My Sweetheart (3 page)

             
Jane pursed her lips and looked away. She was worried too. She hated the idea of being all alone in a huge house by herself at night. But she didn’t want to worry her sister when she should be thinking about her wedding.

             
“I’m a big girl Kit. I’ll be fine,” she said, sounding more self-assured than she felt.

             
Kit looked at her doubtfully and shook her head. “Yeah
right
. I wouldn’t want to be here all by myself. Layla told me she asked you to move in with her and Michael and you said no.”

             
Jane groaned and shook her head. “Are you kidding me Kit? Who would want to move in with them? They’ll be newlyweds. They don’t need me getting in their way. No Kit, I’ll be fine here. And don’t you dare invite me to move in with you either.
Yuck
,” she said with feeling.

             
Kit laughed and stood up. “So we’re affectionate. Deal with it you baby.”

             
Jane stood up too and walked over to the light switch, turning the lights off and walking toward the kitchen with Kit right behind her. “When you guys are in the same room, you’re either hugging, kissing or hugging
and
kissing. It’s not pretty,” she said and laughed when Kit pushed her from behind.

             
Kit laughed too and walked over to the fridge and took out a bottle of grape juice. “Just wait, you’ll be worse than me and Layla put together. I remember you in high school. You always had your nose in a book, sighing over your fairy tales. What was that book you were obsessed with? That one with the fallen angel named Patch? You Jane are so romantic and mushy you’ll need to move to a different country when you get married. No one will be able to stand to be near you,” she said expertly dodging an oven mitt aimed at her head.

             
Jane felt a quick twist of pain in her heart and tried to smile. “Yeah, maybe,” she said softly and turned to walk away.

             
Kit frowned and moved to block her. “Hey now. What’s this? Why the sad puppy dog face?”

             
Jane shrugged and looked away. “I think I might be one of those weird people who only fall in love with one person and they’re biologically incapable of loving anyone else. I can’t picture myself ever getting married if I’m not head over heels in love with the man, like you and Layla are. Which leaves me with, um . . .
nothing
,” she said miserably.

             
Kit shut her eyes and groaned. “Tate Matafeo.
Darn that man
,” she muttered and moved out of the way so they could continue upstairs.

             
Kit followed her into the family room, watching her with a worried crease on her forehead. “Sometimes it just takes time Jane. Love is alive. This thing you have for Tate just has to die before you can love again.”

             
Jane sat down on the couch and grabbed her laptop, flipping it open before glancing at her sister. “So if Hunter dumped you right now and it was over,
completely
over between you and there was no hope of ever being with Hunter again in this lifetime, you’d be okay? You’d just wait for your love to die and move on to the next contender?”

             
Kit’s face turned pale and her eyes bleak at the thought and she shook her head jerkily. “
No
,” she whispered. “Sometimes love never dies,” she said and walked over and kissed Jane on the cheek. “Sorry Jane. When you put it that way . . . well, it’s just tragic. I’m so sorry,” she said and walked out of the room.

             
Jane closed her eyes and swallowed hard. She waited a moment and then flicked her wrist with the rubber band, ferociously determined to get her mind off of Tate. She glanced at her wrist and pursed her lips at the red marks all over her wrist. She was going to be bruised tomorrow and this was just day one. She
had
to get over him before she lost a hand. She checked her email and grimaced at all the welcome emails from her new match and mingle site. She clicked on a few and then stopped and re-read the one she’d just received a few moments ago.

             
Hey Jane! Welcome to match and mingle. There’s a bunch of us getting together tonight to watch a rugby game. My older brother plays for the Tacoma Tsunami. They need all the support they can get. Message me and I’ll give you the details. It’s a great way to meet new people. I look forward to getting to know you! - Meredith

             
Jane stared at the message and wondered if she should. She didn’t know anything about Rugby except that Tate played. What if this girl’s brother was on the same team or playing against Tate’s team? She’d have to sit there for an hour and watch him run around a field.
In shorts.

             
Jane pulled the rubber band off her wrist and messaged Meredith.

             
Can’t wait to meet you. Sounds like fun. Can I bring a dessert?

             
Jane drove up to the large field on Portland Avenue and parked her car. She picked up the large platter of assorted cupcakes and walked toward the crowd of people. Meredith had told her to look for the girl with shoulder length blond hair. After a few moments she spotted a girl with blond hair standing next to a woman with short red hair cut in a pixie style and she was staring back at her with a smile. The redhead was super teeny and looked like a fairy standing next to all the huge Rugby players and the other tall athletic looking girls. Finally the blond waved and Jane smiled back cautiously and headed in that direction.

             
“You must be Jane. I’m Meredith and this is Tawni, my BFF. Holy crap, you must have been baking for hours.
Are you crazy?
I just brought a dozen cookies I bought at the grocery store,” she said staring at the dozens of gorgeous cupcakes.

