Let Me Love You (Australian Sports Star Series Book 2) (12 page)

Jenny opened the door. “Oliver! How good to see you. Come on in.” She stepped aside to let him in. “How’s that knee going?”

It’d been a few weeks since the surgery and although he was pain free, Oliver had to keep his time on the legs to a minimum. But it was healing well.

“Oliver!” Erik shouted from the back of the house. “I’m in the study. C’mon in.”

He nodded to Jenny and quickly said, “Improving every day.” Then he joined Erik in the study.

“How are things?” Erik asked.

“All right. Have you heard about the letter from management?”

Nodding, Erik placed his arms on the desk and entwined his fingers. “Yes, I heard,” he said with a solemn voice. “How do you feel about it?”

Oliver shrugged. Management had offered him an assistant coaching role at the club. It’d been the latest offer of the many he’d received. He couldn’t believe how much the news of his early retirement due to injury had spread. There’d been a few offers from the US he wanted to check out, a college near New York as well as one in Michigan. He was very tempted. And then the club had offered him an assistant coaching job with a decent salary attached to it.

When he’d received the diagnosis after the surgery that he wouldn’t be able to play on a professional level anymore, he’d locked himself in the house for a week not speaking to anybody. He’d been so tired and defeated by everything that simply getting through the days was a struggle. It’d been Friday night after he’d come home that Markus and Ty had ignored his wish to be alone and stayed with him until he talked. It’d been a relief to finally talk about the mucked-up-future ahead of him.

“I’m okay. It’s been a long road, and I’m not yet at the end of it, but I’m getting there a little more each day.”

“Very philosophical for you.”

Oliver laughed. “Spent too much time with my parents.” He let out a long breath before he asked, “How would you feel having me fucking up your days not on the field, but right next to you?”

Chuckling, Erik leaned back into his seat. “To be honest, I had to bounce that thought around my head a couple of times. Initially, I was furious, but the idea is growing on me. I think you’d be good with the younger players.”

Relief spread through Oliver, and he was excited that his coach had already started on plans. “You sure you want me to be with the young ones? Mum reckons I’m a bad influence on my nephew.”

Erik nodded. “That thought came to mind as well.” He paused for a minute and looked at Oliver. “I think it’ll do you good to work with the boys. And in all honesty, I reckon you’d be a great coach to them.”

“I’m surprised by your faith in me.”

His coach chuckled again. “Me too, mate. Me too.”

There was a moment’s silence, before Oliver said, “There’s another reason I came to talk to you.”

Erik’s eyes widened, but he remained quiet.

“It’s about Tamara.”

When his coach rubbed his hands over his face, all of Oliver’s best intentions to come clean dissipated.

“I…we…” Oliver sighed. “Look, yes, I admit we had a thing. It kinda happened and—” For the first time in a long time he was actually lost for words. It was harder than he thought. He rested his arms on his knees and stared at the floor. After exhaling a long breath, he said with a shrug, “I miss her.”

“It kinda happened?”

The disapproval was obvious in Erik’s voice. Oliver couldn’t blame him. He’d been warned more than once.

“How many times did I tell you to keep your hands off her?” Erik asked through gritted teeth.

Oliver rubbed his face before he sat up straight to meet his coach’s stare. “I know,” he whispered. “And I’m sorry. But I swear, I didn’t hurt—” The day he’d left her behind in her bed flashed through his mind.

“You were saying,” Erik coaxed him.

“Fuck,” Oliver muttered.

His coach stood with such force the chair nearly tipped over.

Quickly, Oliver stood as well and held up his hands. “Woah, I didn’t…I mean…for fuck’s sake, Coach, I miss her. I fucked up, and I want to have another chance.”

Silence hung in the air, and Oliver carefully watched as Erik’s attitude seemed to back off a little.

“Look,” he said, breaking the silence. “I didn’t play with her. Quite the opposite. I was hoping for something…you know—” Rubbing the back of his neck, he said barely audible, “She’s the one I want.”

Erik’s fury was still obvious. His jaw was clenched, his fists curled at his sides, and Oliver was sure there was a hint of anger in Erik’s eyes. He watched his coach turn and walk over to the window. He stayed quiet, not sure how to handle the situation.

