks?”
“Oh, that. It wasn’t a date. I told you I was meeting a friend.”
He looked at her with a raised brow.
“A friend. That wasn’t code for a fuck buddy. Grant was an assistant producer on Trent Talks the first couple years. He moved on, and we haven’t seen each other in a long time. He wanted to meet for a drink. It was only one drink. I didn’t get there till late. We caught up. Then I came home. Alone.” Why did she feel like she was defending her social life to Owen?
Her explanation made him look relieved. Which was even more bizarre than her needing to defend her choices. What the hell was going on with them?
“How long does this thing g
o tonight?” he asked.
“Like eleven-ish? Why?”
“Just curious. I’m guessing that since you’re nominated this year, you’ll want to stay for the whole thing.”
In past years, they’d always cut out early and found decent food to eat to make up for whatever rubber chicken banquet food they’d been served. “Let’s play it by ear. If I don’t win, I’ll be ready to leave early.”
He tugged at his tie and crooked his elbow for her to take. “Hmm. Now I don’t know which is worse—to wish you don’t win so we can leave early or wish that you do, knowing I’ll be stuck there all night.”
She took his arm. “There’s a stocked bar.”
“I can’t drink too much. I’m working tomorrow.”
“Party pooper.”
He led her from the condo to his car. They drove to the banquet in silence, Evelyn’s nerves increasing with each passing mile.
“You okay?” Owen finally asked as he pulled up to the valet stand.
“Nervous. I’ve always wanted the nomination, but I never considered how nerve-racking it would be.”
The valet opened her door. A moment later, Owen took her hand. “You’ll be fine.”
Having him in her corner made her believe it. Inside the hall, they found their table, where they’d be sitting with everyone else from Trent Talks. Although this award was small compared to the Emmys, it was well-attended, with a few famous faces milling around.
She grabbed champagne from the first tray she could find. Then she led Owen through the throngs of people to decide who she wanted to talk to. Over the course of the week she’d spent some time reviewing other executive producers who might be interested in her pitch. She’d enjoyed working with Harry, but she wasn’t about to let her career stagnate. She was ready for something different.
She barely made it five steps when she heard Owen grunt. When she turned to see what the problem was, Donald came up to her, arms open wide.
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