“Oh, my God! There’s like twenty-five guys on the roster.”
“Twenty-seven actually.”
Liv and I giggle as Heather steps out of the stall. I put on my sweet and innocent persona. “Hi Heather.”
She rolls her eyes at me. “You know it’s only a matter of time before Brice gives into me. I mean, from what I hear, you’re still a virgin.”
I shoot Liv a glance, and she shakes her head no.
“Oh, please. No one had to tell me anything. Your look totally gives you away.”
“You can't believe everything you hear, Heather. I mean, I’ve heard you’re the village bicycle, but I still give you the benefit of the doubt. However, at this point, it might be time to go in for a tune-up to make sure things are still working properly. Nothing like being rode hard and put up wet.”
“Well, I heard your dad is missing. It would be a shame if they can't find him, and he winds up dead somewhere.”
I’m done. I have been nothing but nice to her since I met her, and she has continuously been a raging bitch to me.
“Hey Heather.” She turns around, and my fist connects with her nose. I feel bone splinter against my skin, and I’m unsure if it’s her nose or my hand, but someone broke something, and I’m all smiles as I shake my hand off. “God, that felt good!”
“What the hell, Presley!” Blood drips down her face and onto her dress. “I’m telling Principal Stewart,” her voice raises an octave and I can hear a slight tremble to it.
“Go ahead, Heather. I’ll let him know it was all in self-defense. You poured your drink on me and threatened me. What was I supposed to do? Just stand there like a punching bag?”
I can hear a couple of snickers around the bathroom as we have drawn quite the audience.
“I didn’t even touch you, you little bitch!”
I grab Heather’s drink and throw it on my dress as she stares at me in disbelief.
“You’re fucking crazy! Look around you. Any of these girls would back me up.”
I look around and see several girls smiling at me. I recognize a few as girlfriends of other baseball players on Robert’s team. They start to slow clap and I advance toward Heather a final time, leaning into her ear and lowering my voice, “Don’t you dare come near me or Robert again. Next time I won't be so nice.”
I bite her ear hard before pulling back and walking out leaving a stunned Heather standing in the middle of the bathroom, blood on her dress. I felt incredibly powerful, and ready to forgive Robert because I was standing on my own; I had done what he couldn’t do.
Liv and I make our way across the dance floor and over to Robert and Trey. Their backs face us. I thread my arms through his, wrapping around his waist as his back melts into me.
“Presley, I’m sor—” He turns around and looks me over. “What the hell happened to your dress? And how did you get blood on you? Shit, is that yours?” He starts looking around, his eyes raging as I run my hands down his chest.
“I’m fine. Really. However, Marcus—your date’s ready to leave. And don’t ever bring her around again.”
Robert’s eyes begin to soften as he feels the weight of my words and begins piecing everything together.
I look up at him as he brings my already swollen hand to his lips. “I’m ready to go home too. I think I really messed up my hand.” I shake it and try to open and close it, but it really hurts.
He chuckles. “Come on, Rocky, let’s go get you taken care of.” He pulls me into his chest, and I’m grateful for the security I find in him. “Trey, Liv, you guys coming with us?”
“Of course, we are! I’ve got to hear this story.” Liv slaps at Trey, but I know she would have done the same thing if anyone had tried to get in between her and Trey.
Chapter Twenty-two
-February 14th-
The last few weeks have flown by. Presley seems a little distracted since winter formal, but she won't tell me what’s going on, and we haven’t heard any updates on her father. She didn’t want to do anything special for Valentine’s Day, so we ended up cooking a pizza together and watched Netflix with Kringle.
We’re in her room, she trails her fingers up and down my abdomen like she does when she’s nervous about something or has something on her mind.
“Robert?”
“Hmm?”
“This is probably a stupid question, but what happened between you and Heather? Obviously something was there at one time otherwise you wouldn’t have gone out with her.”
“Pres, why are you asking?”
“At formal, she made a comment about me enjoying her sloppy seconds. Why would she say something if there was nothing between you two?”
