Better Than Perfect (14 page)

“I dated your mom in college.” Maybe he shouldn’t have said that.

“Before she married my dad?” Zach’s wide-eyed expression showed his surprise.

“Yeah. For three years. But…” How did it still hurt this much?

“You guys broke up.” Zach nodded, as if he understood.

Yeah. They broke up.

“But now you have a second chance,” Zach added hopefully. “You can start by taking her to the Golden Gate Gala.”

“The Golden Gate Gala?” Sounded like quite the party.

“Yeah, that thing I was telling you about.” Zach shuffled his feet.

“Is it a dressy event?” Johnny asked. “Will I need to wear a tux?”

“Yeah. I guess.” Zach shrugged. Pretending it didn’t matter one way or the other. Which told Johnny it was pretty important. “It’s kind of fancy.”

“I’ll want to get a limo.” A game plan was starting to fall into place.

“So, you’ll take her?” Zach looked at him with such hope in his eyes, Johnny knew he didn’t want to let the kid down. Ever.

“If she’ll go with me.” He wasn’t about to tell the kid that she’d been the one to pull away fourteen years ago. And again last night. She’d pushed him out the door. But this time, he wasn’t going willingly. This time, he’d fight for her.

“Just ask her,” Zach pleaded.

If only it were that simple.

“She has to go. She might as well go with you.”

“You think that’ll work?” Johnny hoped she’d be more enthusiastic at the prospect.

“She’d be crazy to say no.”

“I hope you’re right.” Johnny was starting to like this kid even more. “You got any tips to make sure she says yes?”

“How did you get her to go out with you the first time?” Zach’s curiosity seemed sincere.

“I asked her to dance.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Your dad dragged me to this back-to-school dance on campus.” Johnny smiled at the memory. It had been one of the best days of his life. Right up there with getting drafted. His Major League debut. Pitching a perfect game. “Mel saw this girl hanging off to the side behind the tall speakers by the stage. He thought she was pretty. She was pretty. But Mel was too shy to talk to her. So he talked me into breaking the ice.”

“That wasn’t too smart.” Zach grinned, anticipating the rest of the story. “I can only guess what happened.”

“I walked up to her, to tell her my friend wanted to meet her.” Johnny could see her face even now. “But she looked so perfect. So content. She was dancing. All by herself. But she didn’t look lonely. Not at all. More like she belonged there. So I walked up to her and started dancing with her. Like it was…meant to be.”

“Cool.” If Zach thought he sounded like a lovesick fool, he didn’t show it.

“I guess she thought so.” They’d been inseparable after that. Until he was drafted. And her fear came between them.

“They have dancing at the Golden Gate Gala.” Zach encouraged him. “Maybe you could dance with her again.”

Maybe.

“Hey what are you two conspiring about?” Alice appeared and for a minute, Johnny saw her as she’d been that first night. So beautiful. And completely unaware of her effect on him.

“The Golden Gate Gala.” Johnny stepped forward. It was time for him to make his move. “Zach tells me it’s a fancy party.”

“Oh, yeah. It’s our major fundraiser. I guess I forgot to mention it.” She twisted a strand of her hair. “I don’t expect you to feel obligated or anything.”

“Does that mean you don’t want me to attend?” The old fear that he wasn’t quite good enough lingered.

“Oh, no. I just know it’s not your kind of thing.” She glanced at Zach, as if she wasn’t too happy about him telling Johnny about the event.

“It could be.” Johnny moved closer, close enough to reach out and touch her.

“I forgot something out on the field.” Zach made an excuse to leave the two of them alone. Smart kid.

“You don’t have to make an appearance.” She lowered her gaze. “It’s no big deal.”

“Do you already have a date?” Johnny placed his hand on her shoulder. “Is that why you don’t want me there?”

“A date?” She flinched. At his touch, or the suggestion that she had a date? “Of course not.”

“Would you like one?” He slid his finger under her chin, tilting her head so he could see the surprise in her eyes. “Would you like to go to the Golden Gate Gala with me?”

She was speechless. Stunned by his offer? Or trying to figure out a way to politely decline?

“Please, Ali?” His heart stopped, waiting for her answer. “I really want to take you out in style. I’ll wear a tux. Rent a limo. I’ll even spring for some fancy champagne.”

“I’ll be working.” She hadn’t said yes, but she hadn’t said no, either. “I should skip the champagne.”

“What about the limo?” There’d been a time when he wouldn’t have had to beg.

“Are you sure?” She tilted her face toward his, something like hope shining in her blue eyes. “There will be a bunch of stuffy rich people there.”

“In case you forgot, I’m pretty rich now, too.” She was trying to protect him. He was touched by her concern. “I’ll bring my checkbook. I’d like to contribute to the cause.”

“That’s wonderful, Johnny.” Her voice softened. It was obvious she cared a lot about her foundation.

“Does that mean you’ll go with me?” His heart hammered in expectation. And hope.

She nodded.

“Great. I’ll pick you up on Saturday.” He sealed the deal with a quick kiss. A slight brush of his lips on hers. But it was enough for him to feel her tremble. “Who knows, I might get used to the lifestyle of the rich and famous. It could be fun.”

“There will be reporters,” she warned.

“I can handle a few reporters.”

