Playing the Field (Hot-Lanta Series) (19 page)

             
“Uh, everything is fine.” Patty lied.

             
Jane spoke up. “Sit down Patty, everything is not ok. Talk to us.”

             
“Fine, I fucked up. I have an amazing guy who is after me and I can’t allow him close enough because I’m too afraid I’m going to get hurt. I’m leading him on unintentionally and I slept in his bed, nothing happened but it was the best night’s sleep I’ve gotten in years because I felt protected. I don’t know what to do.” Patty started crying.

             
Both Jane and Lucy hugged her at the same time one of them rubbing her back.

             
Patty continued. “I’m just not ready for a relationship and I don’t know if I ever will be. I’ve been going through therapy and I know it has helped me but I’m still not sure I can accept someone’s love and give them my heart. Marc deserves better than me and he deserves to be with someone who will love him back, whole heartedly.”

             
“Shh...” Jane said trying to sooth her. “Sweetie, you will get there and you might not see it but Marc has helped you in your journey to find love again. He has opened you up more and he has helped you out of the hole you put yourself in after you moved here. You have to have realized that. Marc deserves you just as much as you deserve him. Don’t give up. Things will work out for the both of you. He has been patient thus far and believe me before you, he would have never spent his time on a girl like he has on you. He is practically head over heels for you. Give yourself some time and talk to him. Help him understand why you need more time.”

             
Patty continued to cry. Lucy handed her some tissues. Was she ever going to get better? She didn’t want to be alone anymore but she also didn’t want to impose her messed up life on someone else. She wanted to be with someone when she was fully emotionally stable and able to give her whole heart to that person. She was not ready and she didn’t want to put Marc on hold anymore. He could be much happier with someone else. She was cutting off the friendship contract. She couldn’t see him anymore. It was for the best of both of them.

             
When she gathered herself she decided to write an e-mail to Marc. She knew it was a cop out but she knew she couldn’t face him in person, she would break down for sure and she didn’t need him pitying her.

                                          ***

Jane sat at her desk that afternoon replaying everything her two friends and co-workers told her. Boy was her life simple now that she found Brady and was getting married. Her biggest worry was what flowers to put in her bouquet. She needed to hear Brady’s voice to calm her down a bit. She got all worked up from hearing about her friends and their complicated dating lives.

She shu
t her office door, grabbed a bottle water from her mini fridge and dialed Brady’s phone number on her office phone.              

It rang twice and then he picked up. She heard guys in the background
, he must be in the locker room. She immediately felt self-conscious.

“Hey baby,
what’s going on?”

“Hey h
andsome.” Jane said hesitantly

“What’s wrong?” Brady knew her too well.

“I just wanted to hear your voice. This morning was a little rough talking to Patty and Lucy about their love lives and I thought I would call you because I missed you and needed to tell you how much I love you.”

“Hold on
, sweet thing.”

Jane heard rustling in the background and a door shut.

“Sorry about that, I was in the locker room and knew I would get hounded by the boys if they heard this conversation. I’m sorry about this morning. Are the girls ok?”

“They’
re doing alright. Lucy is seeing Connor Cartwright which was as shock since everything that went down between her and Austin but she bounced back. The one I’m worried about is Patty. She is exactly the way I was when I first met you but even more stubborn than me.”

“How so?”

“Well you know she’s having a hard time accepting love again after what Gino did to her? Well Marc is so the guy for her but she is refusing to let him get close to her and I don’t know why, I care about them so much and I know they belong together I wish I could help Patty realize that.”

“You know
, I knew Marc seemed off today. He was barely joking around. Sometimes babe, there is only so much we can do. I know you gave Patty good advice but that is all you can really do. Patty is the one who is going to have to find it in herself to be ready to be with Marc. No one can change her mind, except herself.

Jane knew he was right. She was going to marry such a smart man.

“Thank you, Brady.”

“I didn’t really do anything
, babe.”

“No
, thank you for loving me and choosing me to be your wife. You helped me love again.”

“Baby,
are you going to be ok? I don’t like how sad you’re sounding right now. You don’t have to say thank you to me for loving you. My heart chose you even if I wanted to get rid of you I couldn’t.” he said jokingly.

“Oh yea, so you want to get rid of me? Good luck with that because now that I have this huge ring on my finger you have no choice
in the matter. You’re stuck with me.”

“Great, stuck with a pip-squeak for the rest of my life.”

“Hey now, I don’t ever really wear flats anymore. I’m always in heels even in the bedroom.”

Brady groaned into the phone. “I don’t need a reminder of last night right before the game.
I need to be able to focus but I just have to say real quick you looked so fucking hot last night.”

Jane giggled. “Thanks to you. Are you ever going to stop getting me new lingerie?”

“Not if you keep looking that good in it.”

Jane thought about it for a moment. She hoped she was not going to look that good in it pretty
soon. “Brady are you sure you’re ok with me not taking my birth control anymore?”

“I’
m more than positive. There’s nothing I want more than to start a family with you. I cannot wait to see how amazingly beautiful you are pregnant. I think it was a good idea this way we can get a head start on things.”

