Chapter Fifteen
FIFTEEN
HAILEY’S DAILY RULE FOR SUCCESS:
Letting things play out as they will sometimes leads to unexpected joy.
Without Marcus on the field, it’s like the rest of the team have forgotten how to play. I always knew he was my strongest player, but I didn’t realize just how much he carried the team and held everyone together.
Frustrated, I stand at the edge of the football field and fight for patience as play after play gets fumbled.
“Take five!” I yell.
Scouts are coming in two weeks. This year’s championship trophy was well within our grasp, and now the whole season is at risk. The others looked up to Marcus. They had confidence in the team because they had confidence in him and his leadership qualities. I’m not sure how to get the team back on track and my own disappointment over cutting Marcus is definitely affecting my ability to coach.
I take a swig of Gatorade from my bottle and rotate my shoulders.
Head in the game. Focus on the kids out on the field.
Easier said than done as I see Hailey crossing the field toward me. She’s dressed in a beautiful pale pink sundress that shows off her tan. Remembering her lack of tan lines makes me instantly hard. Her hair is curled and loose around her shoulders and it blows in the light summer breeze. Time stills and the Notting Hill soundtrack seems to play as she walks toward me. All I can see is her.
She stops next to me with a slightly nervous expression. “Thought you might need this,” she says, extending the tuxedo. In my dazed state, I hadn’t even noticed she was carrying it.
“Thanks. Totally forgot about picking it up.” The wedding is tomorrow and it appears to be going ahead.
“Thought you might,” she says and there’s a long awkward beat between us.
Guess we said all we needed to.
I clear my throat. “Tomorrow’s the big day.”
“Yep.”
Man, this is awkward. Tomorrow will be torture. As maid of honor and best man, we’re going to be glued at the hip for wedding photos, the walk down the aisle, the wedding party dance... Damn, holding her in my arms again knowing she’s totally not into me might kill me.
Maybe I should say something. Put her mind at ease that we’re cool, even though I’m totally not. It was just an impulsive...mind-blowing, life-changing, night.
“About the other night...”
Hailey’s scanning the field. She frowns and interrupts. “Hey, where’s Marcus?”
Okay...so maybe she is cool with not talking about it.
I sigh and lower my voice so the others won’t hear. I told them Marcus had other things going on and needed to take a step back from the team, but I’m sure they could read between the lines. “He was using.”
Hailey swings toward me in panicked desperation. “You kicked him off the team?”
“Rules are rules. He was warned.” What’s she so upset about? I’m the one who lost my star player and Marcus is the one who is throwing his entire future away.
How did this become about Hailey Harris? Thought we’d moved beyond that.
“Scouts are coming. This could be his future. He needs this,” she says.
I frown. What the hell is her deal? “You don’t even know him.” She’s right. He does need this. But I can’t let him play when he’s not focused enough on the goal to stay the course and see it through. Fame and fortune will destroy him if he’s already giving in to drugs and alcohol as outlets. I hate that he’s choosing this path over the one that could change his life, but there’s nothing I can do that I haven’t already tried.
But Hailey’s not giving up. “Warren, please. Trust me. Just give him another chance,” she pleads. “Think about what you’d give for another shot.”
I don’t know why she’s so bloody invested in this kid, but she’s getting to me. If there was a way, I’d take it. I sigh, place my hands on my hips and stare off at the team for a long moment before turning back to her.
“Look, the rules are simple. Marcus knew them. How will it look to the rest of the team if I let him come back—no questions or punishment?” I need to set the example.
“Make sure there are conditions, but don’t write him off just yet.”
“What is it to you?” I ask.
She dances from one foot to the other and her genuine concern hits me in the feels. “I just...know what it’s like to come from a place of having nothing and wanting a better life and not knowing exactly how to get there. I had my mom...although our time was cut short. Marcus has you.” She pauses. “He needs you even if he doesn’t realize it yet.”
Gut punched.
“I’ll think about it,” I say and she nods.
Our gazes meet and hold for a long torturous beat as I try to read her mind. The last few weeks have been an emotional roller coaster.
I clear my throat and try again, “So, the thing the other night...”
She looks intrigued about what I’m starting to say, but her cell phone chimes, interrupting the moment. She glances at it, then holds it up. “Sonia. We’re headed to the spa.”
