I saw a hint of a smile cross her face as she looked down at her screen, typing in something that arrived at my phone a few seconds later.
It’s all right. I wish I had cousins that lived closer.
“Hey, are you two texting each other right here? You’re like six feet apart,” Nate said, glancing between the two of us. “You can’t just talk out loud and let me in on the conversation?”
I shook my head. “It’s not like we’re talking about you anyway, Nate. Just take a chill pill.”
The whistle blew, and I stood to take my trash over to the cans near the field. I smiled at Sara before jogging over to grab my glove.
Nate was right there next to me, trying to talk to me about girls and how Sara wasn’t the one for me. I detected a hint of jealousy, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it as the ground balls started coming at us faster than I was ready for.
We went through several drills, and even though Sara was in the back of my mind, I did everything I could to focus on the skills I was learning. The first game of the big tournament would start in about twenty minutes, and with all the scouts coming to watch, I needed to be on top of my game.
Men in athletic apparel, armed with speed guns and notebooks or tablets trickled in, taking places in the stands. I suddenly felt like cattle, being measured and auctioned off to the highest bidder. In this case though, I hoped that bidding would go in my favor, that it would allow me to get a scholarship or even a chance to continue playing baseball after this upcoming spring season.
“Hey look, there’s the coach from LSU,” Nate said, pointing over to the stands.
I swatted his hand down and turned my focus to the line in front of us. “Don’t point, man. We don’t want to give them the wrong idea that we’re not serious about baseball.”
Nate frowned and stepped up, bending over for the ball. He took two balls, bobbling both of them.
Coach Frank called everyone together soon after, giving us instructions and then giving the time over to one of the other coaches, who announced the rosters for the different teams we were being divided into. I breathed a sigh of relief when I wasn’t on Nate’s team. I just needed a break from him for the rest of this camp and being on different teams would help.
As we were breaking off into our groups, Coach Frank motioned for me and Nate to talk to him. I panicked, hoping he hadn’t somehow found out about the date the night before. He stared at me and said, “I’m putting you in as captain of your team, Everton.” I nodded, holding my breath as I waited for him to say something else.
Instead, he turned to Nate and said, "With your speed, I think you'll be an important asset to your team in centerfield. You'll be the anchor of the outfield."
To give Nate some credit, this was the first time I’d ever seen him not argue with a coach. He trudged out to get in line with a bunch of the other outfielders. As I grabbed my bag to head over to the field my team would be on, I wondered why Coach Maddox, our head coach at Rosemont High, hadn’t done that before.
I chuckled. Probably because Mayor Everton would roast him alive.
I saw Sara and smiled at her, seeing the blush cross her cheeks. I’d dated and flirted with a few girls in the past few years, but somehow this felt different, like it wasn’t some flimsy relationship. I turned back and saw Coach Frank staring at me as he walked into the dugout and turned to his daughter.
“I don’t know what you think you’re doing,” he said, his voice low but commanding, “but you might not want to mess with her.”
I straightened up, not sure what to say. I’d been the one to suggest Sara and I didn’t say anything about us hanging out with each other. I just hoped she didn’t get mad about her dad having a small idea that I liked her.
“I’m not, sir.” I grabbed my glove and ran out to the field to take a few warm-up grounders, hoping he’d be gone by the time the game started.
I did all I could to focus on the skills I had learned over the past few days, but my thoughts drifted to her often, my stomach clenching at the thought of her father finding out I had a crush on his daughter.
I just had to make it through that last day, to hope that I could get a scholarship of some sort. But I also wanted to be with Sara. Could I be lucky enough to get both?
Chapter 12
Sara
I was glad the camp was almost over. It had been a long few days and even though I got to watch Isaac in action, I was ready to be done with the long hours in the Florida sun, wishing I could just curl up with my book and read until the rest of vacation was over. Maybe next year I’d convince my mom we needed to take a real Christmas trip, to somewhere that snowed at least three feet. Because I was ready for the winter I’d mostly just seen in movies.
After we packed up everything that night and stored it in the shed for safe keeping, my thoughts were distracted, thinking about the text Isaac sent me as he left.
Sorry I didn’t have time to talk too much today.
He’d been doing everything he could to play well, and I knew he wasn’t just there to hang out with me, but it had been more lonely than I wanted to admit. He just smiled at me when he came to get a drink, not his usual chatty self. Did he regret kissing me?
“What’s going on between you and that boy?” my dad asked, throwing a cooler into the back of his truck.
The question startled me and I did my best to keep my face neutral, not wanting my dad to see how much I really liked Isaac.
“Which boy? There are like a hundred at this camp,” I said, trying to tease. My smile dampened a bit when I saw the seriousness on his face.
“That Everton boy, the older one.”
I opened the passenger door and slid in, keeping my focus forward. I shrugged, my dad’s eyes boring into the side of my head.
“It’s not worth it, Sara. Don’t get tangled up in some kid who’s never going to return your affections. Especially when he’s at my camp.”
He’s just using you, were the unspoken words I didn’t want to hear but just kept ringing through my head.