Jane loved him so much. She wanted to be a mom more than anything. She knew it was a dream she had with George but she wasn’t sure if it was because he instilled the idea in her head or if she actually wanted to be a mom. After going through Molly’s pregnancy with her and spending time with little Winnie
, Jane knew she wanted to be a mom and was supposed to be a mom. Jane knew Brady was going to be an amazing dad as well. She could not wait for that chapter in their life to begin.

They had the conversation of sta
rting a family a couple of months ago and Brady suggested she stop taking her birth control. She was so excited to get pregnant, she went out the next day to get all the different pee tests you could buy. When she brought them home Brady was not even scared which made Jane’s heart melt.

Brady interrupted her thoughts. “
Uh…are you having second thoughts?”

“Oh my gosh, not at all. I’
m sorry, handsome. I was just thinking how great you are. Alright I will let you get back to the locker room. I’m sure the guys can’t wait to rag on you.”

“If they knew what is
good for them they will leave me alone. Plus the only reason they tease me is because they’re jealous. They only wished they had what we have.”

“I don’t think anyone can have what we have.” Jane said meaning it. She believed their love was one of a kind.

“You’re right about that one, sweet thing. After the game tonight I think I might want to try for a baby again.”

Jane laughed. “I have a feeling you are going to want to try for a baby every night and trying will involve heels and a thong. Am I right?”

“Well didn’t you read the latest how-to-make-a-baby article? Those items are required now. I’m only following protocol.”

“You are hopeless.” Jane said laughing. “Good luck with
your game tonight, handsome. I’m sorry I can’t be there.”

“That’
s alright, you tend to be more of a distraction since you won’t wear anything but that t-shirt jersey of yours.”

“It’s lucky! Every time I wear it to the game you always end up doing so well.”

“Well with the way the season is going I might need you to go to every game and wear that shirt. We could use all the help we can get.”

Jane felt bad. She knew the Braves were struggling this year. Their pitching was not holding up their end of the bargain and the offense could only do so much. She hated seeing Brady upset after games when he got home. She wished she could do more. She made sure not to really bother him with any wedding plans but no matter what he always asked how things were coming along and asked to see all the things she was planning. He said it helped him get his thoughts away from the game.

Their wedding was in a couple of weeks. She could not wait. Her bachelorette party was this weekend and then she would be getting married.

Brady was excited for many different reasons
, she thought mostly because he got four days off for the all-star break. He was nominated and picked to be on the national league’s team but he deferred to allow his body to recover from the season and clearly, marry Jane.

They were already approached by a bunch of different celebrity magazines for their wedding photos
, offering them a nice chunk of change. They both decided to take the cash for some photos and donate some to Special Olympics and the Wounded Warrior project in honor of Luke. They might as well use some of their celebrity for good.

“You know
, if I could I would travel everywhere with you.”

“I know.” Brady said in a sad tone.
“I can’t believe I have to leave again in a couple of days and won’t see you until our wedding day.”

Jane thought about the same thing. It was going to be hard but worth it.

“Just think how great the wedding night is going to be.”

“You know how to say the right thi
ng to your man. Alright baby, I better get going. I love you so very much.”

“I love you too
, handsome. Good luck and give the guys a pat on the ass for me.”

“You know I will. See you tonight
, sweet thing.”

Jane hung up the phone. She felt much better. She knew Patty had to work things out on her own but she still could not help
but feel a little bad. Jane knew how it felt to feel so lost. She was in Patty’s shoes at one point. She just hoped Patty snapped herself out of her funk before it was too late.

                            ***

Marc watched Brady walk back in the locker room with a huge smirk on his face. Their lockers were right next to each other and when Brady sat down Marc gave him a quick punch in the arm.

“What the hell was that for?” Brady asked rubbing his arm down.

“I don’t want to see that I-am-in-love grin. Sorry dude but things on my end are not going so great and I can’t stand to look at you with that idiotic grin on your face.”

Marc was so sick of seeing everyone around him happy and having sex. He wasn’t some kind of sex craved guy
but last night was really hard on him. He shared a bed with Patty all night and was unable to do anything to fulfill his much needed desires.

It was confirmed yesterday that she was his dream girl and he was in fact
in love with her. He had never really been in love before so it took him a little while to figure out the feelings he was having but he knew he was in love.

“I heard you might be having a rough time with Patty. Jane mentioned on the phone that Patty was upset this morning and was struggling with accepting a relationship.”

“What? Patty talked to Jane about us? What else did she say?”

“Dude, I don’t feel comfortable being the middle man here. Maybe you should just talk to Patty yourself.”

Talk to Patty there was a brilliant idea, how come he never thought of that. He could punch Brady. Of course Marc tried talking to Patty but every time he did she shut her whole body off and found some excuse to change the subject or leave. There was no talking to Patty about having a relationship because she didn’t want one.

Marc didn’t want to sound like he was begging but it came out that way. “Please
Brady, I need some help here. I’m struggling big time.”

Brady exhaled and said, “Jane just said how Patty reminded her of herself before she met me. Jane w
as very much anti-relationship and I did everything in my power to change that. Patty might need a little bit more convincing. She has been through a lot. I’m sure you know and she has major trust issues. She protects her heart and is not ready to hand it over willingly to anyone yet.”

Marc knew exactly what Brady was talking about. “So do you think I should just go for it? Drop this friends thing and try to win Patty over?”