Sidelined: A Sports Romance (30 page)

B
olt showered
for the second time today. The last time he had met a girl’s parents was in high school, and it didn’t go so well when he brought her home after curfew. He never let dating get far enough into the parent stage. That was more commitment than he was usually interested in. Why in the hell was he headed over to have dinner with Patty Stephens?

Skye didn’t ask for his help. He volunteered. There was something about her that was making things that used to seem impossible, seem possible. Like sticking around for breakfast or volunteering to do something completely insane.

Skye suggested he come back over after her mother arrived so that she could explain to her they would have a guest at dinner. She said something about needing time to let her adjust.

Parents had stopped being a part of his life a long time ago. Ben hadn’t seen his parents since he left for college. He walked out the door and never looked back. He sometimes wondered how they were doing. Was his dad still drinking? Did his mother still make meatloaf every Sunday? But he didn’t call, he didn’t write, and he didn’t visit. Military life gave him the perfect excuse to stay as far away from Greene, Tennessee as possible. It hadn’t gone unnoticed that they never reached out to him either. He knew it was better this way. He would go back some day, but he wasn’t ready.

They didn’t seek each other out for that reason, but he and Riggs always had that in common. Riggs had left home at the same time. When he and Bolt were paired as roommates in college there was an understanding that none of the other kids got. Everyone else on their hall packed up for winter break and weekends home to do laundry, but not Riggs. He and Bolt took trips together, spent summers visiting as many ballparks as their car would take them to, met girls, partied in Cabo, and decided to join the Marine Corps together. Without exchanging the words, they became each other’s family.

Their senior year Riggs met Faith. She transferred in from a nearby art school. Bolt tried not to resent the relationship, and for the most part, he prided himself on how he didn’t give Charlie a hard time about getting so serious so fast with a girl. After graduation Riggs asked Faith to marry him. They eloped before Officer Candidates School and the rest was history. Bolt didn’t let his third-wheel status bother him. Faith was a cool girl and she made Riggs happy. Anyone who spent five minutes with the couple could see it.

“Why don’t you try it, man?” Riggs asked one night over a beer.

“Try what?” Bolt eyed his best friend like he was growing horns.

“Find a girl. Get married. It’s awesome.” Riggs kicked back the bottle.

“That’s your thing, man. Not mine.” Bolt shook his head. “I’m glad you have Faith. I really am. But I’m not the boyfriend type and definitely not the marrying type.” He stood to get another beer. “Can I get one for you?”

“Yeah, bring me one.”

Bolt walked through the patio door and reached in the cooler for two beers. The friends had managed to stay together through flight school. They only had three weeks left in Mississippi before they would be on to the next stage of the pilot process.

“Here you go.” He tossed the beer in Riggs’s lap.

“Thanks.” Riggs twisted the cap and tossed it in an open trash bin. “Look, I worry about you.”

Bolt chuckled. “Why do you worry about me?” He had lost count on how many beers they had consumed. Saturday nights were their chance to let loose. No flying on Sundays.

“Because, I’m with Faith and pretty soon we’ll probably start a family, and I don’t like that you’re out on your own with nobody to help you fly straight.”

The words cut into Bolt’s skin like thorns. He wasn’t alone. He had Riggs. He had the guys he would fly with.

“I’m fine. Women complicate things. Relationships complicate things. I like my life just fine without somebody in it, telling me what to do, where to go, how to dress. I don’t need the bullshit. I’m glad Faith’s not like that. But it’s not for me.” The cold beer was soothing on his throat. He didn’t know how many more of these humid Mississippi nights he could handle.

“Alright, brother, but you don’t know what you’re missing out on. One day you’re going to meet someone and it’s all going to change.”

“Negative.”

Riggs laughed so hard he spilled his beer on the concrete under his lawn chair. “You say that now, but just wait. I’m going to be there laughing my ass off the entire time. Just don’t wait too long. Ok?”

“Let’s talk about something other than women. What do you say we plan a trip after flight school graduation?”

“Chicago? We haven’t gone to Wrigley yet.”

“I’m in.” Bolt smiled.

* * *

B
olt thought
about that night as he parked in the visitor space outside Skye’s apartment building. Riggs had tried for years to sell him on the benefits of monogamous bliss, but Bolt didn’t buy it. Riggs and Faith were different. That kind of relationship didn’t happen for other people.

He pressed the elevator button and looked at the flowers he held in his hand. Moms liked flowers, right? He wasn’t one to fidget, but he brushed off the imaginary lint on his shirt and pulled his collar away from his throat.

The doors retracted and Bolt stepped into the hallway. His heart was beating faster than usual. He reminded himself he was the guy who never got nervous before a flight. This was no big deal—just one little mother. It wasn’t like there was a dad with a shotgun on the other side of the door.

