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Marrying an Athlete (A Fake Marriage Series Book 2) by Anne-Marie Meyer (2)

Chapter Two

Michael

Michael took a deep breath as he sat at the table at the far end of the coffee shop. The last few minutes rolled around in his mind. What the heck had that been?

He hadn’t expected the feelings that raced through his body when he’d seen Anna pop up from behind the counter. Suddenly, he was that dorky senior in high school, standing in front of the girl he’d crushed on for so long. Or the girl that he’d stupidly kissed two years ago. The girl that had been there through everything. Anna.

He swallowed as he rubbed his palms on his jeans. Did she notice how out of sorts she had made him?

When McKenna had called, asking him to pick up Anna, he had been fine with it. Besides, two years had passed since their kiss. Surely, he was over her by now. But from the way his stomach lightened and his heart raced when he saw her, it became quite clear that he wasn’t over her. Not in the least. And here he sat, feeling like such an idiot.

He drummed his fingers on the tabletop in front of him. He could get through this. He had to. The media storm that was about to hit him back home was going to be a big one. Leaving seemed like the only rational plan.

He just hoped McKenna could keep him hidden until the story blew over. But he wasn’t sure how long that was going to take. When it came to the Mayor’s daughter, Daisy, the media didn’t seem too lackadaisical. Anyone associated with them became the new topic of the front page every day.

What had started as a joke, quickly turned into a nightmare. He should have known better than to meet Daisy that night. But he was stupid, and now that stupidity was going to chew him up and spit him out.

Thankfully, Anna emerged from the back room before Michael went insane from delving into his past mistakes. Right now, he was desperate for any distraction. No matter how complicated.

His gaze roamed over Anna. Her hair had been set free, and it fell softly around her shoulders. She was wearing a dark blue shirt and jeans that accentuated the curves she most certainly didn’t have when they were growing up. Michael swallowed. Had she always looked this good?

When her gaze met his, he realized that he was staring. He stood, slamming his leg against the underside of the tabletop. His skin heated as he cursed under his breath. He scooted his chair back and stepped away from the table.

“Are we good?” he asked.

Anna pulled her purse strap higher up on her shoulder. “Yeah. Betsy said she’d cover for me. I was off in an hour anyway. It’s dead around this time.”

Michael reached out and brushed her arm with his fingertips. The feeling sent zaps of electricity through his body.

Anna’s gaze dropped to his fingers, and he pulled back as if he’d been burned. Was that too intimate? What was wrong with him? This was Anna. The girl he used to terrorize. If he could go back to remembering that, it would be best for everyone involved.

The kiss they’d shared at McKenna’s wedding had been a mistake. Anna was too good for him. He was a fool and always seemed to make the wrong decisions. Anna was the kind of girl you settled down with. And he wasn’t meant for that kind of life. Why would he hurt her like that? He couldn’t. Which was why he’d said someone else’s name and pretended to pass out. He just hoped it was something she’d forgotten.

“It’ll be fine. Let’s just get going.” She took a step toward the door.

Michael nodded. Good. He needed a job to do. Nothing good ever came from him being idle.

They started walking toward the door together. Out of instinct, Michael brought his hand up to the small of her back to help guide her. When his fingers touched her shirt, she tensed. But then she relaxed.

He started to wonder what that meant, but then quickly pushed that thought out. The last thing he wanted to do was drag Anna into his mess. It was best for him to stay away. Far away.

“I’m parked over there,” he said, nodding toward his red convertible parked alongside the Jumpy Bean building.

Anna glanced over at it, and then back to him. “Wow. A convertible. Nice.”

He nodded. “It was my grandpa’s. I got it when he passed away.”

“Oh, that’s right. I remember now. McKenna told me that. And she got. . . What was it? A weed wacker?” She raised her eyesbrows.

Michael smiled. “Hey, don’t feel badly for McKenna. She followed my grandpa around for years asking him if he’d let her use it. It only made sense to a ninety-five-year-old man to will it to her.”

Anna laughed. A light, whimsical sound. Michael couldn’t help but laugh along with her. Suddenly, he was taken back to a time when things were simple. When they were just two teens in high school. Back when he wasn’t a complete idiot.

