Page 85 of Pucking the Team
“I’d like to meet her one day.”
“She’d adore you.” He gently touched his lips to my sugary ones. “Even if you are a very messy eater when it comes to donuts.”
The following morning dawned bright with another clear-blue sky. I was becoming used to it. After London’s unpredictability, the constant weather in Florida was a novelty. I opted for a white dress and pale-pink cardigan and piled my hair into a high ponytail. I kept makeup to a minimum. The plan was a trip to see Theo’s consultant to get the result of his tests—this definitely wasn’t a date.
Oh, how I hoped all would be well.
Theo had been fractious the previous evening, using the home gym for an hour after dinner despite having trained most of the day. Ben said he was always that way when anxious; apparently, it used up his adrenaline.
“You ready?” I asked as I tidied up after making a breakfast of eggs and bacon.
He nodded and whacked on a plain black baseball. “Yep.”
“Feeling okay?”
“Better knowing you’re coming with me.” He managed a tight smile.
“Think positive. You look and feel well, so that should be a good sign.”
“Let’s hope so.”
We locked up, and he opened the passenger door on his huge white Jeep. I hopped into the stuffy heat and waited for the AC to kick in.
Luckily it soon did, and we were heading down the freeway toward Bryant Clinic.
“The other night,” Theo said suddenly. “It was real good between the three of us.” He glanced at me then returned his attention to the road.
“Yes, it was.” I wondered where he was going with this.
“I hope it can happen again,” he said.
“I’d like that.”
“You would?”
“Yes.” I paused. “Why would you think I wouldn’t?”
“I just…” He reached for my hand, taking it in his big one. “Can we have a night alone, together, just me and you?”
“I thought you liked threesomes?”
“I do, don’t get me wrong, but you’re special, you must know that.”
“I’ve been made to feel very un-special by Steven and Cheryl, like crap on their shoes and—”
“Please don’t say that.” He stopped at a set of lights and frowned at me. “I can’t bear how they’ve made you feel when you’re kind and sensitive and strong…so damn strong to have been through what you have, losing your parents, juggling university, and still be at the top of your game career wise. Your focus must be the same as an athlete’s.”
I laughed, and he pulled the car away again. “I don’t think so, heck, I don’t even like to go for a jog, and I think I’m allergicto the gym. A walk in the countryside or maybe a swim in the ocean and that’s about as athletic as I get.”
He chuckled. “Well, you’re doing damn fine on it.”
“My mother was tall and slim despite eating from dawn till dusk. It used to annoy her, she said clothes hung on her, but for me, it’s worked to my advantage.”
“You look good in clothes and out of clothes.” He threw me a cheeky wink.
I liked this side of Theo, and I hoped, if, when, his test results came back with good news, I’d get to see more of it.
We parked outside the clinic, and when he killed the engine, the vibe instantly blackened. It felt like a dark cloud had wrapped around him and he was in the middle of a storm.
