Tell Me You Want Me (25 page)

Austin swallowed hard. "I never fully recovered from that knee injury freshman year. I talked to a few coaches and agents and they told me I might get drafted, but I'd never play as a starter, and I probably wouldn't play more than a couple of years. I talked to Mom about it and—"

"Your mother knows?"

"Let me finish. Mom encouraged me to find another career. She helped me find out what my other interests and talents were."

"She never told me."

"She left that up to me. I decided I wanted to pursue sports medicine. I want to help other athletes like me."

"Sports medicine?"

"Yes." Austin fought the temptation to defend his choice, but he decided he didn't have to explain anything more.

"So you'll be what—a trainer?" Charles spat the word.

"While I'm in med school, and then I plan to be a team doctor."

"Why not a coach? Coaches get Super Bowl rings."

Austin shook his head. "This is what I want to do. It's my choice."

That finally shut Charles up, but not for long. "And you make such great choices. Just look at Jean here and compare her to Brittany." He gestured to the smiling blonde sitting all alone in the bleachers.

Austin shook his head. Apparently, the term girlfriend meant nothing to his dad.

He looked at Brittany. The girl was beautiful, with a beaming smile and hair the color of the sun, and she wasn't afraid of showing off her mounds of cleavage whenever he looked her way. She was exactly his type.

He noticed that Jane bit her lip when he took his arm away and put his hands on his hips. He stared at the pretty blonde practically offering herself to him. Austin licked his lips, and Jane looked like she was going to be sick.

Charles rambled on. "She's pretty, she's perky, and when you get bored with her, she's easily replaced."

Jane and Sara gasped. Even Jack raised an eyebrow.

Austin looked at Brittany one last time and shook his head, then took his girlfriend's hand and faced his father. "You know, Dad, I used to think I was just like you—love 'em and leave 'em. No girl could hold on to me. I had a new girl every weekend. Hell, I could have a new girl every day of the week if I wanted to. I was the campus stud, the campus heartbreaker. I enjoyed it, was proud of it, even. But I was so busy using your pathetic failed relationships as an excuse for my pathetic behavior, that I didn't know I was hurting anyone."

Then it hit him. He had hurt women. He had made them cry. He'd done everything his mother had warned him not to.

He turned to Sara and took a deep breath. "Sara, I am so sorry I hurt you. You deserved better."

She smiled, blinking back a couple of tears. "Thank you, Austin."

"Oh please." Charles rolled his eyes.

"The funny thing is, Dad, that I just figured out I don't have to be like you. I don't
want
to be like you. I can be happy with one woman because I choose to be."

"You're young, Son. You have no idea what real life is like."

"You weren't around when I was in high school, so you don't know what I've been through. Life was a bitch back then, but I got through it without you."

"Is that what you want? Do you want me to leave you alone?"

"No, Dad, I just want you to back off a little—okay, a lot—and if I'm gonna make a mistake, let me make it."

Charles cast a meaningful look at Jane.

"Jane is not a mistake. I love her and I'm not going to let her go." Austin pulled her close.

She buried her face in his chest, blinking back tears and hiding her smile from his father. Jack and Sara didn't bother to hide theirs.

Charles frowned. "So this is what you want—sports medicine, Jean–"

"Jane!" four people shouted.

Charles cleared his throat. "Jane." He scanned her up and down, sizing her up. Then he sighed. "All right then,
Jane
, Take care of my son."

"I will."

"Austin, take care of yourself. I'll be at your next game... if you want me to."

"I always want you at my games."

"That's good to know. I'm sorry I've missed some." Charles extended his hand.

"I know." Austin shook his father's hand. "I'll see you next weekend."

"Good. Don't let Jack do all the work next time. I don't think he can take it."

Charles dismissed them with a nod, and collected his phone and Brittany.

"I don't know about the rest of you," Jack said, "but that guy could drive me to drink."

Austin grunted. "Sounds good to me."

"Do you think he'll ever change?" asked Sara.

Jack shook his head and mouthed the word no.

"Probably not," Austin admitted, watching his father walk away. "But I did, so maybe he can too."

"I don't think you changed," said Jack. "I think you've been a good guy all along."

