Chapter 16

Eliza

I was awake until two o’clock, unpacking until I’d cleared the room enough that I could go to bed. Steve didn’t come home.

I hope he didn’t feel like he couldn’t be there. Am I overblowing how awkward things felt last night? Argh. I’m dragging this morning, so maybe I’m just not thinking clearly. I put on a cute outfit, which always helps, and stop for tea on my way into the stadium for work.

My phone pings just before lunchtime. I’m hopeful that it’s Steve, but it isn’t.

Mom: We’ve landed and are through customs. Come home early and see me.

My heart soars.

Me: I’ll make it a short day and head over about 3.

Mom: That’s too long! I’ll be waiting. It’s been so long since you’ve hugged me.

Me: I need a Mom hug. Can’t wait.

Mom: Plan on dinner. You can tell me all the ridiculous things your father has done while I was gone. I’m determined to push through as long as I can.

I practically skip over to Tanya’s desk. “My mom is back, and I’m so excited to see her.”

“I’m happy for you. How is she doing?”

“She seems good.” I laugh. “She wants hugs.”

That makes Tanya laugh as well.

“Did you see Jun last night?” I ask after a moment.

“He texted to come over, but I ignored it.” She shrugs.

“Oh yeah? Why?” Maybe she did hear what I said the other night.

“I need to know what I want before we get together again.” She crosses her arms and gives me a look. “Did you ask Steve about why he’s doing you the favor?”

I nod. “We talked a little about his family history, and he said again that he doesn’t like the position my dad has put me in, but he also said it was just because I asked. He wants to be a nice guy.”

Tanya’s mouth pops wide. “No way. He must want something else.”

“He made sure I understood that he didn’t ever want to get married, but he still thinks getting naked would be fun.”

“So did you fall into bed and bang his brains out all night?”

“Nope. I told him the truth about how I feel. Now that I know he’s a good guy, my heart is bound to get tangled up. That’s a recipe for disaster if it’s not what he wants, and my focus right now needs to be on getting the team. I’ll just try to be a good roommate.”

“No!” Tanya says loud enough that people are looking at us.

I nod. “Oh yes.” She rolls her eyes. “Listen, I gotta run. I’ve agreed to meet up with Mom about three and stay for dinner, so I need to get some things done before I go. Catch you later?”

She sends me off with a nod and a wave.

“Hello?” I call as I walk into Mom’s place.

Mom runs out in her bathrobe. She holds me tight, and I feel so loved and safe. Until this moment, I didn’t realize how much I’d missed her.

“I’m so glad you’re home,” I tell her.

She steps back to look at me. “Your room is empty. Where are you living?”

“I have a friend I’m staying with.”

She perks up. “You do? Is this the man you mentioned?”

Despite the rocky ground I’m on with Steve at the moment, I have to believe we’re still going to do this as planned. So, I guess I have to go with it. I smile. “I told you, his name is Steve McCormick.”

“Why is that name familiar?”

“He’s the team doctor.”

She smiles widely. “Of course. He’s cute.”

A guy who has to be younger than me appears behind Mom wearing a pair of ripped jeans that hang low and no shirt. “Oh sweetie, I want you to meet Antonio.”

I try to calm myself and pull my eyes away from his washboard abs. Painting a tight smile on my face, I extend my hand. “Nice to meet you.”

He lifts my hands and kisses my knuckles. “Mi sono innamorato di te.” He winks at my mom, and she giggles like a schoolgirl.

I look at her, puzzled.

“He says he’s falling in love with you.”

I pull my hand away. I don’t need this. “Tell me about your trip,” I suggest, changing the subject.

We move into the living room, and Mom spends the next two hours telling me all about her classes, and she overshares her romance with Antonio. I love her, but I don’t want to know that my mother is getting more sex than I am. And apparently, it’s a lot more sex.

“What’s going on with your father?” she asks.

I sit back. She and Laura are close, so she probably knows better than I do, but she has been out of the country. “Good question. I have no idea. I think he ran off to the south of France without telling anyone. He’s not returning my calls, and I’m getting all my orders at work from his secretary.”

