Unexpected, p.15
Unexpected, page 15
An hour later, Colin again found a spot in the corner, and waited for Walker to begin his speech. Walker stood at the far end of the bar, the spotlight trained on him. Jimmy, off the grill for the first time that evening, was at his shoulder, and they were joined by Evan. Colin had glimpsed Shelly and her mother in the thick of the crowd, and he’d melted into the background. Coward that he was, he knew he’d have to deal with her at some point, but not in the middle of this party.
“Is this thing on?” Walker tapped the mic. “Although if you know me, most of you would say I have a big enough mouth that I don’t need this.”
The crowd laughed, and despite himself, Colin grinned.
“Thank you all for coming this evening. This benefit is something I’ve been wanting to do for the longest time. While some of us grew up knowing where our next meal came from or never worrying about a roof over our head, way too many kids live in fear of homelessness and suffer from hunger. You might not know it to look at them now, but it could be your neighbor, friend, or lover.”
It was suddenly hard to breathe, and sweat broke out across Colin’s brow.
“We need to remove the stigma of poverty and look past it to the people who live with it every day. I’m not going to claim that what we’re doing tonight is a cure-all. Far from it. But if it shines a light on the problem and gets you thinking, that’s a start. And help begins with the kids—getting them off the street and into activities that teach them teamwork and leadership in a safe space. Because if we can’t guarantee safety for our children, we’ve failed them. And I don’t know about you, but I refuse to be that person who looked away or walked on by when I could do something to help.”
Applause broke out, and someone shouted from the crowd, “That’s right, Walk-Off. It’s all about the kids.”
Walker waited for the clapping to stop. “Before the benefit tonight, thanks to generous donations from Major League Baseball, the NBA, NFL, and NHL, we’ve raised over three hundred thousand dollars. Private donations have raised an additional seventy-five thousand. While this sounds like a lot, we need as much as we can get to pay for the continuing expenses on the community center and playing field. In addition to the money I’ve personally given, I’m donating the uniforms, and Evan is taking care of the equipment. So, please. I urge you to take a look at all the incredible items up for sale and dig a little deeper if you’ve already given and give again. For the kids.”
Colin found himself cheering along with everyone else, and he watched Walker scan the crowd, his eyes lighting up when they reached him. With his thick, dark hair and sensual blue eyes, he could’ve been a movie star. He had that “it” quality.
“One final thing. None of this would have been possible without the incredible event planners I hired for the occasion. Make sure you give it up for Pinnacle Event Planners. Alan, Dustin, and especially Colin, who is here tonight with his assistant, Iris, poured their everything into making sure this event knocked it out of the park for a grand slam. Don’t you think they did? Colin, get up here.” Walker waved to him.
He was so going to kill him. Colin preferred to remain in the shadows, but now that every single eye was trained on him, he had no choice but to make his way through the crowd to the front, where Walker threw his arm around him and hugged him tight.
“This is Colin Brightman, who made sure everything you touched, ate, or drank today was perfect. I’ve worked with other event coordinators before, but Colin and his team are definitely a cut above the rest. Now I don’t know about you, but I have some memorabilia I need to buy and some mini hot dogs to scarf down. What do you say? Let’s party!”
The DJ began to blast the music. Colin made a move to walk away, but Walker’s hand remained clamped on his shoulder.
“Don’t you dare,” Walker murmured, and despite his resolve to be strong, his body tingled.
“I have to check on things.” God, why did Walker’s touch make him weak?
“It’s all great. And you have a very competent assistant. She knows what to do.” Hot breath touched his ear. “Stay with me a little. I haven’t had a chance to talk to you all night.”
“That’s because I’m not here to talk.”
“Well, I’m the boss, right? I’m telling you to stay with me.” His grin was infectious, and damn his heart, but Colin couldn’t help yearning for him.
“What do you want to talk about?”
Hyperaware of Walker’s hand on his shoulder, Colin stood still, captured by the depth of desire in those smoky blue eyes.
