“How is he?” she asked nervously.
Dr. Edwards sighed. “He hasn’t eaten at all in the last two days and now he’s started refusing water. I’ve ordered an IV of just saline to keep him hydrated. And I think I’m going to have to order a feeding tube also.”
Nodding, Taylor studied the floor, fighting back the tears that were forming in her eyes. “He’s wasting away, isn’t he?”
“I think that’s what he intends to do.”
Releasing a long breath, she peeked in at her father resting in his bed. “Do what has to be done. I’ll call Teddy and see if he can’t come home soon.”
He gently squeezed her arm. “That’s a good idea. I’m sorry I didn’t have better news for you.” She nodded again, gazed once more at her father, and padded slowly down the corridor. Once she reached the parking lot, she called Tia’s cell phone and told her to pick her up later; they were going to the Racers game. She hung up with Tia and found her car.
Opening the door, she climbed inside, taking a deep breath. She dialed her brother’s number, frowning when it went immediately to voice mail.
She left him a message asking him to call her later and flipped her phone shut before starting the car.
***
Taylor was fiddling with the radio as Tia maneuvered through the heavy traffic when her cell phone rang. She looked at the screen, frowning at the unfamiliar number.
“Who is it?” Tia asked.
Taylor shrugged as she answered the phone. “hello?”
“Hi Taylor. It’s Tabby Hays. I hope you don’t mind but I got your cell number from your editor.” Taylor glanced at Tia briefly. “No, it’s okay. What’s up?”
“Brady said he left you some tickets at the Will Call. Are you coming to the game?” Taylor rolled her eyes. “Yeah we are but we have tickets already.”
“Forget about those tickets,” Tabby cheerfully ordered. “Use Brady’s. His tickets are next to ours. You can sit with us and get drunk.”
Just wonderful
, Taylor thought. She groaned quietly. “I’m with my friend, Tia. We have her uncle’s tickets. I need to check with her.”
“Okay, call me back. Do you have my number?” she asked.
“It’s on my phone,” Taylor responded. “I’ll talk to you in a few.” She flipped her phone shut and pinched the bridge of her nose.
“What?” Tia asked, eyes alternating between Taylor and the road.
“That was Tabby, Alex Miyerson’s fiancée. She, uh, wants us to use the tickets Brady left me at Will Call so we can sit with them.” Tia’s eyes widened. “You didn’t tell me Brady left you tickets! You must have really made an impression on him.” She grunted. “Not the one I wanted to make.”
“Cheer up. He obviously likes you or he wouldn’t go through all this trouble.”
“It’s not
like
, it’s
guilt
,” she stated as they followed the stream of cars into the parking lot. “Do you really want to sit with them? It’d be a shame to let Luther’s tickets go to waste.”
“He’ll never know,” Tia responded in a flippant manner. “He wouldn’t have come anyway. He told me he had a business dinner tonight.” Once she parked, she shut off her car and grabbed her purse. “Besides, Brady’s tickets are probably better and maybe I’ll get to meet a single, sexy baseball player.”
A sudden urge to bang her head on the dashboard rushed through Taylor. She resisted and opened her door instead. “You do realize that the players will be on the field and not in the stands?”
“Minor technicality,” Tia smiled. “Now where’s that Will Call window?”
Groaning, Taylor helplessly followed her exuberant friend.
Taking the seat between Tabby and Tia, Taylor quietly nursed a foamy beer in hopes that it would relax her jangled nerves. Alex Miyerson was on the mound and Tabby was beside herself in ecstasy. So distracted was she that Taylor was able to focus on the game and not listen to some propaganda about how wonder Brady Nolan really was.
Taylor’s heartbeat quickened when a batter from the opposing team knocked a line drive between first and second. Brady dove to his right, snatching it from midair. He fell to his knees, grabbed the ball from his glove, and fired it to the first baseman. The crowd around them jumped to their feet and roared.
