Slap Shot (15 page)
“But you seem to be squeaky clean,” Trevor said.
“I try not bite off more sins than I can chew,” he said, remembering Luke’s comment that night at the party.
Trevor laughed. “Good rule of thumb.”
“I take it your sister doesn’t know what you
really do for a living?”
“And let’s keep this between the two of us. I don’t advocate keeping secrets from her, but she’s safer being kept in the dark.”
“Understood.” He nodded. “She really misses having you around though. It would devastate her if something happened to you.”
“I plan to drop in more often.”
“Good.” He put the bottle down and picked up a box. “I have to
get this champagne out there.”
“I’ll help.” Trevor picked up the other box. “I’m glad we had this chat. You take care of my sister.”
“I will.”
CHAPTER NINE
It had been an eventful Sunday, starting with morning church service and then a luncheon in the rectory afterward. Charisma enjoyed attending service with her grandmother, which was quite an event for the elder Reed. Grandma liked to put on her best duds when she worshiped, right down to the fancy church hat with a wide brim, an intricate
flaring bow, and pearl trimming to complete the ensemble.
Despite the whispers going on about her renewed relationship with Derek, she focused on the inspirational words of Reverend Johnson. She had a lot to be thankful for. She and Derek were doing well, and Lamont was out of her life for good. That accident must have shaken him to his core. She couldn’t turn on a television without seeing
his face, apologizing for every wrong thing he’d ever done in his life. His football career with the Titans was over, due to his accident injuries. There was something humbled about him now. She truly thought that this time the apologies weren’t scripted by the some publicist but coming from the heart. Whatever heated exchange had occurred between him and that mysterious man before his accident
had changed his life.
Today the sermon was about forgiveness, so it was fitting that her mother arrived late to the service. But that didn’t stop her from asking fifteen people to stand up so she could come and cram herself between Charisa and her cousin Trina. As soon as her butt connected with the pew, Debra started firing off questions at her, but Grandma gave her a look that silenced
her.
At Grandma’s insistence, Trevor hung around long enough to see their parents. It wasn’t the reunion of the century, but there was some groundwork laid that Charisma hoped would lead to a better relationship with all involved. This time when Trevor left, she believed he would be back again soon, even if it were only to make sure Derek was behaving. She hadn’t felt that loved in a long
time.
At the close of the sermon, Debra squeezed her hand. Afterward Debra politely asked if they could get together for lunch one day next week instead of demanding it. She took it as a sign of hope her mother was looking to make peace and love her unconditionally. It was still too early to introduce her to Derek, but she hoped one day soon it would happen.
After church, they headed
home. Charisma jumped out of her car and scurried to the other side to help her grandmother.
“Take my arm, Grandma,” Charisma said as she aided the older woman up the stairs to the house.
“Charisma Elise, I’m going to tan your hide. I told you to stop treating me like I’m some feeble old woman.” She patted her granddaughter’s arm and handed her the house key.
“Hey, what did I
do to deserve a middle-name calling?” Charisma smiled and opened the front door. “You refused to use your cane because it didn’t match your outfit. I don’t want you breaking any bones. I know how you hate hospitals.”
Once inside, she hung up their coats and made a beeline for the kitchen to put on the teakettle. She peered inside the fridge to find a host of dishes they could reheat.
“What would you like to eat?”
“Are you still hungry after that luncheon?”
“I took polite bites because I saw the newsletter photographer roaming around. But that macaroni and cheese was so gooey I thought it was going slide out of the side door of the church.” She shook her head.
Grandma snickered. “You are bad. Ursula volunteers to bring that mess to every potluck function.
Your grandfather, rest his soul, accused her of food poisoning once.”
“I see a pot roast in here and some baked ziti. Which one do you want?”
“Beverly is too heavy-handed on the oregano when she cooks Italian food. I’ll have Sydney’s pot roast.” Grandma removed her hat.
