Chapter 17

Seventeen

Maeve

I glance out my living room window as a car drives down the street. It slows in front of my place, then picks up speed again. I try not to panic. It's probably just an Uber mixing up addresses.

"Not our car?" Kate asks, moving in beside me to peek out the window as the car drives on by.

"Nope." I check my app. "Should be here any second, though."

I take the last sip of wine in my glass and set it on the coffee table, trying hard to fight down the uneasiness churning inside my gut. I'm going out with Kate and her friends to Juniper's pub. I won't be left alone, so I have nothing to worry about. Even telling myself that doesn't loosen the invisible band around my chest.

"I forgot to tell you." Kate throws her hand out. "Tanner came by the clinic."

"Oh." I reach for my phone. Tanner had texted me earlier saying he was going out tonight with friends but he hadn't mentioned anything about stopping by the clinic. "Was he looking for me?"

"Sort of." What the heck does that mean. I crinkle my nose and she goes on to explain. "He had a late day appointment." She throws her hands up in the air. "I completely forgot he called the other day. I got sidetracked and didn't put it in the books. Good thing I was still there after you left."

"Oh, okay." I glance at my phone again to see if there are any messages from Tanner. Honestly, I haven't seen much of him with Kate here, and I miss him terribly. "He stayed?"

"I gave him the option of coming back when you were there, but no, he wanted to stay and let me work on him."

"You probably shouldn't have done that, not without me supervising." If Tanner complained, or something went terribly wrong, her actions could probably get us both into trouble.

Her eyes go wide. "Did you want him to go into his next game hurt?"

"Of course not." I put my hand over my stomach, which is suddenly uneasy, but I think it has more to do with Tanner letting Kate work on him than going out tonight. That's foolish, though. He needed therapy, and Kate gave it to him, and it's not like anything was going to go wrong. It's also not like he was in a bedroom with her, her hands all over his body. They were in a very professional clinic. Sure, Tanner and I talked intimately when he visited me, but nothing inappropriate ever happened in my office, other than an embrace and kiss before he left.

"Do you still like him?" I ask.

"What's not to like? The guy is hot, and that body." She waves her hand in front of her face. "When he took his robe off, I thought it was Christmas morning." She laughs and I laugh along with her, working to hide my jealousy. "It's no wonder you tapped that, even after I called dibs."

"You know I never meant to?—"

She waves a dismissive hand. "Nothing to worry about. It's not like I want a relationship with him, not now anyway." She grins. "Santorini would have been nice, though."

Guilt curls around me. "Why do you say you don't want a relationship?"

She crinkles up her nose like she just tasted something sour. "I don't know, Maeve. I know you two are hanging out and doing this pretend relationship thing, but he seems a bit possessive."

"Possessive?" I shake my head in disagreement. "He just worries about me."

"Whatever you say," she blurts out, and with a wave of her hand, adds, "I'm sure you're right." She picks up her wine glass, sips and goes back to the window, and as I stare at her back, the fact that she's not really saying more worries me. Does she see something I don't? Tanner has been nothing but wonderful to me.

Why then, Maeve, are you starting to second guess things?

Oh, probably because I trust Kate's judgement better than my own.

"Car is here." She tips her glass, finishes her wine and snatches her purse from the table. She stops at the full-length mirror in the hall to give herself a once over. She looks absolutely stunning in her tight red dress that showcases an ample amount of cleavage and lovely curves. I stand behind her.

"I look like a sofa cushion from the sixties next to you." My gaze moves down my jeans and bulky sweater, which does a great job of hiding my body. Naturally, I wear more professional clothes at work, or when I'm away with the team. Tonight, going to a bar, I don't know who I'm going to run into, so I want to dress down. I adjust my pinned-up hair, pulling a few more strands loose and hide my scar.

"You could never look like a cushion, but If you want to change," she suggests, eyeing me. "I'll get the car to wait. I have clothes you can wear."

"No," I say. "I don't like to bring attention to myself."

She looks like she's about to say something, but changes her mind and grabs our coats from the closet. I pull mine on and follow her out, being careful to lock up. I scan the street like I always do, not that I go out in the dark very much, and my gaze meets with the neighbor walking his dog.