He knocked twice before Skye flung the door open.

“Hi!” She smiled.

“Hi.” He looked over her shoulder, ready to get the parent introduction out of the way.

A petite woman sat on the couch, thumbing through a magazine. She once had dark hair, but it was woven with patches of gray. Bolt wasn’t sure what he expected, but from the little description Skye had given, he was expecting someone who looked crazy, but Patty Stephens seemed comfortable and at home in her daughter’s apartment.

“Mom, this is Ben.” Skye led him over to where her mother was sitting. “Ben, Mom, or I guess you would call her Patty.”

“Nice to meet you.” He held out the assorted flowers. “These are for you.”

Patty stood, placing the magazine on the seat behind her. “Ben. It’s a pleasure. I wish I could say I’ve heard more about you, but Skye has a way of keeping secrets.” She laid the flowers on the coffee table and her hands clasped over his. “Thank you for those flowers.”

“Mom, I told you we just started dating.” Skye twisted her bottom lip under her teeth. “Ben’s not a secret.”

It was the first time either of them had said something so formal. Ben thought it would feel uncomfortable, like wearing a jacket made out of sandpaper, but he liked how it rolled off her tongue. Dating. He and Skye were dating.

Patty rolled her eyes. “Doesn’t mean you have to keep someone as handsome as this from me. I like to know about your friends.”

Ben chuckled. It didn’t take long to recognize some of Skye’s stubbornness. “So, where did you ladies decide we’re going to eat tonight?”

“Oh, I thought maybe we should order in. Mom, you’ve got to be exhausted from driving for four days. I have lots of menus.” Skye scurried to a drawer in the kitchen and returned with an armful of menus.

“That’s nonsense. I told you I wanted to take you out to dinner. What’s your favorite place?” Patty didn’t look at the menus.

“Mom, it’s too much. Maybe tomorrow night. We can order anything you want.”

Patty turned to Bolt. “Ben, what’s your favorite spot?”

He shifted his hands in his pockets. Being in the middle of two women like this wasn’t a comfortable position. “I’m up for anything. I’ll let you girls decide.”

“Ok. Fine. We can go out.” Skye walked to the door and reached for a jacket. “There’s an Italian place around the corner. How does that sound, Mom?”

A light flickered behind Patty’s eyes. “Honey, I’ll go wherever you want. I don’t want to be a bother.” She winked at Bolt. “I do love Italian.”

He followed them out the door.

* * *

“
H
ow’s your lasagna
, Mom?” Skye asked over a glass of red wine. She hadn’t stopped peppering her mother with questions since they left the apartment.

“It’s quite cheesy. I like it.” Patty smiled. “So, Ben, I want to hear about your job. What do you fly exactly?”

“Mom, he doesn’t want to talk about work.”

Bolt smiled. “It’s fine. I don’t mind talking about flying. It’s one of my favorite things.” He looked at Skye’s mother. “I fly fighter jets for the Marine Corps out of Miramar.”

“Oh my word. That’s impressive. So you work for the government?”

“I guess so, but I don’t really think about it like that. I fly for the military. It’s not like I’m involved with what’s going on in D.C.”

Patty paused before asking another question. “But, do you fly secret missions? The kinds of things you aren’t supposed to tell us about?”

“Mom! That’s enough. Let Ben eat his pasta.” Skye looked mortified.

“I have been overseas if that’s what you’re asking.” He leaned into the table. “If I’ve flown a secret mission, I can’t really tell you about it.” He stabbed a penne noodle on the end of his fork.

“I knew it!” Patty laughed. “Secret missions. Skye, this is exciting.”

Bolt didn’t think it hurt to feed her interest in his job; however, the expression on Skye’s face told him otherwise. He knew he’d be getting a thorough rundown on what he could talk about tomorrow on his day with her mother.

Bolt waited for an extreme Patty Stephens meltdown, but the evening was a normal get-to-know-you dinner. He was having a good time with the two women.

“Mom, why don’t you tell us what’s going on back at home? Who is watching the dogs?”

“I dropped them off at the kennel. I couldn’t very well drive across the country with two dogs to worry about.” She took a bite of salad.

Bolt noticed Skye fidgeted with her napkin, glass, and everything on her plate. She was a completely different woman with her mother next to her. Part of him wanted to reach across the table and tell her everything was fine. He was fine. Dinner was fine. But the part that always made him hold back his emotions, won out. He finished his meal and observed the dynamic between the two women, wondering what all of this meant.

After dinner they walked to Skye’s apartment. Bolt stood in front of the entrance door. Had it only been two night’s ago they kissed against this wall? Running into her again had changed everything. It was still changing things.

“Thank you for letting me tag along on your dinner, Patty. Skye, what time do you need me in the morning?”

