A Whole New Ball Game Read online

  A Whole New Ball Game

  Lauren K. McKellar

  www.escapepublishing.com.au

  A Whole New Ball Game

  Lauren K. McKellar

  She thought she had her future sorted, but life has other plans…

  Get the reference, get the job, get out of here: I know what I want. What I’ve always wanted. What I’ve been raised to want. The only thing standing between me and my dream overseas nursing job is a reference from my boss—and a very special little girl in the hospice care where I work who I just can’t say goodbye to yet.

  The last thing I need is Sawyer Benson, the AFL legend and an arrogant smile, coming in to visit the kids at the hospice and interfering with my life.

  But when Emily tells me that girls can’t play football, I know that I have to prove to her that girls can do anything they want. So Sawyer and I strike a bargain. I’ll play his girlfriend when the camera’s on, and off-camera he’ll train me up for the Women’s Aussie Rules league tryouts. Together we’ll show Emily that girls are brave and strong and can do anything they dream of.

  I still know what I want. I can walk away from footy and go back to my original plan. Football and arrogant smiles can’t be my future.

  Can they?

  About the author

  LAUREN K. McKELLAR is a writer of contemporary romance reads that make you feel. This hybrid-published best-selling author loves writing books with stunning local settings, heart-throb heroes, and leading ladies who overcome great hardships in their lives.

  In addition to writing, Lauren loves to read, and you can often find her up at all hours of the night with a glass of wine, some chocolate, and a good book. She lives by the beach in New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and two children, and their two dogs. Most of the time, all five of them are well behaved.

  Acknowledgements

  Firstly, I would like to thank the lovely Kate Cuthbert for thinking of me for this project. It’s one I’ve enjoyed writing so much, and without your direction, it never would have eventuated. Thank you once again. A huge thanks also goes to the team at Escape and Harlequin for all their hard work in all that they do. It takes a village to release a book, and your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed. When writing this book, I had my usual fabulous betas on board. Jenn and Carrie, I have no words for how much I appreciate you. Whether it’s discussing a plot point or debating names, I am honoured to have you on my team. Thank you also goes to Kate for our daily writing discussions, Hayley for putting me in touch with your fabulous Aussie Rules friends, and to Gail and Tracey, two absolute professionals who helped me make sure this story didn’t stray outside the realms of possibility. Of course, my beautiful family, including my loving husband and little man, who put up with me waking at five to get my ‘best writing’ done, even if it meant having a tireder-than-usual wife and mother in the evening. You are my world, and my love for you knows no end. Finally, thanks to you, the reader. Without you, this dream wouldn’t be real for me. I hope you enjoyed this book.

  To women, anywhere and everywhere.

  This one’s for you.

  Contents

  About the Author

  Acknowledgements

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Epilogue

  Bestselling Titles by Escape Publishing…

  Chapter 1

  Sawyer

  I was used to getting tackled. Getting thrown on the ground in the middle of a match that left my body bruised and battered, near breaking point.

  Every muscle would ache—my arms, my chest, my legs—but I could unequivocally say that I’d never taken a beating quite like this one.

  ‘And that is why your relationship didn’t work.’ Kristy lunged for the ball, slamming it in my direction.

  ‘Because I never won at tennis?’ I returned her volley.

  She ran to the far side of the indoor court, twisting her body back and—slam! The ball went flying in my direction once more. ‘Because you never won at tennis. But more because you wanted children and she wanted holidays in the Maldives. Because you kept trying to fix her problems.’

  I stretched to return the ball, but it bounced out of my reach, teasing the net behind us. ‘Your serve. And what’s wrong with fixing someone’s problems? Isn’t that a good thing?’

  ‘Not always. Sometimes, us women just want somebody to listen.’ Kristy bounced the ball up and down, her tennis racket at the ready. ‘Anyway, you’ve been over for a few weeks now, and that still doesn’t answer my question. Who are you gonna take to the awards night?’

  ‘Maybe I’ll go stag.’

  ‘Stag?’ She laughed. ‘You’re one of only five nominated for Player of the Year. You have to take a date.’

  ‘Maybe Braden and I will go together. He’s single.’

  ‘Braden is forever single. He’s also a serial flirt, gets his dick out at the drop of a hat, and—’

  ‘And he’s my best friend.’ I narrowed my eyes.

  ‘Point taken.’ She flashed me a grin, bouncing the ball one last time.

  ‘Maybe my little sister will set me up with one of her sexy frie—ugh!’ I grunted, straining to return her power serve.

  ‘No!’ The ball slammed back at me. It bounced once on the court then went straight into the dead zone, a curveball I didn’t see coming.

  I held up my racket in defeat, smiling. ‘Looks like you win again.’

  ‘That would be all points to me, game, set and match.’ Kristy crowed, her hands above her head. ‘This is why I am the sportier sibling.’

  ‘You know I’d kick your arse if we were playing football.’ I collected her racket, placing it with my own to the side of the tennis court.

