Playing the Field (Hot-Lanta Series) (23 page)

             
“Oh my God, Marc this is really good.”

             
“Well of course, it’s the one thing I have never failed at making. When I was in college I was known for the best peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Students would come to me from different dorms just to watch me masterfully place the peanut butter on the bread and then lightly spread the perfect amount of jelly forming a marriage between the two.”

             
Patty rolled her eyes at him. “Modest much?”

             
“Not really, no. It’s good to boost your confidence every once in a while. So, are you excited to start a new chapter in your life?”

             
Patty took another bite of her sandwich delaying the answer to his question. He just watched her…waiting patiently.

             
Damn his relentless patience.

“I guess so. I don’t really kn
ow what you have planned and I’m not sure what you’ve planned is going to really help but I’ll give anything a go once.”

             
Marc patted her back and said, “That’s my girl. Alright so I’ve really thought about this and I think I have a good list for you. If anything, it might just be fun but what I really want you to get out of this is forgetting your past and to release what you have trapped inside. You deserve to move on with your life and to not let Gino forever hinder your abilities to live your life. He should not have that pleasure.”

             
She thought about that, he was right.

“You know what Marc, you’
re right. Gino should not have that pleasure in destroying my life. I never thought about it that way. He’s an asshole and I need to prove him wrong.” It was so weird it was as if after having a bite of Marc’s sandwich her entire outlook on life changed. She had a revelation.

             
She continued. “I cannot believe it took me this long to realize that I was still letting Gino control my life. I feel like such an idiot. It’s still scary but I understand. I want to let my past go. I want to forget about that horrible time and move on.”

             
Marc was smiling like an idiot at her. Patty added, “Did you put some kind of drug in this sandwich or something?”

             
He laughed. “No but I’m glad you see what I see. That is a good first step. Are you ready for the list?”

             
She took another bite of her sandwich, chased by a Dorito and said, “Bring it on.”

             
Marc grabbed the folder that he brought in with him and opened it up. There was a list on the front and coordinating dividers with papers in between. It looked quite intense. She could not believe that Marc went through such trouble.

             
He laid the folder in front of her and scooted his chair closer to her, leaning over close enough so she could smell his amazing cologne. She tried to focus on what he was saying instead of sniffing him like a horny hound dog.

             
“So this is your list. Each item on the list has a corresponding section in the binder with advice, places to help you complete the task and any kind of information that might help you out. I put a nice little box next to each item therefore every time you complete a task you can bask in the satisfaction of checking it off.”

             
She stared down at the list and was amazed. She could not help but ask. “Why are you doing this Marc? What are you getting out of this?”

             
He took her head in his hand and made her look him straight in the eyes. “I’m not getting anything out of this nor do I want anything out of this. This is purely for the betterment of you. I care about you and I want to see you get better. I’m not saying this is a cure but maybe it will help a little or at least get you in the mood for changing things up.”

             
Patty looked at the list again, it seemed legit. She could do this. She read the whole list to herself.

Patty’s New Life List

1.
       
Write about Gino, how he treated you, what he said to you and every awful encounter. Gather anything and everything that had to deal with Gino, stick it in a box, torch it with some gasoline and set it on fire. Watch it burn, say good bye because that is the last of him and that part of your life you will see.

2.
       
Time to spoil yourself – Ask Marc

3.
       
Tell your therapist about this list, read it to her and make sure she understands the reasoning for the list. Ask her if there are any other tasks she thinks you should add.

4.
      
Have some fun, you deserve it. Run through the water rings at Centennial Park. Who cares who is watching, lose yourself in the moment.

5.
       
Love yourself, take yourself on a date. Whatever your heart desires; dinner, a movie and get lucky with yourself maybe.

6.
       
Learn to let things go and breathe. Take up yoga or Pilates, learn to release all pent up anger and aggravation. Take up yoga, learn to breathe and let things go

7.
       
Write your life away. Provided in the back of the folder is blank paper, write your feelings down, draw write lyrics any time you feel insecure.

8.
      
Take responsibility for staying with Gino for so long but forgive and praise yourself for leaving. It takes a strong woman to do such a thing and you should be proud.

9.
       
Take charge of your life, no more sitting back. Ask Jane for a raise, she can afford it and you deserve one. Be brave you can do it Patty.

10.
    
Let people in your life. This one you are on your own. It may take time but you need to have that leap of faith and go for it.

Patty finished reading the list and realized it was quite amazing. She could not believe Marc put it together.

She looked up at Marc and said, “This is wonderful.”

“Really? Do you think you can do it?”

She squeezed his
hand and said, “I will defiantly give it a try. Thank you Marc.”

“You’re welcome. Now about number two.”

“Yes, I’m supposed to ask you what that is about.”

Marc pulled out the envelope he first carried in with him. “Now before I give this to you, by no means do I want you to be insulted with this because to me you are perfect and I would not change one thing about you.”

Nerves started to wrack Patty’s body. What was in that envelope?

Marc handed it over to her. She opened it and found a gift certificate and ten
, one hundred dollar bills.

“What is this?” She asked.