“Mom, can you give us a second?”

“Oh sure, honey. I’ll just wait in here.” The mother disappeared through the door.

“Thanks for tonight. Are you sure about tomorrow? You can still back out. I wouldn’t blame you if you did.” Skye stood several feet away.

“Yes.” He let his hand linger next to her arm. He wanted to pull her into his chest, but she was keeping the distance between them. “It will be fun. Don’t worry about anything. What time?”

“I usually try to leave for work by 7:30.”

“Ok. I’ll be here then.”

“Goodnight, Ben.” Skye turned toward the door, but he caught her elbow.

He brushed his mouth against her lips. “Goodnight.”

“
H
ere is
an extra blanket if you need it.”

Skye folded a quilt in half and draped it over the back of the couch. The guest accommodations in her one-bedroom apartment were limited. Her mom would have to stay on the couch.

If she wasn’t such a night owl, Skye would offer her bedroom, but her mom could be up all night. Skye needed the door to ensure she’d get her own amount of sleep.

“Thanks, honey. I know where everything is if I need anything.” Patty turned to the TV.

“Ok, well, I have to get ready for my meeting in the morning so I’ll be in my room working on the presentation.” She leaned to hug her mother.

“Night night.”

“Goodnight.”

Skye left her mother on her couch. The nervous feelings that started this morning when her mother called had started to vanish. They weren’t entirely gone, but Skye felt her shoulders settling down her back and the tightness in her neck relaxing.

Patty had been in San Diego for six hours and so far no paranoid episodes. Maybe her new medication was working. Aunt Rose would be here Wednesday night, and she would drive back to North Carolina with her mom on Thursday.

Skye flipped open her laptop. Pictures from the zoo flashed on her screen. She was there yesterday with Ben. Laughing, pointing at monkeys, holding hands. She sighed. She didn’t want him to know about her mother, but at some point everyone found out. She could only hope that tomorrow was another smooth day.

* * *

S
kye straightened
her suit and stepped into her highest black heels. She liked towering over the meeting. She always felt like it gave her an edge.

Her mother was sleeping on the couch. She opened the door, careful not to wake her guest. Ben stood in front of her. Damn, he looked edible in the morning.

“Hi,” she whispered.

“Hi.” He slipped past her and nodded when he saw Patty on the couch. He pulled Skye’s wrist and led her to her room where he closed the door behind her. “This is how I really wanted to say good morning.”

He pressed her shoulders against the door and his lips blazed along her neck.

“Ben!” Skye let out her loudest whisper scream. “My mom’s in there.”

“Yeah, but you know I love this librarian look you have going.” He pulled the collar from her neck and began to unbutton the first few buttons.

“No.” She swatted at his hands, but he gripped them and held her still.

“I didn’t kiss you last night, and I’m not going to kiss you all day. So you’ve got to give me this.”

His mouth landed on hers, and his entire body leaned against her. She felt his warmth through the opening in her shirt. His tongue danced and she moaned, taking the kiss deeper.

He pulled back and straightened her jacket. “Now, that’s a better good morning.” He winked as he buttoned the second button. “You should leave the top one undone. It will drive everyone in your meeting crazy.”

Skye took the button between her fingers. “That’s not what I’m going for.” For a second she was tempted to cancel the meeting and shuttle her mother off to a hotel so she could see how far that kiss could go, but responsibility set in.

She grinned. He had managed to surprise her before 7:30. Her hand gripped the doorknob. She had a presentation to give. If she turned around again, he would probably have her out of her skirt and in the bed in five minutes. The meeting. She had a meeting.

“Bye,” she whispered over her shoulder.

* * *

“
Y
ou ready
?” Greg glared over a stack of folders.

“Yes. I have everything we need right here.” Skye held up a thumb drive. She had downloaded the presentation last night as well as backed it up on her hard drive and a remote server. She was nothing if not thorough.

“Good. I’ll let you handle all the talking points on the zoo.” Greg sifted through the pastries on the center of the table until his fingers settled on a strawberry donut. “I’ve got enough on my plate with the rest of this shit.”

Skye eyed him. The usually cocky executive looked shaken. “Everything ok, Greg?”

“Oh sure. I’m only handling the biggest account we’ve ever had and I just got another client dumped on my desk yesterday. No problem.”

Skye plugged her laptop into the projection system. “Are you not happy with the accounts you have?” She wasn’t about to pipe in on how lackluster sun protection was.

He mumbled something under his breath. “It’s not like I’m sticking around. I just needed a big account to get the New York job.”

Skye looked up, the lights from the projector in her face. “What do you mean?”

“Just what I said. This was a means to an end for me. I didn’t expect it to be so much fucking work.” He clutched a second donut. “But, don’t say anything. I haven’t given my notice.”