“You. Why have you been hiding from me?”
Am I that obvious?
“I haven’t. I have a job to do.”
And before he lost his will, he quickly walked away even though he wanted to remain by Walker’s side. In front of one of the tables filled with hockey merchandise, he waited for his thumping heart to settle into place.
“Colin?”
It fucking couldn’t be. Colin’s stomach twisted, and he thought he might be sick as he turned to face his ex-husband for the first time in three years. He’d often daydreamed about meeting Brad and seeing him sad, lonely, and pathetic, but Brad stood in front of him, fitter than ever, tanned, and even more handsome than when they were together. He wore an expensive suit, his skin glowed, and a diamond glittered in his ear.
“What’re you doing here? Is Anthony with you?”
Brad’s smile gleamed toothpaste white. “That was over a few months after our divorce. My boyfriend is one of the personal trainers to a guy on the Jets. The team bought a bunch of tickets and gave them out to the players, and Wade got two. That’s him over there. See?” He pointed to a group of big men hanging by Jimmy’s grill, their thick muscles bulging at the seams of their dress shirts. “He’s the blond in the blue shirt. We’ve been together two years.” He crossed his arms and leaned in close. “Hot as hell, right?”
Why the fuck would Brad think he cared?
“I have to get back to work.” He walked away, but Brad followed, dogging his steps.
“Seeing anyone?” Brad snickered, and Colin’s stomach cramped with humiliation. “Of course you’re not. You need a PA, not a husband. Sex was always way down on your to-do list. That’s why I did what I did.”
Head held high, Colin strode faster, but Brad kept pace.
“Come on. You can’t still be upset about what happened. It’s been three years. Time to move on.”
He whipped around. “I have, and I’d like to keep moving on, but you’re following me.”
“Colin? Everything okay?” Walker appeared at his side.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” Colin squared his shoulders. “It’s only my ex, Brad.”
“Walk-Off Scanlon?” Brad’s jaw dropped. “I was hoping I’d get to meet you. I’m Brad.” He extended his hand, but aside from a slight tightening of his jaw, Walker ignored Brad and instead focused on him.
Colin almost flinched at the compassion in the blue depths of Walker’s eyes, but pride kept him strong. All he wanted was for this wretched day to end so he could go home and crawl under the covers.
Walker leaned over and kissed Colin full on the mouth. Taken off guard, his lips softened under Walker’s hungry ones, and when they parted, he reeled, while Walker remained insufferably cool and collected as he said, “Just wanted to check on you, baby, to make sure you don’t need anything.”
Still dizzy, he managed to mumble, “Uh, yeah. I’m okay.”
Walker rubbed his cheek against Colin’s. “You’re better than okay. I have to get back to the guests, but I’ll find you later, ’kay? We haven’t decided whether it’s my place or yours tonight.”
Colin stared at Walker, blinking. What the hell game was the man playing?
“I’ll let you pick,” Walker added. He brushed their lips together, and then, with a hand curved lightly around his neck, he finally acknowledged Brad, who stood with his mouth open and eyes comically wide. “You said your name was Brad?”
“Yeah, Brad Dansk. Colin’s ex-husband. I’m a big fan of yours.”
“Mm. Thanks. Too bad I can’t say the same.” Lips thin with annoyance, Walker raised a brow. “I don’t like cheaters. In baseball or in the bedroom.” He turned on his heel and disappeared into the crowd.
“How the fuck did you get together with someone like Walker Scanlon?” Brad hissed at him, but Colin simply walked away, still in a fog of confusion over Walker’s kiss.
He’d hoped to make it to the kitchen where he could process what the hell had happened, but when he heard his name called, he couldn’t ignore the person and stopped to face his grade-school teacher. “Hello, Mrs. O’Reilly.”
Over her shoulder, several steps away, Shelly hovered, trying hard to pretend she wasn’t listening but failing miserably. Colin’s lips twitched.
“Colin. I’m so glad to see you again.” Behind her glasses, her eyes were genuine and warm. Exactly as he remembered.
