Tuesday, December 3, 2013

twenty-eight

James lay awake.  His alarm would go off in 20 minutes, a moment he used to hate but this morning looked forward to with an almost masochistic need.  


After seeing John at the gym Saturday morning, James spent nearly the entire weekend alone.  It wasn’t out of desire but because right now everything sucked.  Meghan was gone.  No, more correctly - she was calling somewhere else home.  His big house felt empty again, the quiet mocking what he’d lost.


After the initial shock, James had been angry.  It had nearly boiled over during his workout with Tavares.  How could she leave him for someone else, someone she barely knew?  For fifteen years Meghan had been the constant, had been the real thing even as everything else changed.  James was sky high when he got drafted, then lower as Dallas struggled.  He shot back to the top with his trade to Pittsburgh, but couldn’t score at all those first few months.  She’d always been there for him.  When he’d hit the big time with the Pens, scoring 40 goals, signing a huge contract, no one was more excited than Meghan.



James took a deep breath to push back the rage he knew was unreasonable.  She had done all that because she did love him and she did care, just not the way he needed right now.


“Need,” he said out loud, scoffing.  What James needed, after two days of reflection, was to patch up a lot of relationships in his life.  It was bad enough he had an empty house - pretty soon he’d have nothing at all to come home to.


Finally the alarm rang, James got up and dressed in a t-shirt and gym shorts.  For once he was early enough to the gym to catch Steven in the parking lot.


“Stammer!”


The blond head came to an abrupt, unpleasant stop.  James forced himself to keep going, even pasting a small smile to his face.  “Missed you on Saturday, man – Robs let you bail?  Wish he let all his favourites off easy.”


“Hey,” Steven replied, letting him catch up. “No – he made sure I left good and dead while your sorry ass was still in bed.”


James hoped his laugh didn’t sound forced.  “How was your weekend away?  She love the whole winery thing?”


Steven stopped mid-stride; James nearly crashed into him.  Stammer’s blue eyes were hard, cold, like when they faced each other on the ice.  James almost sighed.  Why was everyone being so fucking difficult?  A hand came up between them, nearly touching James’ chest.


“Look,” Steven said sharply, “I’m not gonna stand here and do this pretend bullshit with you.”


Give it a fucking…!!. James’ muscles tensed, ready for another round, but this time as the anger rose his body failed.  It was sick of his shit too.  The fight or flight response had finally chosen to bail and James felt as weak as if Stamkos had punch him in the stomach.  His shoulders slumped.


“After what you said last week, all that shit about Kaylynn and I…” he trailed off, the words too painful to say aloud, much less think them.


James didn’t need to be reminded.  “I know.  Look, Stammer…I know. I know I’ve been nothing but an ass to everyone this summer.”


When Steven didn’t throw an I told you so in his face, James quickly continued.  “And I know I mentioned it last week, but I really want you guys to come to the cottage this weekend. You and Kaylynn.”


Steven looked at him for a long minute, like a judge deciding how to punish a guilty plea.  In the end, Stamkos shook his head. “I don’t know, man.  I'm not going to bring Kaylynn to the cottage if you're going to run your mouth the whole time, saying shit about her not coming to Tampa.”


“So you believe it too, obviously,” James said before he could stop himself.  Why, why am I  always doing that?  He knew he was wrong here and how to handle it.  Better get used to it - it was far from over.  “Sorry,” he mumbled.


“That’s not helping,” Steven hissed.  “Look - I get it. I know how crazy it is, the idea that she might change – everything. Her life, her job, uproot it all, just to be with...me.”


James could feel the reasons Kaylynn would say no, like big, fat raindrops on the windshield of a moving car.  The end of Steven’s fairytale was a storm coming and he refused to hear a warning.  But James had seen this look of determination in his friends’ eye before - this guy who broke his own records, made his own headlines.  If anyone could do this, it was Steven.  And James had been just as stubborn to admit that as Steven was to face the alternative.


“Stammer,” he said softly.  A hand on Steven’s shoulder was the most support James could offer.  “It’s not crazy.”


Steven stepped back, trying to shake it.  “What, so now you’ve suddenly changed your mind?”


James wasn’t letting go.  He understood now the fear of losing something to a situation beyond his control.  Kaylynn might love her life in Toronto more than she loved Steven, but he had to try.  Meghan might care more for John, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t some sliver of her heart that James could still win back.


