“I’m not the quarterback anymore. It’s weird how your life changes. I thought for sure I’d be playing pro ball now. It was all I worked toward, growing up.”
“You used to tell us you were going to be on TV every Sunday.”
“Until the injury that ended my career.”
“Yeah, well, when they carted you off on a backboard, none of us were worried about your career, Carter. We were worried about your life. It was a violent collision that broke your back in three places. You’re lucky you weren’t paralyzed.”
“I know. Life has worked out well for me regardless. I love being a sports agent. I’ve done very well, so it’s not that I’m complaining really, but part of me wonders if I were, if Vale would fall for me.”
“If she would fall for you just because you were a professional quarterback, you shouldn’t want her,” he said firmly.
“I know.”
“Have you told her how you feel?”
“No. I don’t want to mess up a good thing. Or scare her away.”
“If you love her, Carter, you should tell her.”
“I feel like I’m on the scout team with her.”
“And you want to be the starter?”
“Yeah,” I admitted.
“Is she seeing other people? Are you?”
“In the last month, I haven’t. I don’t know about her. She’s been traveling nonstop since New York Fashion Week. We talk almost every day, but she could have a different guy in every country for all I know.”
“When you see her tomorrow, you should ask her.”
“Maybe.”
“You aren’t going to, are you?”
“No, not yet. I don’t want to screw things up.”
“Do you ever think about getting married?” he asked me.
I knew it was on his mind. He had recently seen Palmer Montlake at a wedding. Cade and her brother Pike had been best friends and teammates, growing up, and when Palmer and Cade had secretly dated and then broken up, he’d not only lost the love of his life, but he’d lost his best friend too.
“Our brother is certainly happy,” I said, glancing at our youngest brother, Cash, and his new wife, Ashlyn, who were wrapped in each other’s arms, kissing.
“Cash was always a serial dater,” Cade said. “Unlike you.”
I couldn’t help but grin and recall my glory days. “I did get a lot of tail in college.”
“One of the benefits of being a star collegiate quarterback.”
“Or the star catcher,” I reminded him. “Remember those shirts all the girls wore when you and Pike were playing together? When I was in high school, my goal in life was to someday have stands full of girls wearing my name.”
“The I got Piked shirts?”
“If I recall, many said, Caught by Cade.”
“Well, back then, there was a lot of juggling on the lineup.” He took a pull of his beer and laughed.
“Seems like there’s still a lot of juggling on the lineup for you. Be honest with me.” I asked him seriously, “Do you wish you were hitting home runs with the same girl every night?”
We both glanced at the house. Ashlyn was now lying on the couch with her head in Cash’s lap. He was gently stroking her hair as they talked.
“They do look happy,” he admitted.
“After Cash and his longtime girlfriend broke up, he was a lot like us, playing the field,” I stated. “Until he met Ashlyn.”
“Exactly my point,” Cade said. “You never know when it will hit you. He went to a wedding, hoping to get laid, and now, look at him.”
“So, you’re saying, there’s hope for me and Vale?”
“I’m saying, you never know.”
“She’s like a guy when it comes to sex. I’m not quite sure how to handle her,” I said.
And I realize I’m still not sure.
I could call Cade, but he and Palmer are expecting their first child and are deliriously happy. And they never started as a hook-up. My brother Cash and his wife, Ashlyn, however did. They got drunk together, flew to Vegas on my plane, had a wild night, and ended up married. It’s the kind of night an agent prays one of their clients never has. Ashlyn didn’t even know Cash’s real name or that he was our younger brother.
But the truth is, sometimes, fate does play a role in life because they are perfect for each other.
And honestly, that’s why I’m sitting in a garden in Iowa, pretending to be the fiancé of the girl I wanted to marry at her little sister’s wedding.
Because of the off chance that this is fate’s way of intervening in my life.
I close my eyes and dial the number, feeling relieved when Ashlyn answers.
“Hey, Carter,” she says. “What’s up?”
“A lot actually. Are you busy? Do you have a minute to talk? Is Cash sitting right next to you?”
“That’s a lot of questions. I happen to be on set, waiting for my next scene. Yes, I have a minute. Actually, I have ten. And, no, Cash is at work. Where are you?”
“Iowa. Possibly in the middle of a cornfield.”
She lets out a laugh. “It’s funny that you called. I’ve been thinking of you a lot today.”
“Why’s that?”
“The role I’m playing. Remember how Cade tried to set us up before I met Cash?”
I can’t help but laugh. “I thought you were hot, but we had no sparks.”
“Exactly. Isn’t that weird? You were totally my type. Former college quarterback, smart, had a great body. You’re sweet and sexy. So, the question is, why? Why didn’t we connect? Why didn’t we just hook up?”
“Because you were meant to be with my brother,” I say.
“And that’s what makes it even weirder, right? It’s like fate knew or something that I shouldn’t be with you because if I had, it probably wouldn’t have worked out for me and Cash, and then I’d be sad instead of stupid happy with your brother.”
“And that is exactly why I’m calling. Because you believe in that stuff.”
“Wait. Vale is from Iowa.”
“Yep. She showed up on my doorstep this morning. Begged me to come with her to her little sister’s wedding.”
“But you haven’t seen her in months. And you’ve never told us what really happened between you two.”
“That’s because it’s embarrassing.”
“You’ve known me a long time, Carter. You know plenty of embarrassing things about me.”
I laugh. “True. Okay, so I flew to New York on New Year’s Eve for her party. I’d told her I didn’t know if I would be able to be there because I wanted to surprise her.”
“Oh, Carter,” Ashlyn says slowly, clearly understanding. “Let me guess. You got surprised instead?”
“Yeah. The weather and traffic were horrible. I barely made it in time before the clock hit midnight. And I saw her kissing another man. I was going to propose, Ash..”
“She told me you didn’t show up.”
“That’s because I didn’t tell her the truth. Why would I?”