I played it off like I didn’t care, like that thought didn’t scare me at all.
“He’s just a nice kid, Dad. I’m not thinking about weddings and all that, all right?” Bitterness seeped into my tone and when I glanced over at Dad, he gave me that pitying look I hated, the one he’d given me after I confessed about the boy who’d used me at camp two years ago.
“I love you, kid. I just don’t want you to get hurt by someone who doesn’t mean what he says.”
We drove in silence, a mound forming in my throat as I tried to hold back the tears. I understood his words but they still hurt. Would I ever be able to fully trust someone that I had feelings for?
All that night, I dreamed fitfully, not sure how to get my brain to stop coming up with all the worst scenarios. This was why I didn’t obsess over guys, because I didn’t like it consuming my entire life.
Chapter 13
Sara
The next morning, I woke up, so tired but kind of excited to see Isaac again. This was a big day for him and I was happy to be there, cheering him on in the camp tournament.
My dad and I had driven to the fields early, setting things out for the day. He worked on chalking the fields, while I had a mountain of snacks to organize.
Coaches strolled in, talking to each other and bantering back and forth. I’d met many of them over the years, scouts for different colleges and pro teams, all coming to my dad’s camp looking for their next great acquisition. This was what pulled kids from all over the country to the camp.
“Hey!” Isaac said behind me, causing me to jump.
“Oh, my goodness! You got me.” I laughed, my hand on my chest trying to calm it down. My breathing returned to normal and I said, “Good luck today.”
He flashed me that dazzling smile, giving me a wink, and my knees went wobbly. “Thanks,” he said, glancing around at all the coaches filtering up into the stands. “I’m going to need it.”
; Warmups were starting for his team and he waved goodbye, running out to the field.
“I totally won that bet,” I overheard Nate say to a couple of the guys on his team as he passed. I normally wouldn’t care what he thought, since I found him a little immature, but something about it caught my attention. Maybe the fact that I’d been caught in the middle of a bet a couple years ago.
“What bet?” one of the other kids asked.
“I bet my cousin that he couldn’t take out the coach’s daughter. Two hundred and fifty dollars. So worth it.” They headed out to the field.
I couldn’t move. My cheeks burned with humiliation as my brain analyzed every encounter I’d had with Isaac. When had the bet begun? All the way back to the plane?
I focused on mixing the Gatorade in the large cooler, my hands shaking from another betrayal.
I hadn’t even seen Nate until after the plane ride, so his bet wouldn’t have started then. Was it once we got to the camp? It had to be, because we didn’t even know we’d see each other again.
I fumed, feeling the hot air escape out of my mouth and nose. I was done with all boys, especially the baseball ones. I’d thought there was something between us, that we’d be a couple once we headed back to Texas. He’d been so sweet, but now I understood why. It was all about the money for him. And he was my first kiss! That thought burned worse than anything.
I tried to keep myself busy, but by the time lunch rolled around and the first games had finished, my emotions were fizzing out.
“Can I get a drink?” I heard one of the guys ask.
“There are plenty of drinks already filled—” I started to say, my words clipped. But then I turned and saw that every cup had been taken. Once they’d all left the canopy where my table was, I slumped down into the seat, tears ready to spill once I gave them the go-ahead. My stomach tied itself in knots as I thought through the betrayal.
How could I have been so blind? Again?
I walked over to Sophie, who was sitting on the bleachers filing her nails. Why my dad kept her around, I had no idea. She was a nice girl, but she definitely didn’t earn her money.
“Sophie, I’m not feeling well. Will you take over? I think I’m going to head back to the hotel.”
“Are you sure?” she asked, feeling my head with her hand. “You don’t look so good. You’re clammy.”
I pushed her hand away and focused on gathering up my things, stuffing my phone and my book into the small satchel I’d brought.
“I’ll be fine. I probably just need to be out of the sun for a bit.” I forced a smile and headed toward the gate of the complex that would lead to the road to the hotel. Thankfully, it wasn’t too far away, or I might have had to get my dad’s truck without him understanding why I couldn’t be here anymore.
I heard the click of metal cleats coming up behind me and didn’t turn to see who it was, afraid that it would be Isaac.
It was.
“Hey, are you all right?” he asked, picking up the pace of his stride and turning to walk backward as he tried to look at me.
I glanced up, casting the biggest glare I’d ever had as my chest heaved with all the fury pulsing through me.
“Aren’t you supposed to be playing?” I spat out, doing everything I could to push the tears down deep.
He reached out his hands and said, “Whoa, Sara. What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong?” I paused, my mind compiling exactly what I wanted to say. “To learn that a boy I was starting to like only asked me out on a date for a stupid bet with his cousin? Yeah, I’ve had better days than this.”
His eyes went wide and his mouth moved up and down like a dead fish.
“It’s true then?” I hated the begging tone, but I needed to hear it from him.
“He bet me but I didn’t take the money, Sara. I like you too much for that.” He reached forward and tried to touch his hand to my arm, but I jerked it out of the way.
