January (Calendar Girl #1) Anthology Anthology (137 page)

“My own place? I don’t have to stay with them?”

“Nope and they won’t be providing you with clothing. That’s the tradeoff. Since you will only be shooting ads and maybe attending a couple parties with the couple you’ll have most of the time to yourself so you’ll wear what you want. You get to keep the bathing suits though.” Sweet!

A month in Hawaii. My life just got a hundred times better. “Think I could bring Gin and Maddy?” From the extra twenty from Wes and Alec, I had enough saved to be able to pay their way. They could stay with me, so really we just needed plane tickets and food.

“As long as you make your shoot days, you can do whatever you want. Should I book them some tickets?”

“Yeah, but I’ll get back to you on when. I need to see when Maddy’s break from school is for the spring and find out if Gin can take some time off. Oh my god! I’m going to Hawaii and my sister and my best friend are going to get to come. This is the best day ever!” I squealed into the line and my aunt laughed.

“I’m glad you’re pleased, doll-face. Just remember that when you’re getting every speck of hair ripped off your neither regions.” I snorted in reply. “I’ll send over an email with your flight plans and information. You want the first flight of the day out again, right?”

“Yep. I like to leave early.” Really I just liked to sneak out before my client knew I was leaving. It’s worked the last three times and I saw no reason to change it now.

“Love you Aunt Millie.”

“You, too, doll-face.” She said and then hung up without saying goodbye. 

Now that that was settled, I just needed to find a way to get Rachel and Mason back together.

Just as I was putting my cell in my back pocket it rang again.

“Hello?”

“Is this Mia Saunders?” A serious yet quiet voice asked.

“Yes, may I ask who’s calling?”

“I’m calling from Mass General Hospital on Cambridge. We’ve got your boyfriend Mason Murphy in our ER.”

“Oh my God,” I glanced around, already a panic setting in. I spied my purse on the dresser grabbed it and started down the stairs and out the building. “Is he okay? What happened?”

“He’s got some bumps and bruises and is being treated for a concussion. Was in a small car accident with a couple other players that are also being treated. Can you come down? He also asked for someone named Rachel Denton, but she’s not picking up.”

“I’ll find her. Is he really okay though?”

“Yes, ma’am. He’ll be out of here tonight. Getting patched up now. Doctor will probably release him in a few hours. Would be good to have someone here to pick him up.”

“Of course, of course. I’ll call his family, too, just in case.”

“Sure thing, ma’am. See you soon.”

I clicked off and then stood outside on the Boston street in front of Mason’s brownstone and had no idea where the fuck to start. I didn’t know his Dad’s information and Rachel wasn’t answering my calls. Then I remember his brother worked at Black Rose. At the very least, someone there would be able to get me info on his brother.

I called information and they connected me to the bar.

“Black Rose Pub, Brayden here,” his brother answered the line and I felt my knees go weak.

Sitting on the stoop I pulled myself together. “Brayden, it’s Mia. Your brother’s been in a fender bender and is at Mass General on Cambridge.”

“What? Is Mason okay?”

“He’s fine. A concussion and some bumps and bruises. I’m heading there now, but I need to find Rachel, his girlfriend,” I said, instantly forgetting my role.

“I thought you were his girlfriend?” He asked with a timber to his voice that I hadn’t heard before.

Sighing, I stood up and put my arm out to hail a cab. “No, it’s all been for show. Rachel, the blonde from the other night, that’s his real girlfriend only she’s pissed at both of us, thinks Mason cheated on her with me, and now she’s not answering our calls. He’s hurt and wants the woman he loves by his side. I need to find her.”

Then Brayden did something I wouldn’t have expected based on the circumstances. He laughed. Hard.

“Did you not hear me?”

“Mia, Mia, that pretty blonde that’s always hanging around him? Big blue eyes, thin, rocks a suit?”

Finally, a cab caught sight of me and drew up to the curb. I got in and prepared to tell him to go to the hospital when Brayden chuckled and responded with, “She’s here, in the bar. Drinking like a fish. You want me to cut her off?”

Looks like the universe was shining down on me tonight. Must be a full moon or something. This shit never happened for me. “Yeah, water down her drinks. I’ll be there in fifteen.”

“Black Rose Pub, and there’s an extra twenty in it if you hurry!” I told the cabbie.

