Athica Lane: The Carpino Series (14 page)

“I haven’t been trying to snag anyone!” Rachael yells louder this time.  Then she says like she’s accusing me of something, “You’re just so young.”

I fall to the ground, my abs burning like a wild fire.  I know I can verbally spar with anyone, but I’m exhausted and not on my game today.  I could probably come up with something sweet but snarky, however I’m just not feeling it. 

“You know what?  I can’t help how young I look.  So I might be six years younger than Cam, it’s not like he was my teacher or anything.  Trust me, we’ve already been over that.  I think I look young because I’m petite, I can add a few years with makeup.  But who wants to wear makeup when they workout, anyway?  It’s just going to clog your pores and make your skin breakout,” I go on talking to the sky.

I realize everyone has stopped their crunches and I look over to see Amy smiling big.  I look the other way and Rachael is frowning and the other women are either grinning or biting their lips. 

“You know he has kids,” Rachael spits, as if she’s telling me something I don’t already know. 

I look up and roll my eyes, “I know.”

“You think you’re going to scare her off from the most eligible man in eastern Nebraska?  Keep at it, Rach.  She seems to be able to hold her own,” Amy retorts.

“Well,” Racheal huffs and hops to her feet like she’s been knitting for the last hour.  She ends on a turn before making a dramatic exit, “I’m going to cool down on my own.”

I watch Rachael stomp off and hear from my side, “Don’t mind her.”  I look over and Amy continues, “She’s been trying to get her claws into Cam Montgomery forever.  Her kids go to school with his kids.  He’s nothing but professional with her which pisses her off.  I really don’t think he’s ever given her a second glance.  I’m Amy, by the way.”

“Hey, Amy,” I greet her, without moving.

“That’s Hannah, April and Steph.”

I look over to the other crazy women, “Hey.”

“You women need to cool down in more ways than one.  Time to stretch,” Zeke says, standing up and holding out a hand for me.

I shake my head, “I’m just going to lay here.”

“Get up, girl,” he smiles.

“No, I’m good.  You all go about your program,” I insist, watching the remaining moms stand and start to stretch. 

Zeke leans down and grabs my hands, yanking me up, “Cam’ll have my ass if you don’t stretch your muscles.”

Zeke has been really nice, even though he’s kicked my ass like I thought he would. I don’t want him to get in trouble with Cam.  I do my best to follow his stretches without falling over. 

Five minutes later, I see Cam walking out of the warehouse, his eyes on me and a grin playing inside his goatee.  He looks like he’s had a shower and changed clothes, wearing more workout attire with a clean Shed t-shirt.  As he gets closer, I see this one simply says, “Kick It”.  His short hair is damp and he’s clean shaven around his lush goatee.  He looks really good making him hard to hate, not to mention I’m jealous.  I really need a shower.  Damn him.

As he approaches, I point to him with the water bottle in my hand and lie, “I hate you.”

His grin turns into a lush smile and he looks to Zeke, “How’d she do?”

Zeke crosses his arms, “She kept up.”

“I did not,” I say to Zeke before looking to Cam.  “I did not keep up.  It was awful and embarrassing.  He even had to get me a garden hose.  Never again.”

The moms laugh as they start to walk away with Amy calling, “Good to meet you Paige.  See you tomorrow.”

“Oh, it was nice to meet you to, but I won’t be here tomorrow,” I respond.

“Yeah you will,” Cam smiles.

“No, Cam.  I will not.”

“Darlin’, you’ve got grass in your hair,” he ignores me and starts picking the grass out of my pony-tail.

I slap his hand away and turn to Zeke, “Thanks for getting me the garden hose.  Maybe I’ll see you at the company picnic.”

“Baby, we don’t have a company picnic,” Cam says as he keeps picking at my pony-tail.

“Why not?” I ask.

“I don’t know,” he says and starts to brush grass off my back.

“Well you should.  It’s a nice thing to do, don’t you think, Zeke?”

“Yeah, man.  You should have a picnic,” Zeke declares with a smirk.  He turns to me before he starts walking away, “See ya tomorrow, girl.”

“I won’t be here,” I call out after him. 

“Quit sayin’ that,” Cam huffs and grabs my hand to drag me back into the warehouse.

“Today was it.  I only came because I was curious about this place.  Plus I don’t think I’ll be able to move tomorrow,” I say before downing the rest of my water. 

