CHAPTER NINE
Sloane slammed the ball across the net and watched as Patrick dove to reach it.
No such luck. The spinning ball flew past his racquet to land just inside the white line and then it bounced up and away.
“It's over”, Sloane yelled and raised his hands in victory as Patrick threw down his racquet and stalked off the court. The guy was practically throwing a tantrum. All that was left was for him to throw himself on the ground and start screaming like a two-year old. But that was Patrick.
Grinning, Sloane ran toward the net and leaped over it then followed his friend into the club house. It had been an intense game and he’d really worked up a sweat. After months of not being on the tennis court, it felt good.
He caught up with Patrick in the locker room. “Done sulking yet?” he teased. “You know I’m the man on the tennis court so what’s up with the pouting like a girl?”
Patrick hung a towel around his neck then turned to glare at him. “I had a bet on that. Fifty bucks.”
“Oh, yeah? Who with?” Sloane was not surprised. His friend was always pitting himself against him even though Sloane was bigger, faster and more physical. It had always been that way since they first met in the fourth grade and although Patrick was far superior in all things technical – stereos, computers, video games – he was still way past competitive whenever they faced off in any kind of sport.
“Marc.” He gave Sloane a guilty grin. “I know, I know. I need to put down this vice but I was so sure I’d beat you, with you being rusty and all. You haven’t been on the court all year.” Then he shrugged. “And besides, you’re a married man now. Everybody knows once you get married you put on weight and get sluggish.”
“Man, I’ve only been married two weeks.” Sloane walked over and slapped him on the shoulder. “Give me at least a few months. I’ll grow a paunch and go to seed. Promise.”
That made Patrick laugh, then he jerked his head toward the benches. “Listen, I want to talk to you,” he said. “Let’s jam over there for a second.”
“Sure.” Sloane shrugged, went back to grab his towel off the hook, then sauntered over and dropped himself onto the bench. Patrick plopped down on the other end. “Ever since you dropped that bombshell,” Patrick began, “you and I haven’t really had a chance to talk.” He cocked his head to one side. “Now tell me, why the heck did you keep this thing a secret all this time? The guys and I were ribbing you just a couple of weeks before you announced your engagement. You didn’t say a word. What’s up with that?”
Sloane chuckled. “You’re not going to believe this, but I was probably more shocked than you were.”
Patrick looked at him askance. “What the hell’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means,” Sloane said, giving him a smug grin, “when it comes to whirlwind romances this was the ultimate. When you guys were on me that day, I honestly didn’t know I’d be walking down the aisle months later.”
“Huh?” Patrick’s face was a study in confusion.
“I know, I know, I’ve got a lot of explaining to do.” Sloane laughed softly but despite his casual exterior he wasn’t as calm as he was pretending to be. He had a lot of explaining to do all right, even to himself. He’d taken a huge leap without even giving it the level of thought he would have given a minor business deal. And all because a woman he’d met almost twenty years earlier had asked him for a baby.
Had he made the biggest mistake of his life?
If he’d asked himself the question the first night of his honeymoon he’d have probably said yes. But now?
He smiled to himself. No freakin’ way. He’d taken that leap of faith because, as strange as it seemed, from the day Melanie came into his office, somehow he’d known they were meant to be together. It was like his destiny had walked in the door. Yeah, it sounded corny and he was hard put to explain it, but that was just the way he felt.
Sure, her response in bed that first night had given him a shock, but after that…
Sloane’s eyes glazed over as his mind flashed back to his days…and especially his nights…in Jamaica with Melanie. After she’d had that first orgasm – and he still couldn’t believe he’d been the first to give her that experience – it was like she couldn’t get enough. Of course she was a bit hesitant the next time, but she loosened up quickly and then she had her second orgasm and then her third. And as the night passed, and as she got bolder and more demanding, he stopped counting.
And she had this cute little pout that she used when she didn’t get her own way in bed. He loved it. If he wasn’t careful, he’d soon be falling in love with his wife.
“Earth to Sloane.” Patrick snapped his fingers in front of Sloane’s face. “What’s that smirk about?” Then he shook his head. “You know what? Don’t tell me. I have a feeling that what’s on your mind should stay there.” He swiped the towel across his forehead. “So you beat Michel to the punch, and then you have all of us guys catering to you at your wedding and we still hardly know your other half. When are you going to bring her over to the house? Jacqueline’s dying to meet her.”
“What about next Sunday?” Sloane asked, happy to change the subject. He still didn’t know how he was going to explain his sudden marriage, not without revealing the baby element. And he had absolutely no intention of going there. He made a mental note to think up a good story before the subject came up again.
“Sounds good to me. You guys can come over for dinner.”
“Thanks. Melanie will have a ball with Thierry and D’Jean.” Sloane got up and walked back to his locker and grabbed his bag.
“Hey, you never know,” Patrick called after him. “Seeing the kids might inspire her to want one of her own. She’ll soon be harassing you to get her pregnant.”
Sloane just chuckled. If Patrick only knew.