"No, don't say that." Austin faked a groan.

"You just needed the right person to help you figure that out."

"Hmm... I wonder who that could be." Austin squeezed Janie.

She kissed him. "I have no idea. I certainly haven't figured you out."

"Good. I don't want you to get bored with me."

"Never."

"I love you. You heard that part, right?"

Jane looked at him, her eyes shining like brilliant green emeralds. "I did. I love you too."

It was amazing how three simple words erased all his pain and fear. "You did it, Janie. You changed my mind. You healed my heart." He pulled her close. "You were right."

She cuddled against his chest, listening to his heart. "No. You changed my mind. Love doesn't just work out. It takes work. We're both right."

Austin picked her up and spun her around until they were both dizzy. They were still laughing when he kissed her, claiming her lips and her heart as his own. "Now
this
is better than sex."

"I'm not sure I believe that," Jane teased him, seeking another kiss.

"Oh yeah? I love you, Jane." Kiss. "Marie." Kiss. "Elliot." Austin felt that kiss all the way to his heart.

"Enough, already." Sara smacked Austin upside the head. "Let's get something to eat. I'm starving."

"Lead the way."

Austin put his arms around the girls' shoulders while they joined hands behind his back. Jack slid his arm around Sara's waist, linking the four friends together. Controlling parents, painful pasts, and nagging doubts were all forgotten, and the only things that really mattered—friendship and love—stayed with them.

"You lost our bet, so you're buying," Jack told Austin.

"Fair enough. Where do you want to go?"

"McGinley's!"

"You heard the ladies," Jack grinned.

"Works for me." Austin pulled Jane closer. "As long as I can get my hands on your fries again."

Jane's wicked green eyes flashed all sorts of naughty promises. "Oh, I've got much better things you can get your hands on."

While Jack laughed, Sara rolled her eyes. "I knew he was a bad influence on her."

Austin ignored them. "Oh, baby, you know what I like." Then he realized what he'd said and put his lips to her ear. "Sorry, I wasn't calling you baby."

"I don't mind so much."

"Oh yeah?" Austin tested her. "Sweetheart?"

"That's okay, too."

"How 'bout if I call you my kick-ass soccer goddess?"

Jane laughed. "I like that one."

"Just remember she can kick your ass." Sara winked at him.

"I'll never forget." Austin stepped back, taking Janie with him for a full-body-contact kiss. "Tell me you want me."

She melted in his arms. "I want you."

He held her face in his hands and looked into her eyes, giving her that happy smile she loved so much. "Tell me you love me."

"I love you, Austin Sinclair." She kissed him. "Always."

"That's what I like to hear."

Austin turned to the others. "Hey, Sara, your roommate's prettier than mine. Wanna trade?"

"Charlotte! Don't think I can't see what you're doing," Jane warned. "Those cookies are not for you."

Big innocent blue eyes peeked over the table. "Please, Mommy?"

"No. Those are for my customers."

The pretty three-year-old stomped her little foot, ran to her father, and climbed into his arms. "If you let me have a cookie, I'll give you a kiss." She gave him her sweetest pout.

"Oh, she's got that down," Austin groaned.

Jack laughed. "She knows exactly how to play you."

"I'll tell you what, Sweetie. If you get me one too, I'll tell your mother it was my idea."

"Okay."

"And I'll give you a kiss no matter what." Austin hugged her and planted a big smooch on his daughter's cheek. "I love you."

She threw her arms around his neck and scurried off across the dining room.

"I love being Daddy." Austin smiled at the sneaky little girl with her mother's silky brown hair and her father's naughty blue eyes.

"Your dad was right," Jack said.

"About what?"

"It does take more than one girl to make you happy."

Austin laughed, trying not to give his daughter's mission away by watching too closely. Charlotte hid behind the table, waited until her mother and Aunt Sara weren't looking, and then snatched two cookies.

"Charlotte Jane!" Mommy saw her run back to Daddy with her prize. "Austin, you're supposed to be watching her."

"I
am
watching her. I'm watching her steal your cookies." He took a bite of a cookie and winked at his wife.

Sara laughed. "You have a mini-Austin on your hands."

