Loving The Game (Thirty-Something in the City - The Lunchtime Sorority Book 1) Read online

  Her voice wasn’t more than a whisper. “Tyler.”

  Chapter 2

  Tyler

  If he hadn’t been busy chatting with his teammates, Tyler might have noticed the tiny whirlwind before she crashed into him.

  She barely made a dent in his stride, but he held her at arm’s length, gripping her non-existent biceps to prevent her from toppling over. She was clearly not used to those sexy heels she was wearing. He dragged his gaze up trying to ignore the stunning legs below her floral skirt. How the fabric skimmed over her thighs and hips. Her short-sleeved blouse was fitted and hugged her waist and chest. He paused his gaze at her breasts, the shape clearly suggesting she was wearing a push-up bra. So, less than a handful. He could work with that.

  He lifted his eyes to her face, his body hardening as those pretty lips panted his name on a whisper.

  He froze. He knew that voice. It had haunted his dreams for years. Twelve years to be exact. He looked into her honey eyes, a mix of concern and something else there.

  Tyler softened his grip. “Jilly?”

  He pulled her into an embrace, hugging her with all he had. It had been years since he’d seen her. They both had done a good job of avoiding each other wherever they could. He held onto her for a moment, absorbing her smell, her feel, before he realized she wasn’t hugging him back.

  She patted his back. “Ty, we need to talk.”

  Five words designed to make any man’s blood run cold. She was right, though. You don’t take a woman’s virginity and allow her to star in your fantasies for over a decade while hoping that avoiding each other will make things better. No, a conversation was necessary but her timing sucked.

  He pulled away from her. Whatever else was warring in her eyes had given way to worry and concern. She was on the brink of tears. Every part of Tyler tensed. He’d always hated that look. He would do anything to make her smile. Even with all the time and distance that had passed between them.

  Derrick stepped forward. “Jill, what’s the matter.”

  She took a deep breath and blinked her eyes. “Tracey’s been in an accident.”

  Tyler’s body tensed as his world shifted. His sister was the most important person in his life. “What do you mean?”

  She was his rock, his confidante. He couldn’t imagine anything bad happening to her. Derrick moved closer, putting his hand in the middle of Tyler’s back. “What kind of accident?”

  She shook her head, looking up at Derrick. “I don’t know. The hospital just called; said she was being examined.” She turned back to Tyler. “I’m her emergency contact.”

  Tyler dragged both hands down his face, trying to calm the panic that had settled in his stomach. “And they said nothing else?”

  Jill shook her head, her eyes glossing with unshed tears. But he couldn’t comfort her. Not when he needed to find out more.

  “Come.” Derrick gripped Tyler’s arm. “I’ll drive you.”

  Tyler hesitated for a moment and looked at his captain. “Skipper—”

  Callum didn’t give him a chance to finish his question. “Go. And keep us updated.”

  He turned around and headed back in the direction of the dressing rooms, Derrick hot on his heels.

  He shoved his shoulder into the swing door, the momentum allowing it to bang against the wall behind. The smell of too much after shave and Deep Heat stung in his nose.

  “We can call your folks from the car.” Derrick walked over to the locker he was using for the charity season. “Just grab your bag. And give me your car keys.”

  Tyler looked over at his friend. “I can drive myself. Besides, you have your own car here.”

  “Ty, don’t be stubborn.” Derrick’s deep voice was harsh. “I’m here, I’ll drive. And I’ll get Jill to drive your car to the hospital.”

  Tyler shook his head. No one drove his car. He didn’t even know if Jill had her license. What kind of driver was she? “I can drive my car. Jill’s not—”

  “Ty, I swear if you lay into her now, I will deck you.” Derrick walked up to him. “We’re all worried. I know it’s your sister. But that’s Jill’s best friend as well. Whatever else is going on, at least accept that she’s in this too.”

  Tyler grabbed his bag and slammed his locker closed. He pulled his keys out and headed for the door. Whether or not Derrick followed him was irrelevant.