Right. “Well, have fun relaxing.”
She hesitates. “You were saying something...”
I was, but does it really matter? There are far too many reasons why Hailey Harris and I shouldn’t be together. I should chalk it up to an experience and learn to move on. After the wedding, there won’t be any real opportunity to see her again anyway... I shake my head. “It was nothing.”
“Okay,” she says and I detect a hint of disappointment in her tone...or maybe it’s relief. She walks away and I watch her go. Her passion over the Marcus situation is making me that much more attracted to her, and my own insecurities are ensuring there’s not a damn thing I’m going to do about it.
Soft, tranquil piano music plays as Sonia and I lie on massage tables in a dimly lit treatment room. The scent of lemongrass fills my senses and masseuses massage us with hot stones and reflexology techniques. After the painfully awkward meeting with Warren, where I completely chickened out of the conversation about our night together and how we were going to deal with our bridal party duties tomorrow, I’m desperately trying to relax, but Sonia wants to talk.
“I told Liam about the role,” she says, her voice slightly muffled with her face down in the hole of the massage table next to me.
A new tension creeps through my body at the mention of Liam. Last night on the deck was weird and my glimpse still has me freaked out and suffering an off balance equilibrium. Now, instead of trying to stop the wedding at all costs, I’m desperate to make sure it happens. Wild turn of events, but here we are. Supporting this new focus, I was hoping Sonia would continue keeping her secret for now, but I had been the one encouraging her to come clean all along. “And?”
“He wasn’t exactly thrilled about it. We had a huge fight.”
Uh-oh. “He wasn’t supportive?”
“The whole Hollywood scene isn’t his thing. He likes his privacy and he thinks that’s not possible with me involved in acting.”
A series of hot stones are placed along my spine and for a second, I’m too blissfully in peace to focus on the conversation.
But Sonia’s words are eerily familiar.
“He had a similar issue with my career choice.” Maybe Liam needs to be different, more open. Less judgmental about other people’s dreams and life goals and more supportive. Sure, right now he’s the one making a few sacrifices, but ultimately he’s still doing what he loves—designing and building.
“Really?”
“That was one of the main reasons things ended. I had to put my personal life—or a version of it—on display and he wasn’t comfortable being part of that.” Liam allowed my career choice to come between us and I realize now just how close I’d come to sacrificing it for him... I’m happy now that I didn’t.
“Maybe I shouldn’t take the part,” Sonia says.
“I don’t think giving up your own dreams is the right choice. If you do you’ll only end up resenting him. Maybe explain it to him...” The masseuse hits a hot spot on my lower back and I moan. “Oh, that feels good.”
“He’s given up his plans to be here, work for my father. Maybe that was the wrong thing to expect.”
“He loves you. He wouldn’t have made that decision if it wasn’t what he wanted to do,” I say. All along I’d been trying to protect Liam, but what about Sonia? She deserves to follow her dreams, as well. Liam is still doing the job he loves, with the woman he loves... Maybe he’s the one who needs to compromise—the way he agreed to already—for their relationship.
Maybe the future I saw is on him. Maybe his own inability to support a partner is what leads him there. And I need to take a back seat and watch things unfold, no longer try to prevent it. “And I think he just needs time to come to terms with your acting career, but the minute he sees you on that screen, he’ll realize it’s exactly where you belong.”
“Thanks, Hailey. You’ve been amazing.”
Guilt overpowers my relaxation. I haven’t always been. “Of course.”
Sonia stops talking and enjoys her massage, but now I can’t.
My mind reels as my newfound friendship with Sonia has me wondering where we go from here. Six-month contracts—no more—has always been my motto, my safety net to prevent things from going sideways or people from getting too close. But I don’t want to say goodbye to Sonia...
Outside the spa an hour later, Sonia looks refreshed and vibrant as we walk toward the car. I feel less heavy and weighted down, as well. Letting go of Operation Breakup is freeing. I’m still worried about Liam getting hurt, but I’m also worried about Sonia. I still don’t think this union is the best thing for either of them, but my plans to sabotage it are done.
“That was just what I needed,” Sonia says but her phone chimes with a new email and when she checks it, panic crosses her features.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s the wedding favors. They didn’t ship until this morning. Expected delivery is in four days,” she says. Sonia dials the company number as she paces the parking lot.