“Yes,” James nodded. “If she’s as crazy as you are about her, she’ll come to her senses and go with you. Just give her time.”  He knew he hit the nail on the head when Steven’s eyes dropped.  The tension between them evaporated so quickly that Neal felt even worse.  


“That’s the one thing I don’t have,” Steven said.  “I’m trying to convince her – but shit like showing up at her place completely bombed doesn’t help.”


Respecting relationships, Meghan had called it.  James had thrown that back in her face - asking if she’d respected their relationship by hiding her romance with John.  But respect had to be earned and James had not done that - with any of his friends this summer.  He pulled the Penguins hat off his head, pushing the too-long curls back from his face.


“I’m sorry. For everything.”  


If he expected forgiveness, it didn’t come.  Neither did Stamkos tell him to shove it and walk off.  Instead Steven just nodded toward the gym and said, “Better get going.”


“Just…think about it, eh? About the cottage?” James asked hopefully.


“I will,” Steven promised.  They were almost to the door when James remembered the other huge piece of news he needed to tell Steven.  


“Er, one other thing.”


Stamkos slowed, looking a little annoyed.  James hurried to the point.


“It turns out…this entire time, Meghan and John.”


That made him freeze in mid-step.  “Meghan and John, what?”


James rolled his eyes. “Don’t fucking make me say it and puke on your shoes, Stammer.  It - they - are a thing! They’ve been sneaking around this entire time and I just found out!”


“What?” Steven demanded harshly, startling some passers-by.  “Since when?”


“Canada Day,” James breathed, gritting his teeth.  The details were so revolting.  A wave of despair passed through him, an ache similar to the longing he’d felt every time Meghan was nearby.  He was so tired of wishing and wanting and now, wishing he didn’t want.  James finally collected himself enough to look at Steven, who was staring back like he’d seen a ghost.


“You didn’t know?” he asked darkly.


“No, man,” Steven’s voice was sad.  He reached out and clapped Neal on the shoulder. “I’m sorry – I know how much you were—”


In love with her.  Depending on that.  Already there. - a hundred possible endings were all true and horrible.  James cut him off before any could be spoken.


“It’s fine,” he lied. “It’s good, I’m cool. I just want her to be happy, right?”  The look on Stamkos’ face said he didn’t buy that for a second.  James crammed his hat back onto his head.  “Whatever.  Let’s just get this over with so I can get the fuck out of here.”


This time it was Neal headed inside at a clip, Stamkos hustling to keep up.  Inside was the same as ever: weights clanging, people sweating, goals being achieved and Gary Roberts presiding over it all.  Next to him, Tavares stood staring at the floor.  James swallowed hard lest bile rise in his throat.  At least John had the decency not to look like he’d spent the last few days celebrating with James’ one that got away.


“Ready, boys?” Gary smiled.
____


Meghan was basically hiding in a pilates class.  She felt stupid - James should be the sorry one, the ashamed one - but didn’t want to cause a scene.  That would be James’ reaction, she feared.  Instead he should be trying to patch up what was left of the summer and these friendships he’d treated so poorly.


I did too, she knew.  Meghan had good intentions but had been plenty unfair to James in her own right.  He had every right to be mad at her.  She didn’t want to rub it in that she was here with John - that she’d stayed with him, arrived with him and would be leaving the same way.  James might not be kind in this situation but Meghan was determined to be.


After her class, Meghan spent time doing extra stretching and a few yoga poses in the empty classroom.  Since spending Friday night at Lucy’s, Meghan had slept the weekend nights at John’s.  They were comfortable and easy with each other - running errands, making dinner, waking up tangled in a small sliver of John’s big bed.  Like the week she’d spent there while James was away golfing, Meghan found herself feeling at home almost immediately.  It was intoxicating and for the first time, dangerous.


Meghan would have to go to her parents’ before long.  She and John were in no way ready to live together.  Though it was wonderful and easy to have him around all the time, their relationship was already a train moving full speed on an unfinished track.


Despite the uncertainty, Meghan caught her reflection smiling.  That happened whenever she thought about John.  It usually lead to more thinking, which lead to thinking about certain things, which always made her blush.


