“Hey, baby,” Kade rasped as he leaned down to kiss me, his lips warm and inviting.
When he broke the kiss, I straightened my spine, dropping my feet from the chair, and Kade slid into it. Kelton stole a chair from an empty table next to us.
“Aren’t you guys supposed to be in class?” Becca asked.
“Maybe,” Kelton said, biting his lower lip.
Kade and Kelton had those blank expressions I hated. Becca and I shared a perplexed look.
“Lace,” Kade twined his fingers with mine. “Coach Dean will have the roster posted outside his office in fifteen minutes.”
“How do you know?” I tilted my head, nerves suddenly biting my stomach.
“Kel and I just came from his office. I had to talk with him, and Kelton wanted to find out when the names for the team would be ready. Lace…you know I love you, and I can tolerate some pain…but I do need my fingers.”
I looked down and my nails were embedded in his skin. “Sorry.” I blew out a breath, removing my hand.
“I want to beat the rush before classes let out,” Kelton said. “It will take us five minutes to get over there.”
Kade snatched my bag. Becca jumped up. Kelton was already walking around tables toward the path that led from the courtyard to the sports complex. I needed a minute to take in a few quick calming breaths to ease the low whirring hum in my head.
“Good or bad, I’ll be there to catch you,” Kade said. He knew me too well already. Whether I did or didn’t make the team, I’d probably collapse from the built-up anticipation.
He splayed a hand on my lower back as we headed in the same direction as Kelton. On our way to the sports complex, Kelton and Becca chatted. I tuned them out. If I didn’t make it, I would be devastated. I kept trying to tell myself I wouldn’t be, but I’d been kidding myself. I wanted this dream, this opportunity, no matter the consequences. Dad and I moved here to help me realize my dream. I couldn’t disappoint him or my brother, Rob. I was counting on the baseball scholarship from ASU. I’d live through the bullying and any obstacles that would be thrown my way. I replayed Mom’s speech, the one she’d given me when I was waiting to see if I’d made the team at Crestview.
Lacey, my beautiful girl. You’re feisty, stubborn, sweet, determined, and tough. Those are the ingredients to fulfill your dream of baseball. Never give up.
“Lace.” A callused hand stroked my cheek. “Why are you crying?” Kade said.
“Oh.” I wiped tears from my eyes. “I was just thinking of my mom. Why are we standing here?” Wow! I didn’t even remember the walk from the courtyard to the back entrance of the sports complex. Coach’s office was just inside the brick building and down the main hall.
“Kelton and Becca ran in to read the roster. I thought with you crying you might want a minute. This way if your name isn’t on the list, we can sneak out to my truck. Well, even if you did make it, we might want to skip the rest of the day and celebrate.” He lowered his head and rubbed my nose with his. “And we could find something to do in my room.”
God, he smelled like sugar and rain, sweet and inviting. A tingly tap dance began in my belly, marching lower. I so wanted to leave right this minute.
A door opened, the handlebar snapping up.
“Kade. Lacey.” Kelton’s voice stopped Kade from slipping his tongue in my mouth. “Get in here.”
“You ready?” Kade asked before he let go of me.
“Now or never. The reason I moved here.” I grasped his hand.
Kelton pressed his back against the inside of the door as he held it open. I didn’t look at his face as I walked in. Taking a deep breath, I let it out. The hall straight ahead appeared ominous. Doors dotted both sides. I homed in on the one at the very end of the hall, where a boy who looked like Todd stood reading the wall. The whirring noise in my head slowly ramped up.
Kade had no problem keeping up with his brother. I did, though. I had to walk faster to keep up with them. I almost asked Kade for a piggyback ride. I quickly shelved the idea and froze midway down. Sweat coated my palms. I wiped them on my jeans.
Todd turned to face us and fist-pumped the air. I guessed he made the team.
“Congrats, man.” Kelton slapped him on the back.
“You, too,” Todd said.
“Are you going to stand there?” Kade asked. “Don’t be afraid. You look like you’re about to pass out.”
More like black out.