But I almost walk into Cam as he stops abruptly in the parking lot, saying gruffly, “You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.”

“What’s wrong?” I ask, looking up to see him glaring at something across the way.  I follow his glare and see a really big man-boy getting out of a newer Camaro heading toward us.  Cam lets go of my hand as he takes a small step in front of me crossing his arms.   I lower my voice, “Who’s that?”

“Michael Gheer.  My asshole star quarterback,” he answers without looking away from the man-boy. 

“Is it bad that he’s here?”

“It is since he was just arrested last week under the influence, with pot and the date rape drug.”

“Oh.  That is bad,” I agree and watch the young asshole star quarterback who looks about as happy as Cam stalk our way. 

The morning air around us has turned as tense as my muscles from boot camp.  And trust me, that’s pretty damn tense.

“Coach,” the man-boy frowns as he approaches us and greets Cam, but his eyes are on me.

“You want to talk to me, Gheer, you need to set up a meeting,” Cam says crossing his arms, definitely not welcoming him to The Shed with a complicated man handshake, let alone a slap on the back.

The man-boy, who’s as tall as Cam but not nearly as built, ignores his request for an appointment, “Word is you’re pulling me from first string.”

“It just happened last week. I know you can’t forget why you’re suspended for the first three weeks of the season.  After that, it’s anyone’s position to earn or lose.  The shit you pulled should’ve earned you a longer suspension.  You’re giving Brett Sullivan a shot at starter, not me.  I know you’re so far up your own ass to remember, but I’ve got two receivers ranked top ten in the state.  They’re able to make most decent quarterbacks look good.  I’ve told Sullivan he’s starting out the season as my number one and it’s his to lose.  I guess you’ll just have to sit back and see how it plays out like the rest of us,” Cam informs him.  

“He doesn’t have my range or accuracy.  You’ve got the stats to prove it,” he accuses.

“Yeah?  I’ve also got the police report from last week not to mention your student records with grades that barely keep you eligible.  You add it all up, guess whose stats win?” Cam rebukes.

“You’d rather lose?  You start losing games, you’ll lose your job,” he spits back at Cam.

“Season hasn’t started, I haven’t lost a game yet,” Cam says.  “You get your shit together and keep your grades up, we’ll see.  Brett’s a decent quarterback, he’s a hard worker and he wants it.  He sees the opportunity that’s fallen in his lap.  My guess?  He’s gonna take it and run.  We’ll see who’s starting by the end of the season.”

“You’re gonna lose games if you keep him in.  He’ll tank,” the boy sneers.

“Keep digging, Mike.  You’ll bury your football career before you come off suspension in the fall,” Cam narrows his eyes on the delinquent quarterback.  “Now I’ve confirmed what you’ve heard, you need to get going.  You know state regulations say I can’t coach or train you until opening day of practices.  If you want to talk to me in the future, call to set up an official meeting.  Unless you have a scheduled time with one of my trainers, I don’t want to see you on my property.”

Michael Gheer’s jaw hardens and he narrows his eyes at Cam before they come back to me.  Demonstrating his stupidity, he sneers, “Hopefully, she’s yours.  Maybe if you get yourself some, you won’t be such a dick.”

Cam proves how fast he is because one second he’s standing next to me, and the next, he’s closed the distance between him and Michael.  He isn’t touching him, but he’s so far in his face, Michael’s forced to lean back.

“Don’t talk about her and don’t try me.  You want to find yourself third or fourth string, keep at it,” Cam threatens, his voice low and full of warning.   

Michael finally shuts up and works his jaw as he eyes Cam.  He retreats one step and shakes his head before turning back to his Camaro.  We watch him bend into his sports car and take off before Cam finally turns to me.  And just like last week when Bekki showed up, he doesn’t utter a word.

I decide to break the silence, “He…um…isn’t happy with your decision.”

“He’s an ass,” Cam replies.

“I think I got that.”

“I wish I could boot him off the team.  The other kid is good and a hard worker.  I’m not worried about him, he’ll get there,” Cam explains.

“This seems to be a pattern.  Do you tend to have a lot of people angry with you?”

He shakes his head and his goatee tips up on one side, “Just you sometimes.”

“Are you putting me in the same category with Bekki and the quarterback?” I ask frowning.