“Don’t touch me. I don’t want to see you anymore.” I took another step but Isaac blocked the way.
“Come on, Sara. You have to believe me. I really do like you.” Even with his pleading eyes, I wasn’t ready to believe anything.
“I’ve heard that before. But I told you about the last guy at camp. I should have just stayed away from you.” I faked to the right and then ran around his left side, picking up the speed as I pounded down the cement path. Tears ran freely down my face and at one point, just outside the fence to the complex, I tripped over an uneven piece of concrete. I could feel the burn of the scrapes on my knees and elbows, biting the side of my cheek to keep from crying out for that.
I stood and kept walking, not looking back at the field. I didn’t want to give myself the option to forgive him.
Chapter 14
Isaac
I ran a hand through my hair, that sinking pit feeling taking over. How did she find out about the bet? I had forgotten all about it, hadn’t even given it another thought after our date the other night.
How was I going to fix this?
“Isaac! Game’s about to start.” One of my teammates was waving me over and I was sure I was going to throw up from the pain I now felt. I should never have agreed to anything Nate proposed. He must have been the one to spill the beans.
The field he was playing on was closest to me and I strode up to his dugout, my eyes finding him quickly.
“Hey cuz,” he said, leaning against the chain-link fence. “What’s with the face?”
I leaned right up next to it, our faces separated by the metal and an inch of space. My voice was low but harsh and for a moment, I was grateful the fence separated us so I wouldn’t do something stupid. “What’s with my face? Did you tell Sara?”
Nate glanced around, making sure all the other guys were focused on the field. His voice dropped to a whisper when he said, “About the bet?”
I ground my teeth together and nodded. I reached my hands up to the fence, curling my fingers around a few sections and stared at him.
Recognition flared in his eyes and he said, “I was just joking about it with some of the guys on my team.”
“The ones you just joined ten minutes ago? Well, thanks a lot for that. Sara heard you. And now she won’t talk to me anymore.” That last phrase sliced through my chest and I wished I could go back and not even agree to the dumb bet.
“Everton, get over here,” Coach Frank called, the frustration clear in his voice.
I shook my head and walked away, not ready to perform in front of college coaches. I heard my name from the stands and turned to look up, seeing my parents up a few rows. Great, now I needed to keep my head in the game so they wouldn’t think they’d wasted all this money to bring me here.
Once I made it over to Coach Frank, I looked around for the coach we’d had earlier.
“What happened to Coach Michaels?” I asked, stopping by the drink cooler and filling a small cup.
“He had to head out. His wife is in labor. I’m coaching the rest of the games today.” His eyes narrowed in my direction and I knew he was trying to send me a warning. Probably to stay away from his daughter again.
The game went by slower than I wanted, and it took every ounce of everything I had to concentrate and perform. I had momentary lapses, missing a ball hit right to me and then striking out. That last one was probably a sign of how my relationship had lasted with Sara.
I walked into the dugout, hanging up the bat on the rack and inwardly growling. This was not how I usually played.
“Everton, what’s the deal out there?” Coach Frank yelled at me after the game. We’d lost by two runs, thanks to my error, and I was already feeling the guilt.
The rest of my team had gone to take a bathroom break or get some snacks from the small concession stand that had opened on the side of the complex.
“Just an off day, sir,” I said, trying to avoid his gaze.
“Is this about my daughter?” he asked, placing his hands on his hips. That meant business.<
br />
I finally raised my gaze to his and nodded. “I really like her, sir. She thinks I was just trying to get close to you, but it’s not true. My cousin made a bet when we first got here, but I’d forgotten all about it. I think she’s someone special and now I’ve ruined it.”
The hardness of his features softened somewhat, and he folded his arms across his chest. “We all make mistakes, Everton. But don’t wait too long before you say you’re sorry. It might be too late at that point.”
I nodded, wondering how I could even say I was sorry, how I could convince her I wasn’t using her.
“Next game isn’t for another two hours. Might as well start now?” The question in his voice led to a slight smile, the most emotion I’d seen since we arrived for the camp.
Realizing what he was saying, I nodded, grabbed my bag out of the dugout and slipped out of my cleats. I’d be better able to run in my sneakers.
“Good job, Isaac,” my mom said, pulling me into an awkward bent over hug. I wrapped one arm around her while still trying to pull on one of my shoes.
“Thanks, Mom. How long are you guys staying?”
“You play again, right?” my dad asked.
I nodded. “It’s in two hours.” I felt the urgency to go, but my parents had also sacrificed a lot for me to be here.
“We need to head out for a meeting,” my dad said, lifting his watch. “It’s nearby so we can be back for the next one.”
“Sounds good. Thanks for coming.” I smiled at them and hoped that I hadn’t screwed things up permanently between me and Sara.
Once my parents headed out the other direction to the parking lot, I took off, sprinting through the complex and out onto the street next to it. I paused for a moment at a cross street, trying to remember which direction the hotel was from where I stood.
Taking a left, I ran as fast as I could for a few blocks, slowing it down to a jog for the last couple.
'Tis the Season for Love: A Charity Box Set Page 75