No way around it: the sex was incredible.  This guy who tucked his polo shirts in and said “heck” in conversation was intensely physical in a way that left Meghan shaking.  She had expected lots of cuddling and some good, old-fashioned rolling in the hay, but the most surprising thing about John was how physical their relationship had become.  It wasn’t just his desire, it was his focus he was on pleasing her.  A lifetime of being coached had clearly influenced every aspect of John’s life; he welcomed direction and read her like a play unfolding on the ice.  He could take her apart in minutes but never rushed, savoring the journey as much as the destination.  It was unlike anything she’d known before and made the prospect of leaving his bed even harder to face.   


“Uhh, hello?”


She snapped back to reality and whipped toward the door to see Steven leaning against the mirrored all, watching her with a grin.  


“Oh, hey.  Sorry,” she shrugged, pushing the racy daydream from her mind.  “How was your weekend away?”


“Fantastic.  Romantic.  Tons of sex.  Yours?”


“Uhhh,” Meghan was so surprised she didn’t actually think about the answer.


“Same, maybe?” Steven suggested.  “Lots of waking up in bed with a hockey player?”


“What? I… oh,” Meghan stopped short.  “Right.”


So James had told him.  She’d expected that, to a degree, and selfishly hoped for some insight into how James was feeling based on what he’d tell Steven.  If they were still friends after the way James had treated Steven’s relationship.  At least they were talking.


“You’re fucking kidding me!” Steven pushed off the wall and had his arms around Meghan in two strides.  “I can’t believe you didn’t, well you I can, but I can’t believe John didn’t say anything!”


Meghan pretended to struggle against the embrace, but even at his sweatiest Steven was still one of her favorite people.  His approval meant the world.


“I’m sorry, I didn’t know how….”


“Don’t,” Steven said. “Don’t apologize for being happy.  But we do need to talk.  I have a ball game tonight, would you come?  I could pick you up.”


“And watch all the moms in Markham drool over you in your tight pants?”


“It’s beer league, Meg, not little league!”


“Okay, other guys’ girlfriends then,” she joked.  “Oooh, there’s Stamkos.  He’s so blond! Teeehheeee!”  Steven grabbed Meghan’s head and stuffed her face into his sweaty underarm.  She flailed and tore free, gasping and giggling.  “Gross, I hope you don’t do that to Kaylynn!”


The mention of Kaylynn’s name brought Steven back to his intended point.  “She’s meeting me at the game.  You guys could hang out - she’d like to get to know you.  You’d love her, Meg.”


Meghan had stepped back and considered the sparkle in Steven’s eyes.  “And I would not the only one.”


Before Steven could respond, the door opened and there was John.  His expression changed in a heartbeat - excitement replaced by hesitation, like he might give something away - but Steven read it all.  The guy had it bad.  Steven lifted his hand, gave a confused-looking John a fist bump and walked out.
____


“You’ve got some explaining to do.”


Meghan had thought she might at least get into Steven’s car before he started interrogating her, but no.  Luckily, his smiling face came along with the question.  Meghan could not but return the grin.


“I need to apologize again,” she said, despite the look on her face.  


Steven rolled his eyes. “And I’ll say it again – don’t apologize for being happy.  We both know I haven’t.”


Steven reached out with a hug and Meghan eagerly let it squeeze the breath from her lungs.  When pulled away, he paused to examine her face.  Meghan knew he could see the evidence of recent highs and lows.  With a satisfied nod, he turned to the wheel and dropped the car into gear.  


“So, John Tavares, eh?” he smirked. “The same guy who wears a belt to the grocery store and knows more about retirement savings than my finance guy.”


For a moment, Meghan had composure.  Right before she burst out smiling like a little kid.  Covering it with one hand did little to hide her happiness.  It was the first time she could openly talk about John with someone besides her parents or Lucy, with someone who knew John personally.


“Yeah,” Meghan laughed.  Even knowing John from hockey didn’t mean Steven really knew him.  The way he held her, the kisses that turned so quickly to sex, his need to please, all those things about John that were at odds with his nice guy, dorky exterior. Meghan thought she might be the only one who really knew him at all.  “I know it seems crazy, but—”


“What’s crazy is not seeing the way he looks at you,” Steven said. “I just can’t believe nobody saw what was happening right in front of us.”


It hung heavy between them: James.  At the next red light, Steven looked at her and waited.


“It… he,” Meghan searched for the words, only to come up with ones she’d used before. “I didn’t expect to feel this way about him.”


What Steven did know was the story of Meghan and James.  He’d lived much of it.  Despite the happiness in Steven’s eyes now, he was privy to a lot of history that could have lead to a very different ending.  If she and James had gotten together, Steven would have been just as excited.  Maybe more.