“She told me she wanted to return to Perth to move on.”

Even though Erik couldn’t see him, Oliver still nodded. “I remember her saying she’d moved to a different town, but brought her old life along.”

Erik turned slowly and looked at Oliver. The anger and fury in his eyes had eased. “She told you?”

“We talked. We talked a lot.”

“Did you hurt her?”

Oliver pinched his lips with his thumb and finger. “I was an asshole. I asked her about Jason, but when she inquired about Erin I snapped.” He stepped closer to the desk. “That’s why I need to apologise.”

“Jenny and I never had kids. Tammy is like a daughter to me.” He let out a breath and sat down. “We’ve spent lots of holidays with her and her parents.”

Oliver’s heart started racing when he watched his coach looking through his drawers and grabbed an address book.

“That’s her phone number and that’s her current address. She’s moved back to her parents. I’ll let my sister Britt know you’ll be in contact.”

Relief rushed through Oliver. “Thanks, mate. I really appreciate it.”

As Erik handed him the little note, he said, “Don’t stuff this one up. I swear, if you do, I’ll do my best to take the offer off the table. If you have the job by then, I’ll make your life not worth living.”

Oliver chuckled, but when he saw Erik’s stern look, he stopped. “Understood.”

“Now get out of here before I change my mind!”

“Again, thanks.”

Oliver turned and left as fast as he was able to. He had to organise a ticket to Perth. No way would he stuff up this opportunity.

Chapter Eight

A week later, Oliver landed in Perth early Friday morning. It’d been a busy week with doctors’ appointments, a quick trip to his parents’ for the weekend to discuss the various offers, as well as a few nights out with Markus and Ty to get their opinions as well. Not on Tamara. He hadn’t told anybody about his intentions to fly to Perth instead of giving her a call. But to discuss the offer to coach along Erik. The guys agreed that, considering his playing career was over, and he didn’t want to move overseas, this was ideal. The money was okay, but it was here in Melbourne, and it was close to what he loved doing.

Thursday morning he’d met with the management to talk through details and agreed to give it a go as soon as he was cleared by the doctors to work again.

Oliver exited the plane, and only a few minutes later grabbed his bag from the baggage claim hall. He spent the next twenty minutes signing the paperwork for his car before he finally drove to the hotel. He’d booked a small hotel outside Perth that was close enough to the address he’d been given. The intention was to check in, have a quick shower, and then call in at Tamara’s. Another wave of doubt rose within him, whether he should simply show up at her door or call, but he decided he needed to see her.

His phone buzzed and the display showed him it was Ty.

“Hey, mate, where are you? I’ve been trying to get hold of you all morning.”

Oliver walked over to the window with only a towel wrapped around his waist. Considering how much to say, he finally said, “I’m in Perth.”

There was a brief silence, before Ty answered. “Tamara?”

“I’ve gotta do it, mate.”

“Do it or her?”

Oliver chuckled even though he felt like placing his hands around his friend’s neck. “Fuck off. What d’you want?”

“Katie’s gone to her parents for the weekend. I thought it’d be a good opportunity to catch up.”

Oliver’s chuckle turned into a laugh. “You’re spending too much time with a girl. You only saw me the other day.”

He was able to hear his friend breathing. “Mate, I just wanna make sure you’re okay. Tell me what you’re doing in the west?”

“Seeing Tamara. I thought we had that established.”

“Why?”

Oliver leaned his head against the cold window and closed his eyes. Wasn’t that the hundred thousand dollar question—why?

He’d fallen for her, and he missed her. Every day for the last few weeks, she was the one he thought of when he woke in the morning, and she was the one he thought of when he went to sleep at night. And even if she wanted to never see him again, good manners told him he needed to apologise. Possibly not good manners, but his ego needed it.

“I need to apologise, Ty.”

“Mate, I’m sure they have phones in the west,” his friend said.

Opening his eyes again, he took in the view in front of him. The pool on the ground floor was busy with young kids splashing around, and their parents sunbathing on the lounge chairs. In the distance, he saw a park with a small fountain feature. It looked like a nice area to live in.

“Oliver?”

Ty’s voice hauled him back.

