Free Family Matters by Deborah Bedford Page B

totally protected in his arms. He gripped her to him now as if he would never release her, ever. She could feel the solid pumping of his heart against hers.
    She didn’t pull away for the longest time. But she didn’t turn her face up toward his, either. If only they could make this moment last forever. But they couldn’t. They had hurt each other too much for that.
    â€œCome on,” he said to her as he let her go. “Guess I’d better get you back.”

    Buddy Draper sat in the front office of the Dallas Burn fidgeting like a little kid. He straightened his tie. He stretched his legs. He crossed his ankles. He wished he had worn a polo shirt and casual pants instead of this suit.
    He was so far out of touch with the world of Major League Soccer that he hadn’t even known what to wear when he came to visit Harv Siskell.
    Harv Siskell. The man who had come to watch him play soccer at R. L. Turner High School his junior year and who had wooed him onto the team. Harv Siskell, who was too good a friend now to ever give up on him.
    Buddy straightened his tie again, feeling more and more uncomfortable.
    â€œHarv is ready for you,” the secretary told him.
    He practically jumped out of his chair and grabbed the packet of videos with both hands. “Thanks, Margaret.”
    She winked at him, which calmed him down just a bit. “It’s good to see you back in this office, Buddy.”
    â€œThanks, Margaret.”
    Harv stood beside the desk waiting for him when he entered. “Buddy. Come in. Have a seat.” And then the man did a double take. “You look like you got dressed for somebody’s funeral!”
    â€œI couldn’t decide what to wear.”
    â€œHow about number fourteen?” He gestured toward one of Buddy’s old jerseys hanging against the wall amid the many team photos and trophies. In big green numbers it said 14, with DRAPER above. After he had left the team, they had retired his number.
    Both he and Harv stood looking at the jersey for a minute. “Brings back memories,” Buddy said, feigning nonchalance.
    â€œSo.” Harv took the videos from Buddy’s hands. “You want to tell me what’s been going on lately? How are things going with that beautiful woman in your life?”
    Buddy shot him an astonished look. “What?”
    â€œYou know what I’m talking about. The pretty dark-haired lady you used to bring around to all the games before you forgot how to drive your car and crashed it.”
    Oh, Buddy knew, all right. “I don’t see her anymore.”
    Harv sighed. “Sorry, kid. Guess she was just a groupie, huh? Did she only want you when you were a famous Burn soccer player?”
    Buddy thought about Harv’s question for a long time. That hadn’t been Andy’s motivation at all. Andy wasn’t like any other woman he’d ever known. “I wish,” he said to Harv, smiling sadly. “It would have been easier that way.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œAndy’s a PT, she works with the kids at Children’s Medical Center. When she heard I quit playing soccer, she let me have it. She didn’t know that the front office pulled my contract. She thought I gave up because I wouldn’t be the best anymore.”
    â€œInteresting.” Harv took a swig from his water bottle. “Very interesting. And you never bothered to set her straight.”
    â€œShe’d worked so hard to help me play again, Harv. It meant everything to her because she knew it meant everything to me. I couldn’t tell her that all the hard work she put herself through for my sake just wasn’t enough. All she could see was me giving up. And I’ll tell you right now, Andy learned a long time ago not to let people give up.”
    Harv sighed. “She was a nice-looking girl.”
    â€œStill is.”
    â€œI’d sure like to see you moving ahead with your life