  Jill was talking to Holly, nodding fiercely. Her tiny body was folded in on itself. He hated that she did that when she was unsure of herself. As if trying to make herself smaller.

  She spotted him coming around the corner and straightened her shoulders. It irritated him that she looked past him and straight at Derrick. “Can I get a ride with you guys? Holly drove us here, so I’m without a car.”

  Fuck. If he chose to ignore Derrick’s suggestion, he’d look like an asshole. It really shouldn’t bother him, he hardly knew Jill, anymore. Still, he didn’t like the idea of her thinking he was an asshole. “Actually,” Tyler said holding out his keys. He sighed as he handed them to her “Do you mind driving my car? Derrick doesn’t think I should be driving.”

  The uncertainty in her eyes should have alarmed him. “Are you sure?”

  No. He wasn’t. His car was his baby. But he wasn’t about to put up a scene. “I’m sure.”

  She looked between the key-fob in his hand and back up at him. “Okay.” There was a slight hesitation before she took them. “I’ll only be a few minutes behind you guys. I just want to update on Holly on everything before I leave.”

  Her gaze met his. The concern in her eyes likely mirrored his own. She would be there with him. Whatever had happened with Tracey, he would have Derrick. That was never in any doubt. And Jill. Like when they were younger. She would be there. He wouldn’t be able to bury his face in her hair and know that everything would be okay. That was part of their past.

  He wasn’t sure how long they stood there looking at one another. Silence, and yet a thousand conversations that were never happened whirling between them.

  Derrick’s hand on his shoulder pulled Tyler from his thoughts. “Let’s go. We’ll know more when we get there.”

  Tyler followed his friend. As they rounded the corner he turned back. Jill was still watching them, tears threatening in her beautiful light brown eyes. “You are coming, right?”

  She walked up to him and moved her arms around his waist. Her head burrowed into his chest. It was the hug he’d expected when he first saw her earlier on. His shoulders relaxed and he kissed the top of her head, inhaling her apple shampoo.

  “You couldn’t keep me away, even if you tried.” She let go of him and wiped away the tear running down her cheek. “Go. I’m right behind you.”

  ***

  Tyler

  Tyler pulled his phone out of his pocket as Derrick pulled out of the stadium’s parking lot. He dialed his mother’s number willing his nerves to calm. He bounced his knee while he waited for her to answer. His mother answered on the second ring. “Tyler?”

  He didn’t even bother with pleasantries before unleashing the bad news to his mother. Once he’d given her a rundown of what he knew, several seconds of silence followed before his mother spoke.

  She didn’t waste time with unnecessary panic and kept her voice even. “Are you at the hospital now?”

  “Derrick and I are about fifteen minutes away and Jill is on her way as well.”

  “We’re at the Sandton Mall.” his mother said, her voice even. “We can be there in about ten minutes. Do you know anything else?”

  “Just that she’s alive.” He forced his shoulders to relax. “They called Jill. I don’t why they’d call her instead of one of us.”

  “Of course, they called her.” His mother’s annoyed tone was not missed. “They’ve been each other’s emergency contact since Jill moved back to Johannesburg.”

  When he thought about it, he shouldn’t have questioned it. The two of them along with Tina and Natalie had been close since grade one. They wer
e vastly different but still made their friendship a priority. Even in high school, they’d ignored the cliques despite their varied interests. Tracey and Tina were both cheerleaders and the most sociable of the group. Natalie was the quiet one always on the sidelines. And Jill was the drama queen, not just on stage, but she used to be able to throw a tantrum and get worked up more than anyone he knew.

  As far as he knew they all still met up for lunch when Tina was in town. Derrick had even nicknamed them The Lunchtime Sorority.

  They relied on each other. All of them always available at a moment’s notice when there was any sign of trouble. Just because he had issues with Jill, didn’t mean everyone else had.

  Jill was that girl, the one too good for any guy, and they knew it.. Tyler might have been entirely flattered that she had a crush on him when they were younger, but he wasn’t too dumb to imagine himself good enough for her. At least, not during the early years of high school.

