Seasoned Veteran (4 page)

Chapter Six

Present - Thanksgiving Day

“You okay?” Her brother’s deep voice nearby brought her back to reality.

Siobhan nodded, scooting over on the sofa so there would be room for him, too. She would rather barricade herself in the small pool house out back of Bentley Randolph’s house than sit on the man’s sofa and pretend to be cheerful. Sean, however, had all but dragged her across the backyard earlier.

“I’m fine.” Only an idiot would have believed her sincere. “Is it too early for me to go back to my place?”

Sean covered her clasped hands with one of his. “Don’t you want to spend Thanksgiving with family?”

Since they hadn’t invited Sean, she’d turned down the invitation from her and Sean’s blood family in order to spend the holiday with her brother’s new family, whom, by extension, were hers, too. Not everyone in attendance knew about or understood the unorthodox relationship he shared with Bentley and Ashley, but none questioned the quirky dynamic either. For that, she was thankful.

“You know I do. But it’s not easy being around all these cheerful people.”

The guests consisted of a few of Bent and Ashley’s relatives mixed with some co-workers Sean and Ashley knew from the TV network where they both worked. Her brother looked relaxed, but she could see the unease in his eyes. They all walked a fine line—trying to appear to be casual friends when in fact the three of them shared a bed. Today’s gathering was a test of sorts for them to see if they could pull it off. She was certain they could, if they would all relax, quit looking as if they were guilty of something.

“Cheerful? Do I look cheerful to you? If Bentley gets any more cheerful, the stick he has up his ass is going to snap in two.”

“Shh!” She ducked her head to conceal her laughter. “I don’t think your guests have noticed, so don’t bring it to their attention.”

“I don’t see how they could miss the tension.” He turned to look at her. “Please, don’t leave me here alone with these people.”

The exaggerated pleading expression on his face lightened her mood. Chuckling, she shook her head. “Since you put it that way…I’ll stay.”

He patted her hand then stood to smile down at her. “Cowboys are on. Want to come into the den to watch the game?”

“I will in a minute. I’ve been sitting here feeling sorry for myself long enough. I should go see if I can help in the kitchen.”

She found Ashley alone in the kitchen “Where did everyone go?”

“To watch the game, I think.” She glanced up from stirring the contents of the big bowl in front of her. “Why aren’t you in there?”

Siobhan shrugged. “I came to see if you needed any help, and I wanted to talk to you.”

Her hostess dropped the spoon in the bowl before reaching for a towel. “I’ve been hoping for a chance to talk to you, too.” She wiped her hands clean as she crossed to the fridge. Pulling two plastic bottles from the massive Sub-Zero unit, she held one out to Siobhan.

“Water?”

“Sure, thanks.”

Ashley claimed the stool next to hers.

“What did you want to talk to me about?”

Her friend took a long drink from her water bottle. Setting it aside, her hostess turned to face her. “I wanted to thank you for stepping into my shoes for the Crystal Ball. I’m up to my eyeballs with events to plan. Having that one off my list of worries is a godsend.”

Siobhan swallowed the words she wanted to say. No matter how messed up her life was, the genuine gratitude on her friend’s face prevented her from dumping her emotional baggage the way she’d planned. “No worries. You did most of the work. All I have to do is follow up on a few things.”

Deep lines formed between Ashley’s eyebrows. “You aren’t mad at me?”

She was, but there was no use holding onto the feeling. Her intentions had been pure, if not misguided. “No. But, it’s not going to work. Jake and I are through.”

“I’m so sorry.” She wrapped Siobhan in a big hug. “I thought maybe…if you saw each other again.”

Siobhan stiffened, pushing away from the embrace. “We saw each other. I can assure you, nothing has changed.”

“What happened?”

“He told me I was nothing more than a good…well, you know.”

“No!” Ashley straightened, squaring her shoulders. “I’m going to kill him!” She laid her hand over Siobhan’s forearm. “I’m so, so sorry. He asked me to set something up so he could talk to you. He told me he’d screwed up. All he wanted was a chance to get back together with you, but you weren’t answering his calls or emails. You have to believe me. I never would have set this up if I’d known he would do something like that to you.”

