Sweet as Pie by Alicia Hunter Pace
Chapter Thirty
Jake put bread in the toaster Evie had picked out for him and poured eggs into the copper skillet he’d bought to please her—not that it had, and she sure as hell wasn’t pleased with him now.
He spread peanut butter on his toast and slid the eggs onto a plate. He’d forgotten to get bacon at the store.
Since he’d last seen Evie, he’d played some games—won some, lost some, played well, played mediocre, and—once, against Dallas—played outstanding, according to people who ought to know.
But Evie hadn’t seen any of it.
He put his plate in the dishwasher and eyed the copper skillet. He’d wash it later. Or not. The cleaning service would be here tomorrow. Or maybe he could invite Killjoy over—though he might not do dishes anymore since he’d been named permanent captain. They could commiserate over what they didn’t have.
When they were in New York last week, Robbie had practically begged him to go with him to take two women to dinner after the game. “Come on, man. It’ll do you good. They aren’t puck bunnies,” Robbie had said. “They’ve never even been to a hockey game. They’re lawyers. I met them at the Starbucks around the corner from the hotel.”
So he’d agreed. At the suggestion of the women, they’d gone to a small, quiet place with good food and white tablecloths, but a relaxed atmosphere, with live background music. His designated date was attractive and pleasant. It should have been a nice time, but he kept wondering why he was there. It wasn’t for sex—that had been established—and it damn sure wasn’t for a relationship. Even if he had been looking for a relationship, he wouldn’t be looking in New York City.
Unless Evie was in New York. If she moved to New York and opened a pie shop, he’d tell Miles to do whatever it took to get him a contract with the Big Apples. Or the Minutes. He’d buy a heavier coat and a snow shovel and smile while he was doing it.
If you’d be willing to do that, why aren’t you doing anything now?
That was a decent question, one he didn’t have a decent answer for—or maybe he did. He wasn’t doing anything because he didn’t know what to do. Besides, she’d been perfectly clear. He’d screwed up and he wasn’t going to get a do-over.
He needed some advice from someone other than Robbie—someone who might actually be helpful. He’d briefly thought about asking Hyacinth or Ava Grace, but decided that would be a trip to hell on a bad road.
Addison.He couldn’t explain why he picked up his phone and called her. It was instinct, not unlike what he felt on the ice when he suddenly knew what he had to do.
She answered on the first ring. “Hello, brother of mine.”
“Sorry to call you at work.”
“No problem. I’ve been chasing my fanny for weeks, but things have settled down now.”
“I guess rush has kept you busy there in Omega Beta Gamma land.”
“Recruitment, Jake. We don’t call it rush anymore.”
“Whatever.”
“Sorry we haven’t talked lately. I’ve watched your games when I could. I know you’ve been busy, too.”
“I have.” He took a deep breath. “Addison, I want to ask you something.”
“Sure. I’ll tell you, if I know.”
“Why didn’t Channing ask Evie to be a bridesmaid in our wedding?” This could lead to something useful. He knew it just as surely as he sometimes knew that the puck was going to go in the second he touched his stick to it.
“Channing didn’t tell you at the time?”
“I didn’t question Channing on the details of the wedding. The less I talked about it, the better I liked it.”
“Why are you wondering after all this time?”
“I just am.”
She sighed. “I don’t have a good answer for you. Channing mentioned in passing she was having her sorority sisters. I don’t think she willfully excluded Evie; she just didn’t think about her. Mama worried about it at the time, but Channing and her mother made it clear the wedding was their show and they were going to run it.”
“At least you thought about it. That was more than I did.”
“Don’t give me too much credit. I didn’t question Channing either. Like a lot of people, I was bowled over by her. She was good to me, always swore that I was her sister beyond Omega, beyond blood. And I bought it.”
“I know.” He had not called to talk about Channing, but his gut told him this was going somewhere. “She’s charming. Miss Congeniality and all that.”
“I’ve thought about it a lot, Jake. Charm means telling people what they want to hear, whether it’s the truth or not. Channing was a master.” She made a sound that was a mixture of a huff and a laugh. “People would line up to let that girl lie to them. At least when she was lying to you, she was talking to you. I’ve stood in that line. I’m not proud of it. And what she told me wasn’t true. She did not love me. She was not my sister forever. Of course, all that was just a postscript to what she did to you.”
“I had no idea this affected you so much,” he said slowly.
“Well, you had problems of your own.” She paused. “Evie never knew it, but I was a little mad at her right after the divorce.”
“What? That makes no sense.”
“I know. It didn’t last long, but for a little while there, I blamed her.”
“Why? Did you think she played matchmaker? She didn’t do anything to encourage that relationship.”
Addison laughed out loud. “No, Jake. I never imagined that she would have.”
“Then what did any of it have to do with Evie?”
“Nothing. But you were so broken down and I kept thinking that I couldn’t believe Evie had let you marry Channing. Channing was her cousin. Evie had to know how she was and should have warned you. How could she have let her come into our lives?”
Though he knew Addison couldn’t see him, Jake shook his head. “Addison—”
“I know. Don’t try to school me here. You couldn’t have been stopped. Channing dangled her magic in front of you and you were gone.”
Fairy dust. Magic.None of that was real. Even in stories where it was, there was always a price.
“It wasn’t fair, but I kept thinking if Evie had just been more assertive, had tried harder, things might have worked out differently and none of us would have ever ended up in that mess to begin with.”
Jake was completely lost. “Tried harder to what?”
“Oh, come on, Jake. You know what I’m talking about.”
“I don’t, Addison. I swear I do not.”
“Evie’s in love with you.”
If only. “I can promise you she is not.”
“Don’t tell me you don’t know it. She’s always been in love with you. She probably heard your baby babble when she was in the womb and fell for you then. Probably came out looking around for you, hoping you’d be there to greet her.”