“I am as well. I’m so sorry I ran out on you that night. It was a shock. I hadn’t expected to see you, and I overreacted.”
“A ghost from the past?” Her smile was kind.
“I guess you could say so. I never expected my then and now to collide. But please accept my apology. It’s a pleasure to see you.”
“None needed. You look wonderful. And I’m so proud of all you accomplished.” Her eyes narrowed, studying his face, which, it seemed, was no longer capable of hiding the truth. Between the frantic preparation for the event over the past month, the shock of seeing Brad, and that incredible kiss from Walker, he was so damn tired of holding everything inside. His seams were frayed and about to break apart. As if intuiting his inner turmoil, Mrs. O’Reilly said, “Why do I have a feeling things weren’t all smooth sailing?”
Nothing in his life had ever been. But Mrs. O’Reilly deserved to know the truth, because without her help and unwavering faith in his abilities, he wouldn’t be standing where he was at that moment.
“Does anything worthwhile come easily? I won’t go into details, but it was…hard being the odd man out at a school where the average Christmas vacation is ski trips to the Swiss Alps or Aspen, while I spent my winters navigating sidewalk corners, hoping not to land in ankle-deep slush.”
Understanding blue eyes met his. “A difficult transition, then.”
Was that it? Colin thought for a moment. “Actually, no. There was no transition because I never fit in and wasn’t given a chance. And all those years ago, no one paid close attention to bullying or teasing, so I put up with it.”
“I’m so sorry, Colin. I wish I’d known.”
His smile was so brittle, it hurt. “What could you have done? I couldn’t tell my mother because she’d worked so hard to make it happen. Good schools meant success to her because she knew the opportunities that would be available to me that I couldn’t get staying home. Same for you.”
“Your mother would’ve been incredibly proud. Trust me. I know. She did whatever she could to get you out of poverty. And here you are, such a success. And I know if she were alive, you’d be taking care of her.”
Did she know, or was she simply being kind in an attempt to make him feel better?
His gaze dropped to the floor. “I didn’t want to be a disappointment to my mom, or to you…to anyone. And in the end, I failed anyway.”
With a hand on his elbow, she steered him to a corner, away from the tumult of the party. “How can you say that? You’re a college graduate and a successful businessman.”
Funny…he didn’t feel it, as someone who couldn’t make it through the day without wanting to run away from his problems. “I guess success is in the eye of the beholder.”
“Try not to be so hard on yourself. I’ve heard from Shelly and Evan how tirelessly you’ve worked to put this event together, and it’s an incredible feat. Look at the turnout. The children are going to benefit so much.”
She was right, of course. If he and the other kids living in the projects could’ve had this type of interest when they were growing up, maybe it wouldn’t have gotten to the point where metal detectors were commonplace in schools and gangs were a way of life.
“It’s not all me. I have two partners as well. We all contribute.”
“I’m sure.” Her eyes gleamed. “And Walker? I see how he looks at you. And before you brush me off and tell me it’s nothing, I’ve known that man for almost ten years, and I’ve never seen him like he is with you.”
He couldn’t get his hopes up. He wouldn’t. It was Walker’s nature to flirt and be charming. It came as naturally to him as breathing.
“He’s nothing like I thought.”
A burst of laughter from across the room drew his attention, and he watched Walker relay a story, his hands in motion and a smile on his lips. When their eyes met, Walker grinned and gave him a wink. His face grew hot, and he turned away.
“Isn’t that always the case?” Mrs. O’Reilly said. “The best things in life come at the most unexpected times. Maybe it’s time to listen to your heart.”
Chapter Sixteen
Outwardly, Walker laughed and joked with his buddies, but inside he wanted to punch the wall. Or better yet, that prick of an ex-husband, Brad.
And where was Colin?
He finished his drink and held up the empty glass to his friends, who were busy arguing over who was the best right fielder: Babe Ruth, Roberto Clemente, Shoeless Joe Jackson, or Frank Robinson.
“Be right back.”
