Page 90 of Off Court Fix

“Wait,” she hisses as I step out onto the balcony. “What are you doing?”

Leaning over the railing, I sigh in thought. “Taking care of the flowers,” I tell her before I pull myself up on the railing and reach for the gutter. “Ofmyflower.”

I would’ve bet that the chances of me joining the circus as an acrobat were higher than me climbing out of a window—or off a balcony—in my damn forties, but from the jump, not one piece of my relationship with Maxine has gone as expected. So I find myself hitting the pavement barefoot, not at all surprised.

And even though I think I pulled my groin, when I hear, “Get your hand off me,” I know it was the right decision.

Trying to be as stealthy as possible while sprinting isn’t easy, but I make it to the shed and grab the bucket of gardening tools. Turning back to the house, I run quickly with them clanging around at my side. I bang on the glass of the French doors, thenharderwhen I see exactly what I heard—Maxine’s father, Ted Draper, gripping her arm. One more smack of my fist and the small pane of glass would shatter, I know it.

Both of their faces turn to me, her father’s confused with narrowed, pensive eyes, and Maxine’s, well, she looks both relieved and concerned.

Ted drops her arm, and Maxine slides over to unlock the door. When I hear the click, I drop the bucket, but grab the gardening shears before going inside.

“Everything alright in here?” I ask, stepping in front of Maxine, putting myself between her and her father. She tugs lightly at the end of my shirt, which no doubt looks like it spent the night crumbled in a ball on the floor, but I couldn’t care less. “I was just pulling up that weed beside the gutter and heard some shouting.”

“Aren’t you...”

“The manager at the club, yes. Crosby King.”

The asshole cocks a brow. “And that umpire?” He looks at Maxine, who clears her throat from behind me.

“That’s beyond over,” she says emphatically, like she means it. “I hired Crosby to handle the garden. He tends to all the flowers at the club. I’ve been paying that company a small fortune, and everything looks awful. Grandma would’ve been horrified.”

Ted tilts his head. “Crosby?”

“Oh, my god. I held it the entire bus ride!” Alyssa’s voice sounds from the front of the house as she comes down the stairs. “I cannot pee on buses, even the really fancy ones. I mean, those bathrooms are worse than airplane ones, am I right?” She slides up against the counter beside Maxine’s father, whose eyes bounce between me and Maxine.

“You’re the gardener?” Ted presses again.

I flatten my lips. “I wear many hats. Umpire, club manager, landscaper. And I’m the kind of guy who can’t stand to see someone taken advantage of. Whoever’s been taking care of Maxine... Maxine’s flowers, has been doing her dirty.” I raise the hand holding the shears and scratch my head. “I want to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

Maxine steps around me, and I want to grab her and yank her back to where she’s safe. It’s not just about her father putting his hands on her. It’s about how he looks at her, and I’m not sure she sees it because I know love is blind. It’s as equally as blind as greed, and Maxine can’t see it, but that’sallthat fills her father’s eyes.

“I see,” he says, nodding before looking to Alyssa. “You were right about the car after all.”

She shrugs, reaching for an orange in the bowl on the table, and begins to peel it. “I thought so. You were here a few weeks ago, right, Crosby? With those potters?”

Maxine nods at Alyssa, but my gaze remains on her father, who finally shuffles his feet.

“Get dressed,” he tells Maxine. “I’ll take you to the club. We’ll talk after you hit with Jack.”

I contemplate actually exiting the scene this time and slashing his tires.

I watch the rise and fall of Maxine’s shoulders as she takes a deep breath. “I think we’ve both said everything we’ve needed to say. I needed extra sleep today. Jack and I will hit at ten thirty.”

Her father’s eye twitches, and his jaw tightens. I squeeze the handle of the shears in my hand. But I’m back in this damned if I do, damned if I don’t situation.

“You know, I think I forgot my comb and clips. Can you give me a ride to the beauty supply store before you go to the club? Let’s hurry, and we can leave Crosby to deal with your garden.” She tugs on Maxine’s hand.

I like her now. Because what she’s saying out loud without the words is Maxine isn’t alone.

“A trim,” her father adds. “Just those snaggy ends.”

This guy is a real piece of work.

He taps his hand on the counter twice as if he’s announcing his departure, but what he doesn’t know is I’d give him a one-man parade if he would get the fuck out of this house and away from his daughter.

“I’ll call you later, kiddo.”

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