Out at Home (20 page)

Jason leaned forward once more as Jordan and Gretchen looked back and forth between them as though witnessing a tennis match.

“
Brady will never change. I’ve known him longer than anyone. He’ll do the domestic thing for now, but he’ll get tired of it. Just wait and see.”

Still clutching the thin strands of her composure, she grinned. “He’s nothing like you, Jason. He’s more of a man than you’ll ever be.”

Jason laughed. “You always were a cold little bitch.”

“
Don’t forget it,” she warned, eyes narrowed, as Tabby and Zoey bounded over to their table.

“
What’s going on?” Tabby asked, sensing the thick tension.

Taylor shrugged. “Nothing.”

Slipping into a chair, Zoey glared at Jason. “You sure?”

“
Just reliving old memories, that’s all,” Taylor smiled.

“
I’m getting drinks. Taylor, could you help me?” Jason asked politely as he stood.

“
Certainly,” she said and followed him to the bar.

He gave the bartender his order and then turned to Taylor. “Two weeks on the road and he’ll be through with you.”

“
What is your problem? Why can’t you just let Brady be happy?”

“
He ain’t happy,” Jason protested. “He’s content right now but he won’t stay that way. That’s why I’m giving you fair warning. I’ve known him my whole life and it’s just the way he works. Two weeks on the road and he’ll be done with you. Prepare yourself.”

He threw a wad of bills on the bar, loaded his arm with bottles, and headed back to the table just as Brady walked through the door.

Chapter Seventeen

Brady draped an arm over her shoulders as they walked through the humid night air to her car. “Are you staying at my place tonight, love?”

“
Hm?” she asked, his question invading her thoughts. “Sorry, Brady. I had my mind elsewhere.”

“
Your mind’s been elsewhere since the game.” He reclined against the driver’s side door and crossed his arms over his chest. “What’s up?”

Leaning into him, she stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. “Just thinking about my story. What did you ask me?”

He eyed her with suspicion before dropping his arms and grabbing her waist. “I asked if you were staying with me tonight.”

She pulled his mouth to hers and wound her fingers in his thick hair. Breaking the kiss, she edged back. “Of course.”

He kissed the top of her head. “Hey, why don’t you just stay with me for rest of the week? We’re leaving Monday for a road trip and I’d like to have you to myself as much as possible.”

Her stomach dropped at the mention of the upcoming road trip but she kept her feelings off her face. “If you insist,” she shrugged as she shooed him away from her car.

That night, her mind wouldn’t rest. He held her tightly as he slept but she couldn’t seem to shut off her brain.

He’d told her earlier that Jason was going to follow the team on the upcoming road trip seeing as he had no job, nothing better to do, and his parents’ money to spend. Brady raved on and on about how cool it would be to hang out with his best friend again.

Taylor hadn’t had the heart to tell him about her earlier conversation with Jason as she’d feared it would only raise the trust issue once more. The last thing she had wanted was another ugly argument before he was to leave; especially with Jason accompanying him. She had clearly pictured a smug Jason positively beside himself with glee at the news that she and Brady were on the outs. She only wished Jordan would be tagging along but he had a job with a marketing firm in Indy and couldn’t get away.

It wasn’t so much that she didn’t trust Brady; she didn’t trust Jason. He was so intent on reliving his high school days with his old buddy that he didn’t care who got in his way. The stories they’d told the others about the pranks and hi-jinks they’d performed in school only intensified Taylor’s anxiety. She didn’t want Brady to realize the fun he was missing by being ‘tied down’ and eventually see her as an obstacle.

Sighing, she turned again, molding her back to his body.

“
Everything okay, love?” he murmured sleepily in her hair.

“
Yeah,” she whispered. “Go back to sleep.”

He kissed her head and gave her a little squeeze before dozing off once more. She laced her fingers with his and closed her eyes. There was no way in hell she’d let Jason rip him away from her again.

***

The next few days flew by far too quickly for Taylor. The team finished up a four game series with Cincinnati, and before she knew it, she was sitting on his bed watching him rifle through his closet.

After the third dress shirt hit her in the face, she let out an exasperated sigh and climbed off the bed.

“
You’re doing that on purpose so I’ll pack for you, aren’t you?” she asked.

He peeked his head around the closet door. “Did I hit you again?” he smirked. “So sorry.”

“
Watch it, buddy or I’m liable to shove you in that closet and lock it.”

Diving at her, he snatched her around the waist. He walked backwards toward the open closet door, dragging her with him.

“
Sounds kind of kinky, love. Will you be joining me?”

Snorting, she pushed him away. “No. I’ll be enjoying the peace and quiet.”

He caught her hand and tugged her to his chest. “Stop acting like you won’t miss me. We both know you will.”

“
Ha,” she exclaimed. “I’m going to stay here the whole two weeks you’re gone and take advantage of sleeping in that big bed by myself without someone snoring in my ear.”

His lips fell into a frown as his brow furrowed. “I don’t snore.”

“
Please,” she told him, rolling her eyes. “You rattle the windows.”

He kissed her slowly, running his hands up and down her back under her shirt. “I wish you were coming with me.”

“
No you don’t,” she scoffed. “You’ll have fun with Jason. You don’t need your girlfriend tagging along.”

His fingers traced the line of her spine causing her to shudder. “I always need you tagging along.”

She kissed his chin and broke away from him. Her stomach tied itself into a knot and she was afraid traitorous tears would form next. She grabbed a shirt from the pile of clothes he’d thrown on the bed and folded it neatly.

Wrapping his arms around her waist, he rested his chin on her shoulder. “You okay, love?”

She nodded, choking back her emotions. “Yeah. I just figured I’d better do your packing. At the rate you’re going, you’ll be full of wrinkles for the next two weeks.”