             
Jane blushed a little and shrugged. “Well, that’s what I do for a living. I’m a baker. Me and my sisters own Belinda’s Bakery in Fircrest. It’s no big deal,” she said as more people noticed what she was carrying and started walking over like wolves scenting prey.

             
Two large men, one of them Samoan or Tongan, walked up with friendly grins on their faces. “Meredith, introduce us to your friend here,” the man with brown hair and blue eyes said.

             
Meredith looked over her shoulder and grinned. “Jane, this is my older brother Tristan and his friend Feke. I should warn you though, they love anyone who brings dessert.”

             
Jane laughed lightly as the men grinned, not denying it. “She’s right. Do we have to wait until after the game?” Feke asked, his dark brown eyes pleading with her.

             
Tawni stepped forward with her hands on her teeny waist and shook her head. “No goodies until you guys win. If you lose, me and Meredith get all the cupcakes,” she said, with her little chin in the air.

             
Feke grinned at her and picked her up in his arms and threw her over his shoulder before running toward the field. Tawni’s shrieks of laughter and giggles let everyone know this was a common occurrence.

             
Meredith rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Do you ever get irritated by people who are in love? Kind of turns my stomach,” she said irritably.

             
Jane’s eyes widened and she nodded her head quickly. “I know exactly what you mean. My two older sisters are so in love I feel nauseated constantly.”

             
Meredith laughed, her bright blue eyes warm with amusement. “Good. I’m dumping her for you then. You can be my new BFF until she comes back to her senses.”

             
Jane grinned in return and nodded. Sounded good to her. Tristan stood by watching his sister and bumped her shoulder. “You know you wouldn’t be so irritated with Tawni if you were dating and having fun too. I’ve got three guys on the team who would love to ask you out.”

             
Meredith grimaced and looked a little vulnerable for a moment. “Tris, you know I’m not ready,” she said softly, looking up at him with sad eyes.

             
Tristan stared down at his sister and shook his head. “How long are you going to mourn Meredith? Dane has been gone for over a year sweetie. You gotta get out there and live again. He wouldn’t want you to sit on the sidelines the rest of your life,” he said gently and then touched his sister on the cheek before walking back to his team.

             
Jane’s eyebrows went up as she stared at the woman nonchalantly wiping a tear off her cheek.               “Sorry about that. Dane was my boyfriend and he died last year in a boating accident. I should be over him I guess, but it’s just hard still. That’s why I’m doing this whole match and mingle thing. I have to get my family off my back. If they see me getting out of the house and meeting new people and having fun, maybe they’ll back off me dating again,” she said, her bottom lip trembling.

             
Jane set her cupcakes down on the table covered with Gatorades and plates of cookies. She walked back to Meredith and gave her a quick hug. “I’m trying to get over someone too. It’s not easy,” she said dryly.

             
Meredith nodded her head jerkily and then sighed. “Right now it feels impossible.
Oh gag
, would you look at that?” she said pointing to Tawni and Feke.

             
Jane looked at the couple and winced. The huge man had lifted Tawni up two feet off the ground and was kissing her in front of everyone. Loud cat calls and cheers surrounded them, but they obviously didn’t care.

             
“That’s what I have to put up with
every
day,” Jane said grimly. Meredith groaned as if she were in agony and pulled her toward the bleachers. They found a seat in the middle and Jane relaxed as Meredith introduced her to everybody. The people surrounding here were a mixture of all cultures and ethnicities.

             
“Oh look, they’re getting ready to start. Have you seen the Haka before?” Meredith asked, her eyes glued to the field.

             
Jane shook her head. “What is a Haka?”

             
Meredith grinned. “Just watch.”

             
Jane gasped lightly as she saw Tate run onto the field and join his teammates.
And then he ripped his shirt off.
Jane’s mouth fell open and her eyes went wide.

             
“Oh my,” she whispered as Meredith laughed at her face.

             
All of the men ripped off their shirts and began chanting and stomping the ground and clapping their hands and doing movements that she didn’t understand.

             
“It’s an old tradition brought over from the islands. It’s supposed to make the other team tremble with fear,” Meredith said and then pumped her fist with the rest of the crowd, screaming her approval.

             
Jane ignored the crowd and the noise as she stared at Tate, her heart racing. She was done for. She’d had an impossible time getting over Tate before. After seeing him do the Haka there was absolutely no hope for her now.

             
The crowd calmed down as everyone finished and put their shirts on and got into formation. The ref blew his whistle and something that looked like a mix of football, wrestling and soccer began. She’d never seen anything like it. All other sports were easy for her to figure out, but this game had her stumped.

             
“I have no clue what’s going on,” she admitted halfway through the game.

             
Meredith laughed at her and shook her head in derision. “Well, you better figure it out quick because you’re coming to every game with me. Someone has to protect me from Feke and Tawni.”