“Like Rachel Parker?” She had the slightest hint of contempt in her voice. Or was it jealousy?

“You saw the interview?” He tried not to chuckle. It probably looked as uncomfortable as it felt.

“Yes. I did.” She folded her arms across her chest. “She seemed to really like you.”

“I’m sure it’s an act.” He hoped. “Besides, I told her I was seeing someone.”

“Oh?” He saw a flicker of suspicion in her eyes.

“And that was before I even knew about the Golden Gate Gala.”

“You have no idea what you’re getting into.” She uncrossed her arms, her posture relaxed, and her features broke into a teasing grin.

“I think I can use my imagination.” Not to mention his memory. He could recall exactly what he was getting into.

* * * *

“So are you going to the Gala with Johnny?” Zach had waited until they got into the car before bringing up the subject. He didn’t want to sound too eager. But he hoped they would get together.

“Is that what you two were up to? A little matchmaking?”

“Why didn’t you tell me you used to go out with Johnny?” Was he actually having this conversation with his mom?

“Well, that was a long time ago.” Her grip tightened on the steering wheel.

“Did you, like, love him?”

“Yes.” She kept staring straight ahead. Like she was concentrating on the road, but she almost ran a red light. “Yes, I did.”

“Did he love you?”

“Yes. I’m pretty sure he did.”

“Why did you break up, then?” Zach wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer. He had a feeling it had something to do with his dad.

“Johnny was drafted by Kansas City. And we thought…” She pulled up to the next light, stopping in plenty of time. “I thought Johnny would be better off only having to worry about making the team.”

“So you didn’t cheat on him?” Zach had to ask. He had to know. “You didn’t break up because you were with my dad?”

“No.” She turned toward him, a strange look on her face.

“Good. Because I’d hate to think you could have been with Johnny Scottsdale if it wasn’t for me.”

The light changed and she pulled into the intersection.

“Why on Earth would you even ask that?”

“Look, Mom. I’m not stupid.” She’d made sure he knew all about where babies come from. “I know when my birthday is. And I know when you got married. There were a lot less than nine months in between.”

“Oh, Zach.” She braked to let a bus pull into the street.

“I always knew you only married Dad because of me.” It wasn’t that big of a deal. Half his friends were in a similar situation.

“That’s not…” She almost lied to him.

“It is true. Don’t even try to tell me it’s not.” He knew he shouldn’t talk back to her, but he couldn’t help it. This whole situation was too weird.

“Zach.” Her tone was stern. But also kind of sad.

“Sorry. I just wonder if you would have been happier if you’d married Johnny instead.”

“That’s not something I even think about.” She was lying now. He could tell. She didn’t lie very often. Just when she thought it was the only way she could protect him. “I am happy. I wouldn’t trade the life I’ve made for…”

She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t tell him she hadn’t wished she’d been Mrs. Johnny Scottsdale instead of Mrs. Mel Harrison.

“Well, maybe you’ll get a second chance.” He really hoped so. Johnny was cool. So much cooler in real life than he’d ever imagined. “Don’t blow it, okay?”

“Don’t you have homework, young man?” She pulled the car into their driveway. Shut off the engine. Conversation officially over.

He was glad. He had a lot to think about. Like what if she and Johnny did get back together? Would they be happy? Would they want to start a new family?

He thought about what it would be like to have a baby brother or sister. Then he’d be the odd one out. The mistake that they’d be reminded of every time they looked at him. He tossed his backpack on his bed and looked up at the poster of Johnny Scottsdale. The guy who just might become his stepfather.

Did he want Johnny and his mom to get back together because he wanted them to be happy or because he wanted Johnny to be his dad?

He studied the picture closely. He’d never really noticed much more than the uniform. But now he looked at his face. The intense stare. Johnny had really dark brown eyes. Just like his. He had the slightest dimple on the left side. So did he. Johnny had stubble on his chin. He didn’t even have peach fuzz yet.

He looked in the mirror. Was there really a resemblance between him and Johnny? Or did he just want there to be?

Could Johnny Scottsdale be his dad?

No. It was too crazy. His mom wouldn’t lie to him. Not about something important like who his father was.

Would she?

* * * *

The next day, Alice tried to keep her focus on work, but really, there wasn’t much for her to do. By this point, all the kids knew where to go and what to do, and the pro players were comfortable with their roles as mentors. They were working on skills today. Johnny shared his expertise with the pitchers and she wasn’t surprised to find out he was a natural teacher. She’d always known he’d be great with kids. Would make a wonderful father. He’d never thought so. He had too many insecurities caused by his upbringing to feel like he had anything to offer.

She’d always known better.

So why, exactly, had she kept him from proving what a terrific father he could be?

Her insecurities had kept her from fully believing in him. She’d believed he’d make it to the Major Leagues. That he’d be the star he’d become. She just hadn’t believed he would have been satisfied with a small-town girl once he’d hit the big leagues.

Since she couldn’t go back in time and undo her mistakes, she had to be content to be in the present and enjoy watching him work. He gave his complete attention to each boy as if he were the only kid there. While Johnny’s focus was on the player on the mound, he kept the full attention of all the other boys. They knew instinctively that Johnny was something special. His calm, controlled demeanor was contagious. There was no horsing around at Johnny Scottsdale’s station.