Thirty-Two Dominic
Thirty-Two
Dominic
S cott was right. I shouldn’t have come.
Was it so wrong to want to be there for Teagan at her big moment?
She hates that I came. I can see it in her eyes. She doesn’t want me here. I planned on leaving, but I never expected a crowd to form around me. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised because I’m a celebrity athlete. I sign a few autographs and take several photos and selfies.
Someone calls my name. “Dominic, wait!”
It’s Egypt. The tall, full-figured Gem who, if I remember what Teagan told me, has always been the no-nonsense one of the bunch. Oh, lord. I roll my eyes. I can only imagine she’s about to read me the riot act.
She storms toward me in stiletto heels, one shapely leg showing from the black corset gown she’s wearing.
“Hello, Egypt,” I say when she makes it to me.
“What were you thinking?” she asks exasperatedly, hand on one hip.
“I wasn’t,” I return.
“That’s pretty obvious,” Egypt responds, but then she sighs. “But I get why you came.”
“You do?” I’m surprised she would acknowledge I’m right about anything.
“You wanted to support my girl. Am I right?”
I nod.
“You’re not wrong, but Teagan has never fully gotten over the demise of her tennis career, and seeing you here tonight with all your fans… Well, it just reinforces she isn’t good enough, ya feel me?”
“I never thought about it like that.”
“Why would you? You’re a champion. A legend in your own right. Tonight is about Teagan and what she’s been able to accomplish without tennis .”
I nod in acknowledgment. “I understand.”
“Do you? Springing it on her might not have been the best idea, but I don’t think you’re wrong for being here. Teagan needs all the support she can get from people who love her.”
“Who says I love her?”
Egypt chuckles. “You can fool yourself if you want, Dominic—” she comes toward me and pats my arm “—but my daddy didn’t raise no fool and I know exactly what I see. You’ll figure it out soon enough. In the meantime, don’t leave. Stay in the background and don’t bring any more attention to yourself. She’ll appreciate it later that you’re here.”
“I didn’t plan on leaving.”
A smile spreads across her round face. “I knew there was a reason I liked you, Fletcher. You’ve got balls and you’ll need them to keep up with Teagan. Good to see you, but I’ve got to run.”
A whoosh of black fabric and she disappears into the ladies’ room. I appreciate Egypt telling me how Teagan feels. It helps me see her perspective. When Teagan approached me earlier, all tough and hard, I’d been offended by her harsh persona, but now I have better insight.
Tonight is about her. I never thought otherwise, but I can see how it might look to have a crowd rush around me instead of her. I’m going to get a drink at the bar and once I’m sure the event has started, I’ll quietly creep in to see Teagan take home the win.
Besides, I can use some libation to help digest the word Egypt threw out there like an arrow to the heart.
Love.
I hadn’t wanted to admit the feelings I have for Teagan, but if I’m honest with myself, Egypt is right. I am in love with her. I think I’ve never stopped loving her. I just pushed those feelings aside because it hurt too much to think about how easily Teagan let our relationship go. She gave up on us and it hurt. It was easier to blame her than look myself in the mirror and recognize she wasn’t the only culprit in the failure of our relationship. I kept secrets from her. I never told her Mr. Williams asked me to stay away for her own good. I gave in to pressure from him, and from outside forces, to walk away. We were both to blame.
But I have a chance to make things right.
If I leave again because the situation is hard, Teagan will think it’s what I always do, but it’s not. I’ve changed. I’m not the twenty-year-old boy who was easily led astray.
I’m a man now and I’m going to stay and fight for the woman I love.