  ‘Maybe so. But I kick your butt where it counts—here on the tennis court, and in the relationship department.’ She sighed as we leaned against the nets, taking a moment. ‘Listen, I know I’ve said it before, but your heart was too big for Ava. You need someone who cares about the things you care about. Not someone who’s only interested in shoes and how good her hair looks when the camera cuts to her on the sidelines.’ She framed her hands around my face like she was capturing me in her viewfinder.

  I batted them away. ‘There was more to Ava than just shoes and hair.’

  ‘Yeah.’ Kristy raised both eyebrows, deadpan. ‘There was clothes, and make-up, and let’s not forget her obsession with a certain piece of jewellery.’

  I sighed. ‘It never would have worked, would it?’

  She shook her head. ‘Nope. She wanted the ring, but she hated kids. You love children. You like to fix her problems, and she felt you were interfering. You were at an impasse, and she wasn’t willing to make a move to meet you in the middle—which is where you needed to meet.’

  I nodded. It was strange, the arg
uments you could end up having.

  I’d thought Ava and I were solid—rock solid—until, after one long evening of too much wine, she’d told me that she didn’t want to have kids. Not ever.

  The news had thrown me. All thoughts of the ring she’d been eyeing in the window at Tiffany’s had vanished.

  Perhaps coincidentally, she’d vanished just as quickly.

  ‘Relationships are about compromise. Not about one party making a major life change just to make the other happy.’ Kristy put her water in her kitbag and slung it over her shoulder.

  We reached reception and signed our names out on the roster.

  ‘Hey, bro. Mind if I grab a photo?’ the guy behind the counter asked.

  I shrugged. ‘Sure.’

  Kristy took his phone and stepped back, snapping a few shots while I chatted to the guy (a Killers fan), asked him who he thought would win the finals (go Killers), and discussed his fantasy league Aussie Rules team (involving Braden, and me as star fullback).

  Finally, we shook hands, I signed one more autograph for his mate, and Kristy and I made it to the parking lot unscathed.

  ‘The dramas of starting at a new indoor sports complex.’ She shook her head. ‘Hopefully you won’t have to do that every time we play.’

  ‘I don’t mind.’

  ‘Well you mightn’t have anywhere better to be, but I have two little men at home just desperate for some love and affection, and I am not the type to let that need go unanswered.’

  ‘Your dogs are pretty damn cute.’

  ‘They are indeed.’ She opened her car and rifled in her bag as her phone sounded. ‘Hang on a sec, I’ll just get—’

  Her face turned white.

  Her mouth opened in an O.

  ‘What is it?’

  She didn’t answer. Instead, she showed me her phone, the screen shot of a news article that had just come through in her text messages.

  Playing the Field.

  The headline was brutal, but not as much as the photo underneath.

  The photo of Ava, my ex, locking lips with another man.

  Locking lips with my best friend.

  What the hell? Braden and Ava?

  ‘Sawyer …’ Kristy’s voice was sad as she turned to toss the phone in the car.

  I shook my head, stepping away. Why would he do that? Why would she do that? And while we spent a year together, how long had she been eyeing off my best mate?

  I was gonna kill him. Simple as that.

  I took one more step back.

  Right into the path of an oncoming car.

  Chapter 2

  Zoe

  ‘Happy Tuesday!’ Aubrey shuffled through the crowded pub, slinking past men in suits and women in A-line skirts, her two pots of beer wobbling dangerously.

  I took my glass in appreciation, clinking it against hers. ‘Happy Tuesday.’

  ‘That was some game, huh?’ Aubrey ran her glass over a spot on her forehead, wiping away the imaginary sweat.

  ‘Oh, stop! You look perfect every time we play, and you know it,’ I teased, reaching a hand out and gesturing to her straight hair, still so sleek as opposed to my own frizzy mess. ‘Me, on the other hand …’

  ‘You have this whole “natural glow” thing going on,’ Aubrey declared, and I laughed, taking another sip. ‘Seriously, though. The way you played tonight was amazing.’

  ‘Thanks.’ It had felt great out there under the lights. It might have only been a casual Tuesday-night Aussie Rules comp, but giving my all in that game of football, sweating out the stress of work—it never failed to leave a smile on my face.

  ‘I’ve just hired a personal trainer. I want to get better at the game, help us reach finals this year.’

  I looked at my friend in admiration. ‘Really?’

  She nodded. ‘I know I don’t have that natural talent you seem to, but this guy trains some of the pro players.’

  ‘Wow.’ Go Aubrey! She was levelling up, taking our Tuesday Night Warriors team to a whole new level.

  ‘He said he’d give me a discount if I had a friend do it with me …’ She batted her eyelashes.

  ‘Sorry, Aubs, but it’s not going to happen.’ I’d have loved to, but I couldn’t commit. ‘Not with my plans for work so up in the air.’

  ‘I know. But it was worth a shot.’ She took a sip from her drink, and we settled into comfortable silence for a moment or two. ‘Speaking of work, how is the centre?’

  ‘Same old, same old.’ I winced. ‘Not entirely true. Tomorrow, they’re bringing in a bunch of Aussie Rules players from the men’s league.’

