Hope for Her (Hope #1) (10 page)

Josh’s brother in law played for the Arizona Diamond Backs and they were playing Tampa in a playoff game.

    "Do you think it's a good idea for me to meet your family so soon?" I asked feeling his disappointment even before he spoke. He thought all of his ideas were great ideas.

"Of course. They are going to love you."

"Your dad's not coming?"

"No, he hates baseball."

Interesting, considering his daughter married a baseball player.

"I have to go to class on Friday."

"Okay, we can leave right after class and make it for the opening pitch. Then, we can get a hotel room, and if everything goes okay, we can stay for the next day’s game, too." He lingered on the word hotel with a lusty smile. I cleared my throat.

"Why don't you go alone?"

"I haven't seen my sisters in a while, and I want them to meet you."

"Why haven't you seen them in a while?"

"Amanda lives in Arizona."

"She is your older sister? The one with four kids?"

"Yeah."

"Are your nieces and nephews coming, too?"

"Yes, along with my sister's assistant and two nannies."

"Wow. Is that how you grew up?" He usually shut down when I broached personal questions. Tonight, I took advantage of his talkative mood and grew bolder.

We were sitting on the couch in his dorm room watching a movie.

"Pretty much, but my mom and I spent a lot of time together."

"That's cool. What's your mom like?"

His eyes darkened, but his phone rang, interrupting our conversation. He stood up and walked over to his bed to answer it.

"Hi, Dad."

My ears perked up, and I tried to listen but only heard muffled sounds coming through the phone.

"Yes, I told her I was going."

Josh looked over.

Of course, I was listening.

"I told her I was bringing someone."

I guessed his father had asked who.

"A girl I've been seeing,” he said in the phone as he walked out of his room and continued his call in the hall.

He returned five minutes later. His face was flush and heat permeated out of his pores.

"You okay?" I asked.

"Yeah. Um, I need you to come on Friday, okay?"

The way he asked the question didn’t leave me with a choice of answers.

I flinched as his tone turned rough from his last question. Josh must have sensed it because he switched tactics. He pulled me into his lap and nibbled on my neck. His anger subsided as he planted kisses across my collarbone. He made no mention of his phone call. He thought his sweet kisses would distract me.

“Will you come?”

“Yeah, okay.”

My stomach churned. I prayed the apprehension I felt was all in my head.

Chapter Twelve

Carrington Olivia Butler

As we got closer to the stadium, my anxiety increased and my self-esteem deflated.

"Are they going to like me?" I asked.

"They will love you." He squeezed my hand. Josh grew quiet and distant as the stadium came into view.

"Are you sure about this?" I asked.

"It's a little late to turn back now," he mused.

"We don't have to go to the game. We could hang out in Tampa. I've never been," I said.

"You don't want to meet my family?" he asked. His eyes cut to me, and I grabbed his bicep and squeezed.

"No, of course I do." I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "You just don't seem comfortable with me meeting them."

"No, it's not that. I haven't seen my sisters in a few months. I don't know how they're going to react."

"React to what?" I sat back waiting to hear what I already knew. Jessica's conversation was running on a recorder in my mind.

"Last time we were together, it was kind of tense. We made up over the phone, but I haven't seen them since."

"What happened last time?"

"Oh, you know, family crap. It's going to be fine." He squeezed my leg as we pulled into the stadium.

The parking pass allowed us to drive up close to the stadium. We parked the car and walked through the stadium gates. The noise of the crowd's enthusiasm abated my nerves a bit. I figured we were at a ballpark, America's pastime.

What's the worst that can happen?

We headed into the elevator up to the suite of seats in the middle deck. When we found the right suite, Josh pulled me aside and held my wrist; I wanted him to hold me, give me a moment of his attention. I needed some reassurance to help calm my nerves. I needed to hear how he felt about me.

Instead, he looked me up and down, as if inspecting an inanimate object. He brushed my hair away from my face and straightened my shirt. He rubbed my lips with his thumb, nodded and grabbed my hand. His lips brushed against my earlobe, but as I leaned into him, he whispered a warning, "Be yourself,” then he turned away and dragged me into the suite after him.

