On the Mend (Carolina Waves Series Book 1) Page 7

  “Does it feel any better than it did earlier?”

  He shook his head. “No.”

  “How about this?” I pulled on his heel in an attempt to straighten out his leg.

  “Argh! It hurts like hell.”

  I sat back on my heels and looked at his leg then up to his face, covered with a fine sheen of sweat. I would have liked to try the new routine, but didn’t think he was ready.

  “Okay,” I said as I stood. “Nix the new routine. Just run through the usual, and if at anytime it hurts above a five, stop immediately.”

  “Yes ma’am.”

  I ignored that and started him moving in an attempt to keep the tone professional. If we’re going to be alone tonight, I want it to be on my terms, not his.

  I sat on my bed and called myself every kind of fool. Why did I agree to go out with him tonight? Even when we have Lexi as a barrier, the sparks fly between us. What will it be like when I don’t have anything other than him to focus on?

  I stood and walked to the closet. Now, what to wear? We’d decided to go to a little Italian restaurant in town that Dan said looks like a hole in the wall but serves the best food he’s ever tasted. So I don’t need anything fancy, but I don’t want to look like a grub either. Then again, I don’t want to look like I’m dressed for a date date. I wish I could see what Dan is wearing. I’ve only seen him in sweat pants or shorts since I’ve arrived, but he assured me that he’d get into something decent for our night out.

  Why do I care?

  On that last thought, I yanked a pair of khaki capris, a white sleeveless shell, and black cardigan sweater off their hangers with more force than necessary. The hangers rattled against each other before settling into place.

  After donning my clothes and slipping my feet into a pair of sandals, I studied the result in the mirror. I decided to let my hair hang loose, and brushed it until it framed my face. I know that by the end of the night it will be driving me crazy…which is why I usually pull it back…but for now I’m happy with it. I wish I had some make up to dress up my face a little, but lightly glossed lips will have to do. I picked up my purse and headed out the door.

  There seemed to be an awful lot of noise coming from the family room, but I figured Dan was watching a game with the volume up too loud. How wrong I was. I recognized the men sitting in the room and hoped like hell none of them recognized me. No such luck.

  “Sabrina, is that you?” Moose Johnson asked.

  I nodded reluctantly as the once buff football player ambled over to hug me. His beer belly banged into my chest as his beefy arms circled around my back. Just when I thought I was going to pass out from lack of oxygen, he released his grip. “You didn’t tell us Sabrina was here, Dan.”

  “Sabrina’s here, Moose,” Dan said, deadpan. Then he explained, “She’s my physical therapist.”

  I heard a chorus of “holy hell,” “no shit,” and “get outta here” before Dan spoke again. “We’re actually heading out to dinner so—” Their collective protests cut him off.

  “Dan, come on,” Moose said, looking like a pouting child.

  Another of Dan’s chums from college chimed in, “You gotta be kiddin’.” John Levecchi was a mere inch taller than me and in college had been thin and wiry. The guys had nicknamed him “Chugger” because of his ability to drink more quantities of beer than any of them, despite his small stature. From the looks of John’s distended abdomen, all that beer had finally caught up with him.

  Moose—who if he has a real name, I don’t know it—and John were starting to whine when what sounded like the voice of reason spoke up. “There’s no need to go out. Murph is bringing pizza,” Kent “the Kentster” Ainsworth said.

  Kent had been Dan’s roommate freshman year and that fact is his only claim to fame. I met Kent a few months before Dan and I started dating and even then I thought he was a snake, but for some reason, Dan took a liking to him.

  He was the bane of my existence for the two years Dan and I dated, and is the person who told me about Dan’s philandering. Not out of the goodness of his heart, you understand. No, no, when he told me, Kent had me pinned against the wall, trying his best to get in my pants. He had been slightly drunk at the time, but not so far gone that he didn’t know exactly what he was doing.

  At first, I tried to treat the whole thing as a joke, which I had hoped it was. When that didn’t work, I got down to some serious pushing and shoving.