“You got it, lady. My wife was bitchin’ about not having any extra. A cool twenty will be nice!”

“Get me there in ten and I’ll give you forty.”

The cab screeched out into traffic, flipped a U-turn, and sped off toward the bar. He must have really needed the cash because he got me there in eleven minutes. I didn’t mince words about the minute. I paid the tab and threw the extra forty over the seat.

“Thanks, dude!” I hollered, jumped out of the car, opened the door to the bar, and started scanning patrons of the bar.

Sitting hunched over, her hair a wild mess falling out of its complicated twist, pieces flowing all over the place was Rachel. Drinking away her sorrows.

“Thank God!” I yelled and made my way over to her.

She scowled. Even with her face pinched into a scowl she was still unbelievably beautiful. One of those women you’d see while getting groceries or standing in line at the post office and think man, I wish I could be as classy and elegant as she was.

“Rach, thank God I found you!” I plopped into the stool next to her.

“Whoop-dee-doo.” Her finger went into the air and made a motion like a tornado. “Can’t say I’m happy you’re here, boyfriend stealer!” Those blue orbs narrowed like slits at me, shooting daggers with extremely sharp blades. I hated that she looked at me like that.

“Rach…” I tried again.

She cut me off. “Don’t you get enough men with your job? I mean, look at you.” Her eyes seemed to scan me from head to toe. “You’re perfect. The kind of woman that deserves to score a man like Mason Murphy. He’s perfect, too, you know. Like and like go together. Birds of a feather and all that.” Rachel sucked back a glug of whatever fruity martini thing she had in front of her then licked her lips. “You know,” she pointed a finger at me. “I’m glad this happened. At least now I know for sure I could never be with a man like him. Gossamer male specimens like him, could never be happy with me. Not when they can have someone exotic like you!”

I groaned and held her shoulders. She bit into her lip and finally stopped talking. “Listen to me,” I shook her. “Mason loves you. You!” Her eyes widened and she started to crumble before me. Her lips pursed and those pretty eyes filled with tears that didn’t fall. She shook her head, unwilling to believe. “Yes! He does, and if you’d just listen to him for five flippin’ seconds you’d know it, too! Have you even taken the time to listen to any of the voicemails we’ve left?”

That’s when she started to tremble and shook her head, tears slipping down her cheeks. “Jesus, for a smart woman, you can be pretty fucking dense!” I accused. Her shoulders slumped, she crossed her arms over her chest, and cowed into herself.

“Just leave.”

“I can’t!” I roared and lost my temper. I could feel heat blasting out of every pore as I yelled in her face. “Mason’s in the hospital and he’s asking for his girlfriend. His
real
girlfriend.”

Chapter 10

“I’m going to be sick.” Rachel’s entire face paled and she put a hand over her mouth. Out of nowhere, a bucket appeared in front of her and she lost it. Heave after heave she hacked into the bucket releasing all the liquor she’d imbibed that evening. I rubbed her back and looked at Brayden. His face said it all. Sadness and concern.

Once Rachel was done, Brayden took the bucket and left the main bar, headed to the back room. I led a shaky Rachel into the ladies restroom. She washed out her mouth and then I shoved a stick of gum in to mask the tastes and smell. Then I pulled out the pins in her hair and let her curls fall. I dug into her purse; she’d not even removed it from around her while she was drinking the night away. I found a brush and slowly worked out each tangle until it glistened like the spun gold I knew it to be. I handed her a wet paper towel and she removed the streaks her mascara left around her eyes and cheeks. Then I passed her some tissue to blow her nose. After that, I rummaged through her purse again and located lip gloss. It wasn’t much; the woman obviously didn’t carry makeup around with her, though she did have a small powder compact. I handed her both of those and she fixed up her face as best she could.

“What happened to Mason?” Her words were shaky as she started to come back to the Rachel I had considered my friend.

“He was in a car accident with some of the other players. He’s has a concussion and they’re letting him out in a few hours. I haven’t seen him. He wanted you, so my goal was to find you.”

She choked back a sob. “He wanted me?”

I nodded and put my hand at her shoulder. “Rachel, I swear to you, nothing happened. We were drunk. Really drunk. So far over the limit we were breathing fire. Honest to God, I had no idea I wasn’t getting into my own bed. We just fell into his and slept. That’s it. Nothing else.”

