CH 16

Mark sat in his locker room not able to stop seeing the kiss between Paul and Lisa. He had never thought a girl like Lisa would be dating a jackass like Paul. He couldn't believe she had just disappeared after the show without one word. Mark heard a knock on his locker room door.

"Come in," he expected it be to Glen checking on him. When he looked up, he was surprised to see Adam staring at him.

"You ok?" Adam asked sitting down across from him.

"Yeah, what do you want?"

"Glen and I were having a chat. He mentioned you and Lisa had gotten pretty close over the last week," Adam sighed. "I thought maybe I could help you get her away from Paul."

"Why would you want to do that?" Mark stared at him.

"For a bad reason called payback," Adam rested his elbows on his knees holding his head in his hands looking deep in thought.

"You better start explaining. I'm in no mood for games," Mark cringed for a moment seeing Paul kissing Lisa again.

"I'm Lisa's ex boyfriend," Adam paused as Mark shook his head. "Paul is the reason I had to end my relationship with her. We were dating off and on for about a year. It wasn't really serious but it still hurt like hell when it ended."

"Why did you break up with her?" Mark saw a hint of pain in Adam's eyes.

"Paul had seen Lisa around me at some functions and at hotels. He wanted to know who she was when I told him she was my girlfriend suddenly he became my best buddy. I went drinking and partying with Paul after one of the shows. Paul kept buying me drinks and like a fool I kept drinking them. Next thing I knew I woke up in a hotel room naked with a woman I never saw before. Wouldn't you know my good buddy Paul was right outside the door to reassure me that if I broke off with Lisa no one would ever find out about it. Like a jackass I figured Lisa would break up with me anyway the minute she found out so I ended the relationship the next time I saw her. Two months later Paul met Lisa at a night club in Philly starting a relationship with her," Adam finished talking as Mark sat in silence.

"Paul has been playing her from the very start," Mark said out loud.

"Definitely he is a good charmer. He was everything she dreamed of for the first year till she started being friendly with me again then he turned into a jealous idiot. I've been warned million of times to stay away from her. Now tonight out of blue I get put in her storyline," Adam shook his head. "You know she stays with him out of fear. He has never hit her but he is verbally abusive."

"That kind of abuse can hurt just as much," Mark said wishing he knew where Paul had taken Lisa.

"True, I tried getting her away from him a few months ago. That was a disaster she left him for a week then he found a way to make her come back," Adam rubbed his face in frustration. "That is why I'm willing to help you. I saw the way she looked at you tonight I know there is something brewing between you two."

"There is something special between us. I will do anything to get her away from Paul," Mark truly meant what he said.

"Good I'll catch up with you tomorrow," Adam half smiled. "Don't give up on her yet Mark there has to be something that will finally make her walk away from him no matter how scared she is."

"I hope so," Mark listened to Adam leave. He closed his eyes thinking of the moments he had spent with Lisa at the beach wishing she was in his arms.


Lisa sat quietly pretending to read a book thinking of her time on the beach with Mark. She smiled remembering the warmth of his body against hers.

"What are you so happy about?" Paul startled her resting his hand on her shoulder.

"Just thinking about my niece," Lisa turned slightly seeing Paul had just a towel wrapped around his waist after his shower.

"I have something else for you to think about," Paul sat down next to her throwing her book aside. "Wait a minute I'll be right back." He almost bounced out of the room making Lisa nervous. I wonder what he is up to now, Lisa thought looking at phone wishing she could call Mark. Paul came back dressed in a pair of navy blue boxer shorts holding his hand behind his back.

"Close your eyes," Paul smiled at her. Lisa reluctantly did it not wanting to fight with him. She heard him clicking something. A moment later she felt the cold metal slide onto her ring finger. No please don't be what I think it is, she thought.

"Open your eyes sweetheart," Paul said softly as she opened them seeing the diamond ring on her finger. "Lisa, I know you're upset with me right now for my terrible behavior. My love for you makes me do crazy things. I promise I will change back into that sweet guy you fell in love with if you will please marry me."

"Paul, this is the wrong time to be asking me this and it isn't fair. You need to change before asking me to marry you," Lisa stared into his eyes.

"I guess I can understand that," Paul kept holding her hand. "I want you to wear the ring as a promise ring till I change. The ring symbolizes my promise to you here tonight that I will be the man you love from this minute on."

"I don't know Paul," she looked down at the ring feeling like it was burning her finger.

"Please sweetheart, it will make me very happy and I won't cause anymore problems for your friends even Mark," Paul caressed her hand.

"Ok Paul, I will wear it but I will not marry you. I don't even see marriage in our future," she was honest with him not wanting to deceive him.

"Thank you sweetheart," Paul leaned close claiming her lips. He suddenly pulled back looking like he was in pain.

"Did you take your pain medicine?"

"No, it makes me sleepy," Paul closed his eyes trying to deal with the pain from his knee. Lisa went to his bag pulling out the pills.

"Take them its bedtime anyway," Lisa handed him two pills and a glass of water.

"Ok angel," Paul took the pills. "Let's go to bed." Paul stood up taking her hand leading her to bed.

"You're sure wearing a lot of clothing to bed tonight. I'm used to you sleeping in one of those sexy little nighties," Paul rolled on his side running his hands over the t-shirt and shorts she was wearing.

"I was cold," Lisa said hoping he would get drowsy from his medicine soon.

"I can fix that," Paul leaned down kissing her softly running his hands under her shirt along her stomach. "I know we haven't talked about it much but I think we should have a baby." He kept caressing her stomach gently.

"I don't think we are ready for that," Lisa said seeing his eyes were getting droopy.

"We are more than ready I think it's just what we need to bring us closer," Paul ran his finger under her chin. "I love you very much even if you don't love me at this moment."

"Paul, you look exhausted get some sleep," Lisa said as Paul kissed her again before laying his head on her stomach. She slowly ran her fingers through his hair till she heard him snoring. Lisa waited a few more minutes before pushing him to his side of the bed. She quietly climbed out of bed grabbing her shoes and room key. She checked on Paul one more time hoping that he would be knocked out until the morning. Lisa went out into the hall making a call on her cell phone.

"Come on answer I know you're still up," Lisa said into the phone.

"This better be good," John answered sounding annoyed.

"John, it's me do you know where Mark is staying?" Lisa crossed her fingers hoping he did.

"Yes, he is at the Marriott Suites," John paused for a minute. "He just headed up to his room about ten minutes ago. It's on the fourth floor room 12. Where are you anyway?"

"Thank you John you are the best. I'm at same hotel," Lisa was ready to jump for joy that Mark was in the same hotel.

"No problem, you ok I saw what happened tonight," John asked her.

"I won't be ok till I see Mark and make sure he is alright."

"He doesn't look too good. Where is Paul?" John hoped Paul wasn't too rough on her.

"He is knocked out from his pain meds," Lisa looked back at their room. "I will talk to you tomorrow. Thank you again."

"Good night sis," John hung up silently hoping things would work out for her.

Lisa nervously took the elevator to the fourth floor. She wasn't sure what she was going to say or do when Mark opened the door but she knew she had to see him.