Chapter 35
brEAKING: CELEbrATION INTERRUPTED BY VERY PUBLIC GROVEL Guests rate performance surprisingly effective
Alaia
My knees wobble as I make my way to the beach behind the Hideaway Haven Resort. Today is my first day of work for the Seals, and I’m being drawn straight into a difficult task – a photoshoot for charity.
The shoot was supposed to be in a few days but got moved up for some reason. I haven’t had the chance to prepare. I barely agreed to accept the job and I’m already attending a photoshoot.
I have no clue what I’m supposed to do here. Maybe this job isn’t the right one for me. Maybe I was too hasty to say yes. Maybe…
I cut off those thoughts. I can do this. I know football. Plus, I worked at a sports magazine for a summer. And I’m used to handling scandals. This is Smuggler’s Hideaway after all. And I am the bartender during Mermaid Karaoke.
I’ve got this. I straighten my back and lift my chin. Confident, independent Alaia, who won’t let a man control her, has arrived.
I reach the beach and notice an area cordoned off for the shoot. I start to make my way there. My heels sink into the sand. What was I thinking, wearing heels to the beach? I know better.
I kick off the heels and put them in my bag. First day of work and I’m barefoot. Great start, Alaia.
I frown when I reach the cordoned-off area. I don’t see any photographers. There’s no space set up to shoot. Thank goodness I attended a few photoshoots before. I know how to handle this.
I duck under the rope used to cordon off the area and—
“Surprise!”
I rear back and nearly fall on my ass on the sand. I glance around as people pour out of the tents. My parents. My friends. The players. The senior management of the team. All led by Tanner.
My heart speeds up at his presence. I haven’t seen him since he called me a liar and walked out of my apartment. I’ve missed him. I’ve missed his corny jokes. The way he greets every challenge with a smile.
No. No. No. He broke my heart. I don’t miss him. I miss the man I thought he was. But it was all a mirage.
“What’s going on? Where are the photographers?” I ask him.
“The photoshoot is in a few days.”
I blink up at him. “In a few days? I was told today.”
His cheeks darken. “I asked Knox to fib to you to get you here today.”
He did? “Why?”
“To celebrate your new job. This is a big deal. PR manager of an NFL team. Alaia Jackson, you are the shit! Congratulations!”
I glare at him. “Did you arrange this job for me?”
I swear to all the mermaids if he interfered in my life and manipulated me for my ‘own good’, I’m going to show my sisters how a Molotov cocktail is made.
He holds up his hands. “I didn’t know about it until after you accepted the position.” He narrows his eyes at Knox. “No one told me.”
Phew. How humiliating would it be to have finally leveled up in my career, only to find out my ex-boyfriend arranged the job for me. No thanks.
“But I did arrange this party for you.” He motions to the group of people behind him. “Everyone is here for you. To celebrate your achievements.”
I roll my eyes. “You’ll do anything to have a party.”
“I admit I enjoy a good party, but I didn’t do this for me. I did this for you. In fact.” He backs up a few steps until he bumps into a stage. How did I not notice there’s a stage? He jumps on it and picks up a microphone before motioning to me.
I retreat a few steps. I’m not going up there. The entire team is here. I’m supposed to be the PR manager, not whatever Tanner’s making me out to be.
Dad nudges me forward. “Go.”
I glare at him. “Are you kidding me? You’re supposed to support me, your daughter. The one whose heart was broken by him.”
He places his hands on my shoulders. “Here’s the thing, baby girl. The only person who can repair a broken heart is the person who broke it in the first place. Go on. Give him a chance to try and put you back together again.”
“I’m not Humpty Dumpty. I don’t need a man to put me together. I’m an independent woman.”
Dad sighs. “I know you are, but being half of a partnership isn’t a bad thing.”
Partnership? I snort. Tanner doesn’t know how to be a partner.
Except he listened to me at the beach. He didn’t call the sports magazine when I asked him not to. He never pushed me for sex. And he helped me with my writer’s block.
“I don’t know,” I mutter.
“Don’t be an idiot,” Anne says.
Beth nods. “I’d run up there so fast I’d be flying.”
Anne giggles. “And you’d break your leg.”
I give them my back. I can’t with them on a good day. Today is not a good day.
Mom stands next to Dad. “Give him a chance. If he doesn’t deserve it, we’ll unleash Anne and Beth on him.”
My eyes widen. Unleashing Anne and Beth on someone is pretty much giving the twins the go ahead to ruin someone’s life.
“You would?”