“Yeah, she didn’t tell me that tidbit.”

As they approached the car, Michael reached out and pulled on the door handle of the passenger side. He opened it and waved his hand in. “That’s McKenna. Always the drama queen.”

Anna moved to climb in, but then paused and glanced over at him. She was inches away. Her smile faltered as she met his gaze. She glanced down at the ground and then back up at him. Why was she acting so strange?

“It’s good that you came to visit. McKenna’s been struggling. I’m not sure what she’s told you, but things are not good between her and Sam.”

A sour feeling flooded Michael’s stomach. McKenna was his little sister. He was supposed to protect her. And yet, he had allowed his life and aspirations to take over. What kind of brother does that? He was the worst.

He forced a fake smile as Anna climbed in and sat down. After making sure that her fingers weren’t in the way, he slammed the door—maybe with a bit too much gusto. But how could he not? He’d not only let himself down, but his sister as well.

Proof again, that he didn’t deserve anyone. After Daisy was back from her trip to Milan and he cleaned up the mess he’d gotten into, he wasn’t going to allow another woman into his life. It was necessary to keep all the people he cared about safe from his careless mistakes.

Once he got into the driver’s side, he shut his door and started up his car. The roof was down, and the sun shone on him. Being outside had a way of calming his nerves. He flipped on his blinker and turned onto Main Street.

The wind blew around them as he drove the fifteen minutes to McKenna’s house. He was thankful for the extra noise having the top down brought. It meant no conversations. He needed to build a wall if he was going to keep people away.

McKenna’s normally cheerful house was dreary and depressing. The last time Michael had been here, the window boxes exploded with flowers. The front shrubbery, which was once manicured to perfection, was now overgrown and full of weeds.

This was not like McKenna at all.

He pulled into the driveway and turned the engine off. He opened his door, and before he could round the hood of the car, Anna was out and starting up the walkway. He stepped over huge weeds that had sprung up in the yard.

When Anna got to the front stoop, she paused, but then shook her head and turned the handle. She pushed open the door. “McKenna?” she called into the front room.

Michael went up the front steps and waited behind her.

“Why aren’t we going in?” he asked.

Anna jumped and turned, her eyes widening. He wondered if it was because he was only a foot away from her. As he took in the richness of her brown eyes, he couldn’t help but smile. It was nice—having her at eye level. He liked looking into her eyes.

“Just wanting to warn them that we’re here. Sam and McKenna have been fighting a lot. I didn’t want to walk into anything.” She hesitated and then leaned farther into the foyer. “Kenna, you here?”

“Anna?” McKenna’s voice carried from the back of the house. She sounded stressed. Not the joyful, free-spirited little sister that Michael remembered.

Having had enough of waiting on the stoop, Michael stepped into the house and slipped off his shoes. Anna must have felt that the coast was clear as well, because she followed after him.

“Kenna, we’re here,” he said, making his way past all the family photos that hung on the walls, and into the kitchen at the back of the house.

McKenna was sitting at the table when he came into the room. She was staring at something resting in front of her. She lifted her gaze to meet his, and Michael’s heart surged. McKenna’s eyes were red from tears.

Before he could make his way across the kitchen floor and wrap his sister into a hug, Anna beat him to it. She crouched down in front of McKenna with her hand resting on McKenna’s back.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

From where Michael stood, he could see McKenna’s eyes fill with tears as she nodded toward the table.

“It’s negative. Again.” McKenna leaned forward and buried her face in her hands.

“I’m so sorry,” Anna said, wrapping her up into a hug.

It killed Michael to see his little sister in so much pain. If only he could fix this. But how could he? McKenna had always wanted to be a mom since they were kids. She used to force him to be the dad and play house.

Michael made his way over to the table. “Is there any room for a big brother hug?”

McKenna and Anna glanced up at him. Anna nodded, dropped her arms, and stood.

“I’m happy you’re here,” McKenna said as she pushed her chair back and stood.

Michael wrapped her up in a hug. She felt so small. Why had he been the worst older brother? Getting caught up in his own life. What kind of jerk did that? “I’m sorry it took me so long to get here. If I’d known things were bad, I would have come sooner.”