“You expect me to keep quiet about this after you took the entire tourism account from me?”

“I gave you the zoo file.”

“Is that like hush money or something?”

Greg smirked. “You could call it that.”

Skye thought of a few choice four-letter words to throw across the conference room, but CEO Stan Preston walked through the door.

“Greg, how’s it going? Skye, so glad Greg brought you in on this account. He’s a smart guy.” Stan nodded at each of them before taking a seat at the head of the table.

“Good morning, Stan.” Skye busied herself with starting the first graphic, making sure the lighting and colors were right. Greg had just handed her the biggest piece of ammo if she wanted to get the account back, but right now it wasn’t her focus. The members of the tourism board would be walking in the room any minute. It was not the time to start a coup.

“Can’t wait to see what you have to show us, Greg. The board is extremely happy with how you’ve handled this account.” Stan stretched in his seat. “You know it’s only a matter of time before you’re sitting right here.” He patted the tabletop.

Skye rolled her eyes. Greg had weaseled his way into the account just to get a rung under his foot for the next step.

“Looks like our guests are here. Skye, are you ready to start?” Greg wiped the sugar from his hands.

“Absolutely.” She pulled her shoulders back and smiled as the tourism board filed in the conference room.

* * *

“
T
his is unbelievable
. Greg told you that?” Kari still hadn’t closed her mouth since Skye shared the news.

“Yes, he was even bragging about it. I would say rubbing it in my face that he got a new job and the tourism spot is now beneath him. What an ass. He knows what it meant to me.”

“I think it could be a good thing. You can take it back.” Kari shifted in her seat.

“You know what? I don’t think I want it back.” Skye took a bite of salad. Her shoes were strewn under the desk.

“How could you not want it back?” Kari unveiled a chicken salad in a Styrofoam container.

“Hold that thought.” Skye retrieved her ringing phone. “Ben, hey is everything ok?” She held her breath, waiting for him to explain how her mother was on the roof, or he lost her at the park.

“Yeah, everything is great. Patty and I were just checking to see if you needed anything at the grocery store.”

“Grocery store?”

“Mmm…hmm. Your mom wants to cook dinner for you tonight. I told her I’d take her to the closest market. Need us to pick up anything for you?”

“So everything is ok? She’s not lost?”

Ben chuckled on the other end. “No. You realize I’m a trusted member of our military. I’m not going to lose your mother.”

The tightness in Skye’s chest lessened. She smiled. “I know. I know. It just wouldn’t be the first time.”

“So you don’t need anything?”

“No, no I’m good.”

“I think you might be out of whipped cream.”

“Ben,” she scolded into the phone.

He laughed. “I’ll make sure to pick some up. Text me if you need anything.

“Ok, bye.” She smiled at Kari.

“You look happy. What was that all about?” Kari took a bite of her salad.

Skye slid the phone back into her purse. “Ben. He’s hanging out with my mom today. Kind of showing her around town.”

“Ohh, this is getting serious.” Kari moved to the edge of the chair.

“It is, isn’t it?” Skye leaned in her chair. “I didn’t ask him to stay with her, he just volunteered. Guys don’t do that unless they are serious.”

“How many days to go?”

“What do you mean?”

Kari laughed. “Don’t tell me you’re not marking them off your calendar. You have to counting until day thirty.”

“Kari! I’m not even—”

“Don’t give me that. I would be counting down the minutes if I was getting ready to roll in the hay with that guy. Whew.” She pretended to fan herself. “So when is the big night?”

“Thirty days would be Saturday night, I guess.” Skye bit her lip. Was it really that soon? She wasn’t starting the clock over. There was less than a week to go.

“Ok, so what’s the big plan?”

“Plan? We don’t have a plan. It’s not like that. We just got back together or reconnected. I don’t know how to define it. We haven’t actually sat down and said Saturday night we’re going to….”

“Then we need to start planning right now. You need lingerie. You need wine. You need a place. Where is this going to happen?”

Skye shook her head. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. I don’t even know—”

“If you’re going to sleep with him? You are totally sleeping with him. Because if you don’t, I will. Now what do you think about this?” Kari held up a lingerie set from Chloe’s Closet on her phone.

“You want me to wear that?” Skye didn’t know how she would even crawl into something with so many ties.

“Ok, not your style. What about this one?” She swiped the screen and showed Skye a picture with a girl leaning against a wall.

“No way. No leather.”

“Picky, picky.” Kari scrolled through the online pictures. “Ah-hah! This is the one.” She shoved the phone across the desk.

“Oh wow.” She zoomed in, examining the cuts. “You think I should wear this?”

“Definitely.” Kari beamed. “It’s the thirty-day special selection.”

“Ok. This is the one.” She blushed. All she could think about was how it would feel when Ben took it off of her.