She hoped that more than anyone, Steven could understand that it wasn’t good enough to just choose the easy way out.


“The heart wants what the heart wants, right?” he said wisely. “Don’t worry about James – he’ll be okay.”


Meghan glanced down at her hands, the sudden motion to disguise the tears filling her eyes.  Stupid, stupid, she told herself – despite the way James had treated everyone, of course Steven would still have a few words in defence of his friend.


“Hey – look at me,” Steven squeezed her arm.  “You know you deserve this, right?”


She hiccupped, voice catching in her throat. “Do I? I’ve been running around all summer, lying to everyone… James, you—.”


He frowned.  “Meghan, stop.  I already told you I understood why you didn’t tell me what was going on – that’s obvious.”


“But….”


“I’m not finished,” he interrupted.  “As for James, we both know he has a lot of growing up to do. The truth is he’s been jerking you around for years, and only when someone better than him manned up and stepped into his place did he finally pay attention and realize he was losing you.”


Meghan sat perfectly still, the words sticking in her like arrows.


“You can’t stop how you feel,” Steven continued. “Neal’s a good guy and I know he’s hurting, but trust me – he’ll be okay. You can’t keep blaming yourself for this.”  


A stop light changed at just the right moment, because Meghan was hugging Steven in gear or not.  She nearly choked herself on the seat belt getting her arms around his neck,


“Thank you,” she whispered, face smooshed to his chest.  That was what she needed to hear.


Steven laughed – girls. After his sister’s antics and a summer with Kaylynn, he was getting used to this kind of stuff. Still it felt good to see relief on Meghan’s face.


“So, what now?” he asked.


Meghan knew this conversation would turn toward the future.  After all, Steven had invited her out not only to catch up but for a little help with his own fledgling relationship.  She could only image the idea of her with John gave Steven fits about his plans to stay with Kaylynn.


“What do you mean?” she said with a smirk.


Steven rolled his eyes. “Jesus, what is with you girls? Always evading the questions. Are you moving to New York to be with him?”


Meghan flinched.  Okay, we are not playing around.   “I don’t know.  I’m considering a lot of places, and if I go to New York I want it to be for me.”


Apparently that wasn’t the easy, locked-up answer Steven was hoping for because he stared at her until she was sure the car behind them would honk.  It was the best she could do though, and Meghan did not plan on doing anymore lying this summer.  


“Enough about me – this isn’t the Tavares Investigative Report!” she pinched Steven’s bicep, clad in his baseball jersey. “What is going on with you and that lady love of yours?”


Oh boy, she thought instantly as a look somewhere between awe-struck and aw-shucks came over Steven’s face.


“I… think I’m in love with her,” he said.


“Jesus,” Meghan said breathlessly, leaning back in her seat.  The words sounded as new as they were crazy - maybe he hadn’t told anyone but Kaylynn yet.  “So your weekend away was really great then?”


He chuckled, nodding. “To say the least.”


“What’s she say when you told her?”


Nothing but a sideways, sheepish glance, as Steven pressed. his lips together.


“Steven!” Meghan gasped, punching that same spot on his arm. “You haven’t told her?!”


“I’m waiting for the right moment!” he cried, waving off another punch.  “It just hasn’t been the right time.”


“You mean wine tastings and cottages in historic villages isn’t the right time? Sounds pretty fucking perfect to me.”


Steven groaned, rubbing a hand over his face.  He couldn’t just… say it.  And he couldn’t just tell Meghan why.


“I think you’re waiting for her to say it first,” Meghan guessed.  “Is that it? Are you worried about scaring her off?”


His silence proved her right and softened her voice.  


“Steven,” she said softly, her hand on his forearm.


“I know,” he replied, merging to exit the highway. “I’m just… we’ve only talked about Tampa a few times and she’s a little…”


“Hesitant?” Meghan suggested, knowing all too well what that felt like.


“I think she might want to go, but the whole thing probably freaks her out and it’s this huge decision and would she really just up her whole life for me when she’s only known me for like two months, you know?”  His voice sped up as words tumbled out.  “I just don’t know how much to press the issue and I still want to enjoy the summer and—.”


“Whoa – down boy,” Meghan waved him off.  She’d seen Steven in a frenzy before - the spastic blondness of the entry draft, the heavy responsibility of the Conference finals a few years back.   He was usually so cool but when a big prize came up for grabs, Steven tended to kick into overdrive.