Kelton whispered in Todd’s ear. Then Todd breezed past me. The boy didn’t even give me the time of day. What did Kelton say to him? Did he not want Todd to speak? Was he afraid Todd would tell me the bad news? Or say, “Sorry, Lacey. You deserved it over…”
My heart raced like a sprinter in the Olympics. My mind wreaked havoc on my emotions. Just go up to the board and freaking read it. My legs began to quake as I inched over to Kelton, who was blocking the bulletin board.
“Now, Lace. I want you to know that I’m proud of you no matter—”
“Get the fuck out of the way, Kel, before I push you through the wall,” Kade growled, yanking Kelton by the arm, then pushing him into Coach’s office. “Stay,” Kade said, blocking the doorway next to me.
The white sheet seemed to blind me as I scanned the list. My vision blurred in and out. I rubbed my palms on my jeans again, then again. I licked my dry lips, blinked a few times. I stepped closer, then ran a shaky finger down the list of names. I didn’t see mine. I started at the top again. A warm, strong finger looped around my left pinky finger. I swallowed as I landed on Kross’s name. Where the hell was Robinson? Coach had the last names listed first. Maxwell, Pritchard, Ravine, Robinson, Stanley, Switzer. Wait. Back up. My name, Robinson, Lacey. I read it again. Tears streamed down. The buzzing in my head began to clear. I dropped my head in my hands and dropped to my knees. Thank you, God.
“Can I come out now?” Kelton’s voice echoed in the hall.
“Touch her, I’ll cut off your balls,” Kade said.
“Hey, you let me kiss her at her birthday dinner.”
“One time. No more.” Kade’s voice was steadfast.
I had no idea what was going on above me. I didn’t want to look either. I wanted to keep my face hidden, until the tears dried up, and savor the moment.
A delicate hand touched my back. “Lacey,” Becca said. “Congratulations, girl.”
I didn’t mind if Becca saw my tears, but I wanted to be strong for Coach. I didn’t know if he was in his office or in the hall now.
“It’s okay. No one is going to laugh at your tears. If they do, I’ll kick their ass. You should cry tears of joy. Those are the best kind,” she said, as though she knew what I’d been thinking.
I sucked in a breath, dashed away any remaining tears, and pushed to my feet. Before I had a chance to balance myself or register where everyone was, Kelton’s arms snaked around, sucking me into one of his strong bear hugs.
“Welcome to the team, Lacey Robinson,” he cheered. “You fucking made it.”
“I…can’t…breathe, Kel.” I really needed to teach him how to hug a person.
He kissed me on the lips. In a blur, Kelton was pulled away from me. Keys fell next to Kelton. Grunts and more grunts ensued.
“What’s going on out here?” Coach Dean ran out of his office.
Becca rolled her eyes. Kade had Kelton pinned to the floor. “I’m the only one who puts lips on her,” Kade snapped.
“Congratulations, Lacey,” Coach said, ignoring Kelton, who now had Kade immobilized. “Hard work is what I expect from you.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you for the opportunity. I won’t let you down.” I’d walk on hot coals before I did anything to screw up my chances.
He nodded. “Now, all of you get out of here,” Coach ordered.
Kade
and Kelton brushed off their jeans and raked their hands through their hair.
“I’m so excited for you,” Becca said, sidling up to me.
“Thanks.” Now that my head was clear, I read through the roster.
Renee had made it too. Not surprisingly, Kross, Kelton, and Aaron had been selected. After all, they were great ballplayers. I might not like Aaron, but I wouldn’t fault him for his talent.
Kade draped an arm around me. “I’m so proud of you. We do need to celebrate.”
I warmed to the fact that he knew not to pick me up like Kelton. A simple touch meant more to me than anything.
“I can’t skip school. Maybe tonight.” Part of being on the team meant toeing the line, on and off the field. Which meant no ditching school—at least not today.