  “Sorry,” he said. “It was just a shock getting the news from Jill. My mind was still on the game. Callum wanted a meeting after the press conference. And coach wants us back again tomorrow.” Tyler would’ve preferred to forgo yet another one of the coach’s lectures on their behavior off the field, but as vice-captain of the Thunder he had to lead by example.

  Tyler heard his dad in background wanting to know what was happening as he started the car. He gave his mother a few minutes to fill his dad in before she came back on the line with him. “Tyler, I don’t want to be insensitive at a time like this, but do you think Derrick could take you in through the staff entrance?”

  His mother was worried about his arrival would generate the usual press and public attention and undermine their privacy. He could understand her concerns. His face and body were plastered all over the city, some of the posters had him wearing the bare minimum of clothing. Wherever he went, people recognized him.

  He didn’t mind the fans. What he hated was that his friends and family always had to make concessions for him. But the endorsements were part of the deal, and it was the one thing he had to offer. He looked good and he played well, no one wanted anything else from him. “I’m sure he’ll let me through the staff entrance.” Tyler looked over at his friend who nodded quietly. “But it’s the middle of the day at a hospital. People are more interested in visiting their loved ones. Not hunting autographs.”

  His mother sighed. “I just don’t want your sister to have to face reporters or photographers.” She paused a second. “We don’t know what state she’s in.”

  “Mom, don’t worry.” He ran a hand through his hair and tried to still his leg. “I’ll be discreet.”

  He exchanged some more information with his mother before she hung up. She was really worried. So was he.

  Tyler rested his head back and closed his eyes. He needed to wait until he got to the hospital before worrying. They didn’t know anything. Tracey was strong and resilient. As independent as they came. She’d already decided that getting married and settling down was not for her. Something that bothered his mother to no end.

  Not that he was one to judge. A few months shy of thirty-one, settling down was the last thing he needed. His career was flourishing. Maybe one day when his rugby days were over, and he’d made enough money. Another four or five years or so, before he would need to look at his other limited career options. Perhaps then he could do the wife and kids thing.

  The only problem was that when he pictured himself in the domestic scene, Jill still haunted that dream. The homely girl in black cutoffs and oversized tank tops. Not the one he saw earlier. He always figured that she would be the first of their friends to settle down. She was homey and nurturing and always taking care of others. She seemed like she was born for married life and taking care of people. Instead, he was confronted with the complete opposite.

  The Jill he saw earlier was chic and confident. She was a career woman, with ambition. Going places. She had no time for someone like him.

  Despite folding in on herself while stressed, she still carried herself with the confidence of a woman who knew what she wanted. Those purple fuck-me heels giving her added height, was just a bonus. That flirty skirt showing off her gorgeous legs. And the way that blouse hugged her body.

  And why the fuck was she wearing a push-up bra.

  “I’m assuming we’re not talking about your mother.” Derrick’s voice pulled Tyler from his thoughts.

  Apparently, his thoughts were just spilling from his mouth. He glared at his friend. “No.”

  Derrick glanced at him. “Ty, don’t go there.” He banged his hand on the steering wheel. “Fuck. Now, you have me thinking about Jill’s bra.”

  “Hey.” Tyler scowled at Derrick.

  At least his friend had the decency to look guilty. “Sorry, but you brought it up. Besides, I didn’t know she was still off-limits.”

  “She’ll always be off-limits.” Even to him. He wasn’t sure if there was any man alive, he’d think was good enough for her. He was certain, though, that he wasn’t.

  Derrick pulled into the hospital and drove directly to the staff parking area. He pulled into a bay with his name on the shade-cloth covering.

  They wasted no time making their way to the staff entrance. Once again, Tyler’s stomach turning to knots. He had to focus on his sister. Not a woman from his past who wanted nothing to do with him.