“Sorry,” he sighed, pulling into the parking lot and finding a spot.


“Want me to talk to her?” Meghan offered. “Just casually see what she’s thinking, how she’s feeling about the whole thing?”


She knew it was what he wanted.  At least Steven knew it too.  He one-armed her into a hug, pressing his cheek to hers.  “That’d be great.”  She felt the smile rather than saw it.  “Thanks, Meg.”


The parking lot at the ball field was mostly full.  Meghan had a feeling that Steven’s name on the beer league roster caused a dramatic increase in popularity.  It was pure Stamkos though, believing he was just the average guy.  The two hundred svelte pounds of blond muscle behind the wheel of a shiny Mercedes said otherwise.  He wore poured into a pair of white baseball pants that looked lucky to be alive and and a short-sleeved green jersey.  Meghan had a good feeling about Kaylynn, but hoped this girl really knew what she had.


More than a few heads turned as they walked toward the backstop.  A few dozen guys in matching uniforms lounged around the bench area and the small bleachers on one side were mostly occupied by coolers.  Beer league indeed, Meghan thought.  Seated at the near end of one row was a slender girl with dark hair and bangs, appropriately dressed for a ball game in a red and gray striped top with gray shorts and red sneakers.  Meghan gave her points for the flat shoes, just before glancing at Steven.  The sight of his wide-eyed adoration made her laugh.


“I think you missed a bit of drool there, Stammer,” she grinned.  Kaylynn was already climbing down from her seat.


“Hey baby,” Steven went for the big showy hug and kiss, effectively silencing anyone who might be gawking.


“Hi handsome,” Kaylynn couldn’t resist.  Steven wore any uniform like it was his job.

“You remember Meghan.”


“Of course, hi.”  The girls hugged hello and Steven dug a pair of beers out of the nearest cooler.  Someone called his name from the bench, hurrying him.


“You guys have fun, and Kay make sure you ask her about her boyfriend.”


“What?!” Kaylynn said.  Meghan shouted “Yeah, WHAT?!” a moment later.


Steven jogged away, laughing.  “Just cheer for me, okay?”


“Stamkos sucks!” Kaylynn hollered.


“This is boring! Where’s Crosby?!” Meghan called.


They climbed up to the top row of the stands as players took the field.  Steven waved theatrically and the girls did a two-person wave.  Once the first pitch was thrown, things settled down a little.


“So, boyfriend?” Kaylynn asked.  “Is it John?!”


Meghan flinched in surprise.  “Um, I wouldn’t call him my boyfriend exactly, but yeah.  How did you know?”


“Just a guess.  Steven said you guys had a thing at the beginning of the summer and James was being a jackass - oh, sorry.  I mean, he didn’t like it.  Because he likes you.  Or he,” she stopped.  “Why don’t you tell this story instead?”


“Okay,” Meghan said.  “We went out a few times at the beginning of the summer and James got jealous.  He’s such a… boy, I guess is the word for it, even if John and Steven are nothing like him.  But I was worried about the summer getting all stressful, so I called it off with John.”


Kaylynn gave her a sarcastic look.  “How long did that last?”


“A week-ish.”  They shared a giggle.  “I just liked him, you know?  I didn’t want to hurt James but it wasn’t for him to tell me what to do.  And things with John got… tangled.” Kaylynn nodded like she knew exactly what they meant.  “Anyway, I should have told James right away.  It was stupid.  That whole thing about the summer being stressful happened anyway and then I had to tell James a month in that,” Meghan paused, rocking back in her seat a little, “I am really into John.”


Kaylynn squealed and pulled Meghan in for another hug.  They were laughing when someone on Steven’s team got a hit and kept right on cheering.


“So what happened when you told him?”


“It sucked, but it was always going to be that way.  James wants to grow up, he just doesn’t want to do the work.  He sees you guys so happy and he doesn’t know how to get there. Now I’m happy - life is leaving him behind a little.”


Kaylynn produced a bag of sunflower seeds from her purse, offering them to Megahn first.  Big talks called for snacks.  “Damn, no wonder he’s crazy about you,” Meghan laughed.  Kaylyn blushed so hard it would have made Steven proud.  These two, Meghan thought, cut from the same cloth.


“So what now?” Kaylynn asked.  “Are you guys still living together?”


