Sidelined: A Wilde Players Dirty Romance (16 page)

“But isn’t he overseeing the renovation of the farmhouse you guys bought?”

“He is. I’m just glad my house sold. I was never going back there, especially after everything that happened. Fletcher insisted I use the proceeds to pay off Calvin’s debts. That way I have no one coming after me. He wanted to pay it off, but I refused to use his money. But the money from the sale, well, it was part Calvin’s money anyway, according to the divorce decree. And his parents don’t deserve to be forced to pay the debts either. They’re good people.”

“Does Calvin know?”

“No. At least I don’t think so. He’s safe behind bars for a long time. And I’ve ignored the letters he’s sent. I changed my phone number again, so he doesn’t call me collect either.” I stop when Gina turns toward the window before I decide to broach
the subject
again. “So, have you talked to Ryder?”

Her reply comes too quick. “Of course not.”

“You know, you haven’t gone out much recently.”

She glares at me. “How would you know? You’re only in town Tuesday through Thursday, and that’s to work at your practice. Then you are gone on the weekends to be with your man. I barely see you anymore.”

I had been taking a lot of flights. But after my name got in the paper for being responsible for getting Fletcher ready to be back on the field, my practice exploded. I had to hire another therapist to help with the overload of patients.

“But when I call or offer for you to come out here with me, you’re on board. So there must not be anyone else. And you never really explained what happened between you two, especially that night at the club.”

“He’s like all the rest, Cass. Most of us don’t have a Fletcher. His brother’s in town, right?”

That’s a match made in hell.

“You and Chase are like oil and water. Don’t go there. Besides, I think he’s trying to play soccer here for some girl he’s head over heels for. But I’ve seen how you look at Ryder and how he looks at you.”

She ignores my comment and sighs. “What is it with the Wilde boys? Hopeless romantics.”

“What about the Wilde boys?”

I look up to see Ryder’s sister, Riley. She and her brother are dead ringers for each other—light brown hair and blue eyes. No wonder they have to chase both men and women off with sticks with looks like they have.

“Hey, Riley.”

She waves and takes a seat next to me.

Gina goes on to explain, “Fletcher and his brother, Chase, are like dogs with a bone when it comes to the women they love.”

Riley jumps in. “Ryder’s like that, too. Although he’s acting all weird lately. I think he’s into someone, but he’s not talking. I’ve tried to pry it out of him, but he’s super close-mouthed on this one.”

I don’t want Gina pissed at me, so I don’t look at her after what Riley says. Instead, I ask, “Well, you’re a Wilde girl. Are you a romantic?”

“Please. I believe in free enterprise. I mean, why is it okay for a guy to be called a manwhore and everyone back slaps him, but if a girl’s called a whore, she’s treated like a leper?”

Gina high-fives her. “I’m with you on that one.”

They stare at me. “Don’t look at me. I’ve had two long-term relationships. When have I had time to sow oats?”

They shake their heads. “At least you have one of the good ones. If he weren’t my cousin, I would have jumped him.”

Gina and Riley slap hands again, before Gina chimes in, “And what’s with your wedding? I thought you wanted something small.”

“I did. It’s not my first wedding. Although, going to the courthouse doesn’t count as a wedding, does it?”

Gina perks up. “Nothing you did with that fucker Calvin counts for anything.”

“He wasn’t always a bad guy. Don’t make it seem like I had poor judgment dating him.”

“Okay, he wasn’t a total douche back then. But the guy was always a dreamer and had nothing to back it up. You could have done better.”

“Can we not go there? It’s done and over with, and I finally have my dream guy,” I say.

Riley looks over my shoulder. “Oh joy. There’s my brother. And he’s brought
her
.”

This time I can’t help but look over at Gina. There is no mistaking that frown. Gina shoots up and announces, “I’m getting a drink. You guys want one?”

I shake my head no.

“Rum and Coke,” Riley says.

“We are so going to get along.”

Gina knocks fists with her before striding away.

“So, you’re moving to North Carolina?”

“I am,” Riley says. “A lot of tournaments happen on the East Coast. Plus, my brother hates living alone. And as his big sister, I’m obligated to take care of him.”

“Big sister?”

“Yes, I’m older by two minutes. And, trust me, I feel two years older than him.” We laugh until she says, “What is Fletcher doing up here?”

I turn to see my guy all uniformed up, standing in the doorway and searching the room.