“No,” he smirks and moves to grab my hand.  “But when you’re pissed you’re a handful.”

I roll my eyes and change the subject, “You took a shower.”

“Yeah.”

“You need to take me home.  I have to bake cookies, prep for two events this week and I really need a shower after all the torture.”

He squeezes my hand as he says, “You give it some time, I promise you’ll like it.”

“You must be hard of hearing in your old age.  I’m not coming back.” 

When we get to the door of his warehouse, instead of going in he pulls me to the side and once again pins me to the wall.  He dips one hand up the back of my sweaty tank and cups the back of my head with the other. 

“Cam, I’m sweaty and stinky and you’ve already showered,” I try and complain, but even though we’re outside his place of business, I can’t help but want this.  I like how one second we’re standing here and the next he’s got his hands on me.  He accused me last night of liking it and he was right.  It makes my heart race, warming me all over.

He gets in my space and speaks in a low voice, “I like having you here.”

“You do?” I ask, thinking I like being here, but I’d rather be doing something else besides boot camp.  But I really like that he likes me here.

“I do.  I want you back tomorrow,” he demands, his eyes sweeping my face.

I have to pull in a breath and try to grab on to my will power to say no to the torture, but he’s making it difficult. 

“I’m going to be sore tomorrow, it’s going to be worse than today.  I might not be able to move in the morning,” I keep on.

He leans closer and his voice turns sexy, “Then it’s a good thing you’ll be at my house tonight, in my bed.  Once I get my hands on you, I’ll go to town on your muscles and relax you again.  You’ll be better than fine.”

“What about the kids?  I can’t stay at your house,” I argue, however I can’t help but fidget at the thought of him getting his hands on me in any way and the second I do, he narrows his eyes.  Damn.  He felt it, too. 

He leans down and kisses me, but not as fast as earlier, “Don’t worry about the kids, they go to bed early.  Let’s get your stuff and I’ll take you home.  We’ll pick you up for your brother’s party.”

“No, no,” I say quickly because I’m not ready to show up with Cam at a Carpino hoopla.  “I’ll come on my own, meet you there.”

It goes without saying, my family’s huge and I’ve never shown up with a man who makes me fidget to a family event.  I can’t show up with Cam.  They’ll eat me alive.

“No way.  I’m taking you so you can’t escape from me later,” he grins.

“I have to be there early,” I lie.

“How early?”

“Really early,” I say, but it comes out lame.

He shakes his head and says in a low voice, “I’m taking you, be ready at five-thirty.  And no painting toes this time.  If you got any of your skills from your mom, I’m looking forward to dinner.”

I sigh.  I guess I have a few hours reprieve until the mighty Carpino’s pick over me like vultures ravaging a dead carcass on the side of the road.  Between boot camp and showing up to a Carpino family affair with a man and his kids, I’ll surely never live to see tomorrow. 

*****

“Wait, you’re Cam Montgomery from the Huskers?”

“Long time ago,” I say to Paige’s brother. 

We’re hanging outside after dinner and I was right.  Paige must have been inspired by her mom.  Dinner consisted of grilled flank steak, beer can chicken, grilled veggies and some sort of spicy mashed potatoes along with all kinds of salads.  It didn’t begin to touch Paige’s Beef Wellington, but it was still fucking good.   It was quite the spread, but it’d need to be.  There are a shit ton of people here.

“I did my undergrad at Nebraska.  You were a couple years ahead of me, but I saw you play my first couple of years.  I think you were a junior when I was a freshman.  You’re fast,” Tony states, sort of frowning while taking a pull from his beer.

“Was fast,” I correct, trying to get a read on him.  He’s not unfriendly, but he’s definitely not welcoming. 

“You were good.  You didn’t try and go pro?” he asks.

“I was good, not great.  Didn’t want to waste years chasing a dream when I saw the reality.  I had other options and I wanted to coach.  I’ve done okay.”

“I asked Lanny, he told me you’ve developed a good program.  We all went to Highland, you took them to the State Playoffs last year.  You’re my sister’s neighbor, right?” he asks frowning even deeper.

“Right next door,” I offer, keeping up with his interrogation.

Then he doesn’t ask, but accuses, “But you came with my little sister.”

And there it is.