They barely acknowledged him, and he escaped, searching the crowd but not seeing Colin.
“Dammit, where is he?” he muttered to himself.
“Walker?” Sarah stood before him, and though he was dancing on his toes with impatience, he couldn’t brush her off.
“How are you? I’m so glad to see you here. Where’s Shaul?”
Her eyes sparkled. “At the bar, getting us drinks. We were looking forward to coming here tonight to get away a little. Let our hair down.”
“You both deserve it. I know how hard you work during the week with the preschool programs and Shaul doing bar mitzvah prep. I have to thank you again for all the help you gave us to make tonight a success. Your donation was well beyond what was expected.”
Shaul joined them and handed Sarah her drink, which she accepted but continued on with their conversation. “Children are the future. We have to do whatever we can to help ease their path. We, who grew up in safety…it’s our responsibility to help those who can’t help themselves.”
“I agree,” Shaul said. “And what affects a child often bleeds over to adulthood.” Whether Shaul had meant anything by his words, Walker didn’t know, nor did he want to ask. Had Shaul sensed something about Colin’s past? Both Shaul and Sarah were very intuitive, and Colin might think he hid his emotions behind a poker face, but if Walker had sensed his emotional fragility, he’d lay bets Shaul and Sarah had as well.
“It’s hard to separate the two,” Sarah’s wise brown eyes met his. “Some people are strong enough to shrug it off, but for others, it molds them into the person they become.”
Knowing the details of what Colin had endured as a child, Walker had to agree. It had fucked with his self-esteem for life. He must’ve been a lonely, sensitive child, and his insecurities hadn’t waned as an adult. And having overheard some of Brad’s cutting remarks…his heart ached for Colin. Maybe he’d come on too strong when he’d intervened, but he wanted that weasel of an ex to see that he’d lost out on a good person.
“It isn’t a sign of weakness to admit you have a problem,” Shaul stated, and Walker agreed.
“No. It isn’t.”
“And forgiveness sometimes is good for the soul.” Shaul’s hand rested on his shoulder. “And with that, I’m going to leave you alone and see if there’s anything left here to buy.”
Hand in hand, they walked away. They knew he and his family were estranged but not the reason, and Walker wondered if that last remark had been a hint. If so, they’d be sad to learn he had no room for forgiveness for his parents, who’d chosen money over him.
“Walk-Off, you bastard. Hell of a night, huh?” Evan threw an arm around his neck, and Walker could smell he’d had a little too much to drink. He’d normally love shooting the shit with his buddies, but he was getting frustrated that he was being stymied from finding Colin to make sure he was all right.
“Yeah. It’s been great. Maybe you wanna lay off the bar and have some food.” He signaled to Jimmy. “Jimbo, bring him a cheeseburger.” Jimmy raised his spatula in acknowledgment and slapped some more burgers on the grill.
Shelly pulled at Evan’s arm. “Stop making an idiot of yourself. Leave Walker alone.”
Walker chuckled. “It’s okay, Shel. Guess he’s enjoying his night out.”
“You know it.” Evan gazed at him with hazy eyes. “Isn’t every day a man finds out he’s gonna be a father after they’ve told us we couldn’t have kids.”
Walker’s mouth fell open. “No way.” But seeing Shelly’s bright smile and nod, he knew it was real. “Holy shit, you two. Congratulations.” He hugged her gently, afraid to squeeze her too hard.
“I figure tonight’s my last hurrah with you guys.” Shelly held up her glass. “Club soda with lime for this girl from now on. And the doctors say since I’m over forty, I’m at risk for some pregnancy-related stuff I won’t get into. So no more late nights hanging out here either. I have to rest as much as I can.”
He planted a big kiss on her cheek. “That’s wonderful, and you’re gonna be a terrific mom.”
“Thanks, hon.” She yawned. “What I also am is tired. Evan, after you finish your burger, let’s go home. I need to go to bed.”
Jimmy brought over the cheeseburger, and Evan chomped it up in a few bites.
