In Time (Play On Book 2) Read online

  Gillian had walked into the room and stood waiting for the big reveal. Which Grace never had wanted it to be. “Rory.”

  Neither looked surprised, which relieved Grace.

  “Nice,” Junette said with a wink. “Does he want you back?”

  Considering the two heavy make-out sessions, Grace would say yes, but… “I think so but Jenn was on his arm the other day.”

  “Yeah, I saw that. Man, that girl has some issues. I can’t beliieeeve she joined the women’s team. Is there any way we can make her want to quit? My gawd, if she wears those really tight jeans with the camel toe again tonight, I’m gonna say something.”

  Gillian made a face. “Why do men find her sexy? I don’t get it.”

  “That’s because men are blinded by the hole that she offers beyond the camel toe. They get sucked in to the almighty vagina.”

  Gillian swooped Charlie off the floor into her arms and gave him an Eskimo kiss with her nose. “Absolutely. But we need to fight fire with fire, so can you help our Grace girl out?”

  “It’s really no big deal if you don’t have the time.” Grace felt horrible. The poor woman didn’t have enough time of her own let alone time to help Grace. “I can throw something together with what I got. I just didn’t want to spend too much money.”

  Junette grabbed both of her arms and looked her directly into the eyes. “Everyone wants to feel and look sexy. Especially when they are looking to get laid. Do you want to boink dear, sweet Rory?”

  Grace grimaced. She’d never done this—this girl stuff. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Don’t ma’am me, and of course, you do. It’s an innate part of the human condition.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Junette turned them and led them to a hallway. “It’s in our genes! You know, like the peacock.”

  “You want me to be the peacock?”

  “No, duh.” She let out a loud sigh and directed Grace into a bedroom. “Then you would be the guy.”

  Grace closed the toilet lid and sat when Junette pointed at the john. There was a little yellow and red potty chair right next to it with pee still in it. “Well, ain’t the female of the species just a plain brown so she can camouflage herself and her young?”

  Junette glanced at Gillian, who had followed with Charlie. “Where did you find this one?”

  “Texas,” Gillian replied as she wrestled her phone out of Charlie’s hand.

  Oh no, here they went. “Now, don’t be giving me that southern-stupid stuff. Just because we sound like a hillbilly doesn’t mean we are one.”

  “No, no, no,” Junette soothed, as if Grace was the same age as Charlie. Maybe once a mom, you were a mom to everyone. “That’s not what I meant. Look at Gillian, for instance. She’s a bit…odd, and I love her to death.”

  “You’re lovely,” Gillian replied deadpan.

  They all laughed while Junette rooted through a drawer in her sink cabinet. She picked out a variety of makeup tubes and jars and laid them out on the white sink top. “I’m not sure how hygienic this is, but after having Charlie, almost everything else seems more sanitary than a toddler.” Junette grabbed a foundation pad and applied it heavily onto Grace’s face.

  Grace swatted her hand away. “Not so much.”

  “Yes, much, you’ll look fabulous.”

  “Nope.”

  Junette cocked a hip, then sighed and gave Grace a pointed look. “I’m glad Gill brought you here. I didn’t always look like this.” She flashed her hands down her body in display. “I was a looker until I had a kid.”

  Gillian said, “You’re still a look—”

  “Stop.” She held a hand out to Gillian. “I appreciate it, hon, but I’m not the same. After kids”—another big sigh—“it all goes pear shaped. Not that a mom cares,” she backpedaled. “Okay, maybe a little. But you don’t have any time or money to care. That’s the problem. In the back of your mind, you’re thinking that you’d still love to look great—go out and turn men’s heads and all, but in reality you have your hair up in a nasty-ass bun, yoga pants because they are more comfortable around your belly from the baby stretch, and a baggy hoodie that hides all the rest of the bad bits.”

  “That sounds like me now,” Grace interjected. She grabbed a tissue from the box on the toilet cistern and went to wipe the gunk from her face.

  “Uh-uh, no you don’t.”

  “Seriously?”

  “You think it looks like too much because you never wear it, but it’s really not. And you are going to look fabulous as long as you don’t mess with it too much.”