I follow her to the car and she gives me an excited smile as she squeezes my hand. "I'm so happy you're going out. You're going to love my girlfriends and hey maybe there will be some hot guys there."

"I'm not really interested."

"How could you be after being with Tanner," she jokes. "That guy would ruin it for any other man."

She's not wrong about that.

She rolls her eyes. "I can't believe I sent the text to the wrong Tanner when we were in Florida. I guess I'm sort of responsible for you two hooking up, which is why I can't be mad. What's he up to tonight anyway?"

I check my phone again and my heart jumps when I see a message from him. "Oh, he's meeting up with some players from the team." I smile, liking that he's bonding. He was always so brooding and aloof. He seems…happier now. Is that because of me? Or is that just crazy wishful thinking on my part? When I talked about us burning out, he didn't question or contradict it.

I stare into the night as the driver takes us to Boston's downtown core, and the closer we get to the pub, the more anxious I feel.

"Babe," Kate murmurs and takes my hand. "You don't have anything to worry about. He's not here." I meet her eyes, and know she's talking about my ex. "You're going to have fun and I'm going to see to it."

"What would I do without you, Kate?"

She makes a fist and lightly knocks my chin. "Stick with me, kid. I've got your back. I always have and I always will." She turns and squeals. "We're here, and there's Janice, Lauren and Maria walking toward the pub. I can't wait for you all to meet. Then, when I have to go home to pack up, you'll have a whole new group of friends to hang out with." She squeezes my hand. "And they'll watch out for you too, Maeve."

I nod, but once again my stomach cramps. I really truly just want to be a grown-up who can take care of herself. I don't say that, though. Kate is just trying to do right by me, and I don't want to hurt her feelings. Funny thing is, I could be honest about that with Tanner, but not my very best friend since childhood.

I glance at the big sign over the door that reads, The Dome, as I reach for my handle. "Wait, I thought you said we were going to Juniper's?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, didn't I tell you we changed that?"

I let the door go and press back in my seat, wanting to run back home. "No, you didn't mention it."

"The girls and I were talking and they wanted to do karaoke. I know how much you like that."

"Used to," I clarify. I reach into my purse, and pull out my phone, then hesitate. I told Tanner we were going to Juniper's when he asked. Not that the change of location matters, really. Maybe now is a good time to try to stand on my own two feet, and not have him at my beck and call, in case something happens. Besides he's with his buddies tonight, having fun. He shouldn't be worried about me, which is why I didn't tell him about the note. He'd worry, and I want him to have fun. I've got Kate tonight, and her friends if anything goes wrong.

Just then my phone pings, and I read the message from Josie, giving her address for book club night on Wednesday. Kate arches a questioning brow. "It's Josie. Remember I was telling you about her book club?"

"Come on." Kate takes my phone and glances at the message. "This is my last night here." She drops my phone into my bag. "No phones tonight, just drinks and fun."

She climbs from the car and I follow her out and she calls to her friends. They turn before entering and come running over, and I think I do recognize one of them from college. They all hug and shriek and talk a million miles an hour. Kate turns to me.

"Where are my manners. Girls, this is Maeve, you might recognize her." She gives me a wink, letting me know she's not talking about them remembering me from school.

"Maeve it's so nice to meet you," Lauren says. "You're even more beautiful in person."

Uncomfortable under their scrutiny, I lean forward and smooth the strand of hair covering my scar along my cheek.

"How are we ever going to pick up guys with you at our table?" Janice pipes in. They're joking of course, but it doesn't make me feel very good.

"And she can sing," Kate adds, with an eye roll.

"I won't be singing," I say quietly but they're all talking over me, so I don't think they've heard.

Maria laughs and weaves her arm through mine. "We're totally screwed then."

"You mean we're not screwed," Lauren snorts with a laugh as she drags me along the sidewalk. "Let's go get some drinks." There are two girls on stage singing horribly as we walk in and find a table right in the center of the room. These girls really want to be seen.

The server comes and as they all start ordering drinks, I'm almost tempted to get something non-alcoholic so I can keep my wits about me, but Kate orders for me, and I just sit back.

