When I walked into the house and saw Hailey get up from her chair and stand next to Chase, I felt some sort of attraction to her. I can’t describe it. I normally sleep with a woman once and then never call or have contact with her afterwards. I have never met anyone whom I have even remotely thought of dating. Chase and I are actually opposites in many ways. He, for one, likes to be in relationships, and it’s always with the wrong women.
When I went into the living room, Megan texted me to ask if Chase was there with a woman. I had to think quickly. I told her that he was being interviewed for a possible story in a sports magazine. I shouldn’t have lied, but I don’t want to be put in the middle.
I didn’t know what to say to Hailey when they entered the living room. The situation was so awkward. I waited a few minutes, then I kept it simple. I told her she looked great and that it was good to see her. That was the truth.
After Hailey left, I told Chase what had happened with Megan. I also told him in so many words that I was interested in Hailey. I don’t believe he wants to be with her. I could be totally wrong, but he definitely would have fought harder if he did. I feel like I am ready to pursue Hailey further and see where it goes. I know I have a bad rep, but hopefully I can change that around and make her see that I really am a good guy.
CHAPTER 21
Chase
PRIDE IS ONE OF MY downfalls in life. Being so heavily involved in sports makes you put your guard up. I learned to be tough and not to let anyone get the best of me.
It’s been a week since my date with Hailey and I didn’t call her. I feel awful. I actually never heard from her, either. I did a lot of thinking this week. I thought back to my conversation with P. Some things just don’t make sense to me. Why does he continue to talk to Megan? Why would he want to date Hailey ten minutes after our date ended, one that he broke up? He could have a relationship with anyone.
I really like Hailey, and I’m not sure why he was trying to convince me that I belong with Megan. I’m not going to lie: A part of me will always love Megan regardless of what happened between us. I haven’t called her, either. I was with her for a long time, but what Megan did to me made me hate her as a person. I don’t know if I can trust her ever again. I don’t think of Hailey as a rebound, but P made me think that’s what I am doing. When he said it, it did make some sense to me.
Tomorrow I leave for California for five days. I need to make some serious decisions in my life. I’ve been offered an opportunity to own my own pharmacy, to purchase a franchise. I don’t want to commit to anything because of lacrosse. I also didn’t tell anyone other than my parents—not even P. My parents are very supportive of my decisions, because they know I’ll do what’s right for me. In order to purchase the pharmacy, I will have to quit lacrosse, obviously. This trip could possibly be my last lacrosse trip.
***
There’s a big difference between my twenty-eight-year-old body and my eighteen-year-old body. I’ve had crazy practices and three games three days in a row. I’m battered and defeated. We lost this last game by three points. I have not been on top of my game lately.
I slam my locker shut as my teammate John shakes his head.
“Chase, come on. Don’t be so hard on yourself,” he says, patting me on the shoulder.
“I have to, man. It’s the only way I get through it. I’ve just had a lot on my mind these past few months.”
“Why don’t you come out with us tonight?” he asks. “We’re gonna hang out and get some beers.”
“I’ll think about it. I don’t know. I’m tired.” All of a sudden my phone starts buzzing like crazy. “Excuse me, John, I need to take this.”
Hailey is calling me, which is so weird because I haven’t heard from her. What is with the urgency to talk to me all of a sudden? I answer the phone.
“Hailey?” She is going off on me like a woman out for blood. “Calm down,” I say, but she continues to yell. “What the fuck are you talking about? I’m in California. I’ll call you back when I get to my hotel room.”
I hang up with her. Someone is going to have a lot of explaining to do.
CHAPTER 22
Hailey
I TAP MY FINGERS on my desk while I reading over a manuscript submission. It puzzles me. It sounds so familiar. The author writes under a pen name, “M. Dorman.” They didn’t send any other information along with it, just a phone number. I pull up the Facebook author page and there are no clues there, either. I will have to set up a meeting just to see who is behind the name.
I buzz Melanie into my office and she comes running.
“You rang?”
“Can you set up a meeting with this author? Here’s the phone number. Make it for two weeks from now—that’s when I can fit them in.”
“On it.”
“Thanks,” I say as she leaves my office.
A few minutes later, she buzzes my phone. “There’s a guy on line one looking for you. He says his name is Parker.”
“Interesting. Put him through.”
It’s been almost two weeks since my date with Chase. If I never see either one of them ever again, it won’t affect me at all.
“Hailey McCormick speaking,” I say, answering the phone as if I have no idea who is on the line.
“Hi, Hailey! It’s Parker.”
I roll my eyes. “What can I do for you, Parker? You have a best-selling novel for me?
“Nah, I just wanted to see if I can take you out to lunch today,” he says, laughing.
“I can’t. Maybe some other time. I’m really booked with meetings.”
“Look, I know you’re all about Chase. He’s a good guy and all, but so am I.”
This actually pisses me off.
“I’m actually not all about Chase. I’m not all about anyone but my job,” I snap back.
“Have dinner with me,” he pleads.
“No.”
“Then maybe just lunch?”
“What do you want, Parker?”
“Nothing. I just want to find out all about the great Hailey McCormick.”
“There’s nothing to know. What you see is what you get.”
“I’ll pick you up at one,” he insists.
“I have a meeting.” He just doesn’t get it or take no for an answer.
“Your secretary already told me you were open at one. I asked. I knew you would say no.”
“Damn her,” I say under my breath.
“See ya then,” he says and hangs up the phone.
I can’t even call him back—I don’t know his phone number. I’m not in the mood to deal with Parker, Chase’s friend. I am so conflicted about Chase. We may have had a shot at it, but who knows? After the date we had, that’s not really an option. If Chase was really interested, he would have called me.
Everyone has that one thing that they go to when they are upset, confused, or just out of sorts. Mine happens to be food. I have it under control, but there are times when it just defeats me. Today, I feel like eating a whole container of chocolate ice cream, but I have to ask myself is it really worth it? Do I want to gain weight again and relive that hellish nightmare that I went through? I may not have to deal with Carrie and company, but let’s face it—society as a whole is unaccepting to overweight people.
I remove thoughts of ice cream from my brain and think of Parker. He is not a good idea. Mr. Bad Boy, himself. I’m not sure why he is being persistent. Some things you just never forget…
***
It was May 2005. I walked into the sporting goods store with my dad. He needed to get equipment to coach my brother’s Little League team. While he stopped to look at bats, I wandered aimlessly through the store then focused intently on a pair of Adidas sneakers that I wanted.