Playing the Field (Hot-Lanta Series) (8 page)

             
“You better not tell anyone what you know, Lucy.”

             
Lucy glared Molly up and down with a disgusted look on her glasses covered face.

“I’
m not going to tell anyone what I know because that’s not who I am, it’s not my place to tell and also because I respect Austin’s wishes. But by no means believe for one second that I am doing you a favor. I think you are a piece of trash of a mother and an egotistical woman who cares about no one’s feelings but your own. Grow up Molly your fiancé might be dead but that doesn’t mean you can act like everyone else is dead and treat them like they don’t have feelings. Be a grown up and face your problems, stop hiding behind them because if you continue down the path you’re going you’re only going to lose your daughter and Austin, the only two good things going on in your life.”

             
Lucy pushed Molly off of her and walked out of the dressing room with her head held high and her glasses pushed back on her nose like the stuck up bitch that she was.

How fucking dare Lucy
talk to her like that? Where did she grow the nerve to say such horrible things? She had no clue what Molly went through and all the crap that was thrown her way in the last two years. She had no fucking clue.

Molly downed her second drink and asked for another one as she pulled herself together and modeled off the dress like a good bridesmaid. Fuck Lucy
, she could go to hell was the mantra Molly repeated in her head as she showed off the dresses Jane picked out for them.

                            ***

              Brady was getting ready in the locker room when his phone started to ring. He looked down and saw that it was Jane calling. He felt relief pass through his bones. He was exhausted from Austin’s adventures in head board banging as well as not having a very good game the other night that he needed to hear her voice.

             
“Hey baby, how are you?”

             
“Hey handsome, I miss you.”

             
“God, I miss you even more. I can’t even describe to you how great it is to hear your voice.”

             
“Is everything ok?”

             
Brady knew Jane was always worried about him when he was on the road and rightfully so because he unfortunately became very dependent upon Jane’s love and when he was away it was harder for him to function. He was a dependent, sap of a man ever since he met Jane but he wouldn’t give up their love for anything.

             
“Yea, you know how I get. Man, you’ve really messed up my away stats. Ever since I have started dating you my away stats are worse than my home stats. I need you to start traveling with me, I’m sure the organization will be on board given the fact that you will help produce more runs through making me a happier man.”

             
Jane laughed. “I know I’m sorry. Once the wedding is over I will have some more free time thanks to Lucy. Having her and Patty running the events for me have been amazing and I will have more time to travel around with you.”

             
“I can’t wait! So what’s up sweet thing?”

             
“I was just calling to tell you we picked out the bridesmaid dresses yesterday and there seemed to be an odd tension between Lucy and Molly and Patty for that matter. I don’t know what to do, Brady. Molly seems to have really taken a turn for the worst and is not herself at all. It’s like she has turned into ultra-bitch and is mean to anyone in her path. She’s just going through the motions with me, her body is present but her heart and mind are nowhere to be found. It makes me feel sad because I feel like she doesn’t want to be a part of this, for our wedding. I really wish I had my best friend helping me, not the shell of her body, you know?”

             
“I know, babe.” Brady said sympathetically. “You have to remember though, the last wedding she was helping plan was her own wedding and we both know how that turned out. I bet you she is just really tense because it is bringing back bad feelings for her. Give her some time I’m sure things will get better.”

             
“You’re right, thanks handsome. So I booked the St. Regis. They were very accommodating and were able to fit us in on the tenth of July. So that means we will be married in three weeks. My god, I cannot wait to be Mrs. Matthews.”

             
“That’s fantastic, babe. I can’t wait either. Are you going to be able to get a dress in that amount of time?”

             
“You’re cute for being concerned but yes I am. My good friend works at a bridal shop we already picked out a dress and it’s being altered as we speak.  Don’t worry I got it all covered. Invites are being sent out tomorrow and everything is in motion.”

             
“I don’t doubt you one bit pip-squeak.”

             
“Hey have you talked to Michael? Is he going to be in the wedding?”

             
“Yes I did, he said he would be honored and said he would take us out to dinner when we get back to Atlanta to celebrate. He was really awesome about everything and said he could not be happier for us.”

             
Brady knew Jane was worried about Michael’s reaction to the proposal. They all hung out on occasion and clearly kept in touch but they were not as close as they used to be, at least Jane. Michael and Jane always felt sad about the fact that they were unable to rekindle what they used to have so the fact that Michael wants to be in the wedding and take them out to dinner is a big step in the right direction toward reconciling their friendship.

             
“Good I’m glad. Alright, I have to go and make some phone calls. Good luck tonight handsome. Hit a homerun for me!”

             
“I’ll try, if we had some Skype sex last night I’m sure I would be able to hit one no problem.”

             
Jane always was shy during phone or Skype sex. He thought she was so cute the way she stuttered in describing what she was doing or was so nervous getting off in front of a camera but Brady loved it. It brought out the innocence that initially made him fall in love with her.

             
“Brady, you’re not going to quit with that are you?”

             
“Nope, I love it. Skype date tonight?”

             
Jane groaned in the phone. “Yes, but this time I want you to show me you locked the door because Marc walking in last time made me just about die. I’m already shy as it is, I don’t need an audience.”

