Fool Me Once (Bad Boy Romance) Page 17

  Unfortunately, my hopes had been dashed. I had just been dealt a heavy blow and the only person I wanted to talk to was Evie. She was my compass and would help me find my way back. She was mellow and smart and gave excellent advice. I knew she would be more interested in my well-being than my career or the team’s future. I walked down the hall, pulling on my sunglasses to keep up the attempt to hide my identity. There was a pretty garden just outside an exit for patients and their families to enjoy the fresh air. I was technically a patient, I decided, and went into the garden. The spring flowers were in full bloom, with lots of butterflies flying about, hovering over the flowers. It was a warm day, the sun out and unfiltered by clouds. I looked up at the sun, letting it warm my face and calm my nerves.

  I found a bench in the far corner of the garden and pulled out my phone. There was a text message from my coach, Victor, asking me to call him as soon as possible. I knew the doctor and team rep had probably called him and given him the news before they’d even told me. It was a strange feeling to be treated like an object and not as a person. My arm was a valuable commodity. He would want to know right away whether or not he needed to replace me on the team. I imagined the excitement of the guys waiting in the wings in the minors. This was what they lived for—one of us in the majors to go down. It was the only way anyone got pulled up. It was a cutthroat world and there would be quite a few guys celebrating my downfall.

  I pulled up Evie’s number and pushed the button, anxious to hear her voice. “Hi,” I said when she answered.

  “Hey! How’s it going?” she asked in a cheery voice.

  I sighed. “Not great. Actually, complete shit,” I muttered.

  “Uh-oh. What happened?” she asked with concern. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, I’m fine. I’m fine, but the arm is shot. The doctor says I need surgery.”

  She was silent for a second. “Ouch, I’m sorry. I know that is not what you wanted to hear. He says you need it or recommends you get it so you can play again?”

  “I guess he thinks I should do it because it gives me the chance to heal and get back in the game,” I told her, having a new understanding of why it was being suggested. I wondered if he would recommend it this quick after the injury if I weren’t a ball player. Would he tell the average Joe to jump right to surgery or wait it out and see if it got better with time and rest?

  “If you don’t do it, you can’t play again?” she asked.

  “Exactly.”

  “Ouch, that is a double-edge sword. What does your coach say?” she asked.

  I laughed. “I know what he’ll say. He’ll want me to get it. The doctor said surgery gives me a slim chance, but it isn’t a guarantee.”

  “What do you want to do?” she asked softly.

  “I don’t know.”

  “It’s a big decision,” she stated.

  I watched a butterfly and thought about the freedom it had. It flitted to and from without a care in the world. I got lost in thought, watching the butterfly, mesmerized.

  “Dayton?” She said my name, pulling me back to the present.

  “Sorry,” I muttered.

  “You don’t have to decide right away, do you?” she asked.

  I shook my head, closing my eyes for a second before taking a deep breath. “No. I’m sure they’ll want an answer soon, but I told them I needed to think about it.”

  “Good. You do what’s right for you. I’ll support you in whatever it is you decide. This is not something you can decide based on what other people want. It’s your life, your body,” she said.

  I smiled. “I think all I want right now is to be back there with you. I miss you.”

  She giggled. “You only left a few hours ago.”

  “But it’s a Sunday. We should be in bed, watching old movies and eating junk food,” I told her.

  She laughed again. “Who says that’s not what I’m doing?” she teased.

  “I hope you are. I hope you stay in bed until I get back. It will save me some time,” I said cheekily.

  “When does your plane leave?” she asked.

  “I don’t know. I kind of ditched my guy.”

  “Uh, will the plane leave without you?” she asked nervously.

  “I doubt it.It’s a private plane,,” I said dryly.

  “I’m sorry you’re going through this, I really am,” she said earnestly.

  “It’s fine. I’m going to go hunt him down so I can get out of here. I’ll see you soon,” I told her.

  “Okay. I’ll be waiting,” she said in a soft voice.

  I ended the call and walked out of the garden, anxious to get home. I found the team rep and made it clear I was ready to go home. Of course I was told we had to wait, which pissed me off. I felt like I was being held prisoner. I settled in on one of the worn leather couches in a private waiting room. I knew I needed to come up with a decision. Two weeks ago, I would have jumped at the surgery. Now, I wasn’t sure it was the right thing to do.

  I felt like my priorities had changed. I loved baseball, but at what cost? I didn’t want to be left incapable of holding my children one day. I wanted to be able to lead a full life after my career came to an end. I needed to do more of my own research. I needed to have the facts from an unbiased source. I believed the doctor was giving me his recommendation based on what was best for the team. I knew there was a whole mess of contracts to think about if I couldn’t play. That was something to be worked out later.

  It wasn’t long before the team rep announced he’d managed to get the plane ready to go early. I was on my feet and out the door without being told a second time. I wanted out of there.

  Chapter 28

  Evie

  I felt bad for Dayton. He was in a tough spot. I couldn’t really understand his position but didn’t dismiss how hard it was for him. I couldn’t imagine my entire life being changed because of an injury that was relatively common in older crowds. I knew while it could disrupt some parts of a person’s life, it wasn’t necessarily game over. In Dayton’s world, that’s exactly what it was, or at least the way he was treating it.