  Junette was right. And this was trying something new. She put her faith in the fellow rugby player in front of her. That was what teammates did, right? She only had to stay still for ten minutes, and then Junette allowed Grace to apply her own mascara. Thank goodness. There was no way she was going to let anyone poke at her eye with that wand.

  After makeup, Junette curled her hair into ringlets. Always having pin-straight hair, Grace had to admit it looked good. By this time, Gillian had read Charlie a hundred books, and he now dozed in the other room. Gillian had helped herself to Junette’s closet while Junette had transformed Grace’s face. She came back with a few dresses thrown over her shoulder. Holding them up one at a time, Junette made the decision for Grace. “No. Definitely not. That one.” She agreed to the green-blue dress with spaghetti straps that Gillian still held high. “That one will do.”

  Didn’t Grace have a say in the matter? Plus she had to pee…again. “Can you give me a sec?” She motioned for the girls to leave while she changed and peed…again.

  When she was done, she opened the door to let the other girls in and then turned to the mirror. Wow. She did look pretty damn good.

  Junette met her eyes in the mirror and nodded. “With a pair of heels, you are going to be one hot momma yourself.”

  Oh yeah, dayum. Shoes.

  Grace thanked Junette profusely over and over again. She wanted to make sure she knew how much Grace appreciated her time. In a flutter of quiet motion, not to wake the sleeping Charlie, Grace gathered her stuff and left Gill at Junette’s.

  After stopping at the Goodwill on S. Airport Road, Grace arrived back to both boy’s cars parked outside the house. How the hell was Grace going to get in without them seeing her? She looked like a clown in sweatpants and camo Bogs. Not quite the entrance she wanted to make in front of Rory.

  She put Bluegill into park and sat there for a second. She’d scarfed a Baby Ruth on the way home, but she still felt a bit nauseous. And beads of sweat had popped up along her hairline. She didn’t want to ruin her makeup so she dabbed at the sweat with the cuff of her sleeve.

  She was already running late so she grabbed the garment bag with the dress and slipped out of her Ford. She clicked the door shut and skirted the grass, taking the sidewalk to the front door.

  She unlocked and opened the door as quietly as she could. Voices floated from the kitchen. Good. If they stayed there, she could sneak right upstairs.

  After closing the door quietly behind her, Grace tiptoed across the tiled foyer floor to the carpeted stairs. Her momma would hate that she didn’t take off her boots, but arguably, the carpet had seen better days and her prints wouldn’t show.

  As usual, the boys were talking about rugby. Some fly half did this and then some hooker did that. But then out of the blue, Del asked. “So what’s going on with you and Grace?”

  A pause. “Nothing.”

  “Aw yeah? Because it seems to me you guys are flirting like it’s going out of style, even hugs on the field.”

  “It wasn’t actually on the field.”

  Grace heard the kish of a can open. Del continued, “Strange behavior for just two mates who are roomies if you ask me.”

  “I wasn’t asking, Del.” There was a pause, and she could almost hear the shrug in it. “I like Grace.”

  “I do, too, mate, but I don’t think I like like her like you do.”

  Silence.


  “You want to tell me what’s going on?”

  Grace didn’t dare to breathe. Adrenaline at being caught pumped through her veins, worry that at any minute, either of them would exit the kitchen and in a few strides catch her eavesdropping here.

  Rory growled. “God, I fookin’ hate that look you give me, Del.”

  “It’s not reserved for only you.”

  “S’no right.” A can clunked to the kitchen table. “I kissed her, all right?”

  “Well, since I live with both of ya, I’m glad you told me. I need to know the dynamics of my home, just like I do my team. It’s where I put my feet up, ya know? And I have to feel comfortable.”

  Another growl from Rory, but Del was having none of it. “Are you guys okay? I mean are you both good about it? Friends? What? Because I don’t want the shit to hit the fan when you both aren’t good about it. Was it just the once to get it out of your systems?”

  “I’m not you, Del.” Grace had never heard Rory angry. Not since the day he had wigged on the field. Always quiet, always kind. “Twice.”

