Page 55 of Rocking Player
“Count on me,” I said and hung up the phone.
Tonight, I’d dream about a life where I actually had the money and Georgie and didn’t have to choose. But that was just for dreams.
Tomorrow, I would take the money and prove to myself I was the best there was. It was everything I'd worked for years to achieve and the smart choice. All I needed to do was sign on the dotted line.
Chapter 17
Georgie
Michael wasperfect on my television.
I hadn’t intended to watch the game.
After I'd showered and let the water rush against my face, I'd turned the small TV on in my bedroom and just stared at him.
My arms ached to hold him. He caught two balls in five minutes and both times he was on screen for a moment.
My heart raced in those seconds. My lips ached to kiss him and beg him to forgive me.
I’d never be happy without him in my life. Calmness was an illusion to hide my desire.
After the inning ended, I called Indigo who told me to call Olivia.
I sucked on my bottom lip as I dialed and hoped she’d help.
If I didn’t fix my life, I’d be forever…stuck. This wasn’t right.
Love meant taking chances, and I’d not done that.
My mother had been braver than I gave her credit for when she’d been alive. She’d been abused, but had come out of her shell when my dad was around. Love had made her stronger. I don’t know how the water slapping my face had made me see that. All of my cousins had come from harder backgrounds, and they’d found refuge with us.
My mom cooked like every one of them belonged in our house.
I’d forgotten her open heart for every Steel child, until tonight.
Jeremy deserved to see love was possible for him too and that his father was good.
So, while my son slept and the game still played, I called my second sister as I tugged my jeans on. When she finally answered, I said, “Olivia, I need help.”
“What’s going on?” she asked.
I finished getting dressed and turned on my laptop. “Can you come over and watch Jeremy tonight and tomorrow?”
“Why?”
I turned on the lights and went to my bag in the closet to get my laptop as I said, “I need to go to LA.”
“Why?” She asked and I deflated in movement and closed my eyes.
I was stupid, in love, and had tossed out the best man I’d ever met, because I was afraid. I squared my shoulders and spoke fast as I grabbed my wallet and said, “Michael is there.”
“I thought he was coming to Pittsburgh in a week?”
I clicked on the midnight flight as I said, “I told him I wanted a divorce and hung up on him.”
“What? Why?”
She was seriously sounding like an annoying parrot. I hope I didn’t ask this many questions. “Because I feared I’d turn into Mom if I loved him too much.”