***

Taylor pushed her food listlessly around on her plate. She forked a piece of lettuce but dropped it before attempting to put it in her mouth.

“
You got it bad, girl,” Tia observed across the table from her, smile playing on her lips. “How long has he been gone? Three days?”

“
Four,” Taylor answered. “And I’m just not hungry, that’s all.”

Tia frowned. “He called you last night, didn’t he?”

“
Yeah,” Taylor muttered pushing her plate away. “And this morning.”

Tia set her fork on the table. “What’s the problem?”

Releasing a dismal sigh, Taylor glanced around the little diner. She’d invited Tia to lunch in hopes that Tia’s peppy personality would put Taylor in a better mood. So far, it wasn’t working.

“
I don’t really know. I mean, I miss him, yeah, but it’s more than that. Guess it’s because Jason is there.”

Tia leaned across the table, questions lurking in her eyes. “Jason went on the road trip?”

Taylor furrowed her brow. “I didn’t tell you?”

“
No.”

“
Yeah, he’s there.” She dropped her shoulders and slumped on her side of the booth. “It’s not like they’re doing any wild partying or anything but just knowing that Jason’s around gives me a bad feeling.”

“
What aren’t you telling me?” Tia asked, concern etched all over her face.

Taylor sat up, took a deep breath, and told her about the conversation she’d had with Jason earlier that week.

“
He’s a little bastard,” Tia remarked matter-of-factly. “And a waste of oxygen, if you ask me. But don’t worry too much.”

Taylor drew intricate patterns on her water glass with her finger. “I’m trying not to worry.”

“
When I was a senior,” Tia said, her voice earnest, “Brady and Jason were only juniors but they pretty much ruled the school. Jason was a big time partier. I mean booze, girls, you name it. Brady partied with him, although I think he was far more cautious. Brady was always more serious about his athletic future. The more time I spend with Brady, the more maturity I see. Jason, on the other hand, has no responsibility and hasn’t had to work for anything.”

The knot in Taylor’s stomach doubled. “So, what, you think Jason’s trying to get his party buddy back?”

“
It’s exactly what I think. I also think Jason looks at you as an obstacle. And you’re not, really. I mean, Brady has a career now. He has to use his head and keep out of trouble. He can’t go out on that field hung over and expect to play good ball, not to mention the suspensions and fines he’d probably have to face if he’s caught in any kind of trouble. Jason doesn’t have anything like that. All he has is his parents’ money and all the time in the world.”

Taylor grunted. “He’ll never grow up.”

“
No.” Tia leaned closer to Taylor. “I heard that Jason bombed out in college in California. All he did was party. But the poor guy’s ego was bruised because apparently, he wasn’t the big guy on campus any longer like he was around here. He went to three different schools in his four and a half years out there. None of them big names because I don’t think they’d have him. So anyway, he decides to come back here where everyone supposedly adores him. Mom and Dad rent him an apartment in Indy and give him a monthly allowance with the stipulation that he either goes back to school or gets a job.”

“
He doesn’t have a job,” Taylor pointed out.

Tia shrugged. “Maybe he fed them some line of bull. I don’t know.”

Taylor digested what Tia told her. “So why is he so hung up on Brady’s life?”

Tia smiled. “He wants to get his old ‘gang’ back together. Party like they used to. Isn’t it funny how Jason accidentally runs into Brady and then suddenly, he’s calling all their old friends? Now he’s following him all over on this road trip. A little sad, actually.”

“
Pathetic is more like it,” Taylor added.

“
Don’t worry, Taylor. Brady’ll see through him soon enough.”

“
I hope so.” But she wasn’t totally reassured.

***

She sat cross legged on Brady’s bed typing on her lap top. She decided to get to work on that book she’d started weeks ago but had neglected lately. She figured it would help to kill time until Brady’s return and get her mind off her worries.

She’d spent the morning in court listening to the citizens of Somersville argue with the mall developers before returning to Brady’s condo to organize her notes and write up a story to be published in the morning edition. Her cell phone rang next to her and she snatched it up, hoping it was Brady. She wasn’t disappointed.

“
Hey, you,” she greeted. “Tough luck on the game, huh?”

“
Yeah,” he mumbled. He’d gone oh-for-four in the Racers’ loss to Pittsburgh. He yawned. “But we have an off day tomorrow. We don’t fly to Milwaukee until late tomorrow afternoon. Then I’ll be home Sunday night.”

She smiled sadly, aching to just touch him. “I know. My little vacation is almost over.”

He snorted. “Don’t act like you don’t miss me, love. I know better.”

She couldn’t restrain her smile as it grew. “Dream on, buddy.”

“
So,” he asked in a low, husky voice that tickled her ear and sent tremors up and down her spine. “What are you wearing?”

“
No way,” she laughed. “I’m not phone sexing you. Give it up.”

“
Fine,” he pouted. “Guess I’ll have to wait until Sunday, huh?”

“
Yes, you will.” She scooted back against the headboard. “Where’s Jason?”

“
I don’t know. He’s supposed to meet me here. We were supposed to check out this sports bar some girl told him about.” He yawned once again. “But I’m pretty beat so I don’t really want to stay long.”

She frowned, nervous butterflies beating their wings furiously on her stomach lining. “Well, be careful, please.”

He chuckled lightly. “We’re not driving, love. It’s just down the street from the hotel.”

“
Brady?” She hated how her voice trembled a little.

“
Yeah? You okay?”

She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Yeah. I just miss you.”

“
I know, love. I miss you too.” He called out to someone on his end. “I have to go. Jason’s at the door.”

“
Okay,” she sighed. “Call me tomorrow.”

“
I love you, Taylor. Remember that.”

She smiled into the phone. “I love you, too.”