Sparing the Heart (Pastime Pursuits #3) (17 page)

After spending much too much of my time admiring the room, I should try to sleep. I peek out the window and the snow is finally starting to settle. I’m anxious for tomorrow’s game so I can put this disaster of a night behind me. I pull the quilt and sheets back and crawl into the bed. I lay back, surprised at how hard the mattress is. I expected a plush, feather like feeling. A bed that looks like this calls for someone to sleep in it, but it’s appearance is deceiving. I might as well be lying on concrete. I turn to my left. Not any better. I try my right. Damn, this is
horrible
. The pillow sucks, too, and my head is sunken into it like a divot. I push the sides of the pillow against my ears, drowning out any noise in the hallway. Kellan’s mom’s shoes clop through the hall and she stops right outside the door.
 

“Are you okay in there, Kate?” She calls through the door.

“Yes, I’m fine. Thank you.” I want to sleep, even though it seems impossible.

“I hope the bed is comfortable enough for you.”

I arch my back and knead my spine a little. “It’s fine.” I grumble through gritted teeth. “It’ll work.”

“Okay, dear. If you need anything, let Kellan or me know, please.”

I’m sure I don’t need a thing, except maybe an hour long massage after laying in this bed all night. I don’t turn off the lamp — I’m not taking the risk of falling asleep and waking in the middle of the night in a dark room that’s not mine. I’ll freak out.
 

I lie back uncomfortably and stare at the wall. In a perfect situation, Kellan and I would be here because he’s introducing me to his parents and we’re in a relationship. But, no, we’re here because of the damn weather. Can’t he control that? Shouldn’t Mr. Weatherman have predicted this? If he had, I wouldn’t be here. I could be at home in my own bed and leave in the morning.
 

I’m beginning to doze off when I hear a female voice I can’t place. Gretchen is already at the hotel but I recognize the voice. I’ve only just met his mom, but it’s not her. Who else could be here other than the housekeeper? The owner of the voice hits me. I’ve only heard this condescending tone over technology.
 

Macy.

I throw back the sheets and and tiptoe to the door, pressing my ear against the hard wood. What is she doing here?
Why
is she here?
 

“Aren’t you glad I made it?”

“I can’t believe you drove in this, Macy.” Vicky confirms my suspicion. “How did you even manage to find a flight in?”

“I flew in this morning before the worst of the storm hit.”

“Kellan and his friend even stopped driving.”

“Kellan’s friend?” Her voice raises an octave and boots tap on the floor. I picture her with her arms crossed against her chest and her eyes darted. “Kellan, who’s here with you?”

“Kate.” He answers with no further explanation.

“Kate, as in our realtor, Kate?” Her tone is high-pitched and accusing, and my heart skips a beat at the mention of my name.

“The one and only.”
 

I snicker at his response, but now my temperature is rising and though I’m warm, I’m shaking. Am I afraid of her? Didn’t she know we were driving together?

“She’s sleeping over? Where is she sleeping? With
you
?”

I wish.

“Get real, Macy. She’s staying in the guest room.”

The boots still drum against the floor. She’s definitely not happy. “I still don’t like it. This woman is spending the night with you?”

“It’s hardly spending the night
with
me if she’s in another room.”

“Oh, she’s very sweet, Macy. Haven’t you met her?”

Way to go, Vicky. That’ll piss her off. Though I enjoy this bickering between them, I must remember Macy is a client. And a human being, as much as Gretchen tends to disagree. I can’t wish ill upon her.

“Mom, you’re not really helping here.”

“Yes, she is, Kellan. We’ve talked, though hardly long enough for me to form an opinion. I’m starting to think this Kate woman has a thing for you.”
 

My dinner sloshes around in my stomach and bile rises in my throat. Macy can see the truth. Can Kellan?

“I’m not even having this conversation.” Kellan grunts. “Let’s go to bed, Macy. An hour drive awaits us tomorrow, and if you’re going to bowl, you need your rest.”

With that, I creep back to the bed and toss the covers over my head, shaking as I dread the door swinging open with a pissed off Macy behind it. He said she was bowling. Do they need me tomorrow? I can leave this situation, this uncomfortable position, and go home. But, I can’t expect Kellan to drive me all the way back to Madison. We’re more than halfway there. Does this mean I’m driving
with
them? With Macy? The two lovebirds?

