Chapter 8

EIGHT

CAL

ONE MONTH LATER

I rub my fingers over my forehead trying to relieve the tension headache forming.

We did it. Won, but it was by the last second. Coach took me out of the game early, shoulder just not up to it. A number of hits were taken by the other team from my throws. Throws that were slower than usual. I'm either going to have to have the surgery or retire, I can. I have more than enough money for the rest of my life, only problem is I enjoy the game, I've always loved everything about it.

I sit on the paper wrapped gurney, waiting for doc to come in, my head hanging low onto my hands. Coach did the right thing to bench me, it still rankles.

The door opens, "sorry. Sorry. I know I should have been here when you came in but well." Maria splutters, her face a deep red spreading to her chest under her light pink blouse under her white jacket. Her eyes are as red-rimmed as her face is, deep purple bruises under those brown doe eyes of hers, something's wrong.

I ignore the pains in my body, I'm so used to them every day and minute and lean forward taking one of her hands between two of mine, "Maria, what's wrong?"

She shoves her other hand into the pocket of her coat, her voice stuttering, ‘no, no. I'm fine."

I spread my legs, tugging her in between them, "we're friends, not just doctor and patient. Tell me." I raise my hand, tucking my fingers under her chin, raising her head to look into my eyes. Hers hold a deep pain she's trying to hold in but her chin quivers with whatever she's trying to not reveal.

Her chin spasms again, tears tremble, dropping from the corners of her big eyes.

"Come on, Maria. It's just me here. What has you so upset?" I pet my hand down her waist-length dark brown hair. I'm stepping over the line here, I don't want to get her in any trouble but I can't stand having her so upset.

"My…my boyfriend sent me a dear Jane text. Actually, broke up with me over Messenger. He's fucking my best friend. They got engaged yesterday while I was here." She laughs, not a nice laugh, a mocking, contemptuous laugh. "I'm so stupid. I should have realized. I'm really not upset about it, more relieved. I'm mostly just upset I never saw it."

This is a new one for me. "What a fucking jackass. A dumbass giving you up. Hey, why don't we go out and celebrate your newfound freedom from him. Party. Go dancing. We're going home tomorrow so we can sleep on the ride from our hangover." I hope she takes me up on my offer, I need this myself, all I can concentrate on is fucking my stepdaughter. I like Maria, I think she likes me. Two friends going out on a night on the town.

She looks skeptical, about our work friendship becoming more. I'm not sure about that either but I'd like to see a smile back on her face.

Maria opens her mouth, closes it and says, "okay. I think I'll enjoy that, even have a dress. I was supposed to go out with Martin." She grimaces when she says his name as if she's chewing glass, "tonight. We were going to go clubbing."

I hold my hand out to her and she takes it in hers. "So, I'll meet you downstairs in say two hours?"

She gives me the first genuine smile since she walked into the room. "It's a date."

Two hours later I stroll out into the entryway for the hotel the team is staying. High cathedral ceilings, opulent pillars and marble floors. I don't care about shit like this, something a little less lavish is more my style. My home isn't some grand palace, it's a home, where my family lived. My stepdaughter. It all comes back to her.

"Cal." Maria calls out to me, I turn and she's a vision in lavender. Her long, waist-length black hair loose and styled into straight strands of gloss, her hair so shiny it glows. She's gorgeous, she doesn't do anything for me. I wish I could be attracted to her, she's still young, only thirty. Not that big a difference in ages, ten years. But to me she's a friend. End of story.

I turn to her and take one of her hands into mine, bowing to her and kiss the top of her hand. She blushes at my extravagance, she deserves it. "Hey, beautiful. Ready to go?"

"Yes." A tiny, shy voice, unlike the professional tone I'm used to.

I tuck her hand into the crook of my arm and lead her outside where I have a limo waiting.

"Cal." Her voice is awed, eyes wide. "A limo. That's a bit much."

"Not for a beautiful woman like you. You deserve everything." I lay my hand skating over the naked skin on her back, helping her into the limo, gesturing to the driver to go ahead. I slide inside, Maria is folding her fingers around each other, a little divot between her eyebrows.

Her dress is both modest and sexy, the neck hugs her throat, the back open to the top of her ass, hemline ends midway up her thighs.

"So, Cal what is this?"

This? This is a date. Right? The two of us, together. "A date. It's a date."

"I just want to clarify. A date, date or a I-want-you-to-feel-better date." I can only see her profile which appears serene, appearances are definitely deceiving by the way her fingers fight with each other. Her short nails are painted white. Is that new? I hadn't noticed.

I lay my hand over the back of hers, "I don't know Maria." She shoots me a that's bullshit glare and I keep going, trying to appease her, "I do know I like you. A lot. Maybe it can turn into more."

Her face twists, I have no idea what she's thinking. I do know I really like her like I told her. When my hand touched her back a slight surge of desire twitched my dick, nothing like the erupting volcano I feel when Carrie is around, she is the ignition switch to my ticking time bomb. I tighten my other hand not touching her into a fist. I have to stop obsessing over her. She's my stepdaughter for fucks sake.

I'll keep dating Maria and I'm sure something can come of us. I can do this. I will force myself to stop thinking of her.