  ‘Ha! Not James?’

  ‘Not James.’ Thank Christ. ‘But you know what they’ll be like. A bunch of guys strutting around the place, thinking they’re heroes. Spouting lines like “women can’t—”’

  ‘—play AFL,’ we finished in unison, and I rolled my eyes.

  ‘If they’d seen you run that ball on the field tonight, they wouldn’t dare waste their breath.’ She shook her head, then took a deep breath. Her smile turned to a frown.

  ‘What is it?’

  She grimaced, sipped at her beer.

  ‘Just tell me already!’

  ‘Okay.’ She pursed her lips before meeting my gaze. ‘Speaking of professional players, my brother …’

  I tensed. ‘Go on …’

  She reached across the table and took my hand. ‘Zoe, he’s engaged.’

  Engaged.

  The man I once thought I’d marry was engaged.

  I took another long sip of beer. ‘That celebrity agent?’

  She nodded. ‘Melina. Yeah.’

  ‘I guess it makes sense,’ I said. ‘She can fit in with his lifestyle. She can be whatever he needs.’

  And I couldn’t.

  I wanted to back then, six years ago when we were high-school sweethearts with the world at our feet.

  I deferred my university degree, gave up my plane ticket to Africa when James got selected to play for Perth last minute. I put my career on hold for the love of my life.

  Only for him to decide he had two great loves of his life—football, and me. And there wasn’t enough room for us both.

  ‘She’s actually pretty great.’ Aubrey made face. ‘Sorry. I am on Team Zoe, all the way, but—’

  ‘James is your brother.’ I shook my head. ‘You need to support him. Be happy for him. I am.’

  ‘Really?’ she asked.

  ‘Really.’ It wasn’t a lie. ‘Besides, I have news of my own.’

  ‘You do?’

  I nodded. ‘Mm-hmm. I had my final interview with Nurses Abroad today, and they’ve approved me. All I need is one last reference from my place of employment, and I’m outta here. Africa, here I come.’

  ‘Zo, that’s so exciting!’ Aubrey’s glass slammed on the table as she grinned. ‘This is that volunteer thing overseas, right?’

  ‘Well, not entirely volunteer, but minimal pay, yes. It’ll be my chance to make a difference with underprivileged children. To help those who need it most.’ To do what I wanted to do when I first finished school, when I put my dreams aside for someone else.

  Never again. I’d never put my dreams aside again.

  ‘That is amazing.’ Aubrey looked at her half-empty glass. ‘This calls for a second drink. Champers?’

  ‘I don’t know …’

  ‘You’ve wanted this forever, and you finally have confirmation that you’re going to work for peanuts in a small community where it’s stinking hot and you have limited medical supplies?’ She raised her eyebrows. ‘Sounds like cause for a drink to me.’

  ‘Fine, but just a spritzer. I have to drive.’

  ‘Spoilsport.’

  I laughed as she went to the bar. Finally, things were working out.

  I took my phone and opened a new email.

  Dear Mum,

  Guess what? It’s finally happening!

  I just need one more reference from work then I’ll be headed to Africa to work in a ho
spital.

  Can’t wait to make you proud.

  Love,

  Zoe

  I tucked my phone in my jacket pocket. I’d miss my friends. I’d miss Tuesday-night Aussie Rules. I’d miss the patients at work.

  But sometimes, you had to make sacrifices. My mother was proof enough of that.

  I couldn’t wait to get out of this town and finally get what we wanted.

  ***

  An hour later, Aubrey and I said our goodbyes, and I walked into the dark parking lot across the road from the pub. Taking out my phone, I flicked the torch function on, searching for the familiar red Corolla in the many aisles of vehicles.

  Finally, I found it and hopped in. What a night. The high of winning our game of Aussie Rules. The news about my job application.

  James is getting married.

  It didn’t matter. He couldn’t stop me getting what I wanted now, and that was all that counted.

  I turned the engine over and reversed out of my spot, headed down the dark aisle. They really should get better lighting in this place. It was a danger to anyone and—

  A man stepped into the path of my car.

  I slammed on the brakes.

  Too late.

  Chapter 3

  Sawyer

  ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’ A small ball of fire and fury launched at me. ‘Are you insane?’

  ‘I …’ Where had that car even come from?

  ‘Sawyer! Are you okay?’ Kristy raced to my side, helping me to my feet. Huh. I’d fallen over.

  Ava and Braden are together.

  ‘No, he’s clearly not okay. He needs some form of head check because he walked into my car,’ the woman seethed.

  ‘Back off, lady!’ Kristy commanded. ‘My brother just received some particularly upsetting news, and you ran into him.’

  ‘I—he …’ She faltered.

  I looked across at her. Her skin seemed porcelain white in the headlights. Her thin frame shook as she pursed her lips together. ‘Hey.’ I shrugged Kristy off, stepping closer to the woman. ‘Why don’t you sit down for a second?’

  ‘I don’t need to sit down. You should sit,’ she said, but her voice was shaking.