So far Paige’s family has been nice, but over-the-top curious since we walked in the door.  Even Lizzie and her dad, Tony, Sr, have been friendly, but they’ve been acquaintances for a while since I’m Sophia’s neighbor.  Nonetheless, the minute we stepped foot over their threshold, Paige has ignored me, busying herself with food.  Serving food, cleaning up food and preparing dessert.  She hasn’t given me even a glance, but she has doted on Cara, including her in every part of the evening.  Cara’s stuck to Paige like glue and vice-versa, but I have a feeling Paige is sticking to Cara so she can continue giving the women in her family the cold shoulder.  I’ve watched it happen since we arrived and can’t help but find it amusing to see Paige uncomfortable when she’s normally such a spitfire. 

And I fucking love the look on my daughter’s face.  She’s always been a happy kid, but this is a different happy, and to see that in my girl face makes me feel a burning I’ve never felt. It’s a burning that’s both good and bad.  I’m fucking pissed she’s five years old and I’ve never seen it, at the same time I’m fucking elated it’s finally there.  And my burning ignites hotter knowing it’s because of Paige Carpino.

My burning for Paige seems to be running deeper and hotter by the second.  It’s more than her making me hard by giving me her wiseass and sass.  She’s igniting something deeper in my gut that’s becoming difficult to ignore.  Touching her last night, watching her come for me, sleeping with her?  I could barely wait to get home this afternoon so I could jack off in the shower with nothing but her on my mind.  I knew I’d need that since I’ll have her in my bed tonight giving her what she needs, but not taking anything. 

But knowing no one’s been there but me?  And I haven’t even been there yet?

I’m a fucking inferno.

I look over to the woman who’s proving to be pure kindling for my blaze, and see another female I was introduced to but can’t remember her name, replace Paige’s drink with a new cup of something.  Paige shoots her a dirty look before giving her attention back to Cara, but still taking a sip.

“She’s four years younger than me,” I hear and look back to Tony.  I frown, not getting where he’s coming from when he goes on to ask, “That makes her what, five or six years younger than you?”

“Six,” I answer curtly.  I’m getting tired of talking about her age.  Six years isn’t that fucking big of a deal.  She’s a grown woman even if she’s an inexperienced one.  It’s not like she’s eighteen.   

“She hasn’t dated much,” Tony informs me.

“Know that, too,” I cross my arms and look him in the eye.

“I’m just taking note that you’re older, you’ve got kids and Lanny tells me you’re divorced.  My little sister might be a pain in my ass at times, but she’s loving and selfless, always doing for others.  I want her to be happy and get what she wants out of life.  I’m not gonna be pleased if she puts herself out there and gets hurt along the way,” he lays it out, warning me at the same time.

I take in a deep breath and calm my voice before I say, “You’re right.  I’m older, I’ve got kids and I’m divorced.  I can’t help my age, or hers for the matter, and I won’t apologize for being divorced.  I’m thankful every day my bitch of an ex-wife is out of my life, but I also got two great kids out of the miserable years I had to put up with her.  I’d suffer that misery again just to have them.  What you don’t know is that during the three years I’ve been divorced, I’ve never been around another woman in front of my kids.  I’ve known your sister a week and a half, but she’s the only woman I’ve spent time with in the company of my children.  I don’t take that lightly and can’t read the future, but I don’t appreciate the implication that I’ll hurt her ‘along the way.’”

“Not implying anything, Cam.  Just letting you know her family wants her to have what she wants.  We won’t be happy if she’s not happy,” he finishes.

“Noted,” I mutter into my beer bottle before taking a long drink.

“Good,” Tony says, finished with his brotherly duty, threatening the man who’s shown an interest in his little sister.  I get it, I’ve got two little sisters myself, but I’ve never lived near them when they were dating. 

“Tony?” I call as he walks away from me.  He turns to look back and frowns in question.  “Congrats.  I heard about the twins.”

His demeanor instantly changes and I see a look wash over him that’s nothing but proud.  He doesn’t say a thing, but he does lift his chin before turning to leave me for good, finally ending our uncomfortable conversation on the lawn.

“So, my little sister-in-law, huh?” I hear from my other side and turn to see my neighbor, grinning like a lunatic while shaking his head.

“Fuck.  Not you, too,” I shake my head at Lanny before swallowing the last dregs of my beer.