For the rest of the school day, I’d carried a bittersweet feeling with me from class to class. So many emotions coursed through me. A few times I spaced out, smiling at nothing. Becca caught me once and had to bring me back to reality. I pouted. I’d wanted to continue to enjoy the surreal moment. I’d worked so hard over the past few months to focus on baseball, overcoming my PTSD, new friends, new school, new home. While euphoria felt wonderful, fear carved out a space inside me. What did Aaron have in store for me now that I’d made the team? Would he follow through on his threat? Fortunately for me, I didn’t run into Aaron at all, not even in the halls. Becca heard Aaron was absent today. I’d always believed that things happen in threes. Today proved to me how true that theory was: I found out I passed my math tests. I made the team, and I didn’t have Aaron to bother me.
During the last class, psychology, the news was all over school of who made the team. Renee had found out she’d made it. So when she came into psych, she had a smile from ear to ear. Thankfully, she didn’t have that half smile like Julie. We fist bumped and congratulated each other. I would’ve hugged her, but I didn’t want to come off as sappy. Not that I would’ve cared. I just had to keep rumors to a minimum, so I wouldn’t be tempted to lash out. Principal Sanders already gave me one strike. I couldn’t get any more. I had to be the perfect student and perfect daughter, at least through the end of the school year.
I’d bounced my knee all through psych. I wanted to get home and share the great news with Dad. He had texted me around lunchtime telling me to come straight home and not to go to Dr. Davis’s office this afternoon. I asked if my appointment was cancelled. But all he said was “just come home.” I was also excited to share the news with Tyler. I’d seen him this morning before I’d found out, but hadn’t since. Actually, I didn’t expect to. We didn’t have any afternoon classes together. He’d been instrumental in pushing me to practice. His skills had been invaluable in showing me how to grip the ball, my stance, my follow through. We hadn’t talked since he held me the other night. I left that part out when I told Kade we were just friends, especially after Kade said he’d make it so Tyler never played football again.
Kade and I had just walked out of the school on the way to my car when Tyler strutted up from the parking lot. His SUV was parked in the loading zone along the curb. His arm wasn’t in a sling anymore, and his grin stretched wide. Kade’s hand tensed in mine.
“Now, be nice,” I whispered. “He’s my friend and yours, too.”
“He touches you, I swear…” he muttered.
“You made it,” Tyler said, excitement all over his face.
“I know, right?” I pulled my hand from Kade’s. Or at least I tried. He had a death grip around my fingers. It was a good thing it was my left hand and not my pitching hand. I tugged again, glaring up at the love of my life.
Lines formed around Kade’s eyes as he glued a death stare on Tyler.
“Kade, baby. I need my hand.”
Reluctantly, he let go, his gaze never wavering.
Tyler glanced from me to Kade. “Hey, man. Your girl made it. You should be happy.”
I almost laughed. Kade’s grimace looked as though he were pushing all his brain waves into Tyler to mind-speak to him.
Students passed by on their way to the parking lot. Some waved at us. Others kept their heads down.
“Anyway, I saw you walking out,” Tyler said as he gave me his full attention. “I wanted to congratulate you. Which means I’m going to hug you. I’m giving fair warning, man.” He eyed Kade again. Then he swooped down and wrapped his good arm around me. I guessed the other one was still tender.
I hugged him back. I couldn’t see Kade from my peripheral vision, but I didn’t have to. He muttered something under his breath. Tyler didn’t linger long. He knew Kade wasn’t thrilled with the idea.
“Hey, man,” Tyler said to Kade. “Are you calm so we can talk?”
Oh, no. What did Tyler have up his sleeve? Was he going to tell Kade how he comforted me when Kade left the other night?
“What is it?” A muscle ticked in Kade’s jaw.
“I heard Sullivan is hanging with a couple of guys who work for Jeremy Pitt.”
“Yeah, we knew that,” Kade said.
“Were those the two guys with him at tryouts on Friday?” I’d seen Greg and two men sitting in the stands.
“Probably. So what’s your point, Tyler?” Kade asked.
“When I had dinner at Wiley’s over the weekend, Aaron, Greg, and these two guys were there. I didn’t hear the whole conversation, but they’re scheming up something if Lacey made the team. Now that she has, I thought I’d warn you.”