“Well, I was talking to Jane and she said sometimes it’s easier to change from the inside out when you’re feeling good about the outside. I got you a gift card to Salon de la Rose and the money is for some clothes, shoes whatever you want. Get your nails done, hair, massage whatever you want at the salon and then treat yourself to some new clothes. Jane said you’ve been wanting to do some shopping but have not had time or funds for it.”

He was right but she could not accept the money and gift card she went to hand it back to him when he stopped her.

“Don’t even think about it. You agreed to this. You take it. I talked to Jane and you have the rest of the day off. You have an appointment at the salon at one to do whatever you like. After that Jane will meet you at the mall and you two are going shopping. Get whatever you want. Spoil yourself. You deserve it. Just don’t expect a Christmas present from me this year.” Marc said winking.

She could not believe what Marc was doing for her.

“Who does this Marc? It’s too generous.”

“Please, not to sound like a snob but I have money alright, there is no denyi
ng that. I can afford it and I’m helping a friend out. The only bad thing about this is I can’t use it as a tax deduction.” He joked.

She shook her head unable to comprehend everything. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Just say thank you and get your butt moving, you don’t want to miss your appointment. This is the beginning, Patty. You’re leaving everything behind and moving on. Now get going.”

They both stood up and she wrapped her arms around him giving him the biggest hug she could muster saying thank you into his chest. He exchanged the embrace and whispered your welcome.

“Now don’t forget you have to keep me updated on everything. Alright?”

“Deal. Thank you Marc you
are one of the best friends I’ve ever had.”

“I would hope so.” He said smiling. “Now I have to get out of here, I have batting practice to get to. Give me a call later?”

“Of course. Good luck tonight.”

Marc swatted her ass
, saying, “Go get’em kid” and walked out the door.

She watched him walk away feeling over whelm
ed and over joyed. This was it. This was her chance to rid all the bad feelings and past crap that had stuck around her for years. This was her fresh start and she was going to make the most of it. She grabbed her purse and took off for the salon. Things were going to be different from here on out.

                            ***

              Marc got home after a long night at the ball park. They pulled out a win at the bottom of the eleventh thanks to Brady’s ground rule double. Marc was exhausted and all he wanted to do was crawl into bed. He completely forgot about Patty and her list of tasks until he pulled into his driveway and saw her car.

Crap
, he wondered how long she had been waiting. He parked his car, grabbed his duffel bag and walked toward her car but noticed she was not in there. Where the hell was she?

He walked up to his front door to unlock it when a hand touched his shoulder. He jumped out of his skin feeling like a little girl for being startled.

He turned around and saw the most gorgeous woman he had ever laid eyes on.

Patty was standing in his entryway with the light shining down on her
, showing off her new haircut. Her hair was a mountain of different layers with thin blonde highlights mixed with her natural red, making her gorgeously blue eyes pop. She was wearing a pair of dark skinny jeans, yellow high heels and a blue and white striped blouse making her legs look long and lean and her waist tiny.

Marc almost dropped his bag in shock. He didn’t know what to say. Patty was beautiful before but now she was drop dead gorgeous. He needed to say something because her face went from smiling big to unsure since he was completely silent.

He shook his head and said, “Holy crap, Patty. God I don’t even know what to say. You look fucking amazing.”

She smiled up at him. “You think so?”

“Are you kidding?” Marc was still speechless he could not believe how good she looked and it wasn’t just her outer appearance, she had a certain glow about her.

“This is beyond cheesy but you seriously took my breath away.”

Patty walked toward him and wrapped her arms around him giving him a huge hug.

“Thank you so much Sully. I feel amazing. I didn’t know what a little pampering could do to a soul.”

Marc was happy. Patty seemed different in a good way. It was not like she was a completely different person, no she was the same Patty but a more invigorated one. He liked it a lot and hated that all he could be was her friend right now. He was fighting back the urge of picking her up and taking her to his bedroom.

“You’re welcome. Here let me get this door open and you can tell me all about your day.”

“I really can’t stay long. I have to wake up early tomorrow to catch up on some work that I missed out on earlier today.”

“Can you at least just have a quick drink, I would really like to hear about your day.” Marc silently prayed in his head. He just wanted a few more minutes with her. He wanted to soak her all in.

“Just one drink.”

Victory.

He opened his door, setting all his junk on the side table in his entry way and led her to his kitchen. He pulled out two seats at his kitchen bar offering her a seat and grabbed two cups from his cabinet.

“What would you like to drink?” He opened his fridge and realized he had absolutely no food or drinks. “Hmm, I hope you like water.”

She laughed, “Water is great. Looks like you need to do some shopping.”

“I
would but it’s always hard in the middle of the season, especially when we are in and out all the time. On our all-star break I will hit up the grocery store.”

He filled up both glasses and handed Patty one while taking up the stool next to her.

“So tell me all about your day.”

She took a sip of her water, crossed her pretty long legs and said, “It was such an amazing day
, Sully. They were so nice to me at the salon thanks to you. They said you made sure I got the best service. They helped me enhance, what they said was, my already beauty which I didn’t understand all I know is that I’m in love with my hair. It has never looked this good.”