  Derrick swiped his access card and opened the door for both of them. He’d been in the hospital often enough. He was a rugby player, after all. But the staff area with it’s plain white walls and grey tiles, looked closer to a glorified factory than a hospital. The smell of disinfectant was thick in the air and along with sounds of beeping and intercoms, it was downright unpleasant.

  Derrick stopped at a desk with nothing more than a computer and a few other gadgets. He swiped his card again and punched a few keys on the computer.

  Tyler frowned. “What are you doing?”

  “Finding out where she is.” A few more clicks then he shoved his access card into his back pocket. “Come.”

  Derrick directed him to the staff elevator. The rode in silence up to the second floor. Tyler’s fists clenched at his sides.

  They exited the elevator and rounded the corner before he nearly ran into Jill for the second time as she stepped out of the regular elevators.

  “Jill?” He stopped just before his body collided with hers. “I thought you would be a few minutes behind us?”

  She frowned up at him and shook her head. “I took the back roads.”

  A likely story. Still, he had no time to question her as he spotted his parents standing around. “Mom, Dad? Have you heard anything?”

  His father shook his head. “They said a doctor will be with us shortly.”

  Jill looked at all of them before her eyes settled on Derrick. “Can you do something? Find the damn doctor?”

  “Jill I —” Derrick started.

  “I’m looking for the family of Tracey Beyers.” A young doctor in light blue scrubs stood at the door of one of the wards.

  His mother stepped forward. “We’re her family.”

  The doctor looked at everyone. “Can we move into the room, where we have a little privacy.”

  His mother lifted her chin. “We’ll all move into that room.” She gestured between Tyler and his dad. “We’re her family. Ms. Sanders is her next of kin. And doctor Skosana over there is her medical proxy.”

  Tyler wasn’t sure if that last one was true. Technically, at least. They would, of course, defer to Derrick’s judgement, but Tracey never made it official.

  Derrick held out his hand, a smug smile playing on his lips. “Dr Skosana, ER attending. And you are?”

  The young doctor took Derrick’s hand before making room for them all to enter. “Dr Andrews, OB resident.”

  Tyler wasn’t current in his medical jargon. “OB?”

  “Obstetrics.” Jill, Derrick and Dr Andrews all said at once.

  “Why would she need an
obstetrician?” His mother had gone pale. “Was she— Is she —?”

  “She was pregnant yes,” Dr Andrews said. “We will know more after her surgery but—”

  “Surgery.” Unlike his mother, his father’s face red. “We didn’t know she was pregnant and now she needs—”

  Jill interrupted. “What kind of surgery? Has she miscarried?”

  Tyler studied her face. She was visibly upset, but there wasn’t the same shock he was feeling. Or even what his parents were going through. She knew. That shouldn’t have stung as much as it did.

  Jill was an integral part of his sister's life. His family’s lives really. She knew enough to interrupt his father before the old man lost his cool.

  Had he done such a thorough job of avoiding her that he’d missed how important she was to his family. In all fairness, she’d avoided him too.

  How had he allowed such a beautiful presence to drift out his life. Was he such a coward? Well, that would come to an end.

  Chapter 3

  Jill

  Twelve years ago.

  Jill stuck her finger in the avocado dip Tracey was mixing, and promptly got a slap on her wrist. “I need to taste test.” She pouted at her friend batting her eyes.

  “Go start the fire,” Tracey said, blowing a strand of blonde hair from her face. “If we rely on the guys, they’ll only start it when people start arriving.”

  They were throwing a farewell party for Jill and Tina who were leaving for university in Cape Town the next day. It was their last time together as the Awesome Foursome. Tracey, Tina and their friend Natalie had been together nearly every day since their first day of school, except for some family vacations. They trusted each other with everything. Except, apparently, for having Jill in the kitchen.

  She pushed away from the fake marble island. “Where are they?”

  Tracey raised her gaze to Jill, a question in her blue eyes. She must’ve changed her mind and just answered. “They should be here any minute. Still, you know what they’re like. I’d like the meat to be ready at a decent time.