Running Home to You (The Running Series) (39 page)

“Now, I’ll admit, you’ve gotten him to settle down, but it won’t last.  You must know that.  Once a player, always a player.” 

“You have no idea what you’re talking about.  Don’t believe everything you read in the press, Miss Keilani.  I have neither the time nor the inclination to even begin to attempt to set you straight.  We’re done here.”

She reaches into her bag, puts away the recorder and hands me a business card.  “Please call me if you change your mind.”  She finishes her soda and slithers away.  I toss her card to the side and return to the business of running a restaurant.

Once she’s out the door, Derek finally comes over to check on me.  “What was that all about?  You looked like you were going to rip her throat out.”

“She was a reporter.  She actually thought I would talk to her about Evan and she believed I would let her ask me personal questions about my boyfriend.  Who does that?”

“I thought she looked familiar.  She’s on TV, isn’t she?”  I nod and hand Derek her card.  “Oh, yeah.  Reese likes to watch that channel.  She doesn’t want you to know, but she likes to follow celebrity gossip.”

“Have you ever seen her covering stories about Evan?”

“Yeah, now that you mention it.  Remember that night at Wilkinson’s when you watched the breaking news about Evan visiting Averee in her Manhattan loft?  They reported that he reconciled with her.  I think that was Laci Keilani.  Wow.  Small world, huh?”  Derek thinks it’s just a coincidence.  I’m not so sure.

Before long, Marcus and Evan return with my ramekins.  Marcus goes right to the office to fill out an expense report and Evan returns to the bar and his nearly completed crossword puzzle.  Just as I’m about to start chopping some walnuts, Evan comes bursting into the kitchen.  “Juliette, can I please talk to you privately?”  He turns and walks away, heading in the direction of my office.  I follow him, unsure what to expect.

I step into my office and he closes the door behind me.  I take a seat on the couch, but Evan remains standing.  He seems upset about something.  “Evan, is everything alright?  What’s going on?”

“Where did this come from?” he asks, passing me Laci’s business card.

“Oh, she came in when you and Marcus ran to the store.  She wanted to ask me a few questions, but I wouldn’t talk to her.  I asked her to leave.”  His eyes grow wide with concern.  He grabs the card back from me, examining it closely.  “She was here?  What did she want?  Tell me exactly what she said.”

“Evan, why are you so upset?  She didn’t say anything.  I never gave her the chance.  And I certainly didn’t give her any information whatsoever.  Talk to me.  Who is this woman?”  I reach up and grab Evan by the hand and pull him down to sit on the couch with me.

“No one.  Just stay away from her.  She’s a reporter.”

“I know that.  She told me who she was.  Do you know her?”  I’m starting to wonder if she’s someone from Evan’s past that has a grudge against him.  It wouldn’t surprise me.  She was breathtakingly beautiful, which is the exact type of woman Evan is known to have dated.

“She’s no one.  Just drop it.”  He leans back on the couch and runs his hands through his hair.

“You fucked her,” I say out loud.  It’s all becoming clear.  She’s an ex-lover with an axe to grind.

“Juliette, please just let it go.  Don’t talk to her.  Don’t listen to her.  Don’t let her back into this restaurant.  Got it?”

His body language and dismissiveness is really beginning to irk me.  He crosses his arms and openly scowls at me.  “Am I right, Evan?  I have a right to know.”

He nods his head.  “Laci was a reporter for Sports Focus and she interviewed me after the Texans lost the playoffs two years ago.  It was just that one time.”

“Wow.  It must have been spectacular, because it seems she still hasn’t gotten over it.” 

“No idea,” he mutters under his breath.  “I barely remember.”

“Were you drunk?”

“Are you sure you want to hear this, Juliette?  Don’t ask questions you don’t want to hear the answers to.”  His warning concerns me.  What could he possibly reveal about an encounter that happened years before we even met?  “I’ll tell you what you want to know, but I really wish you wouldn’t ask.”

“I have a feeling she may come back and I want to be prepared, that’s all.  I want to know what I’m dealing with.  Isn’t that what you said about Ryker?”  He drops his head and his shoulders sag.