  “Kent, cut it out. You know I’m seeing Dan,” I’d said. Although I wouldn’t have touched him with a ten foot pole, regardless. But I didn’t feel the need to be cruel. Unfortunately he did.

  He’d snorted. “Yeah, I know, but it’s not like he’s not out enjoying a little variety.”

  “Get out, Kent,” I’d said forcefully. I didn’t believe him, but my stomach knotted at the thought.

  His laugh had sounded evil and his sneer scared me. “You actually think Dan is being faithful?” He’d looked at me with mock pity. “Oh God, you do, don’t you?” He laughed, but there was no humor in the sound. “Dan’s been getting some of the best pussy on campus while he has plain little Sabrina to escort bring to Mom and help him with his homework. Did you actually think someone like you could keep Dan happy?”

  That was about all I could take. I’d fled from my own room so Kent wouldn’t see me break down. His words had cut clear to my core and released every doubt I had ever had about myself and my relationship with Dan.

  I’d never understood why Dan was with me instead of the walking Barbie dolls who’d drooled over him as they followed him around campus. But, as Dan later confirmed, he was having the best of both worlds, just as Kent had said.

  “Sabrina,” Dan’s voice broke into my sour thoughts. “Are you okay?” He used his crutch to push himself up from the couch and make his way toward me.

  Kent slapped his hand against Dan’s chest. “She’s fine. Aren’t you?”

  I wanted to scream at him, I wanted to blame him for everything that went wrong between Dan and me, but in my heart I knew I couldn’t. Kent is a weasel and I certainly don’t trust him, but Dan is the one who cheated on me all those years ago. I just can’t help but wonder how Dan would react if he knew how I found out. He had asked, but I never told. It didn’t seem important at the time. I guess it still isn’t.

  “I’m okay, Dan.”

  “See, told ya. Why don’t you sit back down, Dan the Man? Murph should be here any minute with the pizza and some girls to go with it.” He glanced at me as he spoke the last few words, a smirk playing on his thin lips. “You’ve been cooped up way to long buddy.” He bobbed his eyebrows. “You’ve got a reputation to keep up, don’t forget.”

  “Sabrina?” Dan looked like a drowning man.

  If he was looking to me to look like the bitch and demand we go out to dinner, he was looking to the wrong person. I’ve been the party pooper more than once with these guys when Dan didn’t have the guts to tell them he couldn’t go out because he had to study or just didn’t want to go out. I’m not doing it now.

  “Actually, I’m not all that hungry.”

  Dan was about to say something when Murph barged through the front door, his arms laden with pizza and five of the most gorgeous women I’ve ever seen trailing in his wake. I didn’t stick around to be introduced.

  Dan

  What in the ever-loving fuck just happened?

  After wrestling myself into khakis and shrugging into a button down shirt, I’d made my way downstairs to wait for Sabrina. When the doorbell rang and I found Kent, Moose, and Chugger on the other side of the door, I was anything but pleased. I let them in, hoping to convince them to leave before Sabrina made an appearance.

  Besides the fact that I know Kent was never her favorite person, I’d been looking forward to our night out. Apparently she hadn’t been at all, because instead of backing me up when I told the guys we already had plans, she totally bailed on me.

  After Sabrina went back upstairs, Murph showe
d up with an armload of pizza and a bunch of women. The way Kent took over as if he lived here kind of pissed me off, but I fought the urge to freak out. Even though they showed up unannounced and uninvited, they are old friends. I never want to be one of those pricks who forgets his old friends just because he finds more interesting people to play with.

  A cute redhead settled on the couch next to me.

  “How’s the leg?” Her high-pitched voice nearly burst my eardrums.

  “Coming along.”

  When she leaned closer, pushing her right tit into my left bicep, I shifted, putting space between us. She stuck out her bottom lip in what I assume is supposed to be an alluring pout, but it just pissed me off. I shifted further away from her and she got the hint. Face pinched, she walked across the room and sat next to Moose, who had a brunette on his other side.

  Kent sank into the other side of the couch and handed me a beer.

