Twice in a Lifetime (Love Found) (2 page)

Her heart gave a familiar skip. What would she do without Jake?

With only the slightest breeze to ruffle her hem, the air lay as heavy and uncomfortable as a wet woolen blanket. She lifted her arms, dragged up the weight of hair overdue for a trim, and gained momentary relief from the hot and sticky. She let a smile bloom. “I’ll start work on my classroom this afternoon.” She lowered her arms back down, let her hair tumble around her shoulders even as her naked left hand lifted to cover her heart. “I’m so excited about the new school year; you know how I always get.”

Her students—herds of rambunctious kindergarteners—also helped rescue her over the past few years. The children amused her, and filled an empty part of her soul. It was their fresh-faced enthusiasm that she loved most about her career.

What she wouldn’t give for a flock in her own home.

Wrenching heartache shifted inside her, forced her to return to the bench. More than a topic of discussion, their family—or rather, the
size
of their family—was the basis for nearly all the arguments between her and Ben. Trey was their child—and only Trey. But it wasn’t supposed to be that way. Ben promised.

Her eyes flooded, and she blinked back the useless tears. On a huff she stood, prowled the area fronting the bench, sunflowers drooping in her fist. After three years she still didn’t understand what Ben did, or why. But it was in the past. She couldn’t turn back the clock.

She was no longer angry, yet tears trickled down her cheeks. Once again, tears of regret. Regret not only for herself, but for Trey, for Jake, even for
them
. Whoever
they
are.

She stopped, turned. Dropped the limp flowers on the granite headstone and her voice thickened. “Why Ben? Why, when we made plans? So many plans.” Today she put them all to rest. Her eyes slid shut, then flicked open to study her clasped hands through the blur of tears.”

The question—the demand to know—elicited no answer. She turned back, sank once again onto the bench. She was ready to let go. She
was
. But first she would cry just one last time.

“Damn you, Ben.”

Nineteen Years Earlier…

Mother Nature was just plain showing off, the black-hearted bitch. A dazzling blue sky painted the backdrop for wispy veins of sheer clouds. The fragrance of springtime wafted in on a breeze. Allie propped her hip against the sill of the open window and stole a moment to wallow in the warmth of the sun. The sun she had no time for today.

In response to her roommate’s monologue she turned toward her, folded her hands against her chest and mocked a swoon. “Yes Reese, I heard it all. He’s tall, he’s brilliant, he’s a stud.” Was there any hope of shutting her up?

A sultry sweet aroma tickled her nose, followed closely by the sound of laughter. She dropped her hands, turned back to face the outdoors and let her eyes scan the yard. Virginal white clusters of jasmine lined the manicured lawn, but it was the upstairs neighbors who caught her attention. Shirtless and barefoot even in March, the hunks from 2A were blowing off the brilliant Wednesday afternoon with a Frisbee and a six pack.

Reese continued to rhapsodize.

She pretended to listen.

She lifted her chin and let the warm afternoon breeze tease her skin and ruffle the curls that framed her face. The gods of academia were against her. Why should she be stuck inside writing a term paper when the sun, the warmth, beckoned her outside? She heaved a long, ponderous sigh. The day was lazy, made for lolling. It was the type of day she would normally oil up, catch some rays with the girls. A masculine yell had her darting her eyes, locating the source.

Mmm. Or maybe spend a long, slow afternoon with someone special.

If she had someone special.

It was hopeless. She turned back to her single-girl bed, clambered on and surrounded herself with research books and loose-leaf paper. Pale redheads did not bronze, anyway. And she did not have time—not right now—for someone special. Legs pretzeled, she focused on curriculum development rather than Reese, still chattering about her latest hunk of manflesh.

Wait. What? She whipped her head around. “Forget it, Reese! Absolutely not!”

“Come on, Allie.” Designer heels stuttered as Reese Fielding spun to a stop in the miniscule room. “What do you have against Ben Tate? He’s an awesome looking guy.”

Allie curled her lip. “I hear he’s a player.”

“So, like,
play
for a change.”

“And he’s a jock.”

Reese smirked. “It’s not a dirty word.”

Allie swept a hand over the clutter surrounding her and let her words snap. “You make goo-goo eyes at Jake all you want. I have a paper due Monday.”
And
a stack of announcements to address,
and
lesson plans to prepare. “I have no interest in—her finger jabbed in Reese’s direction—a blind date.”

As usual, Reese heard only what she chose to hear and merely lifted one shoulder. “What-ever. It’s just pizza, you know? And besides, he’s like way fun.”

Reese pretending she wasn’t annoyed was almost comical. But she was annoyed. Oh, Allie knew it for certain. Didn’t matter how long she was gone from the coast, Reese’s
Valley Girl
emerged a living thing when she was wound up. But a blind date? Oh no, that was a bad idea for many reasons. She dug her fists into her hips. “You’re a giant pain in my ass.”

“Come on Allie, do this for me? We can double. Ben’s like Jake’s best friend since they were babies.”

Allie slapped the frilly pink comforter, which set pages of her term paper flying. “Do I need to remind you I don’t know Jake either?”

“So? I’ll be there. What’s the worst that can happen?”

She could give her a list—with bullet points—but flipped her off instead. Much better.

“I bet you’ll like him.”

With her hands full of papers, Allie paused, cocked her head. “You’re putting way too much effort into this. What’s in it for you, Reese?”

Reese was unfazed by the glare aimed her way. She merely rolled her eyes and huffed. “Look, you’re a nice girl. You’re always doing things for me. I just thought I’d do something for you for a change.”