I listen to her plead and explain nicely, calmly...then go full-on demanding Bridezilla. “Do you know who I am? Do you know who my father is?” Her tone is shrill and cutting.
Throughout the stress of this entire thing, I’ve never seen her this way. It’s slightly terrifying and makes me glad I’ve just decided to truly be a friend to her—no more lying or manipulating. I would not want to be on Sonia Banks’s bad side.
I intercept and take the phone away. “Let me,” I say to Sonia. Then into the phone, “Hi, there...sorry about my friend. She’s a little stressed.”
“She’s an asshole,” the female voice on the other end says.
“Well, she was promised a delivery date.”
“Subject to change. Says so right on the order.”
I fight for patience. “I understand they can’t get here today but is there any way they can be delivered by noon tomorrow?” The wedding is at 1:00 p.m. I can receive them at the hotel and get them set up myself. “We’ll pay a surcharge...whatever it takes.”
“You rich people think money solves everything.” The woman scoffs.
“Doesn’t it? I mean, I’m sure there are other deliveries you can move around.”
“The problem isn’t our schedule,” the woman says tightly. “It’s a big crater in the highway caused by that tremor a few weeks ago. Trucks over a certain weight can’t cross until the necessary repairs are made, so they’re forced to take an alternate, longer route.”
That damn tremor strikes again. Thought we were over its effects.
Yet the minute I shift my thinking about this wedding and my relationship with Sonia...another of its ripples pops up. A shiver dances down my spine despite the sweltering heat. Is fate trying to tell me something? Is ignoring my glimpse the right thing to do?
“Okay, I understand. Thank you.” I disconnect the call and hand Sonia her cell phone. “There’s nothing they can do.”
Sonia presses a hand to her chest as she continues to pace the parking lot. “What are we going to do? We can’t have a wedding without favors. What will guests think?”
Personally, I don’t think anyone would care. What the hell does anyone do with them anyway? I once found a crumpled origami favor with two mints inside in the bottom of an old purse who knows how long after the wedding.
But Sonia cares.
I stop her and calmly look into her eyes. “Hey, don’t stress. Don’t undo all the relaxation from today. I’ll take care of it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll make favors.” How hard could it be?
Sonia looks doubtful. “Fifty? The wedding is tomorrow.”
“Trust me,” I say and for the first time, I mean it.
Sitting at my kitchen table at 1:00 a.m., I open a notes app on my cell phone and type in “Best Man Speech.” Then I stare at the blinking icon. Other than keeping the rings safe and helping to seat guests tomorrow, this is my only duty, but it’s a heavy one.
Public speaking’s not my forte and love...
I scoff.
Maybe it’s more than that. A few weeks ago, I could have thrown together some cheesy shit with a few compliments to Sonia—how she makes Liam a better man—yada, yada, yada and a fun, embarrassing anecdote about Liam and be done with it. But now it’s hard to write a speech in support of a union that I don’t think is the right choice.
It’s none of my business, so I just need to cobble together a few heartfelt well-wishes and try not to mess it up.
My cell phone vibrates in my hand and I jump. Then my heart races even faster when I see a text from Hailey that says:
Need your help asap. Get over here.
Three dots...typing, then, Please .
She had me at Need your help .
An hour later, I’m sitting on Hailey’s living room floor, making emergency replacement favors for the wedding.
Pale pastel ribbons, tulle, little mesh bags, expensive chocolates, and the tiniest bottles of champagne I’ve ever seen are laid out all over the floor. My assembled gift bags aren’t so pretty, but the prime objective is to get them done.
Hailey sits cross-legged across from me, working at warp speed. She’s dressed in baggy jeans and a sweatshirt, her hair piled high on her head and glasses on. I didn’t even know she wore glasses, but she looks incredible in them. The whole casual look suits her. Every look suits her.
I’m overdressed in comparison. As soon as the text came in, I showered in record time, doused myself in too much cologne, and then put on khaki pants and a button-down shirt. I hadn’t known I’d be sitting on her floor putting chocolates into little bags.
I don’t know what I thought I’d be doing. Or what I’d hoped to be doing. She needed me and I was here. So far conversation has been brief—a quick tutorial and then we’ve been working in silence.