We walked into a chaotic scene of flashing lights, moving colors, cheers, and laughter. Fifteen people stopped, turned, and watched us as we entered. I held onto Josh's arm tighter than intended, and he adjusted to get me to loosen my grip. Four kids, all under the age of eight, ran over to Josh and attacked him. He leaned down to embrace them, but it resulted in him letting go of my hand as they clamored for Uncle Josh’s attention.

I was jealous.

A few people returned to the game, but two of the women in the room headed in my direction.

I stiffened at the sound of my name.

"You must be Carrington," a tall blonde with hazel eyes said as she gave me a squeeze on my shoulder. I flinched but hoped she didn’t notice. The smirk on her face confirmed she did. An amused expression spread across her face. "My name is Amanda, and this is Erin."

Erin stood in front of me; she gave me an awkward wave, and I waved back. Both sisters stood taller than me and taller than Josh. They shared the same blond hair, but Erin's eyes took on an unnatural green tint. They were both dressed in conservative pantsuits, designer labels I was sure. Amanda's suit was fitted to her frame, but Erin appeared uncomfortable, and her ill-fitting clothes made it worse. Made her look harsh and out of place. I imagined she would have been more comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt. I looked down at my jeans and fitted wrapped shirt and felt as uncomfortable as Erin appeared.

"Nice to meet you both," I said to Amanda, "Josh has told me a lot about you."

Amanda smirked. She knew I was lying. Strike two.

Josh made it off the floor and introduced me to the kids before his sisters could interrogate me.

"Okay, you guys, settle down. Carrington, this is Brian Jr., Aaron, Jason, and this beautiful creature here is Allyson." The little girl blushed from head to toe.

"Hi guys."

They all said or waved hello and then went back to watching the game. Except for Allyson. She grabbed her uncle's hand and had no intention of letting go.

Possessive little girl.

Josh gave his sisters a hug.

"I'm happy you could make it down," Amanda said to Josh.

"I missed y’all." Josh’s voice trailed off as Amanda's attention turned back to the field.

The game had started.

"Let's grab something to eat," Josh said as little Allyson dragged him to the food. The suite included eighteen seats of chairs upfront and a full bar and serving area in the back. The buffet spread included traditional stadium food—hot dogs, nachos, and hamburgers—but in upscale versions. We grabbed a little bit of everything and found a seat near the bottom of the suite seats. Allyson remained at her uncle's side the whole time.

Whenever Amanda's husband came up to bat, she quieted the entire suite, but Brian grounded out to second the first time and struck out two more times. By the seventh inning stretch, Tampa Bay led by eight runs.

I grew bored of the game, and Josh focused on entertaining his niece. I got up to go to the bathroom, and when I came back out, I sat near the back.

I watched Amanda work the room. She was like all my friends, superficial and naïve. She played the player's wife role well. On the other hand, Erin intrigued me. I watched her during the game, catching her expression. She suppressed a smile whenever her brother in law messed up. She enjoyed her sister's embarrassment when Brian came up to bat, and the crowd booed him.

Amanda married her husband after graduating from FSU with a degree in business. She graduated with honors and posed a great head for business.

Brian Burkett, drafted out of high school, played three years in the minors and during his first season in the big leagues, he met Amanda. He lived up to every bit of his hype ... for two years. Over his eight-year career, he spent time on three other teams and had been suspended for steroid use for a fifty-game stint. This year, his well-paid and busy PR consultants coined it his reemergence with his original team—his final chance.

Josh characterized him as a lying, cheating, asshole, but his sister liked being the wife of a major league baseball player, so it worked for them.

The four kids belong to her, three boys and one girl. The seven-year-old wore glasses and appeared shy, the exact opposite of her mother. Josh paid particular attention to her.

All of the Griffins seemed to had issues.

***

Joshua Elijah Griffin, IV

Amanda pulled me over to the side.