His heart rate increased. “She told you this? That she loved me?”
Addison laughed. “Evie? With the way she plays things close to the vest? Of course she didn’t tell me. I’d wager she’s never told anybody, but everybody knew it. Well, apparently, everybody but you.”
Could it be true?
“I’m amazed you’re that dense,” Addison said.
Dense.What was it his mother had said when she’d been telling him not to get involved with Evie? That surely he wasn’t dense enough to think Evie would hurt him, that he would do the hurting?
“Well, hell.” It was a lot to take in, but it made sense—sweet, eager to please Evie, who’d always had a smile and time for him. There had been no hesitation from her the first time he’d kissed her. No wonder she’d been ready to have sex—only it wouldn’t have been just sex for her. It would have been making love. She’d been waiting for it. And he’d messed everything up. At that point, what would it have been for him? He didn’t even have to ponder that. Sex. Maybe not just sex. Maybe sex on the way to something else, but sex nonetheless. But not now. He’d traveled a million emotional miles since then.
“You really didn’t know?” Addison brought him back to the present.
“No.” He took a deep breath. “I almost asked her out once. Later I thought it was just as well. Evie’s so smart and focused. Like a million other guys, I just wanted to play pro hockey. I had no backup plan.”
“Turns out you didn’t need one,” Addison pointed out.
“I was lucky, but it looks like I used all my luck up on hockey. As far as Evie goes, I’m hip deep in hell over here.”
“How’s that?”
“I have fallen in love with her.” He’d never said it, even to himself, but there it was.
“Jake!” Addison sounded elated.
“And she won’t have me.”
“Oh.” Her tone hit rock bottom. “That’s no good.”
“No. No good at all.”
“Why won’t she have you? Even with the way you’ve been acting since the divorce, it’s hard to imagine you doing something bad enough for that.”
No way was he going to give Addison chapter and verse of what had gone on with him and Evie. Luckily, she was not as hungry for details as their mother.
“Let’s just say I did something stupid.”
“Then fix it. Do something smart—but only if you’re sure. This can’t be a ‘let’s see what happens’ kind of thing.”
Her words left him cold. Wasn’t that exactly what he’d tried to do?
“I’m sure, Addison. I didn’t know the meaning of the word until now. But maybe I shouldn’t do anything.” This went beyond what he wanted. It had to be what Evie needed.
“Why shouldn’t you?” Addison asked.
“I’ve hurt Evie and, apparently, not just lately if what you say is true. I’ve hurt her with my stupidity, oblivion, and careless disregard for her feelings and our friendship.” The truth of that went straight into his gut and sucked him dry. Maybe he should ask for a trade so she never had to see him again, maybe ask for a team in the coldest climate he could get. That’s what he deserved. “Who’s to say it wouldn’t be best for her if I just left her alone?”
“Not you,” Addison said. “You’re not the one to say. And I think that asking the question says a lot. Don’t make decisions for Evie.”
“She’s made her decision.”
“Has she? Or was she hurt and mad?”
“What’s the difference?”
Addison laughed. “Oh, brother. You have a lot to learn. You should try again. Give yourself another chance, and give her a chance to say yes. As I said, do something smart.”
“What is this smart thing I need to do?”
“Jake, I don’t know. Make a gesture—something big, grand, and wonderful. She’s wanted you her whole life. Make her believe you really want her.”
“Such as?” Addison might be on to something.
“I know! Go on the jumbotron at a game and tell her how you feel. She would love that.”
“She would?” He didn’t think so, but Addison had been spot on until now. Maybe she knew something he didn’t.
“Of course. I would. Any woman would.”
No, not any woman and most especially not Evie. She would be livid. “Evie isn’t going to games,” he said gently.
“Oh,” Addison said. “How about a trip? Somewhere romantic.”
Somehow he doubted that Evie was in any state of mind to go anywhere with him right now—even if he could go.
“I can’t take a trip, Addison. I have games.”
“Yeah, right.” She hesitated, and then burst forth: “Then a hot air balloon ride! Have champagne. And chocolate.” The more Addison talked the more excited she sounded, and why not? These were things she would like—not Evie. “Oh and, Jake? This is the best idea. Get her an engagement ring and make sure it’s bigger than Channing’s, if that’s possible.”
“Don’t you think that would be a little presumptuous of me? Considering she doesn’t even want to talk to me?”
“Since when do you care about being presumptuous?”
She had a point. That sounded like something he might have done at one time. That had been part of his problem.
“Addison, I don’t think...”
“Okay, okay, okay. No engagement ring. Get some other kind of a ring. Emerald and diamond. Or a bracelet—something really nice. And put it in a Louis Vuitton bag. Give it to her in the balloon.”
Despite the state of his heart, Jake had to smile. How many romantic comedies had Addison seen? Nonetheless, she’d been helpful. She was right about the gesture, just not the details of what it needed to be.
Jewelry was tempting because it was easy, but the gesture had to be something hard, something he couldn’t buy.
“Thank you, Addison. You’ve helped me clear my head and given me some good ideas.”
“Great. Just a second.” There were voices in the background. “Jake? I need to go. Somebody needs me. But if you want any help picking a bag and some jewelry, call me.”
“Sure thing, sister. Love you.”
“Love you back, brother.”
That was one consultation he wouldn’t need. He could only imagine Evie’s reaction if he tried to make her climb in a hot air balloon full of presents.
Inasmuch as he knew what not to do to win Evie, he didn’t know what to do. Mindlessly, he moved to the stove, picked up his dirty egg skillet and ran water in it. Evie had said, in no uncertain terms, to never put it in the dishwasher.
He stopped and slowly looked down at the skillet.
And the wheels in his brain began to turn.