"Maeve," Lauren begins. "Kate tells us you got an amazing job with the Bucks."

"Yes, it's a great job," I agree and while she's nice, there's just something in the way she said that. Did Kate tell her I got the job because of my father? "Did you hear Kate will be joining the team soon?"

"That is amazing, Kate," Maria says, giving her friend's hand a squeeze. "We're all so happy you're moving here."

"Must be fun getting your hands on all the hotties on the team," Janice says. "Any more openings?" she teases.

"I don't think so," I say honestly. I want to tell her it's not like that at the clinic, that it's very professional, but I don't because I'm sure she's kidding.

"Guess who I worked on today?" Kate wags her brows a gleam in her eyes as she waits for us to guess.

"Who?" they ask, also leaning in.

"Tanner Bang."

As soon as the words leave her mouth, my entire body stiffens, and unease grips my gut.

"No way," Lauren practically shrieks and flattens her hands on the table. "Are you going to bang that?"

Kate casts me a fast glance, a sly grin on her face. "Maybe. He's a free man. Isn't that right, Maeve?"

My stomach turns, as I nod. "But you said?—"

"I said I didn't want a relationship. Banging him is something else entirely."

I cringe as she talks about having sex with the man I could very well be falling for. I glance at the table, and run my fingers over the grooves. Why the heck did I come out tonight? I don't want to be here, discussing Tanner and my best friend banging him. Truthfully, while I didn't really want to come out, Kate told me it was exactly what I needed, and I always trust her. I'd rather be home with a good book, or curled up watching a movie with Tanner.

Kate's eyes go wide as she shifts in her chair and looks around me. "Oh my God."

Everyone turns to see what she's looking at, and the second my gaze lands on Tanner, my heart leaps, happy to see him. Until I remember that Kate had her hands on him today and she basically just said she wanted to bang him.

"Speak of the devil," Lauren squeals.

Janice makes a slurping sound. "Jesus, he is hot."

"Dibs," Kate announces and my gaze flies to hers, to find her staring at Tanner, and ignoring me.

The server comes with our drinks and I take a huge sip of my margarita as Tanner and three of his friends from the team saunter across the floor. My gaze follows him. Hell, we're all staring. What is he doing here?

He comes up to us. "Hey." His gaze zeroes in on me as he taps my table.

"Hey," I answer trying to appear casual, even though my insides are fluttering at the mere sight of him. It's all I can do not to stand, throw my arms around him and kiss him. Jeez, I really have missed him.

"Join us." Kate waves her hand around the table and shifts to make room.

He shakes his head. "Nah, I don't want to interrupt girls' night out." As he stands there, I breathe in his very familiar scent. It burns through my body in the nicest way.

Kate leans forward, and blinks up at Tanner in a come-hither way. "At least introduce us to your friends."

"Sure." Tanner introduces Brady, Sean and Gunther. After a round of introductions, Tanner and the guys head to the bar.

Kate grins as she eyes me. "What? I didn't know he was going to be here," I explain. " He didn't even know I was going to be here. I told him we were going to Juniper's."

She cocks her head, and while there's a challenge in her eyes, there's something else there too, something that holds a whole lot of accusation. "A coincidence, then?"

"It must be."

"I thought you didn't believe in coincidences." Kate playfully taps me on the nose.

"I guess I don't."

She narrows her eyes. "And I guess that makes this situation all that much stranger, doesn't it?"

Okay, where the heck is she going with this? "What's that supposed to mean?" I ask.

Kate laughs and puts her hand on mine. "Stalker much?"

"He's not?—"

"Maeve, he just showed up," she points out, her voice now lacking any kind of humor. "You said you didn't tell him you were going to be here, which makes me think he followed you from home and is passing it off as a coincidence. Just watch. Next thing he'll do is try to turn you against me."

The all too familiar and scary things my ex did to separate me from others, so he could keep me all to himself, wraps around my stomach like a tight rope as my gaze cuts to Tanner, who is sitting at the bar, watching me carefully. This is just a coincidence. No way did he follow me here, right?