"She is cute." She failed at keeping the sarcasm out of her voice.

"Yeah."

"You could have told us you were into the exotic these days," Amanda said trying to tease me.

"What exotic—she's from Texas."

Carrington watched her interact with my nephews. They showed her the stadium and explained the game. She smiled and gave each one equal attention.

"Be nice to her. I like her," I said.

"I am always nice," Amanda said and giggled at her joke. "How are you? You look good."

"I'm fine. Haven't had a drink all semester, no drugs, no fights, and I am actually going to class."

"Good for you, but you know that's not what I meant."

"What did you mean?"

"Have you talked to Dad?" she asked.

"He calls, I answer. He's stopped by the house once or twice." I grabbed a bottle of water and took a big gulp. "I’m sure he is checking in with all my professors and has Randolph and Jackson watching me like a hawk twenty-four seven."

"For a man, you can be so dramatic." I tilted my head and looked at my sister. To anyone on the outside, she was the perfect player’s wife. Her life of nannies, assistants, and regular spa days agreed with her, but to me she looked tired. She'd mastered a fake smile and had it plastered on her face at all times. You would never know her husband made her life miserable.

Erin turned back and I waved her over. She joined us.

Amanda spent a lot of time trying not to look tired and miserable, whereas Erin wore her misery on the outside for the world to see.

"She is so beautiful, Josh.” I nodded.

"What's she doing with you?"

"Well, you know, I am somewhat of a catch."

"She's different than your other girlfriends."

"Different how?"

Amanda had joined us again.

"Yeah, Erin. Different how?"

"Well, you know, she's smarter than your usual girls."

"Erin, you're an idiot," Amanda said and laughed while walking away.

I turned to Erin, and her eyes showed a tiny glint of sadness, but she smiled and shook her head. I gave her a hug. She hugged me back and held on. I let her. Erin hated herself for one reason. She wanted to be Amanda so much; she couldn't move on with her life.

"How are you?" I asked my sister. "How's work?"

"Work is fine. Dad is fine."

"I didn't ask."

"Serious, Josh. Don't be so paranoid. Dad maybe checking up on you, but that's only because he cares about you. He wants you to succeed this time."

"Did he say something to you?"

"No, he doesn't talk to me about you." Erin bit her lip.

"What?"

"He's not going to like your new girlfriend." Erin stated this fact without hesitation, and I turned to face her. "But she really is gorgeous, I love her skin."

I shook my head as Erin took her seat.

Erin worked for one of my dad's companies as an accountant. She spent the most time with my father, even though Amanda was dad's favorite. Erin tried everything to get Dad's attention, but not being pageant beautiful like Amanda or a royal screw-up like me left her with few options. She had her own accomplishments: valedictorian in high school, top of her class at FSU undergrad and business school. While Amanda and I were a wreck when my mom died, Erin was a rock. Dad relied on her during that time, and she thought she finally had Dad's attention. It lasted until Dad found the second Mrs. Griffin a year later.

My dad's relationship with all his children had a unique twist. He adored Amanda, he tolerated Erin, but he despised me.

While Amanda and Erin, both, appreciated and craved my dad's attention, it was different for me. The more attention my father paid me just amplified his disappointment when I screwed up.

And I always screw up
.

***

Carrington Olivia Butler

Amanda came over to speak to me. I plastered a smiled on my face as she approached.

"How long have you been dating my brother?" Amanda asked.

"About a month."

"How did you meet?"

"In the quad, and we have a class together."

“You ever dated someone like Josh before?” I scrunched my face, but she didn’t notice.

Amanda peppered me with questions but interrupted my answers by cheering for her husband's team. My vague answers didn't bother her; she wasn't listening.

That was the extent of her interrogation. What had I been worried about?

After the last inning, the suite emptied quickly.

We gathered our stuff and headed down to the player's locker room.

The closer we got to the ground floor; the stiffer Amanda stood. She fidgeted with her clothes and her eyes darted back and forth between kids, her sister, and me. I found it strange. She seemed nervous to see her husband.