Her eyes closed and her chin tipped down. “I believe you.”

I took a huge refreshing breath, letting out days of heartache and guilt. “Thank God. Mason has been so lost without you. Thinking he’d never get you back.”

“It doesn’t mean we’re meant to be together, Mia. Like I said, seeing him with you opened my eyes. He’s not meant to be with some professional career woman. He’s meant to be with someone whose fun- loving, can go to his baseball games, fly around the country with him, and be there by his side. I won’t be able to do that much.”

“You can’t be serious. What about all those jobs? You’re with his PR firm. You’re his go-to for all the sponsors and stuff. He needs you close more often than not.”

Her head tilted to the side. “There is that…”

The hairs on the back of my neck tingled. I was getting to her. “And who’s going to prevent him from making an ass of himself at those meetings? You saw him in there. He’s so green it’s ridiculous. They’d take advantage of him in seconds if you weren’t there. The only reason he’s dialed in is because of you. Now that the deals are coming left and right, and they’re going to keep coming, he’s going to need a publicist that can work for only him. I’m certain of it. That person is you. He’d only trust you.”

She pushed her hair out of her eyes and her shoulders straightened. “You’re right. He would have been taken. He’s too giving and carefree. Even if he he’s not in it for the money, completely—I know he loves the sport—they were trying to lowball him.”

“Exactly. And you knew that. You, Rachel.” I pointed at her chest. “You’re the one for him.”

Her eyes glowed with what could only be described as a renewed sense of self-worth. “We have to get to him!” she said.

The two of us hustled outside the bar. “Brayden, I’ll call you when I find out what’s going on.” He did a cool chin lift move that silently said, sure thing or something equally macho. “Charge Mason for the drinks.”

“Got it on his tab already,” he grinned. “Plus this one,” he lifted up a beer and put it to his lips and took a long pull. I shook my head and headed out the door.

***

The hospital was a madhouse when we arrived. Apparently, a big rig jack-knifed on the freeway and ended up causing a fourteen-car pileup. There were people everywhere holding bandages to their heads, arms, and legs. I cringed and hit the info desk.

“I’m Mia Saunders, we’re here to see Mason Murphy.”

The woman looked up his name in the computer. “He’s been moved to a temporary room. Level two room 130.”

“Thank you.” Rachel and I hit the elevator and waited and waited. “Fuck this,” I said and instead we took the stairs. Two flights up and we were on level two and searching for his room.

When we found it, we both slowed down. I held Rachel’s hands and for a moment, we were connected. Connected in the way that sisters do or best friends, sharing comfort, and sending healing energy to one another. After a couple slow breaths, we turned and opened the door. I entered first, Rachel trailing quietly behind.

Mason was in the bed, his eyes closed. The lights were low and his Dad sat in a chair in the corner.

“Mia, sweet girl, they finally got in touch with you.” Mick said and hugged me. I kept my arm around his shoulders as Rachel stood near Mason’s bed.

His eyes opened and he licked his split lip. There was a row of stitches, no more than five or six, which stretched across his forehead. He had a series of cuts and scrapes along his arms, but it didn’t seem like anything else was broken or damaged.

“Rachel…” His hand reached out and she clasped it with both of hers. Those tears she had in check on the car ride over were renewed and sliding down her cheeks, dripping onto Mace’s hand as she held it near her face. “Baby, I’m okay. You, I’m worried about you…”

“Uh, I think I’m missing something,” Mick cleared his throat and held me tighter as if he was protecting me. Such a good man. Concerned for his son, and his son’s pretend girlfriend.

I held Mick in return and shook my head. “It’s okay,” I whispered.

Rachel looked at Mick, a frightened scared little mouse type expression scrolled over her features. Mason wouldn’t have it. “Hey, pretty girl. Look at me. I’m sorry, nothing happened. I swear,” he said close to the same words that I said to her earlier. “It never could. I only want you. You’re it for me.”

“Don’t speak, you need to rest,” her voice was raspy as if she’d chain-smoked a pack of Camel non-filters.

He shook his head then winced. Her hand came up and caressed the side without damage. From what I could see, his head must have hit the window, which split it open. The glass was probably the reason why he was littered with tiny cuts and scrapes.