by Ali Parker
"Was he the one doing everything?"
"Yeah. I didn't tell you that?" I glanced over at her quickly.
"No. I guess with everything else going on you forgot."
"I guess." I released her and pulled up to the dorm. "Don't think I'm not going to come looking for you later."
"I'd be pissed if you didn't." She reached over and pulled me down for a long, hot kiss as we sat in the parking lot by her dorm building. "You sure you don't wanna come in for a nap."
"Define nap." I wagged my eyebrows at her and kissed her again. "Get outta here before I change my whole day around to suit you, woman."
"You were talking about changing your whole life." She moved toward the door and opened it before glancing back at me. "Thanks for coming with me today."
"Anything for you." I licked my lips and sat back as my heart skipped a beat in my chest.
She got out of the truck and blew me a kiss as she walked away. I watched her go until my phone buzzing pulled me from the moment.
Unknown number.
"This is Micah." I put the phone on speaker and pulled out of the parking lot.
"Hey, buddy. It's Coach Gamble."
My breath caught in my chest as anger burned through me. The basketball program was doing fine, but all of the players were hurting thanks to this bastard letting greed steal his attention.
"I have nothing to say to you," I barked out and reached for the button to drop the call. Wanting to hear his side of the story had been the original plan, but after several weeks of mulling it over, I didn’t give a shit what he had to say. Nothing could make up for him turning his back on us.
"Micah. Wait. Please."
I let out a slow exhale and turned onto the empty street that led through campus. "Make it quick. I'm honestly at a loss for words for what they're saying you've done. It's like none of us meant shit to you. All those fucking pep-talks where you acted like we mattered and-"
"My little girl has leukemia. I don't have the money to pay for the treatments and somewhere in the midst of all this bullshit, my wife forgot to fill out the paperwork for our insurance. We can't get it until next year and I didn't have a choice."
"There's always a choice," I whispered, not quite sure I believed my own lie.
"Maybe, but I made my choice, which was stupid and I'm suffering for it now. I won't keep you, but could you just explain it to the guys? They're not going to let me back on campus to talk to you guys."
"I'll think about it."
"Thanks, buddy." He dropped the call and I drove back to the house in silence. Was he telling the truth? Lying to cover up what he'd done? I didn't know, but something urged me to find out.
I got out of the truck and walked up the stairs to the house, ignoring the guys playing darts in the front yard and heading to the kitchen to find Jacob. He turned from the stove and lifted his eyebrow at me.
"What up? You look like shit."
"Right. Can you get someone else to cook that and come out back with me?" I moved to the fridge and pulled out a six-pack as he yelled for one of the other guys to take his place.
I walked out back and dropped down into a lawn chair before pulling out a beer and popping the top on it. He sat down next to me and grabbed the rest of the six-pack, taking a beer out and drinking half of it before turning to face me.
"Spill. What's going on?"
"How's Lucas?"
"Not good. Concussion. He was released from the hospital this morning, but he's going to be out for the next five to six games."
"And Aubrey?" I took another long drink and turned my face toward him.
"She left for Washington this morning. She's a hot mess, but you know how those two are together. I'm sure it will be fine, but here's to hoping." He lifted his beer toward me and I hit mine against it.
"So Coach Gamble was the one they're investigating for stealing all that money from the school. Did you know that shit? I signed something that could probably get me sued for talking about it, so keep it to yourself."
He nodded. "I heard about it. I can't imagine Gamble doing that, but stranger things have happened."
"He just called and said it was because his kid has cancer and his wife didn't re-up their insurance."
"Damn, that sucks." He ran his fingers down his face and closed his eyes. "I'm so glad we have a few years left before we gotta deal with shit like that."
"You have one year." I popped him in the chest, feeling better just getting some of my shit out. Maybe Tasha forcing me to spill about Lyndsay was a good thing. "You think it's true about his kid?"
"No clue." He opened his eyes and looked my way. "You don't?"
"I don't know." I took a long drink of my beer. "I'm still pissed over him leaving us for that shit."
"You're an idiot. I'd leave you too if my little girl was dying. There isn't much I wouldn't do for my family, you know?" He sat up and finished his beer before pitching the empty bottle into the yard. "What does it matter anyway?"
"Because if he is in need, then we should help him, but if he's lying, fuck him." I shrugged. "Right?"
"Yeah. Set up something with him and go find out the truth. You know you're going to anyway. The guy is one of your heroes."
"True." I finished my beer and reached for another one. "You think Aubrey is going to give up her dance scholarship and leave for Washington in December?"
"I would imagine so. She loves Lucas in a way that doesn't make sense. I hope Emily ends up worshiping me like that." He chuckled and stood up. "Kinda like Tasha does you."
"Yeah right. She wouldn't change her whole world for me."
"She already has, brother. She's come out of her shell and started to live again. That's not enough?"
"I guess you're right." I pulled out my phone and pulled up her number as he walked into the crowd of guys that would be under my watch in a year or so. I texted her in hopes that she was awake, but if she wasn't, I prayed that I wasn't the one to jack up her nap.
Me: I can't stop thinking about you.
Tasha: I'm sleeping.
I laughed out loud and ignored the looks I got. I'd blame it on love if they asked.
Me: No, you're not. I'm headed over there.
Tasha: Good, but just know that I'm still falling.
A smile lifted my lips.
Me: Good. Just know that I've already fallen. You gotta catch up, baby.
Tasha: I'm working on it. Come over and I'll take a break on that and work on you instead.
I got up and left the beer sitting in the grass. She didn't have to ask me twice. I was all hers and the proof was in the pudding.
Good guys did win the girl.
At least this one did.
Want more? Homerun #4
Homerun is the 4th story from the Pro-U Series
Releasing AUGUST 16th!!
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Jayce Moore is not only captain of the Pro-U hockey team, but he spends his off season playing baseball. His grades have begun to suffer, and though he hates the thought of asking his twin sister’s best friend for help, Layla is his best bet for passing Chemistry. Her laid-back persona and strikingly good looks are enough to make his body ache for something he shouldn’t, but he needs help, and she’s hit girl.
Layla Roberts is more than surprised when her best friend’s brother approaches her for a bit of tutoring. He’s always been standoffish and a little cold when she was around, but now is her chance to get to know the star athlete a little better.
Their relationship starts filled with tension and angst, but soon Jayce is moving from base to base until he scores a home run. Layla is exactly the type of woman he wants in his life.
Now to convince her of it…
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About the Author
Ali Parker is a full-time contemporary romance writer who is looking to flood the market this year with lots of great, quick reads. She loves coffee, watching a great movie and hanging out with her hubs. By hanging out, she means making out. Hanging out is for those little creepy elves at Christmas. No tight green stockings for her.
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