I clear my throat and rack my mind for something to say. “I can’t believe you’re doing this.”
“Liam and Sonia deserve a nice wedding,” she says as she ties off a mesh bag with a bow.
I used to think so, but the more time I’m spending with Liam and seeing just how stressed he is, how much he’s giving up, I’m not so sure this is the best decision for him. Of course, I’d never say that.
I’d been hoping Hailey would.
“Since when do you support this union?” I ask, reaching for another little champagne bottle and cramming it inside the bag with two chocolates.
She notices and shakes her head. “One white chocolate, one milk chocolate.”
I glance at the bag and see two white chocolates. I switch one out and wait for her to answer my question.
She sighs when I continue to stare at her expectantly. “Look, I can admit when I’m wrong. And besides, they’re grown adults—they can make their own life choices.”
“But isn’t your entire career based on helping people make decisions?”
“For their careers . I’ve decided love lives are none of my business.”
What about her love life? Where’s that at?
We continue to work in silence, but now all I can think about is whether or not she’s seeing anyone. Or if there is anyone special in her life... Work seems to be her priority, but oh shit, what if she’s bringing a date to the wedding? My invite includes one, but I’d never bring a woman to a wedding—sets up a lot of...expectations and whimsical thoughts.
I clear my throat. “So, um... Are you bringing a plus one?”
She pauses. “Hadn’t even really thought about it.”
Do I look happy about that?
She studies me. “You?”
“I don’t think so.” The answer is definitely no, but I’m keeping it open in case she does decide to bring someone and I have to send out an emergency date request text to one of the women on my contact list.
“I’m sure you’ll be able to work your way through the bridesmaids by midnight,” Hailey says.
Ouch. That gut punch hit harder than it should have.
A few weeks ago, she’d probably be right in the assumption. And maybe I haven’t had a come to Jesus moment based on one night of passionate sex with her, but I do feel different...or at least I think I want to be in my approach to relationships.
In my silence, she glances at me. She must see the impact of her words as her expression softens. “Sorry, that was mean.”
I shrug. Can’t fault her for the truth. After all she’s experienced my love ’em and leave ’em approach for herself. Or at least she thinks she has. “My reputation may have warranted the comment.”
Our gazes meet and hold and Hailey looks away first. She finishes the final favor and suppresses a yawn. “That’s the last of them.”
I check my watch as I get to my feet—painfully as the muscles in my legs have seized up from sitting cross-legged. It’s almost 3:00 a.m. “I guess I’ll see you in...six hours.” The wedding prep starts at 9:00 a.m. with the ceremony scheduled for one.
Hailey nods as she walks me to the door. “See you in six hours,” she says.
I open the door and go to leave. Then stop, close it again, and turn back to her. “Hey, about the other night...”
We need to address it. I need to address it.
But Hailey waves a dismissive hand. “Don’t sweat it. It’s not like it meant anything, right?”
Right there, that disappointing sinking feeling in my gut, confirms I was hoping it did. “No?”
Hailey hesitates, but then she shakes her head. “’Course not. And after tomorrow, once Sonia and Liam say ‘I do,’ I can go back to being nothing more than the woman who ruined your career.”
As much as I’d love that, she’s become so much more. She’s gotten under my skin in a different way. I’m not sure how I feel about it, but not having her around will definitely leave a void. We’ve been spending so much time together, I’m not sure what I’ll do once that ends. But if she’s not feeling the same connection...
“Great, yeah,” I say awkwardly. “Just wanted to make sure we were both on the same page.”
“Absolutely.”
She sounds so sure that there’s no room for any glimmer of hope on my end. I nod, leave the house, then glance back as I walk away hoping maybe it was all bravado, maybe she’s had a change of heart, but she simply closes the door and turns out the interior lights.
Resisting the urge to knock on the door and call bullshit for fear that I’m the one who’s full of shit for thinking I have the capability for any kind of follow-through, I climb into my Jeep and drive away.
As I travel down the quiet highway toward home moments later, I see the billboard ad for the life coaching event in two weeks. I stare at the photo of Hailey, illuminated by the street lights, lost in those mesmerizing blue eyes and captivating smile and my gut tightens.
“You cannot be falling for Hailstorm.”