Page 3 of Marring an Athlete

Betsy stared at her, and then over to Michael. “I have really bad eyesight,” she said as she pushed her glasses higher up her nose and then turned and slipped into the back room.

“She wears contacts with glasses?” There was a playful smile that hinted on his lips. His perfect lips. Gah! Why couldn’t he have turned into a troll? Why was he only more good looking? He was no longer the scrawny kid next door. Not when his white t-shirt struggled to contain the muscles underneath.

Heat burned her cheeks as she forced her gaze upwards. He was studying her. She wished she could read his mind. The day after McKenna’s wedding, he left, and she never saw him again. Did he remember their kiss as vividly as she did?

Standing in the coffee shop, he didn’t look like he was torn apart from the mind-bending kiss they’d shared. And she didn’t want to bring it up if it wasn’t even on his radar. So, to save her sanity, she was going to go with—he didn’t remember.

“It’s good to see you, Anna Banana,” he said. He leaned against the counter as if he wasn’t here for just an overpriced drink. She winced at the ridiculous nick name he’d given her when they were kids. But the familiarity of his voice washed over her, rendering her speechless for a moment. Why did he have to come in here at this moment? Right when she was at her lowest low.

He was studying her as if he was expecting her to speak. Right. That’s how a conversation went. She was going to have to talk to Michael. She just prayed that her voice would come out normal.

“Michael,” she squeaked out. Well, there went her plan of not looking like an idiot.

He cocked his head to the side. “It’s been awhile.”

“I’m good,” she said and then stopped. Had he asked her how she was? From the playful smile on his lips, she realized that he had indeed not asked her how she was. Desperate to save herself, she decided to move the conversation forward. “You’re in town. Funny. McKenna didn’t mention that.”

Michael unfolded his arms and rested his hands on the counter, against which he drummed his fingers. For a moment, she thought she detected an uneasy look cross his face. But as quickly as it came, it disappeared. She shook it off. It must have been her imagination.

He shrugged. “Yeah. Thought it was time to come and visit the family.”

Family? Of course, he thought of her as family. Hadn’t he always called her his pseudo-sister? Proof, yet again, that the kiss had meant much more to her than to him.

“That’s nice. McKenna’s going through a rough spot. She definitely needs some more support around her,” Anna said.

After two years, McKenna was losing hope of ever getting pregnant. It didn’t help that the infertility put such a strain on her and Sam. As much as Anna wanted to be a supportive friend, she just didn’t know what to say or do to help her. Anna was so far from even thinking about having kids, that she worried she just irritated her friend instead of helped.

“She’s been telling me,” he said.

Anna studied him. There was something in his countenance. Almost like he was worried. His normally cocky persona was slipping. What was going on?

“Is she okay?” It had been a week since Anna had talked to McKenna, but she couldn’t imagine that anything had happened.

“She wants to talk with the two of us.” Michael drummed his fingers on the counter again.

“She does?” What would McKenna need to talk to the two of them about?

“Yeah, she wanted me to come get you.” He shrugged. “Do you have a break coming up?”

Betsy emerged from the back room. When her gaze fell on Anna, she raised her eyebrows. “What’s going on?” she asked.

Anna glanced back at Michael. “Give me a minute.”

---