Page 40 of Marring an Athlete

“Do you think you can walk, or do you want me to carry you?”

“I can walk,” tumbled out. She didn’t need him carrying her anywhere. In fact, she needed more distance than ever from him.

He studied her. “You sure?”

She nodded. “Yes. Let’s get back. I’m covered in sand, and in desperate need of a shower.”

Michael walked a few feet over to where they’d discarded their clothes. After they were gathered, he kept pace with Anna as she limped through the sand.

Soon they were next to the restaurant. When they got to the front door, it opened, and McKenna and Sam walked out. They were. . . smiling.

“Anna? What happened?” McKenna asked as her gaze swept over Anna.

Anna shrugged. “I went swimming and stepped on a piece of a shell.”

“You poor thing,” McKenna said as she wrapped her arm around Anna’s waist to provide support.

“I’ll survive.”

They started down the sidewalk with Michael and Sam following behind them. When they were out of earshot, Anna turned to McKenna.

“How’d it go in there?”

An uncertain look passed over McKenna’s face. “It was okay. I mean, nothing groundbreaking. But we finally got to talk. Not about babies or shots. But about cooking. It was nice.” A smile tugged on her lips.

Anna nodded. “That’s good. It’s nice to see he’s trying.”

McKenna shrugged. “We’ll see. Hopefully, it’s not just this place and the magic you feel here.”

Anna’s mind wandered as McKenna began talking about the steps they had to take to make the hollandaise sauce. As hard as she tried to focus, Anna couldn’t.

Her thoughts kept racing back to what McKenna had said. Was it true? Was this place some magic universe where it felt as if someone cared about you? Or perhaps, it was a place that allowed you to see only the best in someone, when in reality that relationship wasn’t there.

Part of her wished that it was the first explanation, but a sinking feeling told her that it was the latter. And she couldn’t think about a relationship with Michael. It was never going to happen, here or back in the states.

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