“Tyson, you travelled eight hours to talk to Katie when the newspaper reported all this crap about you and Anita,” he said. “This is a lousy four hour flight. Out of all people you should understand.”

Oliver listened as he heard the coffee machine brewing in the background, and he made a note to get some coffee before going to Tamara’s.

“No worries, mate,” Tyson finally said. “Good luck. Give me a call when you have a moment and let us know how things went.”

Oliver dressed, grabbed the car keys, and left. It took him about half an hour until he arrived at his destination—Tamara’s. Taking a couple of deep breaths to calm him down, he switched off the engine and got out of the car. As he shut the door, his gaze wandered up and down the streets, taking in the neighbourhood. It looked like a fine area. Nervously, he double checked the house number before he walked towards the door. It seemed to take him an eternity to get there.

He knocked, and a petite woman with very short, grey hair and intense blue eyes, which reminded him of Tamara, opened the door.

“Good afternoon, ma’am. I’m Oliver—”

The lady smiled. “I know who you are. Erik told me you’d be coming.” She held out her hand and said, “I’m Britt Curtis, Tamara’s mother.”

Oliver shook her hand. “Nice meeting you, Mrs. Curtis.”

“Please call me Britt.” She stood aside and opened the door. “Come on in, Oliver. Tamara should be home soon. She had to drop something off at the university.”

As he followed Britt to the back of the house into the kitchen, he took in the familiar voice, the way she moved, and was surprised how much she reminded him of her brother, Erik.

“Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?”

“No thanks, I’ve just had one.”

Britt turned and nodded. “Well, young man. I have to finish my work in the backyard. Tamara shouldn’t be far away. If you go up these stairs—” She pointed to her left. “Her apartment is on the second floor.”

He stared at her as if he hadn’t heard her right. Was she really letting him alone in Tamara’s apartment? Erik must’ve put a big word in for him.

“Thank you. I appreciate it.”

Oliver walked up the steps to the second floor. There was a little landing in front of the door. He gave the door a little push with his finger and stepped in. Looking around, he admired the small place Tamara had called home for the last few weeks. The nicely sized apartment had well-maintained hardwood floors. The big windows offered great lighting in the living room. At the opposite end of the entrance was a small fireplace, which, with the high ceilings and exposed bricks, gave the place a warm, welcoming atmosphere. He walked towards the sofa and saw a small kitchen on the right, as well as a small bedroom and bathroom next to it.

Curiosity overcame him, and he stepped into her bedroom. It was decorated in warm colours as well, with a few photos on the wall. When he looked closer, he noticed they were nature shots—really good ones. Oliver recognised Erik, Jenny, and Britt in some of the photos on the chest of drawers, and assumed the man next to Britt to be Tamara’s father. He was surprised, not to see any pictures of Jason. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted a frame which lay upside down in the back corner. He picked it up and raised an eyebrow when he saw the person in the picture.

“Well, whatta you know,” he said to himself.

A surge of hope rushed through him as he carefully placed the photo back onto the chest of drawers. With a smile, he went back into the lounge room.

***

Tamara stared at the car in front of the house, but didn’t recognise it. She assumed her mother had one of her friends over for afternoon tea. It wasn’t unusual for her friends to drop in for a little chat.

She walked into the house and threw her bag on the stairs.

“Hi Mum, I’m home,” she called out and followed the sound of banging pots in the kitchen.

“Hello darling.” Britt gave her a kiss on the cheek.

Tamara looked around and took in the mess. There was a pile of vegetables and some meat. “What’s for dinner?”

“Soup,” her mother replied without giving more details, knowing too well that Tamara wasn’t a big fan of soup. “How was your day?”

“I picked up a couple of books. That’ll keep me busy for the next few days.” She took some cake before she continued. “By the way, whose car is that outside?”

Britt slapped herself against the forehead. “Oh my. I almost forgot.” She turned and said, “You’ve got a visitor upstairs?”

Eyes wide and almost choking on the piece of cake, she mumbled, “What?”

“A young man from Melbourne,” she explained. “Uncle Eric knows him, that’s why I was happy to let him in. What’s his name again? I swear getting old is no fun.”