McKenna shook her head. “How could you have known? I didn’t really talk about it with anyone.”

Michael pulled back and smiled down at his sister. “Well, I’m here now and ready to help any way I can. Do you need me to have a talk with Sam? Cause I will. He swore to take care of you.”

McKenna gave him an annoyed look as she said, “This isn’t going to be Chase in fourth grade all over again, is it? I don’t need you intimidating my husband. Things are stressful enough around here.” She narrowed her eyes as if that was going to dissuade him.

“Hey, but it got the job done, right? Sometimes, a guy just needs another guy to talk to him.” Overall, Michael liked Sam. If he didn’t then there was no way he would have let his sister marry him. But from the look on McKenna’s face, her frustrations ran deeper than anger. There was a pain there that he couldn’t describe.

McKenna’s expression grew serious. “I need you to promise me right now that you are not going to intimidate my husband.” She turned her face up toward him and narrowed her eyes.

Michael raised his hands. “I promise.” But that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to have a chat with his brother-in-law. There was no reason why McKenna should be crying this hard.

McKenna didn’t look like she believed him, but she also didn’t look like she was going to push it further. Instead, she sat back down at the table, her shoulders slumping as she glanced down at the test in front of her.

“We’ll figure something out, Kenna,” Anna said, pulling out the chair next to her and sitting down.

McKenna let out a forced laugh. “I wish I were that confident. Sam’s been working more. We barely look at each other. I think my marriage is over.” A sob escaped her lips.

Anna glanced up at Michael. Her gaze was worried as she motioned toward McKenna with her head.

Right. He should do something. He just wasn’t sure what. “There must be something we can do.”

McKenna wiped at her eyes as she glanced around the table. “There is something,” she said as she started rifling through a stack of papers.

Michael felt better. He liked problems that had a solution. He wasn’t the sit around and talk about feelings kind of guy. He liked action.

“Here it is,” McKenna said, pulling out a brochure. “My OB suggested this place to me.” She laid the paper down on the table. “We actually bought tickets to go. It’s all arranged.”

“Rekindle Resort?” Anna asked.

“It’s a marriage therapy resort. You go there and have access to world renowned therapist. They have couple skill-building activities. Plus, all the things that a resort normally has. We are scheduled to leave tomorrow.”

“Kenna, this sounds amazing. I’m so happy you two are going.” Anna smiled up at her.

McKenna glanced from Anna, and then up to Michael. “Problem is, I just can’t go there alone. What if they say our marriage is doomed? And then I’m stuck on an island with my ruined marriage. Nope.” She dropped her gaze. “I need you two to go with me.”

Michael stared at his sister. “What?”

“I need my brother and my best friend there.” McKenna’s voice drifted off. “Please?”

His stomach sank. Did she know what he’d asked Daisy? That he just might be engaged to the Mayor’s daughter? Instead of asking, he decided it was probably best to just act like no one knew. After all, he wasn’t even sure what had happened and dissecting his mistake wasn’t something he wanted to do at this moment.

“Kenna, I’m not married. And I don’t think Anna is either.” He glanced over at Anna who was shaking her head.

“Yeah, neither of us is married. It says on the pamphlet, For Married Couples Only.”

McKenna glanced back up at them. “All my married friends can’t go. And it’s not a big deal if you’re not married. It’s not like they check up on you. You guys can just pretend.”

Michael’s eyes widened. Pretend to be married to Anna? From the feelings that raced through him when he saw her at the coffee shop, it was probably best to stay away from her all together. Faking he was married to her, involved kissing her and holding her. There was no way he could do that, no matter how fast his heart raced from the thought.

Just before he responded, his phone rang. Grateful for the distraction, he pulled it from his pocket and waved toward the back door. “I should take this,” he said as he turned the handle and stepped into the backyard.

Once he closed the door, he took a deep breath. Hopefully this phone call would last long enough for him to sort out his feelings about what McKenna had proposed.

He swiped his phone and brought it up to his ear. “Hello?”

“Is this Michael Jones?”

“It is.”

“Great. My name is Christopher Scott, and I’m with The New York Times.”

Michael’s stomach twisted. How did they find out?