Kade ran a hand through his hair. “Fuck.”
“Look, Kade. I got your back. I know you’re pissed at me. Frankly, I probably would be too if I walked into my girlfriend’s house and there was a guy there. Either way, I’m not going to let anything happen to Lacey.” Tyler swung his gaze between us. “But you need to watch your back too, dude. Greg is gunning for you. Look, I gotta run. I’ll keep my ears open. You guys do the same.” Then Tyler jogged back to his SUV.
Despite the tension between Tyler and Kade, I wasn’t too surprised at Tyler for siding with Kade. Tyler didn’t care for Greg or Aaron. I didn’t see a need to bring up what Aaron had said to me on the field. I’d only add fuel to Kade’s ire, at the moment. While all the threats bothered me, I couldn’t do much about them except watch my back. Plus I had the Maxwells behind me, and Tyler as well.
When I grasped Kade’s hand he instead wrapped his arms around me. “Are you okay?” he asked.
“Me? What about you? You look like you’re about to tear someone’s skull off.” I wasn’t sure who he would start with—Tyler, Aaron, or Greg.
He searched my face before letting go of me. Then we continued our walk to my car in silence.
When we reached my Mustang, he asked, “I know baseball is important to you. I would never get in the way of your dreams. But I have to ask, Lace. Are you—?”
“I’m not giving up everything I’ve worked hard for because some asshole is intimidated by me. Besides, you said Aaron plays mind games. So, let him play.” I gave Kade a weak smile. “I’ve got to get home. My dad is waiting for me.” This day was turning into a downer.
“Hey.” He framed my face with his hands. “I had to ask.”
I blew out a breath. “I know. Can we not talk about Tyler or Aaron or Greg?” I didn’t want to go home in a bad mood. I wanted to be excited when I told my dad. “I love you.” I tucked my fingers in the waist of his jeans.
His eyebrows rose as he sucked in air, and he grinned. I reached up and traced one of his dimples.
“Put your fingers back where they were,” he protested.
“Later.” I lifted up on my tiptoes and brushed my lips over his. “I’ll show you how magical my hands can be.”
He growled as he bit my lower lip. “You’re mine. You know that.” Then he threaded his fingers through my hair, kissed me hard, wet, and fast, leaving me br
eathless before he stalked away. I rubbed my lips as I jumped into my car and headed home. I felt his anger and jealousy in that kiss, but I didn’t have time to soothe his doubts. I was going to see him tonight anyway. We’d planned to meet for dinner to celebrate. Actually, Becca, the triplets, Kade, and I were supposed to go to Wiley’s Bar and Grill.
When I got home, I shoved aside any lingering signs of bad mojo before I walked into the house.
“Dad? Dad? Where are you?” I headed straight to his office first.
“I gotta run.” His voice spilled out into the hall.
I poked my head around his office door, smiling.
“Sweet Pea, you look happy. Did you make the team?” He circled around to the front of his desk. His eyes were wide, his smile wider.
I ran in and jumped in his arms like I was six years old again. “I can’t believe it,” I said, locking my hands around his neck.
“I’m so proud of you, Sweet Pea. So, so proud.” He hugged me back.
Tears flowed. I didn’t care either. We’d been through so much, and the tightness of his hug told me he was just as relieved as I was. I never wanted to disappoint my father. He was a great man and a great father.
“I have some news for you.” He set me down, searching my face with his watery eyes. “You and I have an appointment with Dr. Davis this afternoon.”
My mouth opened.
“I want us to work together to heal, Lacey. I love you, and I don’t want my pain to hurt you. I’m not promising this will be easy for you or me. But we have to move on with our lives. And we’re stuck in a place that isn’t healthy for us.”
I threw my arms around him again. This time I cried harder than I had a few minutes ago.
“We’ll leave in ten minutes,” he said.
I peeled away my wet face, kissed him on the cheek, and went up to my room. This day had been filled with so much emotion, and while making the baseball team was one of the best things to happen to me, my dad getting help bested that.
Dare to Kiss (The Maxwell Series Book 1) Page 35