This whole trip was a mistake. The league, too. I should have known going into it that eventually I’d be tossed aside. This is why I don’t get involved with anyone. It always ends in disaster and my heart broken.

I shoot up in bed. What was that? My body aches and I’m sweating. I’m not drenched, but I’m soaked enough to realize I had a bad dream. My surroundings are different. The dresser, the lamp, this horrible mattress. Kellan. I’m with him at his parent’s house. I figured this would happen — I would wake up unfamiliar with where I spent the night. Despite the nightmare, I slept through the night, once I managed to doze off.
 

Bang. That noise again.

“Kate? Are you up?”

Kellan is knocking on the door. Time to face him and Macy and play nice. I’m not going to be a jerk to her. Kellan isn’t
my
boyfriend. And I’m not going to be rude to someone I barely even know. A glass of wine would help me through this, though.

“Yeah. Come in.” I can’t hold him off. I pull my fingers through my hair hoping I don’t look too horrible having just awoken. Not to mention the morning breath I’m sure is seeping from my mouth.
 

Kellan enters the room, fully dressed in jeans and a white tee shirt, reminding me of James Dean. I like it. His hair is even slicked back. “Good morning.” He opens the shades. “Ah, sunshine.”

“Sunshine? Is that a nickname you made up for me?”

He smiles widely and points to the window. “Sunshine. The sun’s out.”

Can I crawl back under the covers and never come out? How horrifying! My mind is so far in the gutter, I heard him calling me something he wasn’t. “Right. The sun.”
 

“Do we have nicknames for each other now? I wasn’t aware. What’s your nickname for me?” He plays along and I’m partially happy about that and the other half of me is still wanting to crawl into a hole.

I freeze. Cutie pie. Handsome face. Man-who-makes-me-drool-and-all-my-girly-parts-tingle. “Goofball. How about that?”

“Seems about right for me.”

My phone shows it’s nearly nine o’clock. I don’t remember sleeping this late anytime in the past year. “Am I the last one up?”

“Yeah. You must have been out like a log.”

“I’m surprised. This bed isn’t that comfortable.” I pull the covers off and slide out of bed. “Of course sleeping in a bed other than your own is always awkward.” Even more so in a stranger’s home.

“Why don’t you freshen up and join us for breakfast?”

My sweatshirt sticks to my back. I can’t turn around or he’ll see how sweaty I am. “I’m not that hungry.”

“Don’t be silly. And Macy showed up last night. You can finally meet her outside the confines of a tablet screen.”

Yeah. Finally. I’m thrilled. This is exactly why I don’t want to eat. The thought of meeting her face-to-face makes me sick to my stomach. “Okay. Sounds great.” I’m getting better at this lying thing.

Kellan shuts the door behind him, leaving me to dread this introduction. She didn’t sound so pleasant through the door; however, maybe I’m wrong and the muffled voice only sounded like a not so kind person.
 

I change out of my sweats into new clothes and take a deep breath. The quicker I face this, the quicker it’s over. I’m dreading an entire car ride with this woman, but short of calling a cab, which I’m not sure will even come out this far, it’s my only option.

I exit the room and find my way back to the kitchen. Kellan, his parents, and Macy are sitting at the table. “Kate!” Kellan stands up and motions me to a seat across from the two of them.

I sit down, my heart suddenly pounding in my chest. She’s not even looking my way, yet I feel her eyes burning through me.
 

“Kate, this is Macy. Macy, this is Kate.”
 

She makes eye contact with me and curls her lip into a fake smile, offering a hello in the form of a mumble as she chews. I’m officially meeting this woman for the first time and she can’t even stop chewing and greet me politely?
 

“Very nice to meet you in person, Macy. I’m glad to finally talk in person instead of over technology.” Even if she’s not going to be pleasant, I’m not stooping to her level.

She nods in acceptance of my words, but doesn’t extend the same compliment back. Since everyone is already eating, I scoop some fruit onto my plate.
 

“There’s toast and pancakes, too, if you prefer.” Vicky holds a platter full of hotcakes and pushes them toward me.

Is she suggesting I look like someone who would deny fruit? Does my hourglass figure present the image of a woman more likely to choose carbs over the healthier option? Who am I kidding? Bring on the carbs. “Pancakes sound delicious. Thank you.”