  “Oh, right.” There was a long pause. “So you guys are dating then?”

  “No, no!” A bit too adamant for Grace’s heart.

  “Cheers, mate, down the hatch.” There was silence for a minute as the boys chugged their beers. Grace clung to the banister. Nothing could get her to leave now.

  And then Del again. “Not only are you roomies, but you’re coaching the woman’s team, Rory. Not a good combo, if you ask me.”

  Grace held her breath in the silence that followed.

  After feeling so elated and beautiful, pumped up by the other girls at Junette’s place, Grace had sunk lower than the day Johnny Cash died. There was scuffling in the kitchen as if something was going on, so Grace raced upstairs, taking them two at a time.

  She closed her door quickly behind her and clicked the lock. Just from that sprint, she was sweaty, her hair sticking to her neck and forehead. Her vision blurred, so she sat on the bed until it stopped. Having eaten only carbs all day, her blood sugar was high. Without even checking, she knew. But she wasn’t about to let it ruin her evening. She’s was so freaking tired of it running her life. She was going to that banquet.

  She rose to her feet and hung the dress Junette had loaned her. With her toe, she nudged the bag with the heels that were a size too big, but she’d stuff the toes with toilet paper.

  Her head ached, the pain throbbing in her temples, so she took two Tylenol and glugged a pint of water she’d left on her bedside table. She laid down on the bed in her clothes, gently setting her head on the pillow so she didn’t mess her hair too much. She’d have a quick rest and then go down to eat before she got ready for the banquet.

  Only for a half hour. Let her body reset.

  Chapter 12

  After Del and Rory had a few cans in the kitchen, they’d both parted ways to get ready.

  But even when Rory was finished, Grace still hadn’t made an appearance. They had another beer while they waited for her, assuming she would go with them. At quarter to, Del chugged the rest of his beer and tossed the can into the returnables bin. “Well, Rory, my boy, looks like she ditched us this evening.”

  “Or maybe she was called into work for some reason.”

  “Could be. Either way, it’s time to go, or we’ll miss the bus.”

  It was past time to go, but he wasn’t ready to give up on her yet. “You tried her room?”

  “Why would I do that?” Del was great at getting women. Retaining them was another matter.

  “To see if she’s in there?”

  Del waved his arm toward the door. “Be my guest.”

  As Rory poured the rest of his beer down the sink, Del added, “But be quick about it.”

  Del was always anxious when he wanted to get his buzz on. Patient any other hour of the day except when it came to booze. Rory hurried and ran up the stairs. He knocked gently at her door. When there was no response, he knocked again louder. Still nothing. “Grace,” he called out.

  Nothing. Rory tried the door, but it was locked. He rattled the door, but aye, definitely locked. “Grace,” he called again. He hoped she was all right. She must be in there. It couldn’t be locked from the outside.

  “C’mon, Rory!” Del yelled up the stairs.

  Fuck. “Grace, Del and I are leaving now for the banquet. See you there, okay?”

  He considered leaving her a note, but when Del yelled at him again to get his arse in gear, Rory let it be.

  They pulled into the Meijer parking lot just as the bus doors were closing. Del and Rory hopped out of the car, ran over, and started banging on the doors. The driver let them in with a “You’re late,” and when they climbed the stairs, the stench of beer and perfume hit Rory full in the face. Most of the lads, and some of the girls, were already steamin’. Must have done some pre-partying.

  At the sight of Del, the lads roared, raising the drinks in their hands. Rory would never get a reception like that. Even if he was the star center of the Scottish rugby national team. He just didn’t have the personality and charisma Del had.

  Del walked down the row of seats, taking an offered beer as he passed. One of the younger players moved so Del could sit, but Rory was stuck to find a seat on his own. And not one of them offered a can to him. Looked like Irish and Gillian weren’t on the bus. Gillian was probably driving, and they didn’t need to take the beer bus. Which was smart thinking.

  Jordyn, one of the girls on his team, yelled at one of the boys to pass Coach a beer.

  “Coach’s not on the bus, Jor,” Dave said.

  “Not your coach, our coach. Give Rory a beer, dude!”