Tia stood and cheered excitedly, slopping beer on her hand. “Why did he throw the ball to first? He caught it so the batter was out, right?” With a smirk, Taylor pulled Tia back down to her seat. “The runner on first took off as soon as the ball was hit. When Brady caught it, the runner needed to go back to touch first but since Brady’s throw to the first baseman beat him back to the bag, he couldn’t tag up so he’s out. Double play.
Oh, never mind.”
“Hey, I never said I understood the game. I just like coming and watching the cute players,” Tia said with an indignant shrug.
Taylor rolled her eyes with a smile as the players trotted off the field to file one by one into the dugout. Suddenly, she remembered a baseball game long ago.
Huddling in the light drizzle on the bleachers with Amanda Allen, Taylor's heart fluttered when Brady walked out to the on deck circle and
winked at her. Amanda squeezed her arm. “I can’t believe you’re dating Brady and I’m dating Jason!”
Taylor refrained from rolling her eyes. Amanda was a nice girl and pretty, though nothing like the beauties Jason usually dated. Maybe that
was why she constantly expressed her disbelief that she was dating him. But whatever the reason, it was starting to drive Taylor crazy.
“
I know,” Taylor sighed.
When the batter walked, Brady approached the plate. He watched two pitches go by and listened as the umpire called them balls. He dug
his cleats into the dirt, swung the bat twice, and waited. He made contact with the very next pitch and Taylor jumped to her feet at the ‘clink’ of the
ball firing off the aluminum bat. Her eyes followed it as it sailed past the right fielder and over the fence. He blew her a kiss as he jogged past,
making his way around the bases. She grinned and continued to cheer with the rest of the fans.
After the game, she waited outside the locker room. When he came out, hair still damp from the shower, he grabbed her waist, pulled her
flush with his body, and kissed her so hard she gasped. He broke the kiss to grin. “Tell me how proud you are of me.”
Rolling her eyes, she toyed with the ends of his damp hair. “Please. Anyone can hit the ball over the fence.”
Laughing, he draped an arm around her shoulders as he led her to his car. “Maybe. But do they look as good as I do when they do it?”
She shook her head at him. “You are your biggest fan.”
They reached his car and he leaned against the passenger side door. He gently brought her closer, lifting her chin with his index finger. He
kissed her softly before whispering in her ear. “I thought you were, love?”
She pecked him on the lips before pushing him away from the door, heart furiously beating against her ribcage. “I can’t compete with you,”
she told him with a wink before jumping in and closing the door behind her.
“hello, Taylor. You with us?” Tia asked, brows furrowed.
“Huh?” Taylor answered. “Sorry. I got a little lost in my head for a second.”
“I was asking if you wanted another beer,” Tia repeated.
Taylor looked at the nearly full plastic cup in her hand and shook her head.
“You okay?” Tabby whispered, worry in her eyes. Taylor offered her a weak smile, nodded, and sat back to watch the rest of the game.
***
After the game, Taylor wanted to make a quick escape, but Tabby coaxed them into going back to her house. Tia was beside herself with joy so Taylor didn’t have the heart to refuse.
They gathered out on the deck, enjoying the warm, evening breeze. The crickets sang in the grass as the fireflies blinked on and off, celebrating in the joy of summer.
Taylor took a seat at the patio table with the rest of the females, as far away from Brady as she could get. Tabby stuck an icy cold bottle of beer in front of her with a grin.
“Thanks,” Taylor smiled, sipping slowly. She wasn’t much of a drinker and the two beers she’d already consumed had her far too relaxed.
“Taylor, when does your story on Nolan come out?” Alex asked. He had his tall, lean frame propped against the deck railing. Brady hopped up next to him, sitting atop the rail. They both held sweating bottles of beer in their hands.
“Probably Sunday,” she replied. She ignored Brady’s glare. It unnerved her immensely the way he kept looking at her and she didn’t want to let him see how much it was affecting her.
“I can’t wait to read it,” Tabby added. “I haven’t done a story on him yet.”
“You’d do a much better job than me,” Taylor blushed. “I’ve read all the profiles you’ve written on the players. They were marvelous.”