Charisma laughed. She thought she was the only one who’d noticed her cousin used too much of the spice. She
stuck the roast in the oven to warm and programmed it to three-fifty. “OK, I can roast some vegetables and make mashed potatoes to go with it.”
“So how are things going with your mother? I see you let her hold your hand.”
“It’s a work in progress, but I’m optimistic.” She reached into the cupboard for the good dining plates.
“Parents sometimes see their offspring as a new hope
to fulfill some dream or wish they feel they were never granted. When that happens, you have to forgive them for projecting onto you and live your life the way you see fit.”
“Wise as always, Grandma. So what do you want to do after dinner?”
“Is Derek coming by tonight?”
“No, he’s traveling for an away game. I have to study later, but we can start the quilt you’ve been talking
about.”
Her grandmother’s eyes lit up. “How would you feel about creating a profile for me so I can access the family’s page myself on my smart phone? My friend Yvonne brags about using it. I want to know what the big fuss is all about. And I want to keep an eye on this family.”
Charisma’s eyes widened. “I have to warn you. Your opinion of the entire family may change if you see more
of their social media pages.”
“Avery showed me some of that mess on the family page. I didn’t like what I saw. I don’t think the Reed family values are being represented properly.”
“It’s the guilty pleasure of every computer owner. You can sit behind a screen and rant without anyone knowing your name or, more importantly, where you live.” She laughed.
“I’m going to find my good
reading glasses and a notepad. We’ll get started after dinner.” Grandma Reed left the kitchen in search of the items.
Charisma put some oil olive in a pan and turned on the burner. Despite being able to finally afford a place of her own, she liked living with her grandmother. Since she’d been there, she felt like a piece of her soul had been restored. Derek didn’t mind game night or including
her grandma in their fun. It was all kind of…wholesome, and she liked it.
She looked at her phone when it chimed. It was a text message from Derek telling her that he missed her. That never got old. The declarations of love and caring were plentiful from him, and now it was time that she told him how she felt too. He’d been so patient as she found the courage to express herself. But she
was grateful that he knew she was still working on the self-love issue too.
They had a date scheduled for when he returned to the city. She’d plan something special.
* * *
Derek walked down the corridor, noticing it was a bit crowded for that time of night on campus. He insisted on picking Charisma up from her night classes. If he did have a game, then the Regency
security specialist assigned to shadow her would make sure she got home OK. It took some doing to convince her that it was necessary, but he’d reminded her that it would aid her in keeping the media at bay.
Now looking at all the students hanging out, he figured news must have circulated around the campus that he’d been showing up in Otto Hall twice a week to pick up his girlfriend from
her classes. He was always polite. He’d signed a few autographs and was chatted up by some of the students, but when class finished, he’d politely end the conversation and whisk Charisma out of there. She’d lamented that some of her classmates were super nice to her, but only when they’d discovered who he was.
The revelation that they were dating produced another wave of tabloid reports,
but that was to be expected. It was the side effect of who they were. And if the world couldn’t accept that they genuinely cared each other, that was the world’s problem, not his. The Reed men had already sat him down for a chat. They let him know that they loved him like a brother, but he’d have to hide in hell if he hurt her. Seth had warned him it was coming. Derek understood they were just looking
out for her.
The door opened to the classroom, and Charisma was the first one to come out.
“Hey, babe. How was class?” He relieved her of her backpack, put his arm around her shoulders, and kissed her. They started walking down the hall toward the exit.
“Interesting. I’m getting better at note taking. But I got distracted with a great idea of how to decorate your third guest
bedroom. I was thinking a subtle Southwestern style to showcase your love of the Alamo and Texas history.”
“Sounds like a great idea. We can coordinate our schedules and set up a consult.”
“We’re having dinner tonight. We can—”
“Tonight there’s no hockey, no Slap Shot, no interior design talk. We’re going to have a nice meal and relax.” When they finally reached his car, he held
the door for her, then got behind the wheel.
She glanced in the backseat. “What’s with the boxes?”