Allie studied her thoughtfully. Reese
could
be sweet. If she set her mind to it. “Really? That’s all?”

“Sure.”

She would have gobbled the lie, too. Swallowed it as eagerly as a mama bird with a nice, plump worm, if only Reese made eye contact. Her eyes narrowed again. “Dammit, Reese. Spit it out.”

Reese probably would have continued to argue, so she stretched her glower into another outright glare.

“I sort of cut Jake off until you both agreed.”

“Crap.” It was all so clear now. She let the papers scatter around her. At least Reese seemed embarrassed. “A little extreme, don’t you think?”

Reese sank onto the side of the bed. “It seemed like a good idea at the time.”

Embarrassed and miserable. Good.

“Guess I forgot one little detail.”

“Yeah. Guess so.”

Reese held out on her guy once before, during summer break, thank God. Because nothing screamed
edgy
like Reese without regular action between the sheets. And with mid-terms looming, Reese could not afford to be edgy.

Allie collapsed back into the pillows, her arms outstretched. Her mom always told her compassion was a virtue, but not today it wasn’t. Today it was a curse. She rolled her head to meet Reese’s hopeful stare, her shoulders taking a swift slump into the thick comforter, her chin lowering to her chest. “I don’t know if I’m more disgusted with you or myself.” She gritted her teeth. “When are we doing this?”

“Saturday.” Reese fell back beside Allie, grabbed her hand with a chuckle and squeezed. “Oh Allie, it won’t hurt a bit.” Reese lifted her free hand and traced the letter X over her heart. “Promise.”

Wearing nothing but plaid boxers and a snarl, Jake Taylor leapt from the ancient sofa to pace. “Fucking Michaels!” He prowled the room, fingers tunneling through his hair, leaving it standing on end. “Bottom of the ninth, my first no-hitter of the season, and what does that prick do? He tanks it for me!”

Ben’s eyes darted from the game on TV. He hung his head and let it sway. “It bites ass, man. That throw from Taggert whizzed past him like a stray bullet.”

“And Jefferson—that jerk couldn’t beat his grandfather in a snail crawl, but there he was, safe on first. Sucking wind.” Jake snared his roommate with an accusing glare. “
You
would have caught that ball! Damn it!” He dropped back onto the ratty tweed and glowered at his roommate, the sportscaster blabbering in the background.

Ben gave him a
what can you do
shrug and gestured toward his sling. “I’m off the DL next week, dude. I’ll have you covered.”

He didn’t want Ben Tate’s platitudes. He wanted him back on the field.

“C’mon, man, forget it. Let’s get cleaned up and hit the town.

He had to admit blowing off a little steam might ease the frustration grinding at him. “Yeah, okay. We could—
oh
,
shit!
”

Ben shot him a quick, quizzical glance, then rolled to his feet and kept up as the conversation took a left turn. “What’s up?"

Jake lowered his head into his hands. The hair flopping over his face hid his eyes. Reese. He couldn’t believe he forgot. He couldn’t believe he got roped into this. And if Ben called him a pussy heads were definitely going to roll. He plastered his gaze on the television and forced nonchalance into his voice. “Hey Tate, you got plans Saturday?”

Ben strode into the kitchen, an ice pack strapped to his bum wing. “Aren’t we in Lubbock?” The refrigerator opened, then closed.

“Nah, those games aren’t until next week.”

“Right.” Ben reappeared, one can tucked into his sling, another in his free hand. He lobbed it Jake’s way.

Jake popped the tab with a muted
pfft
and guzzled half.

Ben made it back to the recliner, then one-handedly popped open his can and sat back without taking a sip. “You need me out of the apartment? I can make plans.”

Jake propped his drink between his knees. “Still seeing Vivian?” He didn’t see the attraction, but friends ask anyway.

“Nah. She’s history.”

Jake nodded in understanding. And something like relief. “Bye, bye, prom queen.” He waved a flippant farewell to Cheerleader Barbie, the love of Ben’s life for two whole months. “Actually, I need you to do me a favor. Reese hatched this plan.”

Ben arched an eyebrow. “So? I thought you weren’t serious.”

Jake lifted an amused eyebrow. “How serious is a blow job?”

“Good point.” Ben matched his smirk as the commercials ended and the game resumed. “So what’s the deal?”

“She’s got this friend. Allie.”

Ben’s eyes went hot as he dragged them from the tube. “Are you fucking insane? Our first free weekend in a month and you want me to do
what
?”

“Yeah, I know. But she’s bugging the shit out of me.” And she told him he wasn’t getting laid again until her friend did, but he didn’t need to overshare.

“Jesus, Jake.” Ben blew out a breath. “What’s she like anyway, this Allie? Is she a dog?”

“Hell if I know. Supposedly she’s Reese’s best friend, but I’ve never met her.”

“Maybe she’s fat.”

God, he hoped not. He wanted his hands on Reese’s tits. “Reese says she studies all the time. One date then done, all right?”

The glare Ben leveled was pure blue flame. “In case you haven’t figured it out, genius, the idea sucks.”

“C’mon B. Just to get her off my ass?” Fuck, now he was begging.

“This is not a date. It’s a favor. And you owe me big time.”

Ben added a scowl to his glare, but he’d deal if it meant Ben caved. “Sure, anything.”

“I’m not talking about a case of beer or gas money to Snow Bowl, either.”

“Fuck you. We’re talking pizza, for chrissake. I’m not asking you to marry the girl.”

The roar of the crowd pulled his attention back to the game.