“I’ve read your career history, Garrett,” Savannah said, obviously trying to defuse the tension. “I do image consulting, especially for athletes. So it’s kind of a specialty of mine to dissect you all. You’ve had an amazing career.”
“Thanks. I just hope I get to continue it.”
“Season will be starting soon,” Cole said.
Master of the obvious, wasn’t he?
“Yeah,” Garrett said. “Between Alicia and the coaches, they’re prepping me nonstop to get ready to pitch.”
“Yeah? And how’s that going?”
“The past few months have been living in hell. I’ve been under the goddamn microscope so long all I want to do is disappear.”
Something in Cole seemed to switch off at that point, and he relaxed. “Dude. Been there. Not that I got hurt—” Cole looked at Savannah. “But yeah. Been under that same microscope. I’ve never had an injury before. It must be a downer having to deal with all the uncertainty.”
“It sucks.”
Cole laughed. “Want to grab these ladies a seat? And I need a beer.”
“Me, too.” Garrett switched his gaze to Alicia. “Ready to sit down?”
Alicia was so relieved to feel the ice thaw between Garrett and her brother. She nodded at Garrett. “Like you wouldn’t believe. My feet are killing me in these shoes.”
He grabbed her hand. “Let’s go muscle up a table, then.”
“Good luck in this crowd.”
“Come on,” Cole said. “We’re VIP’s. We’ll get Jenna to find us one.”
Jenna did find them one, in a spot she’d reserved near the stage for family members. Which gave Alicia a chance to introduce Garrett to both Jenna and Ty, at least for the minute and a half Jenna spent with them before she dashed off to see to her customers and introduce new musicians to the crowd. But at least they had a table. And seats with the rest of the family. Tara was thrilled to have a night out without Sam, though she kept texting Nathan, her teenage son who was on babysitting duty. And despite Mick’s assurances that Nathan could capably handle the baby, who had been fed and was sound asleep, Tara kept staring at her phone.
Garrett seemed to be handling being surrounded by her family members well. He’d even bonded with Cole, the two of them talking golf of all things.
“He’s very hot,” Savannah said, keeping her voice low as the two of them huddled close.
Not that it would have mattered, since Garrett and Cole had their own huddle going on.
“Who? My brother? Too much information, Savannah.”
Savannah gave her a look. “Ha, ha. And you know I was talking about your smoldering new boyfriend.”
“He’s not my boyfriend. He’s . . .”
She had no idea how to describe him.
Savannah arched a brow. “Do go on. He’s what? Just the current athlete you’re working on that you decided to invite to a family event?”
The knowing look Savannah gave Alicia told her that her hesitation was ridiculous. “Okay, so we’re involved. I just don’t know how to describe it.”
“Why is it so difficult to describe it?”
“I don’t know. We’ve never defined it. It just kind of happened between us. There’s really nothing going on.” She realized even as she said it that her explanation sounded stupid.
“You seem afraid.” Savannah offered up a serene smile and rimmed her wineglass with the tip of her finger. “Do you have reservations about this relationship?”
“Well, we do work for the same team. And I’m currently his therapist. There’s a major conflict of interest going on here.”
“I understand. Believe me. I had much the same problem with my relationship with Cole. Not in the same way as yours, of course. But you can’t let that mess up what the two of you have. If, in fact, you have something you think is worth the risk.” Savannah paused and shot Alicia a direct look. “Is it?”
Alicia glanced across the table to where Garrett was bent over in conversation with Cole. Just looking at him caused butterflies to take flight in her stomach. In the short period of time she’d known him, he’d completely wrecked her well-managed, orderly routine. Now, she couldn’t imagine that life without him in it.
She returned her gaze to Savannah. “I’m crazy in love with him.”
Savannah’s lips curved. “Does he know that?”
“Oh, God no. We’re not there yet.”
“Well. Learn from my experience. Cole and I did everything wrong, and it cost us both a lot of pain. Talk to him. Tell him how you feel.”
Somehow, Alicia didn’t think Garrett was ready to hear those words from her yet. Inviting him here to meet her family was a big step. That he was gracious enough to show up was a move forward.
That was enough for now.
*