“I’ll be right back.”

“Go get him,” she says conspiratorially.

I rush over to him. “Shouldn’t you be on the field?”

His eyes crinkle at the corners as he stares at me. Never in my life have I ever felt this loved. I could kick myself for almost missing this chance.

“I had to see you first. You’re my good luck charm.”

He draws me in for a kiss, not caring about the audience we have.

“You’re going to miss the first play,” I warn when he pulls back.

“We won the coin toss, so we’re kicking off. Besides, there is nothing more important in the world to me.” Then he splays his hand across my abdomen, sporting a smirk. “Unless, of course, I knocked you up last night.”

“Stop.” I laugh. “People are watching. Besides, I just stopped taking birth control. The doctor says it could be a while before my body aligns itself to be ready for a baby. And I can’t get pregnant before the wedding.”

He shrugs. “My boys are potent, Cass. And they’ve been patiently waiting for you. Besides, if we are going to have ten kids—”

“Ten kids?” I practically shout in alarm.

“My bad, eleven. We need enough for a team.”

I playfully slap his hands away. “I’m not having a football team.”

Fletcher puts a hand to his helmet, and I can tell he’s listening to something.

“What’s going on?”

He holds up a finger. Then he looks up with a grin on his face. “They’ve got me mic’d up this game.” When I stare at him, he explains, “The helmet is fitted with a speaker and mic. And Coach just radioed I have twenty-five seconds to get my ass down on the field if I don’t want to be cut.”

“And what’s funny about that? Go get to the field.” I practically shove him toward the door.

“It’s funny because twenty-five seconds has ruled my life. If the game is stopped because of an injury, we are given twenty-five seconds on the play clock to get off a play. And all it took was twenty-five seconds to change my life. And even though it was one of the most painful experiences I’ve ever had, I wouldn’t have a do-over. Because it wasn’t just the injury that sidelined me. You have been the something that was missing in my life. That accident, though I hated it at the time, brought us back together.”

“Sidelined, huh?”

“Yes,
you
wrecked me. I love you, Cass, with everything I am.”

He pulls his helmet of and kisses me hard.

“I love you, too, with my everything.” I kiss him this time. Then I pat him on the butt like the players do. “Now, get your ass on the field before I sideline you again because that twenty-five seconds is up.”

His mouth is hot on mine and he tugs me closer to his erection I love so much. “You can sideline me any day,” he says before heading back to the field.

THE END

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Darkness didn’t hide
everything as I was jerked awake by the piercing scream that tore through our silent house. The cry ended as abruptly as it began and was followed by the telltale tinkling sounds of glass breaking. Muffled noises erupted as a struggle continued to play out in the front room. The closed door beckoned me, but the sticky pull of that place between sleep and fear had me stuck to my bed like glue. My gaze, however, was able to cross over the small distance to my brother’s bed. His noiseless breathing remained undisturbed as headphones covered his ears.

One thing I read in a book said courage wasn’t given, it was earned. Slowly, I forced my limbs to move and stepped into the gap between our beds before frantically shaking my brother awake.

His eyes popped open in alarm, illuminated by the moonlight that streams through our small window.

“What’s going on?” he asked gruffly.

I pointed a hesitant finger toward the door that separates us from the madness outside our room.

Ripping his headphones off, he did it in time for a bloodcurdling shriek to pierce the darkness with its lance.

My brother, big for his age, had only grown more in the last year. He was almost as large as the monster who masqueraded as our father, and in that moment was our only hope to save our mother. His arm muscles flexed as he pushed himself up and swung his massive legs over the side of the bed. The weights he’d been lifting and kept hidden under his bed had certainly done their job. I envisioned him as the superhero he was to me.

He unfolded his body as he got to his feet, towering over me by leaps and bounds.

“You stay here, kid.”

I straightened my posture, not liking being called a child. I was only five years younger than him. Though at eight years young, I stood no chance against the villain who invaded our walls.

“Even Batman has a sidekick,” I protested, hating the squeaky sound that escaped my croaky throat.

He flashed me a smile that warmed my chest in a way I was sure he was proud of me. “Fine, you help Mom and I’ll stop Dad.”

We traded nods as I watched him stalk to the door with determination in his step. For once, we weren’t going to cower in the shadows. We would stop Dad once and for all and save Mom from any more ugly bruises, or worse, a trip to the hospital.