Page 39 of Tiger Lilies and Tight Ends

“You will care, Mr. I Love My Privacy. The second someone sees me with you, your privacy will be gone. Look at what happened from just me going to the barbecue. It’s all any of those sports gossip people are talking about. They could focus on predictions, the current IR list, possible trades, all kinds of things, but no, they want to talk about me being present at another team’s function and that other player who dates the pop singer.”

“Stop looking at those sites and reading those articles. You would never ever know what they were talking about if you just forgot they existed. Your mental health would be so much better.”

“It’s not that easy. It’s like these people are starved. And I can’t go anywhere without someone recognizing me. I didn’t know it would be exactly like this, or maybe I did. I don’t know, but it hasn’t been fun over the years. I used to go out all the time, but the larger Dean became, the louder the noise became. I’m always judged by who I’m with, what I’m wearing, what my facial expressions and body language are, and I hate it. Like I really hate it so much.”

“Lily, your looks are the least interesting thing about you.”

His words cause me to pause, and my eyes burn as they well with tears. Dean was always pointing out things he liked or didn’t like from brands I wore to my shade of lipstick. He was, and well, still is, so worried about his image, he would spend hours looking at pictures and videos of himself and critiquing all of them. Unfortunately, that spilled over to those around him, mainly me.

“That’s very kind of you to say, but basically over the past decade, I’ve never been allowed to feel that way.”

His face tightens, and his lips flatten into a thin line. He doesn’t like this answer, but I have to believe he understands it.

“Did anyone ask you about me yesterday at practice?”

I hate asking this question, but I have to know. I hate feeling blind to what’s going on around me or what’s being said. So far, I like it here in Tampa, but living somewhere where I’ve been given a bad reputation or don’t feel welcome, emotionally safe, I just don’t know if I could stay. In fact, I know I wouldn’t.

Tyler shifts his weight so he’s facing me a little more. He leans back in his chair and crosses one foot over his knee. “A few people, but it wasn’t malicious, just questions wanting to know how we knew each other, if Dean was coming to the Tarpons, and how you are doing. I know you think the public has this perfect perception of him as the ‘all-American boy,’ but that’s the image the media has created for him. In the industry, we all know what a self-centered dick he is. No one at the Tarpons is looking at you in any way other than you are a friend of mine, and that they hope you’re happy.”

I look down and pull at the drawstring of my shorts. “Well, I guess that’s good to hear.”

“Should be great to hear, which is why we’re not going to sit in the house all day and mope. I let you do that yesterday. I gave you space, and now it’s over. Besides, it’s too beautiful outside, and I need to feed you the best grouper sandwich in the world.”

Not sit in the house? He wants to take me out?

“You want to go out to eat?”

“Sort of. There’s a place on one of the islands that has a dock for boat-up guests. We can eat there, but I’d like to grab our food to go and take you somewhere else instead. You can stay on the boat while I run up to the take-out window.”

A day on the boat does sound nice. I do realize that I spend a lot of time inside. I stepped out of my comfort zone going to the team barbecue, and now I feel like I’m paying for it. Did I have a nice time? Yes. Everyone was kind to me. Of course I got a few strange looks, but in general, people seemed mostly happy that I was no longer with Dean. I’m thinking Tyler is right about his industry image versus his media image. I didn’t realize how many people had started to dislike him. His personality is catching up with his reputation.

“Okay. I’ll go,” I tell him, and his face relaxes, showing he’s satisfied with my answer. Maybe he thought I was going to argue with him or put up a bigger argument about not being seen in public, but I do want to go out with him. He’s asking me to spend time with him. I would be a fool to say no.

“Good.” He stands up and stretches. His shirt rides up, showing off a strip of tanned skin just over the edge of his sweatpants, and my breath catches. This guy is so handsome, it’s not fair. Handsome and kind, it’s like a double whammy to the senses. “You know the drill. Go get ready, and I’ll meet you outside.”

Chapter 16

Tyler

So either inviting her out on the boat today was the best idea I’ve ever had, or the worst.

The thing is, I watched her closely at the barbecue to see how she was handling being surrounded by another organization, and she absolutely had a good time. There was no faking the laughing and the smiles, and I would know because I’ve seen a lot of different sides to her over the years.

I’ve seen the giddy teenager who still had a side of immaturity to her. I’ve watched her grow into a young woman who’s more composed. I’ve seen her happy, I’ve seen her in love, I watched her silently vow to be the best aunt ever, and I’ve now seen her sad. Well, maybe less sad and more anxious, but regardless, I think I’m able to get a good pulse on her emotions, and right now, she’s sitting next to me, relaxed and smiling. Just like I want her to.

I want her to be happy.

I like making her happy.

Which I definitely don’t want to think too hard about why.

“It’s very quiet out here,” Lily says, leaning toward me so I can hear her. I slow the boat to quiet the sound of the engine a bit. She’s wearing a white tank top and cutoff denim shorts, with a bikini underneath. Lord help me, I’m not sure that I’m ready to see her in a bikini. She has on one of my ball caps, her hair pulled through the hole in the back, and a pair of sunglasses. She looks casual, and she looks comfortable being with me, and that makes me rub the spot on my chest just over my heart.

“Yeah, the locals have gone back to school, so the only people still vacationing are the northerners and the foreigners. Plus, it’s a Tuesday.”

“I like that the water is somewhat empty. It makes me feel like it’s just the two of us, and I like that.”

Just the two of us.