I sense Macy watching me, though I don’t acknowledge her. She only has the fruit on her plate, no doubt trying to watch her weight. I couldn’t care less about my figure. I do what I can, but I don’t obsess over it. I’m not about to deprive myself of a tasty breakfast because of it.
 

I butter my pancakes and pour over some syrup. As I cut through the first piece, his mom asks, “How did you sleep?”

The bed didn’t meet my expectations by a long shot, but I’m still refreshed. “Great, thank you.” I’m grateful she gave me a place to sleep.

“The mattress didn’t bother you too much?”

“It was fine. I slept on the floor the first few nights I lived in my condo. I consider that bed an upgrade.”

“I could never sleep on that bed.” Macy takes a piece of toast and bites into it, plain. Gross. Plain toast tastes like dust.

“I know, Macy. You’ve made us well aware many times before.”

I really don’t think his mom cares for her that much. She doesn’t seem to make many positive remarks.
 

“You prefer to sleep in our son’s room.” His mother grimaces, refusing to look at her.

Wow. I didn’t see that coming.

“Anyway, we should start on the road soon, honey. The game is in about four hours.” Macy is as antsy as I am to leave this place, no doubt for the same reason. I’m sure she doesn’t want to be in close quarters with me any more than I do with her.

“It’s only an hour drive.” Kellan grabs two more pancakes and fills his plate with sausage. “And I’m hungry.”

Macy leans back in her chair and folds her arms. “I don’t want to get caught in traffic.”

Kellan’s face reddens as he pinches the bridge of his nose. “You’re not driving, so don’t worry about it.”

“Are we all taking one car?” I hoped Macy would drive herself.

“We might as well. We have to come back through here on the way home, so I’ll pick my car up then.”

His mom stifles a small laugh before his dad jumps in. “You guys drive safe. The roads are still a little slick out there, even though the plows came through.”

“I can drive, Dad.” Kellan eyeballs him.

“I’m only saying.”

He pops a piece of sausage in his mouth. “Okay, let’s go.” He stands up and wipes his hands on his pants, leaving us all at the table.

••••••••••

I can't believe this is happening. I'm not surprised, though. Of course less than 24 hours ago, Kellan and I nearly kissed and now I'm sitting in the back of his car while his significant other sits in front, stealing glances of me in the rear view mirror whenever she gets a chance. I wonder if these are child-proof locks. Would they notice if I whip open the door and jump out? That’s a reasonable response, right?

"So, Kate, are you any closer to finding a house for us?" Macy barges into my brain, stopping my irrational thoughts.

Ugh.
Their
house. Yeah, I'm doing the best I can, lady. Did your fiancé mention yet how you don't even share the same tastes and he really doesn't even want an elaborate house like you do? "Um, yes, actually." I wish I could garner enough courage to say something else.

"You are?" The mirror catches Kellan’s wrinkled forehead.

Shoot. Mental note to set up a couple of showings. ”Yep. When we arrive back in town there are a few I thought you may like."
 

“That’s wonderful news!” Macy spins around and makes eye contact. I jerk my head away at first, as though she caught me doing something inappropriate, then meet her gaze, refusing to let her win. "Why don't you take me? I want to view some in person and, honestly, I’m beginning to think Kellan is stalling." My heart shrinks when she touches her hand to his shoulder.

How could I be so dumb? Now I have to house hunt with
both
of them? I’m trying to eliminate how much time I spend with the two at the same time, now I’m only extending the life of this Hell I’m in.

"Kellan, sweetie, you take a break from all this house stuff. I'll take the reins and take some tours with Kate."

Scratch that. I’m going with
only
Macy? Kill me now.
Please
.
Do it
. I’ll provide the weapon.

He rubs the back of his neck. "I don't know, Macy. Kate and I work so well together." He tips his head toward the window and shifts his weight in his seat. He enjoys working with me. I agree with him. When we visit these houses, he’s open and honest with me. I sense Macy doesn’t understand what Kellan wants.

"Do you? Is that why you’re still living in that cramped apartment?" She turns so she’s sitting on one side and able to look at me when she talks. “I’m sure
you
haven’t seen his place, but it is
so
tiny. We barely fit in the shower together, right, dear?”