“I know you wouldn’t have.” She took a sip from the water she’d all but ignored. Ashley’s words sank in. But…wait. Are you saying Jake asked you to set us up?”

Ashley nodded. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.” Crossing her arms on the bar, she bent to rest her head on them. “I can’t believe I fell for his sob story.”

Siobhan thought about the new information while she patted her friend on the back. Why in the world would Jake go to the trouble of setting up a meeting just to insult her?

Her friend sat up. “I’m sorry, Siobhan. He sounded so…sincere.”

“It’s not your fault. Really, it isn’t. Jake and I…well, we seem to know what buttons to push.”

“I don’t get it.” Ashley dabbed at her watery eyes with a paper napkin. “Why go to the trouble of asking me to help him? Why contact you at all?”

“I’m wondering the same thing. When he broke it off last month, there was no ambiguity. He wanted out.” God, she hated remembering that night. The pain of his parting words still had the power to make her physically ache.

“I just don’t get it. The way he talked…he fessed up to ending things badly with you. He sounded sincere about wanting another chance. He
said
he loved you.”

Siobhan shivered, shaking off the implications of her friend’s words. “He doesn’t know what love is—”

A roar from the crowd in the den jolted her out of her musings.

Today was a celebration. She had no right to drag it down with tales of her miserable love life. “Enough about Jake. Maybe he’ll slink back to wherever he’s been for the last month. If he does, I’ll take over Bentley’s share of responsibilities, too.” She stood, drawing Ashley into a hug. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

“I can’t tell you how sorry I am.”

“No. No more apologies.” She surveyed the controlled chaos in the kitchen. “I’m getting hungry, so let’s get this show on the road before the football game goes to halftime. What can I do to help?”

Ashley pointed to the chopping board piled high with fruit. “If you really want to help, you can begin there. Fruit salad for ten.”

Groaning, Siobhan transferred to the stool nearer her assigned task. It hadn’t been long since she’d occupied the same stool. A few short months since she and her brother had sat at this same counter talking.

Chapter Seven

Two months earlier - September 25th

“There isn’t room for both of us in the pool house.” Siobhan stared at her brother across the granite-topped island in Bentley’s kitchen, afraid she knew where Sean was going with his suggestion. She wasn’t blind or stupid.

“I know. We’ll be changing places. You’ll have the pool house all to yourself for as long as you want to remain in Dallas. I’ll be moving in here—with Ashley and Bent.”

With the heels of her hands pressed into the edge of the counter, she drummed her fingers on the cold stone.
That’s what I was afraid of.
She sighed. “Do you know what you’re doing?”

He nodded his dark head. “I do. I love Bentley, and he loves me. Do I wish I was the only one he loved? Yes. But he loves Ashley, too. I can live with that if she can live with him loving me.” He shrugged. “It’s complicated.”

“That’s an understatement if I ever heard one.” She’d known her older brother was gay for years but loved him just the same. All she’d ever wanted was for him to be happy. Even though his career in baseball was over, she’d never seen him as happy as he’d been the last few weeks. He’d recently signed a broadcasting contract to host a live, syndicated sports talk show that would provide him with financial security for years to come. Sean was the perfect host for the show, but she still worried about his adjustment to life post baseball. His jumping into a non-traditional, personal relationship added to her concerns.

“Will you do it?” he asked.

“You know I will, but are you sure you want to do this? I like to think I’m open-minded about sexual relationships, but when it comes to family, I find I lean toward traditional.”

“Sis, there’s no such thing as traditional where I’m concerned. I can’t walk away from Bentley. We’ve already spent five years denying what we feel for each other. I don’t want to waste another day—even if I have to share his affections with Ashley.”

“She’s okay with you moving in?”

“She’s the one who suggested it.” He smiled. “She’s an incredible woman.”

“I know. I’ve had a chance to get to know her over the last few months. I like her, too. I just don’t want you getting hurt, Sean.”

“There aren’t guarantees in any relationship. This one is working, for the time being. I’d regret it the rest of my life if I didn’t give it a chance.”

