Page 19 of Playing for Keeps
“And Caroline,” Neenah whispered. “That’s rough.”
“They wanted me to relocate to Miami immediately. She understood and wanted to do the long-distance thing.”
When Dom went to prison, Caroline’s mom took it hard. Caroline was trying her best to be there for her mom, and her own grief had probably been shoved aside. Between workouts, team meetings, press events, and managing sponsorships and endorsements, Justin didn’t have nearly enough time to be there for Caroline.
“I’m guessing that didn’t work out well,” Cody said.
“You let her go for her own good. She has to see that, right?” Garrett’s question was quick and full of urgency before he focused back on the bag.
Justin increased the speed of his punches. He’d worried about her all the time but felt like she tried to be available for him in the brief moments he had for her. That meant she’d been sitting by the phone instead of being with her family when they needed each other. “I’m not sure she understood it that way.”
“What are you going to do?” Cody hopped off the treadmill and headed toward the free weights.
“I’m not sure.”
“You want to win her back?” Neenah asked.
Justin lowered his arms as the bag swung like a pendulum, but the grip on his lungs didn’t release. “Yes.”
“Operation Christmas Romance,” Garrett said.
“Start with an apology.” Cody held up a hand. “I get that you both had your reasons for the way things ended, but she probably feels like you abandoned her.”
Cody was right. Justin had lost many nights of sleep knowing Caroline probably hated him more than she loved him now. “I know.”
Garrett pulled out his phone and started typing with his thumbs. “What’s the plan?”
Justin glanced between his three friends. All of them wore equally thoughtful expressions.
“You should start with flowers,” Cody finally said.
“Or a grand gesture,” Neenah added.
Garrett leaned low over his phone. “Lots. Of. Flowers.”
Justin had a long way to go to win back Caroline’s forgiveness, and flowers weren’t a bad place to start.
6
JUSTIN
Thirteen Years Ago
This was stupid. This was stepping up to the plate without a bat.
He’d been busting at the seams to see Caroline again, and he hadn’t spared a single thought about how dangerous it was to roam around the ranch at night until he was standing here in the dark jumping at every creaky board in the wind. Sure, he had a weapon, but something told him sweet Caroline wouldn’t be packing heat.
Caroline. Of all the women who could have struck a match and set his world on fire, why did it have to be her? She’d never think ill enough ofsomeone to think she’d need that kind of protection. They were so different from each other.
No use worrying over it now. After kissing her at the dance—that they hadn’t even attended—there was no going back. They’d spent the rest of the evening at the creek behind the barn, and that was enough to seal the deal. It’d been less than twenty-four hours since they parted, twenty-one hours and fifteen minutes… and he’d spent almost all of it thinking of her.
Caroline Taylor wasn’t like any woman he’d ever met. She was pure and warm and had this smile that made him believe he could conquer the world.
What was he doing here? He walked out of the pole barn and squinted into the dark. Was that shadow moving? No, just the wind and a branch. Turning, he walked away.
He made it ten steps and spun back to the barn.
He was stupid to even think they had a chance. Caroline was unrealistically sweet. One evening together was all it took to see the good in her. They’d talked until she had to leave to make her curfew. The girl had parents,plural, and she cared about curfew, just another reason they were completely wrong for each other. Yet, not once had she brought up his dad. In fact, she’d done nothing but ask questions and tell him about her dreams.
