CHAPTER SIX

 

“We’re celebrating at Jake's restaurant Jarrett, you coming?" Ron called out in the locker room as the team dressed after their third straight win. "It's Saturday, we have the rest of the day and all night to get a little freak on."

"Don't you have a wife and two beautiful little girls waiting at home for you?" Jarrett frowned.

"Yes, but if I have to hear about this damn reality show from Suzette for another day I'm going to lose it."

"What reality show?" Jake asked.

"Val didn't talk to you about doing a reality TV show with Suzette and some of the other wives on the team?" Ron asked.

"Oh yeah, I remember her mentioning something about it and I said hell no. Haven't heard anything since."

"You should give some of that to Ron," Jarrett joked. "He can't say no to Suzette for anything."

"That is true. That little woman of yours wears the pants in your house." Sergio hit Ron on the back. Sometimes the catcher did not know his own strength, he damn near pushed Ron into the locker.

"Ah, but I control the bank accounts,” Ron replied as he righted himself against the locker. “That's why she wants to do this show so bad, so she can have her own income. Make her own money."

"I don't think it's about the money with Suzette, she knows she can get whatever she wants from you," Jarrett said. "I think she just wants or needs her own identity. You know, show she's not just the great Mackenzie's wife."

"She knows she's more than that." Ron frowned.

"You and I know she is, but the public thinks she's just a pretty face from Jersey that caught herself a ball player. She wants to be seen as more."

"Well, I don't care if she does the show." Ron shrugged.

"I don't know, man." Jake shook his head. "Cameras twenty-four, seven can be hell on a relationship. Ask Jarrett."

"I'm not in a relationship," Jarrett replied.

"Does Lacy know that?" Jake raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, she does."

"Really?" Jake pulled out a tabloid. "I quote, 'Jarrett and I will always be close. We have a friendship outside of any relationship.' Unquote, and there's a nice picture of the two of you holding hands."

"Let me see that?" Jarrett reached for the paper.

Ron shook his head indicating not to show the paper to Jarrett, but it was too late, he had snatched the paper from Jake’s hand and was reading it.

"That was from the other night when I put her in a car and sent her home."

"That's not what's portrayed in that article," Jake huffed.

Ron could have choked Jake.

"Technically, she didn't lie. You two do still have a friendship."

Jarrett gave Ron a look that indicated he should tread lightly.

"Look, I know Suzette and Lacy are friends and that puts you in a bad situation because you and I are friends. The thing with Lacy is over and it's not coming back. Closed subject." Jarrett slammed his locker door.

"I got it." Ron held out his hand in surrender. "We still boys?"

Jarrett slapped his hand twice in the air, twice down low then gave a fist pound. "Still boys." He laughed.

"So you hanging or are your folks in town?"

"No, they didn't make the trip. But I still have to pass, Sergio and I have plans."

Sergio didn't look up at hearing Jarrett’s announcement. He had no idea what plans they had, but if Jarrett said they did, then they did.

"What time we meeting up, man?"

"Seven should be good. I'll pick you up on the way."

"Cool."

"If you're sure, we're out." Ron, Jake and a few other players left the locker room.

Sergio looked at Jarrett. "Dress code?"

Jarrett laughed. "Aren't you even going to ask?"

"What's to ask? You need a wingman. I'm there."

 

*****

 

"The ballet? Jake and Ron are at the bar having wings and beers and you bring me to a damn ballet. You're freaking kidding me," Sergio complained as he took his seat next to Jarrett.

"A little culture never hurt anyone Serg. Look at it as me broadening your horizons."

Sergio gave Jarrett the most incredulous look. "Be glad I love you like a brother from my other mother." Then he spilled out a chorus of what Jarrett was certain were curse words.

This is something he would have done solo in the past for he liked to keep his life as private as possible. With Paige Cartwright, his nerves seemed to be getting the best of him. He felt like a teenager with a schoolboy crush. They had exchanged numbers while on the plane, but each time he attempted to place the call, he didn't know what to say. Shaking his head at the absurdity of it all, he settled into the seat. Since when did he not know what to say to a woman? He almost laughed out loud.

"You okay man?" Sergio asked.

"Yes, why do you ask?"

"You seem a little uneasy…nervous."

"No, no, I'm good," Jarrett replied as he wiped his sweaty palms on his pants.

The lights dimmed and he couldn't have been more grateful. For at least the third time in the last hour, he wondered if he should have come. He was glad he asked Sergio to come with him at the last moment. Sergio, with his crazy sense of humor would set things at ease if needed.

"I'm glad you came man."

"Shh," the woman next to him said as the music began.

"Sorry," he said then turned his attention to the stage.

The music was playing to a dark stage. Dancers entered from both sides dressed in black as they jumped across the stage in unison. As the dancers left an opening in the center, a spot light grew on a curtain at the back of the stage. Before the dancer moved he knew the silhouette behind the curtain was Paige. A smile touched his lips as he sat forward with his elbows resting on his knees and chin resting on his folded hands.

Her body moved to the slow rhythm of the music as she eased from a sitting position, stretching upward until her full height was reached. She paused, the music stopped and a hush came over the audience. Suddenly she burst through the curtain with a series of twirls and jumps that had the audience reacting in awe. Her movements were nonstop from beginning to end. When she leaped in the air, Jarrett's heart stopped. Her partner caught her midair, then flipped her twirling body to another. She slid down his body onto the floor in a split displaying her long slender legs. Jarrett’s gut crunched as if someone had punched him.

The music stopped again as her body lay flat on the stage, arms stretched out in front of her. It seemed like no one in the audience breathed. Slowly, she turned onto her back as the music followed, her legs came up into a fetal position, she eased onto her feet and began spinning slowly. As the rhythm of the music increased, the speed of her spin increased, and increased and increased until she looked like a spinning top twirling on one leg. Then just as suddenly, the music stopped, the stage went black and she disappeared off stage.

His hands were sweating, his heart was beating fast and he didn't know why but Jarrett had to stand to relieve some of the pent up energy from holding his breath. That was only the first scene. He sat back down. He was in trouble.

"Damn."

For a moment Jarrett thought he had spoken out loud. Then he turned to Sergio and saw the look of astonishment on his face. He felt validated. Jarrett held out his hand. "It got you too…right."

Sergio slapped Jarrett’s hand once up, once down then a fist pound. The two men sat back and exhaled.

Jarrett sighed. "I feel like I just hit a home run."

By the time the performance was over, Jarrett was a goner and he knew it. Paige was going to be his undoing. For over two weeks, he had done all he could to keep her from creeping into his mind, but it was fruitless, she had anyway. The first week it happened, it didn't faze him, he just chalked it up to meeting a beautiful woman. But the last week, well he put the effort in to make it stop and he lost. Now, it was time to face the music… or the woman in this case.