             
“You have my word on it and you know I didn’t mean for that to happen. There is no way I want that horn dog Marc to see my girl naked.”

             
“I know, alright see you tonight. Love you, handsome.”

             
“I love you, sweet thing.”

                                          ***

              Lucy got home and decided to take a bath. The last couple of days had been rough. She could not believe the way Molly treated her in the dressing room the other day, it still was bothering her. Lucy knew Molly was going through a rough time, Jane talked about Molly’s troubles on occasion but Lucy didn’t believe that Molly should be treated differently. It had almost been two years since Luke’s death; Molly should not get a pass any more on life. Lucy felt Molly needed to deal with her problems instead of running away from them as well as stop treating people like crap.              

             
Lucy hated the way Molly treated Austin. The only reason Molly was an absolute bitch to Lucy in the dressing room was because Molly felt threatened. For some odd reason Molly didn’t want anyone knowing about her and Austin which didn’t make much sense to Lucy. Who would want to keep being in a relationship with Austin a secret? Lucy would shout it to the world that she was in a relationship with such a man…if she ever had the opportunity.

             
Lucy grabbed a bottle of wine, turned on some soothing music and slipped into her bath tub. She needed to wash the day away and unwind. She had been so tense lately with her new job and dealing with Austin.

Now that they were near each other again it was hard to keep her feelings in check. She knew Austin would n
ever feel the same way she felt about him, she knew that. He always looked at her as a sister type figure and nothing more. He occasionally joked around about her being attractive and occasionally flirted but Lucy knew it was nothing serious. She knew Austin was just doing it to be nice. He fell for girls like Molly, not her.

             
Lucy was emptying the rest of her bottle and feeling pretty good when her phone rang. Austin was calling. What did he want? He probably wanted to talk about how hot Molly was or how perfectly perfect and round Molly’s boobs were. Gag.

             
“Hellloooooo.” Lucy said drawing out the word.

             
“Hey Luce, what’s going on girl?” Austin said in a questioning tone.

             
“Oh you know just lying in my tub, completely naked and drunk. What are you up to?”

             
“Naked huh? That sounds pretty nice.”

             
“You actually wouldn’t know Austin.” Lucy said snidely.

             
“Hey, Lucy what’s wrong. Is something bothering you?” Austin sounded concerned.

             
Thanks to the wine Lucy was feeling pretty feisty so she decided to not hold anything back.

             
“I hear you made quite the ruckus the other night with that hooker of a girlfriend you have.”

             
Austin was silent for a second. Lucy was about to hang up when Austin said, “You know Lucy, you don’t have to be rude. Molly is going through a rough time.”

             
That was it Lucy could not take it anymore. She was sick of everyone defending Molly for what happened two years ago.

             
“You’re fucking kidding me right now, please tell me you are. It has been two years, Austin. Two fucking years! She should be moving on with her life and accepting what happened, not using you purely for sex and pawning her daughter off onto Luke’s parents. She is irresponsible and frankly a bitch. Did you know she threatened me in the dressing room the other day? Of course not because that would require her to actually have a conversation with you, not just shoving your dick down her throat. She is always complaining about how the world is against her, she’s pathetic. I’m so tired of it and I’m tired of hearing about how she won’t commit to you when there are other people in the world who would love to commit to you Austin. Who would love to call you their boyfriend and show you off to the world but you are too fucking blind to see that.”

             
Lucy was out of breath. She didn’t even want to hear his response so she hung up the phone, drained the tub, grabbed her short robe and made her way to the couch. She was not going to deal with Austin’s lame excuses about Molly any more. If he wanted to talk to someone about her he could find someone else. Lucy grabbed another bottle of wine and turned on her TV to her favorite channel; Turner Classic Movies. She didn’t care what was playing, she just needed some simplicity in her life.

                                          ***

              Austin sat on his couch stunned. Lucy had never talked to him with such hatred and vehemence in her voice.

Frankly
, he was a little insulted that she hung up on him and would not pick up his return calls. If she was not going to answer his phone calls then he was just going to go see her. He had known Lucy since high school and they never got in fights and he didn’t like how the feeling of them fighting was settling in his stomach. He felt uneasy about it and needed to solve whatever was going on between them.

             
On the drive over to Lucy’s apartment, Austin thought about what Lucy said at the end of her rant. He was too blind to see other people around him? Was she talking about herself? Is that why she was so mad? She had a crush on him?

He always thought she might have had a crush on him
but not to the point where she would blow up on the phone. He thought it was an innocent little school girl crush. Maybe she was talking about someone else she knew. Then again, why would she be so passionate about someone else’s feelings for him? He was so confused.

             
He got to Lucy’s apartment and let himself in, thank god she gave him a key. He walked into her apartment and instantly noticed the empty wine bottle on the counter. That could explain a few things. He looked around and saw Lucy on her couch with a glass of wine crying. What the hell?

             
He walked toward her and she did not even glance at him when he sat right next to her. He put his hand on her leg and rubbed it gently in a friendly like manner. She looked up at him tears filling her eyes. He put his arms around her and brought her into a hug.