  That got a bit of reaction from some of the boys. A few chuckles. But it filled Rory’s chest with gratitude. Mitch tossed him a can of Labatt’s, then opened another one for himself.

  The bus lurched into movement. Rory braced himself against the side of one of the seats. If there were any seats left, he didn’t care. He didn’t want to scout around for one so he’d stay where he was. The sun was setting, the sky a mix of melons and pinks, and he wondered about Grace again. Where was she?

  “Rooory.”

  Oh, fuck no. He drank down half his beer and pretended like he was absorbed in the conversation of Shano and Champ in the seat below him.

  Then a tug on his arm. He turned, and sure enough, there was Jenn. It was cold, but she wasn’t wearing a jacket, only a tight, strapless bodice with ties and a skirt. Her breasts were squeezed up and forward like a bar wench from regency England. She wore a black choker necklace and lots of makeup. Rory had to admit, she looked good. Or as the lads would say, edible. One of the boys would shag her tonight, but it wasn’t going to be Rory.

  She yanked on his arm until he lost his balance when the bus made a sharp right turn. He bounced off Josh and Jake from one side of the bus to the other like a pinball until the bus came straight. Jenn was determined and held on. If she’d only focus that energy into her rugby.

  She dragged him down into an empty seat close to the front. When he longingly looked back at the rest of the bus, the boys all jeered and called out. A couple gave him a thumbs up.

  When Jenn tried to talk to him a couple of times, Rory leaned in to hear, but it was too loud. As the bus made its way toward Little Traverse Inn where the banquet was being held, everyone on board had grown rowdier, the noise level rising with every mile they covered. Then one of the boys, Austin, started them singing.

  When Jenn tried again to talk, he shook his head and shrugged, gestured toward the back. She plastered on a fake smile but hooked her arm into his. What a minger, she was. No class, and obviously no respect for herself, but he’d play nice. He always did, plus they needed the numbers for the women’s team. She’d be the type to get offended and stomp off like a child.

  Jenn was nothing like Grace.

  Kind, lots of character, charisma, and beautiful. She didn’t realize it but her personality made her golden. Grace lo
oked sexier in trackies than Jenn did in her getup now. Plus, Jenn must be freezing, so no brains either. She had her arms wrapped around herself. She’d hoisted herself so that her back was to the window and she was kneeling on the seat so she could follow all the action at the rear of the bus.

  His mother would kill him if he didn’t offer. His father would have beat him for his lack of manners. He tugged off his coat and offered it to her by lifting it in front of her face.

  She squealed and yanked it out of his hands, then wrapped it around her shoulders, not bothering to insert her arms.

  Rory sighed. Even if it was Jenn, she was still part of the women’s team and would most likely be the death of him at some point.

  Above all the other noise, Damian sang in a shout, “I used to work in Chicago in an old department store. I used to work in Chicago, but I don't work there anymore.” His face was red from the drink and effort to raise his voice over the noise. “A woman came in for some velvet!”

  The rest of the bus minus the girls sang, “Some velvet from the store?”

  Damian replied, “Velvet she wanted, felt she got!”

  The lads belted out, “Oh, I don’t work there anymore!”

  Damian again. “I used to work in Chicago in an old department store. I used to work in Chicago, but I don’t work there anymore. A woman came in for carpet.”

  “Some carpet from the store?”

  “Carpet she wanted, shagged she got.”

  “Oh, I don't work there anymore!”

  Jenn was getting into it, yelling out the chorus with the rest of them, but Brittany, Jordyn, and two new girls behind them didn’t look too pleased. Brittany and another had their thumbs down and were booing. Which seemed only to antagonize the fellas into singing louder. The bus took a turn into the parking lot of the inn, thank fuck. But as it did, Jenn fell onto Rory’s lap. She was as blootered as the rest of them, and her beer spilled down the front of Rory’s shirt. His jacket would have saved him, but she was wearing it.

  Annoyed. It took a lot for Rory to get to that point, but right now, he was there and beyond. He helped Jenn back to her side of the seat and stood. The bus had parked, but everyone was still singing and didn’t seem to notice.