What’s different? Setting? Context? That whole absence makes the heart grow fonder cliche?
“Declan, what’s going to happen when you go back to football? If I stay in Concordia?” Though it sounds more likeDughadnsnanoofball istacordia?because my face is mashed against his chest with me wrapped tightly in his arms. I don’t want to let go either.
But the awkward silence expanding between us confirms what must be done.
After a while, he says, “Maggie, is this about your parents? No offense, but it’s clear what kind of people they are. Social climbing, money-grubbing?—”
I hold up my hand even though he’s right. “What is it about? One word. Playbook.”
“Right. So, shouldn’t I stay away from women who have the same agenda as your mother and father?” His tone has a sharp edge to it.
“Do you mean Blair Covell? This is the last phase of our time together and the best possible way forward. She’s going to interview you and you’re going to put your skills to work. Show her and the world that you’re a team player, possibly a family man in the future, reformed.”
“I don’t want to. I was thinking we could watch that new superhero movie. I make great popcorn,” he says more lightly.
“How about we do rock, paper, scissors?”
He playfully rolls his eyes.
We throw our fingers, symbolizing the three objects. I win two out of three rounds.
Declan pinches the space between his eyes and then brushes his hand up to his forehead.
“I want you to demonstrate that you’ve learned social graces.”
“Haven’t I already shownyou? How many meals have we shared?” he asks.
I force a deep breath. Every word spoken is agonizing as I push him away—mentally and emotionally. The man himself is a superhero, a football player. No way I could physically push him away. “You’re meeting with Blair.” My voice is robotic.
Declan’s face wrinkles. “I don’t feel good about that. If I’m late or don’t show up, will you fail me?”
“Yes.”
He grips the back of his neck. “Okay, fine. I’ll do it. Just this once. But Magums, what about us?”
“I’m your teacher. You’re my student.” Now, I’m a shaky robot, malfunctioning, running out of battery, but the silence that follows makes it final.
The motherboard is powering down in three, two, one. It’s the final countdown before it goes kaput.
Loneliness is one of my earliest memories, and with Declan, it’s the opposite. He’s thoughtful, kind, warm, and his presence fills me in a way no one ever has before.
Too bad, I’ll soon have to say goodbye and we’ll go back to being text-only friends.
32
DECLAN
Idon’t understand what’s happening. Maggie goes from hot to cold to downright chilly in the drafty harborside restaurant. She’d arranged for me to meet with Blair Covell—a renowned reporter and rumor monger—and all I want is for Maggie to be seated in the chair opposite me.
All these years, with every dollar I’ve spent on lavish, stupid, look-at-me things, I’ve been trying to fill a space that is the exact shape and size of Margaret Pearl Byrne.
Joking back and forth on text and seeing, smelling, and touching her in person is a different ball game altogether.
However, football is a game I won’t jeopardize—my teammates mean too much to me. I’ve learned more than just how to throw a ball and win the Super Bowl throughout my career. I have some celebrity standing and am regularly called a football star—or moon, depending on who is asked—but I also know the score. People like the notorious Barry and Sheila Prucell of B&S Media are only in it for the money. They’d staked their claim by airing videos of people humiliating themselves and went well beyond good-natured bloopers, including—from what it sounds like—at their own daughter’s expense.
How are those creeps Maggie-the-Magnificent’s parents? She is one of the sweetest, kindest people ever, even on par with Aunt Maureen. From what I’ve gathered, Barry and Sheila are downright diabolical. Almost more alarmingly, what made her keep that from me? Why the secret? What is she afraid of?
Or is she worried about losing her job if B&S Media publishes photos of us? Maybe her boss gave her a warning.