  “It’s good to see you, man. How’s it going?” He gestured toward my leg with his bottle.

  “It’s getting there.”

  “I’m sure Sabrina is whipping you into shape.”

  “Yeah. She said I should be good to go for next season.”

  “That’s good. Really good,” he said. “Hey, why didn’t you tell me she was here?”

  I wasn’t sure how to answer that. How do I ask him why the hell I would tell him anything about my daily life without sounding like a total dick? And the truth is, I don’t talk to Kent all that often. Between Lexi, my family, and baseball, my plate is pretty full. A few phone calls a year is all I can handle. Plus, Kent and the guys still like to hang out in bars and chase women, and that’s just not me.

  He looked around the room.

  “Where’s everyone tonight?”

  “Jeff is out, Lexi is spending the night at a friend’s house, and I gave Mrs. Evans the night off.”

  “Then it’s a good thing we stopped by, right?” He slapped my shoulder. “I’d hate to think of you here all alone.”

  “I was taking Sabrina out to dinner.”

  Taking a long draw on my beer, I tried to tamp down the disappointment. Sure, I kind of coerced her into accepting my dinner offer, but if she really didn’t want to go, she could have just said no.

  “So you and Sabrina,” Kent said. “You’re a thing?”

  I looked over at him.

  “A thing?”

  “Yeah, you know, like back in the day.”

  “Kent, she’s my physical therapist.” He’s one of the last people I’d confide anything in.

  “You guys just seem kinda cozy here all alone.”

  “What’s your point, Kent?”

  “Just curious…” he waggled his eyebrows and continued, “…you finally get to fuck her?”

  I jumped up, grabbed Kent’s arm, and pulled him off the couch. In the back of my mind, I registered the fact that conversation behind me stopped, but I didn’t care.

  “That is none of your fucking business.” My low tone intensified the words.

  Kent’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down and he let out a nervous chuckle. I loosened my grip on his arm and stepped back, noting the twinge in my knee.

  “Hey, Dan, I was just—”

  I cut him off before he could finish and piss me off even more.

  “I think you should leave now.”

  10

  Sabrina

  The sun had barely cleared the horizon when I made my way down to the kitchen. After leaving Dan to the mercy of his friends, I went for a long walk before retiring to my room to finish the novel I’d brought with me. It was a love story with a happy ending so, needless to say, it didn’t lift my spirits much.

  Empty beer bottles and pizza boxes trailed from the family room to the kitchen and dirty dishes and discarded napkins littered most every surface. I looked at it all with disgust and took pity on Mrs. Evans, who undoubtedly would be the one to clean up the mess.

  I tried not to think of the events of the previous night as I scooped coffee into a filter. The smell of ground beans filled my senses and my mouth watered in anticipation of my first cup. Normally one cup would be my limit, but after my restless night, I figure I might need at least two or three to keep me going today.

  The coffee had just started brewing when I heard the back door knob jiggle. Expecting Mrs. Evans, I was surprised when Jeff walked through the door.

  “Hey Sabrina.” He was obviously surprised and a little embarrassed to see me. “What are you doing up so early?”

  I laughed and took in his slightly disheveled appearance. “I could ask you the same question.” I watched in amusement as a blush crept up his neck, turning his entire face crimson. I can’t believe he actually blushed.

  “Would you like some coffee?”

  “Sounds good.” He settled onto a stool at the breakfast bar. “What the hell happened here?” he asked as he shifted a beer bottle aside.

  “Dan had a party last night,” I answered, retrieving two mugs from the cupboard.

  “Dan had a what?” He looked around at the evidence. “I thought you two were going out to dinner.”

  “We were, but then some of his friends showed up.” I attempted to sound nonchalant, but don’t think I was very successful.

  “And?” he asked pointedly as I set a steaming mug in front of him.

  “And what?” I took a sip of the potent brew.

  “Don’t ‘and what’ me, Sabrina. I know how much Dan was looking forward to having dinner with you.”

  I did not want to process that last bit of information. “They brought pizza,” I said as if that explained it all, but just in case it didn’t, I added, “They brought girls, too.”