Jane clapped her hand over her mouth so the two culprits wouldn't see her laughing. "I know. They're so scary."

***

Jane checked the dining room to make sure everything was ready. Finally, after months of preparation, she could say it looked good. Sara followed her back to the kitchen, so Jane could give her staff a few last-minute instructions.

When she finally felt prepared, she breathed a shaky sigh. "I could use a glass of wine. Do you want one, Sara?"

"Yes, please."

Jane's hands trembled as she poured the wine.

"Nervous?"

"What if no one shows up? Did I do all this for nothing?"

"No need to worry about that." Austin strode into the kitchen, carrying his little cookie thief. "Your first patrons just arrived."

"Really?" Jane peeked out the kitchen door and watched her hostess seat their guests. More people were waiting behind them.

"Congratulations, Janie." Austin pulled her close and kissed her. "You're a chef in your own restaurant. I knew you could do it."

"Yay, Mommy!"

"To Chef Jane!" Sara raised her glass.

"What are you doing with that?" Jack snatched the still-full glass from his wife's hand. "You can't have wine."

Sara gasped. "Oh, sorry, I forgot."

Jane pulled away from Austin. "Why can't you...?" But when she saw Sara's eyes light up, she didn't need to finish her question. "You're pregnant!"

Sara nodded and hugged her friend.

"It's about time you knocked her up." Austin punched Jack's arm.

"Hey, it's not for lack of trying."

"Yeah, you just wanted to keep trying."

"Can you blame me?"

The kitchen door swung open, smacking a waitress with a full tray. The tray tipped and glasses wobbled, but she held onto it.

"I'm so sorry." Charles Sinclair, the door swinger, grabbed the heavy tray and steadied it. "Are you all right? Can I help?"

"I've got it, sir. Thank you." The waitress smiled at him.

Charles nodded and held the door for her. He looked around the kitchen and found what he wanted. "Where's my favorite girl?"

"Grandpa!" Charlotte squirmed out of her father's arms. "Grandpa's here!"

"Wow, did you just get ditched." Jack laughed as Charles hoisted the little girl into his arms.

"Oh yeah. She breaks my heart every time he comes over." Austin held his hand over his heart and pouted, but he couldn't hide the happy smile in his eyes. "I can't compete with Grandpa."

"That's because you don't bring her presents." Charles pulled a small doll from his pocket.

The little girl squealed and gave him a big sloppy kiss.

Charles studied the busy kitchen with a critical eye. "The place looks good, Jane. It took you long enough to pull this together. I can't believe you managed to do it."

She smiled, choosing to take that as a compliment. "Thank you, Charles."

"Jane...." The hostess stood in the kitchen doorway. "There's a woman here who says she wants to meet the chef."

"Wow. Already?" When she looked into the dining room, her smile froze.

Austin looked over her shoulder. "Do you want me to handle this? She likes me."

Jane rolled her eyes. "I still don't know how you managed that."

"It's a gift. She hasn't figured out how bad I really am."

"Come with me." She took his hand and led him out to the dining room. "Hi, Mom. I can't believe you came all the way out here to see this."

Gwen Elliot smiled at her daughter. "I wouldn't miss your opening night. I'm so proud of you, Jane."

Jane blinked back tears as her mother gave her an awkward hug.

"Hi, Mom." Austin wrapped his arms around Gwen. She stiffened for a moment, still not used to his enthusiastic affection. Then she relaxed and hugged him back.

"Hello, Austin, where's your sweet little angel?"

"She's got you fooled, doesn't she? She's in the kitchen charming grandpa."

"Of course."

"Come take a look, Mom." Jane led her mother and Charles on a guided tour.

Suddenly, the dining room got busy and Jane had to turn the entertaining duties over to her daughter while she took over the kitchen. Jack, Sara, and Austin offered to help, but Jane and her staff had everything under control.

Austin broke away from the family gathering and found her stirring the soup. "My mom called. She said to tell you congratulations and she's sorry she couldn't make it tonight. She'll be here soon."

She nodded. "To tell you the truth, I'm kind of glad she isn't here."

"Because my dad is?"

"Uh-huh. I didn't want to deal with that drama again."

"Yeah. Our wedding was interesting enough to last me a few years."