“Yep. I like Tanner, but if he messes this up again, there will be no mercy.”
Mom has never been blood-thirsty before. I think I like it.
“Welcome, everyone!” Tanner begins. “We’re here to celebrate Alaia and her new job. Three cheers for Alaia Jackson, our new PR manager.”
Everyone cheers and I glance around. They’re not looking at Tanner. They’re looking at me. And smiling.
Gage gives me a thumbs-up. Nolan mouths Congrats, boss! Brock and Corbin merely grin and nod.
Firing pirates drowning in the sea! They’re supporting me for this job even though they know it’ll be awkward for Tanner.
My smile stretches from ear to ear. My family is here supporting me. The Seals' offensive line supports me. I can do this. Not only do this. I am going to rock at my new job. My new career.
I glance over my shoulder at Tanner standing on the stage. And my new life?
“The Seals are the luckiest team to have Alaia on their side. Did you see the article she wrote in the Smuggler’s Gazette? This woman doesn’t hesitate to confront the people who deserve her wrath.”
He clears his throat. “Which includes me.”
Beth and Anne laugh. “This is going to be fun,” they say in unison.
Mom prods me. “Go up there.”
I meet her gaze. “You promise to sic the twins on him if he screws up?”
“You have my word.”
Okay, then. I guess I’m getting up on the stage.
Once I’m standing next to Tanner, he reaches for my hand but I shake my head. I’m fine where I am.
“Fair enough,” he mutters.
“This day should be all about Alaia and celebrating her accomplishments, but if I could have your time for a few moments, I need to apologize to her.”
“Why are you apologizing in front of the entire world?”
He raises an eyebrow. “Would you hear me out if you didn’t have your family and my teammates here to stop you from running away?”
I grunt because I’m not admitting he’s right out loud.
“Okay, here I go. Alaia Jackson, I’m sorry.”
I nearly roll my eyes. How many times have I heard a man apologize and not mean it? Too many. Spoiler alert: If you don’t change your actions, an apology is useless.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t trust you. I’m sorry I accused you of betraying me when you were trying to protect me. I’m sorry I reduced you to a journalist searching for a big scoop to make a big payday.”
“I was wrong about it all. You chose integrity when you could have chosen fame. You protected me when I didn’t deserve it.”
“Can you ever forgive me?”
I nibble on my bottom lip. “I don’t know. What happens the next time you misinterpret a situation?”
“Easy. I slow down and listen to the woman I love. I let her explain the situation to me. Even if she has to dumb it down for me.”
The crowd laughs at his joke but I can barely hear them above the pounding of my heart.
“The woman you love?”
“Hell yeah, the woman I love. I arrived on this island thinking I couldn’t trust anyone but my teammates. Thinking romantic love was a trap. Thinking everyone was out to betray me. And you showed me I was wrong.”
“Smuggler’s Hideaway is magical,” Dad shouts.
Tanner smiles at me. “It is magical. It’s the place where I met the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
I study his face. I want to believe him. I want to jump into his arms and forget about the past week. But I can’t. I can’t go through the heartbreak he caused me again. I won’t survive.
“I don’t know, Tanner. You stumbled at the first obstacle we encountered as a couple.”
“I did. And, let’s be honest, I’m going to screw up and stumble again in the future.”
“A lot!” Gage shouts.
“You can count on it!” Nolan adds.
“He’s a screw up,” Corbin declares.
Brock grunts in agreement.
Tanner glares at his teammates. “You’re supposed to be backing me up.”
Nolan shrugs. “She should know what she’s getting herself into when she ties herself to you.”
Tanner meets my gaze. “I’ll tell her what she’s getting.
She’s getting love and devotion. And if you decide you can’t forgive me or give me another chance, I’ll still support you and your career.
I won’t give you any trouble. If you’re uncomfortable being around me, I’ll do my best to make you comfortable. ”
My mouth drops open. “If I don’t give you a second chance, you’ll still support me?”
“Yep. Because whether you give me another chance or not, I still love you.”
The words are barely out of his mouth before I’m rushing to him. I jump and he catches me.
“Does this mean you forgive me?”
I grasp his shoulders and lean back to meet his gaze. “I do but if you ever say you can’t trust me again, you’ll be losing your balls.”
“We can help, sis!” The twins shout.
Tanner shudders. “Duly noted.”
“Good. Now kiss me.”
He melds his lips to mine and I sigh. His tongue swoops into my mouth and there it is – the taste I’ve been missing. The man I’ve been missing.
Tanner Long is all mine.