“I did.”  He takes a deep breath before he continues.  “It happened a long time ago.  She interviewed me after a really close game that I kicked ass in.  We didn’t win, but if they left me in longer, I think we would have.  Anyway, I took her out for drinks after the interview and Adam met us at this place called the Rusty Nail.  We were doing shots and Laci had her hands all over both of us.  One thing led to another and the three of us left together.  We went to Adam’s apartment and – ”

“Okay, okay, enough.  I think I got it.  I don’t need to hear anymore.  I can connect the dots all by myself on that one.”  I shake my head, trying to erase the mental image that his description has created in my mind.  “Did you ever see her again?”  Please say no, please say no.

“No way.  I was not going to wade into that pool more than once.”  Evan stands up and walks around the room before saying any more.  “Juliette, I have a past.  You know that.  I’m sorry to remind you of that regrettable fact.  I’ve led a life I’m not very proud of.  There were many women and from time to time, you may be confronted with a remnant from my past.  But this woman is trouble.  Don’t trust her and don’t believe a word she says.”  He sits back down and wraps an arm around me.  “Please tell me what you’re thinking.”

“Oh, did I find Superman’s Kryptonite?” I tease him.  “A one-night stand with her own talk show.  Mind if I have that card back?”

He tears it up.  “Oh, aren’t you the comedian?  Come here, smartass.  I have plans for the wise cracking mouth of yours.”  I leap onto his lap and cover his mouth with my own.  I have no more desire for information about the ghost of girlfriends past.

When we finally emerge from the office, I return to the kitchen and Evan heads straight for the bar.  For once, I’m glad it’s slow and quiet.  It’s too late for lunch, but too early for dinner.  Keeping Evan company are Derek and Marcus.  The three of them are drinking, laughing, and just having a nice time.  It’s so good to see Evan relaxed and enjoying himself. 

Sometimes I can’t believe how well our lives have woven together.  When I see Evan slapping Derek on the back for something hysterical he just said, I feel a little flutter of pride and joy.  These two have had their share of disagreements, but both respect the other well enough to move past it.  This is my life.  These men are my family.  I wouldn’t trade any of them for all the riches in the world.

Occasionally, a fan will come over to Evan and interrupt their friendly conversation.  He patiently speaks with them and answers their questions, but eventually either Marcus or Derek intervenes.  I happen to walk by when a female fan feels brave enough to approach Evan, but the boys are having none of it.  They quickly whisk the young girl back to her table and offer her a drink on the house for her understanding.

Eventually, I check my watch and it’s nearly time for a shift change.  As far as Evan knows, we’re leaving to go out for the night as soon as Natalie arrives.  Time to put my diversion plan into action.  I join the boys at the bar and when I do, Marcus offers me his barstool next to Evan.

“Sweetie, Natalie will be here in about half an hour.  We can go as soon as she gets here.  We have seven o’clock reservations at Via45 in Red Bank.  If we’re not there on time, they will give our table away.  Would you mind running home and letting Maddy out?  I was hoping to go see a movie after dinner.  She’s been home alone most of the day.  Pleeeeaaase?” I know there’s no way he can resist.

“Sure, no problem.  Just let me finish my Coke and I’ll go.”  I give him a quick kiss and a hug, and then I hurry back to the kitchen.  Once he goes, it will take him at least twenty minutes to get home, ten minutes with the dog, and another twenty minutes to return.  That’s almost an hour.  Thank God for summer traffic.  Everything is coming together just as I had hoped.

Every Dog Has His Day

“H
i, honey.  Natalie’s here and I’m ready to go.  How’s traffic?”

“I’m just turning onto Cookman Avenue.  I’ll be there in five minutes.”

“Great.  I can’t wait to get out of here.  Listen, the place is packed.  It might be a good idea for you to come in around back through the kitchen.  I don’t want you to get stuck taking pictures or talking football with any of the customers.  This way, we can make a clean getaway.”  I hope my little white lie doesn’t raise his suspicions, but I really want to surprise him.

“Will do.  Thanks for the heads up.  Let me go, I think I see some parking up ahead.  Love you.”