“That has to end,” Meghan admitted firmly. Easy everything or nothing easy, she had told herself. “I can’t be with John and stay with James – that’s too cruel.”


Kaylynn nodded. “Well, I’m glad you followed your heart, girl  Fuck James for telling you what to do – he doesn’t get a say in your life if he wasn’t going to do anything about his feelings.”


With a mouthful of sunflower seeds, Meghan burst out laughing.


“Sorry, was that rude?” Kaylynn asked with a tone that said she didn’t care.


“Nope – maybe someone ought to tell that to James’ face,” Meghan replied.


“Get enough liquor in me at the cottage next weekend and I just might,” Kaylynn winked, just as the bat cracked and Steven’s long fly ball went over the wall in the outfield.  The girls jumped up, cheering his name like everyone other spectator at the game.  That was what they had come to see.  It seemed the perfect transition.


“So what about you and Mr. Tight Pants out there?” Meghan asked as they watched Steven high-five his teammates.  He opened a beer and raised it in their direction, but was only looking at Kaylynn.  She gazed back adoringly.


God, is that what I’m like? Meghan wondered.


“Helloooooo?” she nudged Kaylynn’s shoulder.


“Sorry,” Kaylynn said..


“Jesus, you two,” Meghan teased. “Get it over with already and put a ring on it.”


All at once, Kaylynn went white and dropped into her seat.


“I’m kidding!”  Meghan said quickly.  “Kidding!”


“Okay, but seriously,” Kaylynn breathed deep to steady herself.


Meghan knew this is why Steven has asked her to the game.  More than ever she and Kaylynn were in the same boat, just like Steven and John both wanted a lot but were afraid to ask for too much.  It wasn’t a great situation but Meghan was glad to have someone to talk to.


“Are you and John talking about New York?” Kaylynn asked tentatively.


Meghan took a deep breath and nodded.  “He’s been pretty clear that he wants me to go, but if I do, I want it to be my decision – and mine alone. So it’s not the only place I’m considering.”


Kaylynn just sat quietly, eyes fixed on the spot between her feet.


“Are you and Steven talking about Tampa?”


After a second, Kaylynn nodded.  It seemed like she was figuring out who’s side Meghan was on.  “Look - I know you and Steven are really close, so I don’t want to make this awkward,” she said.  “I am crazy about him - crazier than I’ve ever been about….anyone,” she sighed, lids fluttering shut. “I’ve never felt this way before and that alone is—"


“Terrifying?” Meghan suggested.


That got a grin from the other girl. “Yup. But you know him - he’s perfect. And how he wants to bring me along, on his perfect life, and there’s a part of me that just wants to jump in and forget everything my brain is telling me.”  Kaylynn paused, watching Steven catch a pop fly out in the field. “But I still need to be smart here.  We’ve only known each other for a few months, and I’d be giving up a lot. He is a lot, too and… I don’t know. I’m just not sure yet.”


“I get it,” Meghan said simply.


“You do?” Kaylynn asked.  Meghan had known these guys for so long.  How could the prospect of going away be so scary when they always came back?


Meghan shrugged. “Sure. For these guys, picking up, leaving all this is easy. They’ve been chasing their dreams their whole lives. They’d give all this up in a second. But you look at what’s happened with you and Steven - since he met you he’s been over the moon, puppies and rainbows,” she looked at Kaylynn, grinning.” And suddenly, you’re the dream. The game changes - it isn’t so easy to just pick up and leave.”
It took a minute for the words to make it all the way from Kaylynn’s brain to her heart.  When they did, she tried not to smile or blush at how good they felt.  Meghan didn’t need to see either expression to know.
__


After the game, Steven trotted over with a big, victorious smile on his face. Meghan figured it was equal parts having won the game and seeing his girlfriend looking so happy after a supposed heart-to-heart with another woman.  He gave Kaylynn the same treatment he’d given Meghan at the gym - big, sweaty hug - and got the same grossed out reaction.  That’s where the similarities ended.


“Yeah, yeah,” he laughed, bending down for a kiss. “That’s not what you said last time I—”


“Get a room, you two!” Meghan cried.


“So you two enjoy cheering on Markham’s next top MLB talent?” Steven grinned back, holding Kaylynn close.


Kaylynn poked his side.  “Don’t quit your day job, Stamkos.”