“Maybe you could sell your story on Brady to the magazine,” Tabby suggested, excitement brewing in her eyes. "I could talk to my publisher."
Taylor’s eyes widened. “Oh, no. I don’t think it would compare to your work.”
“Don’t sell yourself short,” Brady said. “You were always the smartest girl in our class.”
“I was not,” she denied hotly.
“Pretty much. Didn’t you tell me you skipped a grade?”
She snorted. “It was only first grade.”
“Yeah, maybe, but they don’t allow kids to skip grades, even that young, if they’re not intelligent,” Zoey remarked.
Taylor lifted a shoulder, wishing the attention would turn away from her.
“I told you she was smart. If it wasn’t for her, I would have never passed my English class,” Brady stated.
Taylor took a big gulp of her beer, looking at him in disgust. “You didn’t need me. That was all part of your plan.” All the blood left Brady's face. “No, Taylor. That’s not true. Maybe it was an excuse to talk to you but it was never any plan.” With a grunt, she turned her head. She ran her finger through the water rings made by her beer bottle on the table.
Tabby glanced between the both of them. “What plan?”
Brady shot Taylor a look that almost seemed pleading. She glared back at him before replying. “Nothing. Just a disagreement we had.”
“Did you two date or something?” Zoey asked innocently, resting her arms on the table.
Taylor choked on her drink so Tia gave her a hefty thump on the back.
“Something like that,” Brady mumbled as he studied the bottle in his hands.
“Well, I take it things didn’t go well,” Kyle observed, giving Taylor a wink. “Maybe a change of subject would be in order.”
“How are your dad and brother doing, by the way?” Brady asked. The cocky lift of his lips dared her to contradict him - call him out for asking after her family when she felt he had no right.
“Fine,” she replied. “Teddy’s in South Bend.”
Brady’s eyes brightened. “Ah, that’s right. Notre Dame. Did you graduate from there as well?” She looked at Tia for help but Tia only offered a weak smile.
“No, I didn’t go to college,” she grudgingly admitted, her heart twinging in despair.
Brady slid off the rail, empty beer bottle swinging between his fingers. “But you got accepted. I remember that. They offered you a scholarship and everything.”
“That’s pretty impressive,” Mark stated. “Why didn’t you go?”
“Stuff came up,” Taylor mumbled, shifting uncomfortably in her chair. “I couldn’t go.”
“Taylor,” Brady pleaded. “Tell me it wasn’t because of me. Tell me it wasn’t because of the …”
“No,” she snapped, effectively cutting him off. “Not everything revolves around you, Brady.”
“Okay,” Tabby sighed, trying to relieve the tension. She turned to Taylor. “So, if you didn’t go to college, how did you start reporting? I mean, I know a college degree isn’t required, but most publications I know want their reporters to have one.” Relief gushed through Taylor as she granted Tabby a smile, grateful to look away from Brady.
“I only recently started reporting. One of my best friends was already interning at the paper and he knew I needed a job so he asked Luther to hook me up. I’ve been there for years and after I wrote some whimsical piece, Luther let me start writing.” She took a drink. “Mostly all I get to cover is garden parties and stuff.”
“Uncle Luther told me earlier that the piece you did on Brady was outstanding,” Tia exclaimed. “He said you’re done doing the garden party kind of thing.”
Taylor's cheeks heated and she ducked her head, wanting desperately to crawl under the table. “I hope so.” Brady bent to retrieve another beer out of the color, lifting his eyes to her. “Maybe he’ll let you cover who’s sleeping with whom and who’s been committed to the nuthouse now.”
Taylor stood abruptly, nearly upsetting the table. “Yeah and maybe someone will discover a cure for your cocky, arrogant attitude."
With a deep breath, Taylor faced Tabby. “I’m sorry. Thanks for everything but I need to go.” She pulled Tia to her to her feet before she stormed through the sliding patio door.
Brady started after her but Tia grabbed his arm, swinging him around.
“You insensitive bastard,” she accused before pushing him away and following her friend’s path.