“Love you, too, Chief.”  Phew, I think he bought it.  I hang up the phone and turn to Emmy.  “He’s almost here.  I’m pretty sure he’s coming in through the kitchen.  As soon as you see him, I need you to run to the dining room and get everyone ready.”

“Ooh, this is so much fun!  He’s going to be so surprised, I just know it.”  Emmy grabs me and hugs me tightly.  “Are you sure he doesn’t suspect anything?”

“Nope, he definitely bought it, hook, line, and sinker.  Can you run out there and have Derek start to open the bottles of Dom Pérignon we chilled?  But don’t be long.  Hurry back, okay?”  Emmy agrees, and she quickly leaves the kitchen to warn Derek and Adam to get ready. 

I’m so glad a few of Evan’s teammates drove all the way down here tonight.  Marcus has them entertained at the bar.  He fits right in with them all and had I not known better, I would think he was a professional athlete, too.  Callie is also doing a great job entertaining the wives and girlfriends, having met a few of them at the ESPYs.

Reese has prepared a special menu for the occasion.  She has her sous chefs working madly to get everything ready.  She’s already plated and put out some nosh.  She put out some of my favorites, warm artichoke dip, a variety of stuffed breads, and Peach Chutney and Brie Canapés. 

I try to keep myself busy waiting for Evan.  I hope he doesn’t decide to use the front entrance and ruin the surprise.  Thankfully, my worries are forgotten when he comes through the back door into the kitchen.  Just as he does, Emmy returns to the kitchen more bubbly than usual.  “Oh, hi Evan,” she says, opening up the refrigerator and pretending to look around for something.  She grabs a banana and announces, “Found it!”  She looks right at Evan and me and explains, “I have to bring this to Derek.  He needs a banana.”  She hesitates, turns to her right, and then to her left; unsure of her next move, she sprints for the door.

“Well, that was weird, even for Emmy,” Evan notices.  Damn, I hope he doesn’t make too much of it. 

“Yeah, I agree.  Maybe you should go check on things before we go.  I just have to finish up, then we can leave.”

“Okay, hurry up, please.  We need to go soon if we’re going to get to Red Bank by seven.”  He steps over to me and wraps his arms around my waist.  “I’m really looking forward to a night out, just the two of us.  We haven’t had a night out alone in a long time, baby.”  He gives me a kiss, and then follows Emmy out the door.  I scurry behind him, trying to go unnoticed.

When he turns the corner and steps out into the dining room, he stops dead in his tracks.  “Surprise!  Congratulations!” Everyone hollers.

Evan’s face lights up when he sees everyone who’s gathered here tonight.  I slip an arm around his waist and he pulls me in close.  “You.  Are.  Amazing.”  Each word is peppered with a kiss.  “How long have you been planning this?”

“I’d love to take the credit, but you should be thanking Adam.  It was his idea,” I tell him, looking up into his adoring eyes.

He makes his way down the bar, greeting each of his teammates one at a time, followed by his brother-in-law and finally Adam.  “You son of a bitch,” Evan taunts Adam while the two exchange handshakes and a brief but affectionate man hug.  “You definitely got me, man.  I had no idea.”

Evan spots his sister Callie and heads right over to her where she is sitting with the other football wives and girlfriends.  She immediately gets up and squeezes her little brother tightly.  “Congratulations, kiddo.  You finally did it.  Mom and Dad are so proud of you.”

Evan presses his big sister tightly to his chest.  “Thanks, sis.  Where are they?”  Evan scans the room, looking for his parents.  “How come they’re not here?”

“Someone had to stay home with Regan, you know,” she reminds him. 

Callie’s husband Dean joins the conversation and adds his congratulations to Evan.  “Man, you better hook me up with some seats right on the fifty yard line.  All those years putting up with your crap is going to start paying off – finally!”

“Yeah, you poor thing.  Flying out to see football games all around the country on my dime was a real sacrifice,” Evan sarcastically sympathizes. 

Evan introduces me to the women whom I don’t know and thanks each of them for coming.  Carlo’s wife, Willow, has been to our home before, so no introduction is needed.  I give her a warm hug and a heartfelt welcome.