Surprise crosses her face. “Your father? The same man whose first love is his work?”

I snort. “I don’t want to speak ill of Laura, but she has hexed him. He’s determined to be a better father with Minni and Logan.”

She tilts her head. “How do you feel about that?”

“I think it’s great. But I always knew he loved me.”

She nods. “He did. I never liked that he thought money would buy your love, but he tried.”

“I fell in love with football because of spending summers with him going to games.”

She scoffs. “I know that’s why you want that smelly team. You could do anything. You’re beautiful, smart, and you don’t have to worry about money. Why would you want to work in professional football?”

I roll my eyes. “I love the game. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that they are prime specimens.”

She smiles. “Now, I understand. So, why are you dating the doctor and not a player?”

“He’s much more fun,” I say with a smile, hoping I seem convincing.

“As long as you don’t think he’s after your money.”

I choose not to ask the same question about the boy toy she’s brought home. “His father owns Boss Construction,” I explain. “They built this building, the stadium, and they’re building The Butterfly.”

“Of course. That’s why his name sounded so familiar. All I care about is that you’re happy.”

I nod. “I am, though it’s still early. I think he’s a bit freaked out that I moved in, but once my place is ready, I can move in there.”

After a little while, Mom orders in food, but it’s mostly just lettuce, so there’s not much I’m interested in eating. By seven thirty she’s yawning, and I’m heading out. I can tell she’s exhausted.

“Next time you come, you bring that handsome man you’re living with.”

“I promise.” I hope that’s a promise I can keep.

When I get back to Steve’s house, I can tell he’s been home and left again. It’s still early, so I break down and hope I don’t sound too needy when I send him a message.

Me: Hey. Are you coming home soon? Mom ordered salad for dinner, so I was thinking about ordering Greek if you’re interested.

Steve: I would love that, but I have to go back to the hospital. My patient from last night is struggling with the pain meds, and I want to see why.

Me: Okay. I’ll order extra and you can reheat when you get home .

Steve: That’s great.

I order the Greek platter for two, and when it arrives, it’s enough to feed at least a half dozen. We’re going to have plenty of leftovers.

I eat while watching a series on Netflix, and then I work on organizing my room. I give up waiting for Steve around eleven thirty and go to bed, only to stare at the ceiling.

He has to be avoiding me, and I hate this.

On Friday morning, Tanya knocks on my door and walks into my office. “Did you jump his bones yet?”

I push back from my desk. “I think the better question is, did you give in to Jun and jump his bones?”

“I agreed to meet him for dinner last night,” she says. “We did sushi at our favorite place in our old neighborhood.”

“How did that go?”

“He tried to order for me, and it went downhill from there.”

“Oh no. You’re kidding. I’m sorry.”

She shakes her head. “How’s your mom?”

“She’s great. Her boyfriend is younger than we are.”

“Go, Mom!” Tanya raises her fist in celebration.

I put my head in my hands. “I don’t know. It kind of creeps me out. I’m really glad I’m not living with them. It would gross me out to be there. As it was, they were nearly naked. But I’m blaming it on jetlag and Mom being tired and a little giddy.”

“What did Steve think?”

“He wasn’t there. I haven’t seen him since we had dinner the night I moved in.”

“Why?”

I put my head in my hands. “I think he’s avoiding me. You were so right. He freaked that I moved in, and then I told him I still couldn’t sleep with him, which didn’t make things any better. Since then, he’s only been home when I haven’t been there.”

“He’s still going to help you?”

“I hope so. As far as I know. I don’t know what I’ll do if he’s changes his mind.”

“What is he telling you about why he’s gone?”

“He said he had to go to the hospital.”

“Have you followed him?”

“No way.”

I don’t know how I’m going to manage this for the next five months. But when I look up at my computer, my email is blowing up with an article in the Vancouver Sun about a doping scandal. That seems to be how they’re referring to our mishap with the drug tests almost two weeks ago, and that isn’t helpful at all.

“What the hell?”