“I saw something I thought you might like.”
“Derek, you shouldn’t have. I told you before you don’t have to do things like that.” She bit her lip.
“I thought we talked about this. A nice gift should never be construed as leverage or an assertion of power in a relationship,
and I’m sorry that you’ve been with men who made you feel that way. Just know it comes from the heart, and that I think you’re worth so much more than material things.”
“Message received.” Charisma caressed his hand and glanced back at the package. “That’s a pretty big box.”
“It’s a pretty big sentiment. The big one is for you. The smaller one is for your grandmother. It’s a tablet,
a pre-birthday present for her.” He leaned over and kissed her.
“It’s a miracle I’ve been able to plan this party without her knowing.” She smiled. “Do you mind that I’m still living with my grandmother even though I’ve saved enough money for a place of my own?”
“I think being with her is good for you. You should stay until it’s the right time to leave.”
When they arrived, Derek
parked in the driveway, grabbed the presents, and rounded the car to open the door for Charisma.
“Before we go in, I have something to tell you.”
“OK.” He put the presents on the seat.
She paced back and forth.
He was getting worried. “Whatever it is, just spit it out. We’ll deal with it together.”
“
Ya lyublyu tebya,
” she said.
“You do?”
“Did I say it
right? Yes, I do love you, with all my heart. I wanted to tell you when I knew what that meant,
really
meant to me, and now I can say it. A thousand times if you want.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer for a kiss.
He’d known she would say it when she was ready. The words sounded like an angelic symphony to him.
“
Ya tozhe tebya lyublyu,
” he said when they came
up for air. “And I do want to hear that many times over.”
“I can do that.”
“Now I have something to tell you.”
“OK.” Her eyebrows furrowed.
“My brother Alex is coming for a visit with my niece and nephew next month. I’d like you to meet them.”
“I look forward to it,” she said. “Were you able to get in touch with Theo?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact I had a crystal
clear ten minute conversation with him. He’s fine and he’s surfing in Australia. When I told him that I had a steady girlfriend and Alex and the kids were going to meet you, he said he wanted to see for himself that I was in a relationship. So, he’ll be dropping in as well.”
“The more the merrier. I’m glad he’s coming. You see Theo about as often as I see Trevor.”
“Maybe we can shine
a beacon to make wayward relatives come home more often.” He smiled.
Grandma Reed was sitting at the dining room table waiting for them. Tonight her grandmother promised to pull out the family photos. He insisted the ladies sit while he served the food. Gone were the days of photo ops and meaningless escapades. He’d found happiness in spending quiet moments out of the spotlight getting to
know the woman who had captured his heart. When Charisma looked up and smiled at him, his heart melted. It was amazing to him that she never realized how beautiful she was on the inside. It was his mission to help her see that, to accept it. He looked forward to the next chapter in their lives.
~ About the Author ~
Rhonda Laurel is a contemporary interracial/multicultural romance writer whose two great loves are writing and landscape photography. She uses both as a vehicle to convey the complexity of the human spirit and the beauty of the world around her.
Ebb Tide
,
For the Love of the Game
and
Masquerade
were released in 2012.
Shutter, Memories
of You, Star Crossed, MVP, California Bored and Tourism
and
The Blake Legacy
in 2013. The print anthology,
The Rhonda Laurel Collection
, featuring
Ebb Tide, For the Love of the Game and Shutter
released June 2013.
Texas Heat, Love Notes & Football
and
The Perfect Storm
, books 4, 5 and 6 in
The Blake Boys Series
released in 2014.
Slow Burn, Hollywood Heat,
Cowboy’s Heart, Tempting Fate
,
Executive
Desires,
Meet the Blakes
, and
The Final Play
released in 2015.
Stranded in Paradise
and
Slap Shot
released in 2016.
The author is happily building her backlist.
Discover more about Rhonda Laurel here
http://www.facebook.com/authorrhondalaurel
http://www.twitter.com/rhondalaurel