They turned toward the parking lot.  Kaylynn had pressing work the next day, which meant no spending the night pressed against Steven.  Meghan was his one date for the ride home.  The girls hugged goodbye - both Meghan and Steven noting that it was longer and more meaningful than their hell hug.  Kaylynn had really needed that talk.  With a wave and a toss of keys, Meghan made for Steven’s car and left them alone.


She glanced back to see them hugging, the talking in low, close voices.  By the time she was in the passenger seat of his Mercedes, Steven and Kaylynn were kissing again.  Meghan bet they did that a lot.  The girl was so - she racked her brain for the word.  


Practical.  Self-sufficient.  Standing next to her beat up old car, kissing Steven Stamkos for all he was worth, Kaylynn looked like she didn’t give a crap who anyone else thought he was.  Meghan wondered if that hurt or helped Steven’s chances.  Finally they seperated, looking none too happy about it, and Steven trotted over to the car.  


“Let me remind you, Stammer, that public indecency is a crime,” she said.


He shook his head before carefully backing the Benz out of the spot.


“Hey - what are you guys doing about the long weekend?” Steven asked, glancing over.


“James and I?” she asked.


“No,” he frowned. “You and John.”


“Right,” she smiled. “I forgot….”


“That it’s cool?”


“Yeah,” Meghan almost laughed.  It was cool.  “We were… well, we were kind of going to see what you and Kaylynn were going to do.”


Steven tossed his baseball cap into the backseat.  A swipe of the hand did nothing to keep his hair from sticking up everywhere.  “I’m not gonna lie - I was nervous. About Neal.  I wasn’t about to bring Kaylynn up to the cottage if he was going to be an asshole like he’s been all summer.”


Meghan had figured as much. “And now?”


“She wants to go.”


“Wait, what?” she blinked incredulously.


“I know, right?” Steven looked at Meghan, eyes wide. “I said the same thing, after I told her about you and James, and the fight we’d had at the gym. She said we owed it to him, to be there for him, that it was one weekend - that we could suck it up and be there as his friends.”


Meghan was surprised.  Floored, actually.  If anything Kaylynn should want herself and Steven as far away from James as possible, seeing as he’d dismissed their relationship from the beginning.  Apparently the practical girl had a soft side.


“Shit,” Meghan said.  “Just when I think this girl can’t get any better, she goes and says something like that?”


Steven laughed, hoping to cover his nerves.  “So now you guys basically have to come with us.”


"I don't think John and I are still invited," Meghan pointed out.


"Oh you are, I'll make sure of it.  It's like Kaylynn said - Nealer has got to get over this and the only way that happens is if we don't let him chase us off."


Meghan looked at her feet, a little afraid of the hope in Steven's voice.  "Okay.  And if it's okay with John."


"It'll all work out, Meg.  And speaking of which, was there anything else you talked about at the game—.”


“Ah ah,” Meghan pretended to zip her lips. “Girl talk, Steven.  I’ll never tell.”


“Wait, what?!  You were the one who offered to talk to her, to see what she was thinking!”


Meghan laughed.  She hadn’t seen anything but the obvious at baseball, and Steven would too if he could see past himself.  That was the hardest part - just believing in something good.


“Brownie’s honour, Stamkos,” Meghan held up three fingers in salute.


“You guys are the worst,” he grumbled, having had about enough of girls this summer.


“Fiiiiiiiine,” Meghan sighed theatrically.  “I will tell you this - that girl is just as much in love with you as you are with her. You need to tell her.”  She paused so long that Steven almost began speaking again.  “And she’s going to end up with you in Tampa.”


Steven’s eyes went cartoon-wide and he swerved as he turned them toward her.  “HUH?”


“Jesus!” Meghan grabbed the holy shit handle.


“Did she actually say that?” he demanded, straightening the wheel. “Did Kaylynn specifically say she would?”


“No,” Meghan admitted.  “She’s scared, Steven. I get it - this is a huge thing to consider. Leaving her friends and family and her life here - but I believe that somehow, someway, she’ll end up with you on a beach in Florida.”


He didn’t have to smile to be beaming.  Meghan put a hand over his on the gear shift, hoping she was right.  Hoping they were all right.  


“You think?” he asked almost quietly.


I know, Meghan thought.  But she just said, “Yes.”
____

Lots of overlap with Harder Than Stone in this chapter. Hope you're reading that one on Mibba and enjoying both. Happy Holidays!
_

1 comment:

  1. Love this. Was nice to see the friendship between Meghan and Steven.

    ReplyDelete