  Jeff cursed under his breath and took a long drink of coffee, then gritted his teeth as if he just downed a shot of whiskey.

  “That Kent guy, right?”

  “Moose, Murph, and Chugger, too.”

  “I never liked Kent,” he said.

  “Yeah,” I snorted, “join the club.”

  “He’s a wannabe. It’s like he’s riding Dan’s coattails through life.” He looked me in the eye. “Was it always like that?”

  I nodded and swallowed a mouthful of coffee. “Pretty much. Kent used to leech onto Dan every weekend because he knew he couldn’t get into any good parties without him. Once Dan and I got together, he’d arrange for Kent to get into places without him just so we could have an actual date.” I shrugged. “And speaking of dates, I don’t think Kent ever had one that Dan didn’t either arrange or date first.”

  “What about you?”

  My eyes widened at his question and I nearly choked on my coffee. “What about me?” I asked although I knew what he was asking.

  “Did you date Kent after you broke up with Dan?”

  I crinkled my nose in disgust. “Please Jeff, you’re making me sick.”

  “I’ll take that as a no.” His blue eyes twinkled.

  “That’s an absolutely, positively, gag me, not in this lifetime…no.” I shuddered at the thought. “Not that he didn’t try.” I have no idea why I added that, but once it was out, there was no taking it back.

  Jeff stilled and placed his mug down with a dull thud. “Kent hit on you?” I nodded. “After you and Dan broke up?” I shrugged. “What does that mean?”

  “Jeff, I don’t want to talk about this. It’s ancient history.”

  “Yeah right,” he snorted. “Before or after Sabrina?”

  I blew out an exasperated breath. If Jeff is anything like Dan—and I can see now that he is—he won’t quit until he gets an answer. And I’d much rather answer him now than later, in Dan’s presence.

  “Before, during, and after.” I crossed my arms over my chest and flashed him an are-you-satisfied-now look.

  “Does Dan know?” He took a sip of coffee.

  “No.”

  “You know the shit would hit the fan if he did, don’t you?”

  I had to resist the urge to snort and say, “Yeah right.” Ins
tead I carried my mug to the coffee maker and refilled it. As I added cream I said, “Like I said, that was a long time ago.”

  “Doesn’t matter. You were important to Dan, still are. He cares about you more than he’s ever cared about any other woman.”

  “And God knows he’s had his pick,” I muttered under my breath. Unfortunately, Jeff heard.

  “Like you said, Sabrina, that stuff happened a long time ago. Dan’s changed a lot since then. This…” He waved his arm around the room pointing out the mess from the impromptu party, “…isn’t Dan anymore. I don’t know if it ever really was.”

  I remembered many quiet evenings at either Dan’s apartment or mine wrapped up in each other’s arms. Sometimes we’d watch a movie, sometimes not, but regardless, the quiet times were always the best.

  Sure, we’d go to parties and out to dinner, but Dan seemed more relaxed at home. However, that didn’t stop him from going out with or without me, didn’t stop him from…

  “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

  “You just don’t want to face the truth.”

  “You want truth? Huh?” I felt my temper rise and couldn’t control it. “The truth is that your sainted cousin and I dated for two years in college. He gave me a pre-engagement ring, talked incessantly about the future…our future…and all the while he was screwing every girl who came along.”

  “Every girl but you.”

  All the blood drained from my face. Those very words had been on the tip of my tongue. Can Jeff read my mind too?

  “That. Is. Irrelevant.”

  “Regardless.” He shrugged. “It obviously bothers you.”

  I wanted to deny it, but couldn’t. “Hell yes, it bothers me,” spilled out of my mouth before I could stop it.

  He smiled. He actually had the gall to smirk at me while I stood in front of him, my chest heaving. The thing that bothers me most is that it’s not just an ordinary smirk. Oh no, it’s one of those I-know-something-you-don’t-know smirks.

  “Well,” he started in a cheery tone, “it’s a good thing you don’t care about Dan anymore.”