  There was a knock on the door, pulling me from my comfy spot on my couch. I opened the door to find Mallory wearing dark sunglasses that nearly covered her entire face. I hadn’t seen her all week and knew I had neglected her. I hoped she wasn’t too pissed.

  “Hi,” I said, opening the door wider for her to come in.

  She looked at me and even though I couldn’t see her eyes, I knew she was glaring. “I was just making sure you still lived here and that you were still breathing,” she said dryly.

  “I’m sorry, I’ve been a little busy this week,” I told her.

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” she grumbled, finally walking inside.

  “I’m sorry,” I said again.

  She flopped down on the couch and took off her sunglasses. “Where have you been?”

  I sat down, hating that I couldn’t tell her. “I, uh, I have a client that is kind of a big deal and I’m not allowed to talk about it.”

  “What? What kind of bullshit is that? You tell me everything,” she insisted.

  I groaned. “I know.”

  “Are you massaging this client around the clock?” she asked, heavy on the sarcasm.

  “No, but it’s complicated!” I groaned.

  “Evie, you tell me everything. You can tell me who it is.”

  I shook my head. “I really can’t. I had to sign a paper saying I wouldn’t tell anyone. If it gets out this person is in town and my client, I could be sued for damages.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “What kind of joint you running over there? Are you working at a brothel?”

  I rolled my eyes. “It’s not a brothel.”

  “Then tell me who it is,” she demanded.

  I hated not telling her. It was killing me to keep the secret. “I’ll tell you, but you have to absolutely swear you won’t tell a single person, got it?”

  “Who am I going to tell?”


  “Uh, any one of your clients,” I retorted.

  “I’m not going to tell anyone. I know my people gossip. I’m the one who warned you not to say anything in front of Betty Mae,” she reminded me.

  I nodded. “I know, but this guy could lose his career if it gets out.”

  “If you don’t tell me this second, I’m going to walk out of here and never talk to you again.”

  “Dayton Black,” I blurted out, unable to contain it another second.

  “Dayton Black the baseball player?” she asked with shock.

  I nodded my head. “Yes.”

  “Wait, I heard about that game. One of the ladies was telling me he threw one pitch and then was out and hasn’t been back since,” she said.

  I smiled. “Because he’s been here.”

  “What happened? What’s wrong with him?” she asked anxiously.

  “It’s his shoulder, rotator cuff,” I told her, not sure if she knew what that meant.

  “So, is he really hurt?” she asked.

  I shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “You don’t know, or you won’t say?” she pressed.

  “No one knows. He’s undergoing therapy at the clinic to try and get the arm healed,” I explained.

  She was staring at me, the scrutiny making me squirm a bit. “Evie,” she said, drawing the name out.

  “What? I told you,” I said, shrugging a shoulder.

  She shook her head. “No, you didn’t. There is something else. Him being your client at the clinic doesn’t explain where you’ve been.”

  I looked away, afraid she would see my guilt. “I knew you’d be able to tell I was keeping something from you,” I said, part of it being true.

  “Are you and him a thing?” she gasped.

  “No!”

  “You liar! What the hell? Why didn’t you tell me?” she shrieked.

  I looked at her. “I just told you why I didn’t tell you.”

  “You know what I mean. Wow. I never pictured you with a guy like him. Do you know who he is?” she asked, her face twisted into a grimace.

  I shrugged. “I know he grew up here and is a baseball player.”

  “Evie, the guy is a playboy. He’s out with a different woman every night,” she told me.

  “I know he’s not a virgin. I don’t care about his life out there. He’s not the guy you see on TV or the magazines,” I insisted.

  She didn’t look convinced. “Some of it might be for show, but there’s no denying the women.”

  “I like spending time with him. We have fun together and he isn’t that person when he’s with me.”

  She grimaced. “Is he as big a dick in real life as he is on TV? I’ve watched some of his interviews and he is kind of a jerk. He acts like his shit doesn’t stink.”

  I laughed at her crude statement. “When I first met him, I got that same impression. And then, after talking to him and getting to know him a little better, I realized that asshole persona is just a persona. He’s actually a nice guy and really down-to-earth. I mean, he is still a bit of a diva and definitely has expensive taste, but he can afford it.”

  “I’m sorry to say this, but you have to know this is temporary. He’s not going to be here forever. You said it, he’s got expensive tastes. He’s used to the finer things in life. He’s not going to find that here in Hope. This place, you, it’s a stop on his rise to the top.”

  I nodded. “I know. I get it. I’m going to enjoy the time I do have with him. It’s nice to have a boyfriend, even if it really isn’t a boyfriend. This past week has been really good with him. I haven’t dated anyone in years. I was suffocating in my life and didn’t even realize it until I met him. He took me to Utah a few days ago.”

  Her eyes bulged. “What?”

  I smiled. “Yep. He took me to Utah. We stayed in a fancy hotel, went for a hike—” I stopped, realizing I hadn’t told her about my dad. I wasn’t sure I wanted to.

  “What happened?” she asked.

  I took a deep breath. “I have to make you swear to secrecy again,” I told her.