Still stunned, Tamara asked, “You let a stranger in my apartment?” Turning on her heels and without waiting for her mother’s reply, Tamara grabbed her bag and raced upstairs. She took two steps at a time, and by the time she made it to her front door, she was out of breath with her heart racing twice as fast as usual.

It wasn’t because she was out of shape, but because of who was apparently behind that door—Oliver.

She opened the door, and there he was sitting on her sofa, eyes closed, and it seemed he was asleep. Not sure whether to cry or laugh, she walked over and gave him a gentle nudge against his leg. His eyes flew open straight away and, unexpectedly, took her by surprise.

Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, he stood.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice sounding shaky even to herself.

He smiled, and even though she wasn’t sure why, she cursed for reacting to it with tingles down her spine.

“How are you?” he asked, reaching for her hand, but Tamara stepped back.

Oliver dropped his gaze down to the floor, and a pang of guilt shot through Tamara.

“Oliver?” He met her gaze, and she said, “Why are you here?”

With a casual shrug, he replied, “I need to apologise. I treated you badly after we…after—”

“You slept with me?” she finished for him.

Nodding, he moved away and walked over to the window. She watched him and noticed how he still walked with the slightest limp. Her head went dizzy, not able to follow the conflicting instructions from her brain and her heart. Her heart was telling her to walk over and hug him. Yet, her brain had other ideas, telling her the opposite. Stay away and keep cool.

“I never meant for this to happen, I never meant to hurt you.” He paused to look at her. “The whole thing, you and me—” He shrugged.

“A fling?” she finished again.

He shook his head. “Is that what it was for you?”

Looking away, she took a deep breath. No, it hadn’t, but she needed it to be. He was in Melbourne, her life was in Perth. She was a widow, and although he’d lost someone dear as well, they grieved in different ways. Tamara wanted to change her life, and he needed to find his place again after his knee surgery.

“Yes, it was,” she said with as much confidence as possible.

“Bullshit,” he said.

“Excuse me?”

Another shrug as he looked away again. Tamara didn’t say anything, assuming he wanted to focus on the conversation again after his outburst.

“I don’t believe you. For me, being with you is different. For the first time there was more to it than just sex,” he whispered. “For the first time I
felt
being with a woman.”

Her heart beat a little faster when he mentioned
different
, and at times she felt like butterflies turning over in her stomach. Tamara’s anger dissipated, and yearning crept up in her. It would be so easy to walk over to kiss him and forget about what had happened.

Leaning against the window with both hands, he continued, “And I can’t stop thinking you did too.”

“Why did you leave?”

Without looking at her, he replied, “I thought I was ready to begin again, but when you asked me about Erin…it hurt so much…it was like—” Letting out a long sigh, he turned. “I’m so sorry I left you behind that day.”

“So am I,” she whispered as she sat on the couch. “You’re obviously not as ready as you thought you were.”

But deep inside, she knew telling him he wasn’t ready for a relationship was only an excuse to take some of the guilt she felt. It’d made her decision to move back easier. She would’ve fallen for Oliver, in fact she already had, and that was exactly what she didn’t need. Her new intent was to move on and change her life. Not change the man she was with.

When Erik had told her about the petty cash accusation and that the story had been made up by Cindy, Tamara had known that she’d never be happy in the office. Although proven wrong, staff would always remember the issue and it’d always be in the back of their minds. She’d always liked the idea of working with children, and moving back with her parents gave her the financial freedom to change her career without having to worry too much.

Oliver brought her back from her thoughts. “Why did you run away?”

What did he say? Run away? He’d been the one who’d run away. “I didn’t,” she exclaimed.

“You did. You packed up and left.”

She sighed. Yes she had. But not from him. At least, he was only one small part of the reason.

“I’m sorry. I had the best intentions to call, but then things happened so fast. The thing with Cindy—” Looking up at him, she asked, “You know about that, right?”

He nodded. “What a lot of crap that was. Why—”

Tamara held up her hand. “It was a real eye opener. I would’ve always been
the one
who was accused. I know, they apologised and such, and I believe Cindy’s gone, too, but lying in my bed those few nights, I had a lot of time to think. The end of the lease came up, Mum and Dad agreed for me to move back in. I’m going to study Teaching Children with Special Needs.”