             
Jane laughed as Tawni plopped down beside Meredith. “What are you doing up here in the stands? You always stand with me by the players.”

             
Meredith grimaced and raised an eyebrow at Jane before answering. “Oh I’m just getting to know Jane a little. She doesn’t know anything about the game and I’m trying to help her out.”

             
Jane snorted. Meredith hadn’t explained one thing about the game.

             
Tawni frowned and looked at Jane. “What’s to understand? Come on.
Both of you
. If Feke doesn’t see me cheering for him he can’t concentrate,” she said and pulled Meredith up and then dragged her down the bleachers.
How,
she wondered
, could a little thing like that be so strong
?

             
Meredith yelled back for her to come with her, but Jane shook her head. There was no way she could stand just feet away from where Tate would be. He’d think she was stalking him or something equally humiliating. She watched the game, gasping at the violence. There were no pads to protect the players and the ref didn’t seem to be inclined to call any fouls. She watched in horror as a man from the other team flat out punched Tristan in the stomach before knocking him down. The crowd erupted in fury and during the next play, Tate took the man down so hard he bounced off the ground. She cringed and wondered how many people would be going to the hospital that night. She blinked in surprise as the man stood up and ran back to his team.
Insane
. That was the only word that described Rugby.

             
After the game was over and their team had won, Meredith ran up the bleachers and grabbed her hand. “Come on! Everyone wants to know who made the cupcakes. This will be a great way to meet new people. They’re practically gone.”

             
Jane swallowed nervously as she was pulled to the table with all of the desserts and drinks.

             
“Here she is! My new best friend and real live baker too. She’s professional people,” she announced proudly.

             
Jane smiled shyly as the men grinned at her and shouted out compliments. And then Tate was standing in front of her with one of her chocolate fudge cupcakes in his hand. He stared at her unsmiling for a moment before he gestured to the field and the people.

             
“What are you doing here Jane?” he asked softly as his eyes bored into hers with something that looked a lot like suspicion.

             
Jane shrugged and looked away feeling embarrassed and guilty for some reason.

             
“She’s here with me Tate. I invited her and I’m so glad I did. Tristan’s on his third cupcake. Save one for me!” Meredith yelled and hurried off, leaving Jane and Tate alone.

             
Tate glanced after Meredith and then back at her. “You’re friends with Meredith?
Since when
?” he asked, in the same voice he’d probably use during an interrogation.

             
Jane looked down at her feet and sighed. “Meredith and I are both on this match and mingle website. With Layla and Kit getting married, they’re always busy and I’ve been um, . . . kind of lonely I guess. I figured it was time I got out and made some new friends. If my being here at your games makes you uncomfortable, I won’t come again,” she said, shoving her hands in her pockets and wanting to die.

             
Tate stared at her stonily for a moment and then sighed, his face relaxing. “Sorry, it was just a shock to see you here is all. Come any time you want. And thanks for bringing the cupcakes,” he said and then walked away.

             
She watched him walk toward a large group of Samoan people who must be his relatives. A large older woman with black hair in a bun and a floral caftan style dress thumped him on the back before a large man with salt and pepper hair grabbed him in what looked like a painful hold but was meant to show affection obviously. Tate took it all in, turning to the side to say something to a young teenage boy. She saw him smile easily as he was enveloped by his family and frowned.

             
What would it be like to have such a large family? She had no mother, no father and now she was losing her sisters.

             
She was completely alone.

             
“Hi there.”

             
Jane turned away from watching Tate and saw a large chest. She had to look up,
way up
to see a large Samoan man smiling down at her. She recognized him from the game. He’d taken down half the other team. She smiled nervously up at him.

             
“Hi,” she said, her voice sounding squeaky.

             
The man grinned and gestured to the dessert table. “You the one who made the cupcakes?” he asked before taking a huge bite of one of her pineapple and coconut cupcakes.

             
She nodded and smiled. “That’s me. My name is Jane Kendall. What’s yours?” she asked, trying to be brave.

             
“I’m Kamilo, but everyone calls me Kam. We’ve got another game next week. You should come again,” he said, his brown eyes gleaming down at her as he finished the rest of the cupcake quickly.

             
She grinned but didn’t agree to anything. “I take it you’re a cupcake lover.”

             
Kam nodded slowly as he looked down into her face. “Of course. But you should come again. I think you’re cute. There’s a game this Saturday and afterwards we’re having a party at my house. We’re roasting a pig and everything. You can come with me.”

             
Jane’s eyes went big as she stared up at the large man. “
Wait
. . . did you just ask me out?” she said, stumbling over the words.

             
Kam smiled down at her and tilted his head. “Sounds like it. Bring some more cupcakes,” he said and sauntered off, leaving her surprised and a little taken aback.