  “I already told you I wouldn’t tell anyone about him.”

  I shook my head. “Not that. I don’t want my mom to know—I ran into my dad.”

  Her eyes widened. “What?”

  “It was awful. I couldn’t believe it. We went for a hike and when we got to the top, I walked into the little souvenir shop there and he was there. He acted like it was a pleasant surprise to see me. He was thrilled. He actually bragged about how well he was doing. He bought the shop and lives there now. He moved to the fucking mountains and is living out his dream retirement! Can you believe that?” I shouted.

  She shook her head. “What a pig. I’m sorry. I cannot believe you saw him.”

  “Me either. At first, I thought it was a setup. In the back of my mind I thought maybe Dayton thought he was playing some kind of miracle worker game and reuniting father and daughter. It wasn’t until after I calmed down a bit, I realized it was just a freak coincidence.”

  “It is a crazy coincidence. I’m glad you saw him though. I know you’ve always wondered if maybe he died or something awful happened,” she said gently.

  I nodded. “Yes, I did. Is it bad that I almost wished he had? I mean, I don’t want him dead, but I don’t want to accept the fact he really walked out on me and my mom.”

  “I don’t think it’s bad at all. I know I’ve wished it for him a few times when I watched what you and your mom were going through. I hated him for you. I hated that he left you holding the bag. I know you would have been there for her regardless, but you shouldn’t have been left to go through it alone,” she said.

  I took a deep breath. “I wasn’t alone. I had you. I had the entire town behind me.”

  “You were the one watching your mom go through hell. We were all outsiders looking in.”

  “Thank you. I do appreciate all that you did for me and I am really sorry I didn’t tell you sooner about Dayton. I really didn’t think he would be here as long as he has been. I kept waiting for him to pick up and leave,” I told her.

  “He will leave. You have to be ready for that,” she said, looking me in the eye.

  “I know. I am,” I replied.

  “I want you to find a good man, a man that isn’t going to walk out on you. I don’t want to see you get hurt. You’ve been through enough. You deserve to be happy with someone that will take care of you and treat you right.”

  I laughed. “Is there such a man?”

  “I think if we moved to the city, your odds of finding a good man would be dramatically increased,” she said, sneaking in another plea for me to move away.

  I rolled my eyes. “You don’t give up.”

  “Nope, I don’t. One of these days I’m going to get you out of here,” she asserted.

  “Don’t count on it,” I laughed.

  She leaned back. “Dayton Black.”

  I giggled. “I know. I would have never imagined in a million years that I would be hooking up with him.”

  “I guess you never know who’s going to tickle your fancy until it happens. I only wish I could meet him, not because of who he is, but because of who he is to you. It kind of sucks that I can’t hang out with you guys or do normal things,” she pouted.

  “I know the feeling. He can’t be seen in town at all. He’s been stuck hanging out at home since he got here. We had dinner with his parents the other night.”

  “You met his parents?” she said with shock.

  I laughed. “Not like that. It isn’t serious. I met his parents because he can’t go anywhere else.”

  “Sure,” she replied, clearly not believing my excuse.

  “It’s true,” I said with a laugh.

  I could tell she didn’t believe me, but she didn’t press the issue. We chatted a bit more about her week and the latest gossip around town before she got up to leave. I gave her a hug, happy to have gotten the chance to catch up with her. It felt good to get everything off
my chest. Keeping my secret had been incredibly difficult. I told her everything and not being able to share with her made me feel like the worst friend in the world.

  I checked the time, wondering if Dayton would come to my house when he got back. I wanted to be ready in case he did. I quickly showered, shaved my legs and put on a pretty matching bra and thong. I changed the sheets on my bed and then tidied up my small house. I wished I could make him a nice dinner, but it wasn’t going to happen. The best I could offer him was takeout. Not exactly romantic.

  Chapter 29

  Dayton

  I heard the soft knock about a second before the door opened. I laughed at my mother’s inability to wait until she was given permission to enter. I might be living in an entirely different house, but she was still treating me as if I was in my bedroom at home and twelve years old. I didn’t truly mind, but I was going to have to remember to lock the door if Evie stayed over. I did not want to give her an eyeful.

  “Hey, Mom,” I said from where I was sitting on a stool in the kitchen, using my iPad to check the scores of the games played over the weekend.

  I’d been trying to ignore all news about the league, but there was something that kept pulling me in. I wanted to know who was doing what and what the season was shaping up to be.

  “I didn’t see you come in last night,” she said, sitting on the stool beside me.

  “I got in late,” I told her, not telling her I had gone to Evie’s house first.

  “Did you have a nice flight?”

  I smiled. “You always have a nice flight when you’re on a private plane.”

  She rolled her eyes, shaking her head. “I guess I wouldn’t know.”

  “I’d be happy to charter a jet and take you and Dad anywhere you want to go,” I offered.

  She waved a hand. “Stop. You and your money. You throw it around like it’s nothing.”

  “I have a lot of it, and I want to spoil you and Dad. I really wish you would let me do things for you. You raised me. I know how much those baseball camps and all my gear cost. You helped get me to where I am today. I owe you guys,” I insisted.