Page 8 of Marring an Athlete

“Yeah, I’m sure they’ll be fine.”

Michael grinned as he glanced down at his phone and began typing on the screen. “Perfect. I’ll get this taken care of.”

“Michael, I want you to be sure—”

Michael waved McKenna away. “I’m sure. This’ll be fun,” he said as he pushed open the storm door and made his way back outside.

It slammed against the frame as he disappeared. He’d raised the phone to his cheek, and was already talking to someone.

“That was strange,” Anna said, glancing over at McKenna.

She had a smile on her lips. “That’s Michael. But you know that. Always flying by the seat of his pants.”

Anna sighed. He’d always been like this. Maybe she’d hoped that entering adulthood would help calm him down. But he seemed just as impulsive as he had been as a kid, when he tried to jump from the roof with a parachute he’d made from his favorite Batman sheets.

He blew into every situation like a storm. But it wasn’t like he didn’t care about people. He’d always been there to protect McKenna and Anna. The thought of his big, yet spastic heart, made Anna smile. He definitely kept her on her toes.

McKenna patted her knee. “Thanks for doing this. If Michael pulls it off, it will be really good for Sam and me to have you two there.” She let out a shaky breath as she stared at her hands. “I guess it would be better to learn that we aren’t meant for each other now. Instead of five years down the road to finally decide we shouldn’t be married and have to start over.”

Anna’s heart hurt for her best friend. She didn’t know what to say, so she just smiled over at her. “It will get better, Kenna. And if it doesn’t, Michael and I will be here to help you through it.”

* * *

Exactly twelve hours later, Anna found herself standing at the airport, staring at the jumbo screens in front of her. Lists of current and upcoming flights scrolled past her. Michael had been able to convince the resort to book them last minute and found their seats on the same flights as McKenna and Sam. Anna felt as if her life had done an about-face.

Butterflies were flitting around her stomach as she tried to calm her nerves. She’d never flown before. Ever. Thankfully, she’d gotten her passport a year ago when Patrick had convinced her that a spontaneous trip to Australia was a good idea. But, at the last minute, he decided to take his assistant, Shelly, leaving Anna behind. It was a business trip, right? Besides, the thought of flying terrified her.

If only she’d known that was the trip that would change everything for her and Patrick. Suddenly, Shelly went on every business trip and was at every late-night “meeting”.

Anna groaned as she turned away from the screens. What an idiot she’d been. Believing that all those late-night meetings were really about the advancement of his advertising company and not the advancement of his relationship with Shelly. How had she been so naive? She was too trusting. That is what she should learn from this.

“Get a grip,” she muttered under her breath as she pushed her hair from her face. She wasn’t going to let his memory affect her anymore. Besides, she had to worry about flying across the ocean right now. She needed all her wits about her.

“Oh, no. Anna Banana’s muttering under her breath again.”

Michael’s voice made her heart speed up. She whipped around to see him grinning down at her. His bright blue eyes danced as he wiggled his eyebrows.

She shoved his shoulder. “Why did you do that? You scared me.”

Michael feigned pain as he clutched his shoulder. “Man, since when did you get strong?”

Anna glanced down at her arm. “Since I started watching all those karate movies.”

Michael held up his hands. “Remind me not to tick you off.”

Anna pointed her finger at him. “That’s probably a good plan.”

He chuckled as he wrapped his fingers around the handle of his suitcase and motioned for her to follow him. Anna grabbed her own luggage, and quickened her pace to keep up.

“So, what does Anna Banana have to be angry about?” He glanced over at her. His normal flirtatious disposition had turned serious.

Anna kept pace with him. Was he serious? What that a rhetorical question? She shook her head. There was no reason to confirm that she was the geeky girl who couldn’t even keep a boyfriend, much less a husband. “You don’t want to know.”

Michael stopped. Anna turned to see him staring down at her. “Excuse me, Mrs. Jones. You’re my wife. I care about what you have to say.”

Anna swallowed. How many times had she written Mrs. Jones on her notebook through middle school? Hearing the words leave Michael’s lips caused her heart to pick up speed.

“M-Mrs. Jones?”

---