***
After letting herself into the front door, Taylor collapsed on the sagging couch. She groaned when her cell phone rang until she recognized the number as her brother’s.
“Hi Teddy,” she greeted, plastering a smile on her face. She hoped he'd hear it in her voice and not figure out how upset she was. “How are you?”
“Good, T. What’s up?” His voice held a tint of concern.
She sighed. “Teddy, when can you come home?”
“Dad?”
“Yeah,” she admitted and filled him in on her conversation with the doctor.
“I don’t know, T. I just started a summer semester and a new job in the book store. Let me see what I can do, okay?”
“Why are you working, Teddy?” she asked. “You’re supposed to be concentrating on your studies. I can send you money if you need it.”
“Relax,” he reassured her. “It’s a light semester and I thought I’d earn my own money. I promise it won’t interfere with my course work.” She nodded, not realizing he couldn’t see her. “Okay. How’s school going?”
“Great. I love it.” He paused. “T you sound awfully tired. Anything else going on I need to know about?”
“Nah,” she answered. “Except I finally got a real assignment.”
“That’s cool,” he said. “Tell me about it.”
Haltingly at first, but with growing confidence, she filled him in on her story about Brady.
“Send me a copy,” he requested. “Isn’t that the Brady you went out with your senior year?”
“Yes,” she grimaced.
“He was a nice guy.”
“He was a pompous ass.”
Her brother laughed. “You went out with him.”
“I know,” she sighed. “Don’t remind me. Listen, I need to get to bed. Call me when you know when you can come home.”
“Okay. I love ya, T. Take it easy.”
“Love you too, little brother.” She flipped the phone shut with a smile.
She missed him and wished he could be home with her again. They had never really been extremely close until the summer after her senior year when their father’s health had deteriorated rapidly and she took over running the household. Teddy, who had been approaching his fourteenth birthday at the time, pitched in as much as she’d allowed. She’d tried desperately to shoulder all the responsibility; wanting her kid brother to remain a kid for as long as possible.
But when their father had been admitted to the hospital and Taylor was hired at the paper, he’d taken on dinner responsibilities. She hadn’t been crazy about it, but as long as his homework was finished and his grades weren’t suffering, she hadn’t grumbled.
She’d worried about how she could possibly put him through college on her salary, even if they did receive some kind of financial aid, but he, too, had earned a scholarship and several grants, making it a little easier for her to breathe.
Her paycheck was modest and she lived as frugally as she could so she could send money to Teddy for the things his scholarship didn’t cover.
Her apartment was small and shabby, but she kept it clean and furnished it with the stuff from her parents’ home she hadn’t had to sell. She didn’t have much, true, but she took pride in the things she did have. Especially those she’d worked hard to earn.
She pushed all thoughts from her head as she turned on the TV just in time to see highlights from the day’s game. She rolled her eyes as they showed Brady’s diving catch and ensuing double play. She sat forward and looked at his eyes. Gone was the arrogant, I’m-better-than-you look and in its place was nothing but adrenaline and intensity. He may be a cocky bastard off the field but on it, he was pure determination.
She rubbed her tired face angrily. She was not going to waste her evening thinking about Brady Nolan. His sudden reappearance in her life had caused her enough grief.
When her cell phone rang again, she picked it up warily. It was Tabby Hays.
“hello?”
“Hi, Taylor,” Tabby greeted. “I’m not bothering you, am I?”
“No, not at all. Is something wrong?”
“I could ask you the same question,” Tabby remarked, drawing a frown to Taylor’s face.
“I’m really sorry for earlier. Brady just really gets to me,” she explained, embarrassment suddenly filling her entire body.
“No need to apologize.” Tabby paused. “I was wondering if you weren’t busy tomorrow if you’d like to come to the game with me. Zoey’s not going and I have an extra ticket.”
“I don’t know. I think I’ve had my fill of Brady for awhile.”
Tabby chuckled. “Yeah, I can see how he really gets under your skin. I’ll tell you what, if I promise to keep him away from you, will you come?” Taylor bit her lip. “Why are you so insistent?”