She nodded. “Okay. Okay. I’ll move out to the pool house today, so you and your lovers can have the run of the house without your little sister cramping your style.”

“Thanks. You were always my favorite sister.”

“You’re my favorite brother.”

They both laughed at their joke. They didn’t have any other siblings. Sean’s laughter died away. The somber expression replacing his smile made her want to bolt for the door. She could see it coming—the big brother lecture.

“I’m worried about you, sis.”

They’d had this conversation before regarding the man she was dating. She hadn’t appreciated it much at the time, but after several weeks spent in Jake’s bed, she could see where her brother might have valid concerns. She had a few herself.

“I’m good, Sean. I’m being cautious.”

“He never keeps a girlfriend during the off season. Everyone says he disappears as soon as the season is over. It’s like he vanishes until Spring Training. I don’t know what to make of his habits, but whatever he does for those months, he doesn’t want anyone to know.”

She’d heard about Jake’s tendency to dump his girlfriends at the end of the season, but she hadn’t heard the bit about him going MIA for months. “Where did you hear that? The locker room?”

“As a matter of fact, yes. I made it a point to ask a few questions last week when I went to clean out my locker and say my goodbyes to the team.”

She frowned at his admission.

“Don’t be mad at me. What kind of big brother would I be if I didn’t look out for you?”

“The kind that doesn’t meddle in his sister’s business?”

“You can call it meddling if you want, but I call it protecting. You said you don’t want me getting hurt, well, I don’t want you getting hurt either. Knowledge is power. I figure you’re going to need all the knowledge you can get in regards to Jake.”

“I can take care of myself.” She wasn’t going to tell her brother, but the new information did have her wondering what Jake was hiding.

“I think you should go back to D.C. I’m glad you came out to help me after the accident, but I’m fine. The hip is about as good as it’s ever going to get, I have a new job, and I’m going to be living with the man I love. Go home before Jake breaks your heart.”

Too late for that.
Jake had stomped all over her heart their first night together, but like a lovesick idiot, she continued to hope she could reach the part of him she’d glimpsed the first time they made love.

“I can’t, Sean. I promised Ashley I would stay until after their wedding.”

“Don’t remind me about the wedding.” He grimaced. “I still can’t believe I’m going to be the Best Man.”

Her heart softened. She couldn’t imagine how difficult it would be for him to stand up for Bentley when he would prefer to be exchanging vows with the man. “You don’t have to do it.”

“Yeah, I do.” His shoulders slumped. “They both have to maintain their public images. Getting married will make everything seem normal surrounding them. Only a few people, like you, need to know what’s really going on between us.”

She was sorry her brother carried such a heavy burden in order to be with the man he loved, but she was grateful the conversation had turned away from her.

“You know I’m always here for you.”

“I know. I appreciate it.” He stood, a big smile spreading across his face. “Come on. I don’t have much, but I could use some help getting my stuff over here. I’ll help you take your stuff to the pool house afterward. You’re coming with me to the game this afternoon, aren’t you?”

She followed her brother out the back door, falling into step beside him. “I wouldn’t miss the first playoff game.” She tried to keep her voice casual so he wouldn’t suspect she had other reasons for attending. “I wish you were playing, but I’m glad the Mustangs made it this far.”

“You know, I haven’t watched a Major League game from the stands since I was in high school.”

“We’re in the owner’s skybox, aren’t we?”

“Yep.”

“Today’s experience will be a whole lot better than the outfield seats we used to get.”

“Those were fun times.” Sean draped his arm over her shoulder. “I’d buy season tickets in the outfield if there were such a thing.”

She smiled, remembering how much enjoyment they’d gotten out of the cheapest seats in the stadium. “Me, too. I suspect you have other reasons for liking the outfield these days.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, left field is a lot more interesting than it used to be.”

She rolled her eyes. “That’s what I thought. Bentley does have a fine ass.”

“Hey!”

“Don’t worry. He’s not my type.” She sped up to outdistance him on the sidewalk. “Let’s hurry and get the moving done. I want to see batting practice before the game.”