I take a deep breath. This is not how I wanted to spend tonight, but I know she won't drop it, and if she’s asking, she deserves to know the truth. “Presley, I’m not gonna lie to you. You know, Heather and I dated for about a month this past summer. But what you don’t know is that I found out she was also seeing two other guys besides me, and I ended it right away. She begged me to take her back, but it was already over. Any feelings I had towards her were gone, and after meeting you, I knew I would never look at another girl the same way again.”
Presley looks up at me, places a kiss on the underside of my jaw before reaching for my hand, pulling me behind her as she rolls over on her pillow, her butt wiggling against me, teasing me as she gotten so fond of doing.
Her body molds into mine as I place little kisses along the nape of her neck and down her spine as she arches against me. I grip her hip, holding her in place with one hand while the other holds the base of her throat. Tiny vibrations let me know she enjoys being dominated and when I nip on her ear, a perfect helpless moan encourages me. Sending a hand in between her thighs, gripping her soaking sex as she grinds against my cock. I want this. She wants this. And my alarm wants to be the ultimate cock block. Growling in frustration, I pull my hand from her, resting my forehead against her spine, I grit out, “I’ve got to go.”
“Please stay,” she whispers.
It kills me to leave her like this, so much want between the two of us, but I had no idea how much Heather’s comment had affected her. I should have asked sooner what was wrong instead of letting her deal with it alone.
“You know if I could, I would sweet girl, but we don’t want to upset the parents.” I see her roll her eyes and kiss her cheek. “I’ll be here tomorrow night. I promise.”
As I’m almost through the door, she stops me. “I’m sorry, I’ve been kinda standoffish lately. I guess I let Heather get in my head.”
“Babe, you have nothing to be sorry for. You’re my girl now, nothing else matters. I love you.”
“I love you too.” She blows me a kiss before I close her door.
One day there won't be these rules put in place by our parents. There will be her and I and our own little piece of heaven.
*****
-March 12th-
I get off the bus and check the mailbox. Empty. Still nothing. People have been getting their college acceptance letters for the last few weeks which means I’ve been checking the mail every day like a crazy person for my letters. I’m beginning to wonder if they will ever come. I walk up the drive thinking about this upcoming Friday night. It’s Robert’s first home game. I can't wait to see him dressed in his uniform. White pants and royal blue jersey cloud my mind as I make my way inside.
Mom’s home and as giddy as a schoolgirl. “Guess what came today!” she says in a sing-song kind of tone. Mom holds two large envelopes out in front of me. One from South Carolina and one from Ole Miss. These two envelopes hold my fate for the next four years of my life. “Come on! Open them!”
I open Ole Miss first, ACCEPTED.
I open South Carolina, my dream school, ACCEPTED, and with an academic scholarship of $20,000 for the first year.
Mom has a triumphant grin, “So, what’s it gonna be?”
I’m speechless. I knew this was a possibility, and I shou
ld be ecstatic about South Carolina, but I’m torn. “I, I don’t know. I mean, obviously, I would love to go to South Carolina, but I feel like I need to talk to Robert.” For the first time, I feel entirely unsure. I’ve never been unsure about anything in my life. I had a plan, a solid plan. My life was mapped out and now I feel as if it were only a half-life. Mom had a plan for me long before I knew it and now her crazy idea feels more and more like the right path. I’m willing to change years of planning for a boy, but not just any boy. He’s my Robert, my other half and though I know I can stand on my own, there isn’t a single piece of me that wants too. “Am I crazy, Mom?”
“Absolutely not, sweetheart. This is a big decision and you two are a couple. Good couples discuss the things affecting you both.”
I nod and immediately text Robert.
“How was practice?”
“Long, but I think we’re ready for Friday.”
“I got my acceptance letters today.”
“Fantastic! What are you thinking?”
“We need to talk. Has Coach said anything yet to you?”
“No, not yet. But Commitment Day is April 14, so I’ll at least have heard something by the 13th at the very latest.”
“Okay. I guess I’m just anxious to be out on our own together, without parents.”
“And why would you not want them around Presley? What kinds of naught things are you planning on doing to me?”
“I can think of a few ;)”
“You know we can always get a hotel room after prom.”
“I know, but I think it’s a little cliché. I want our first time to be special.”
“And it will be. I promise. xoxoxo. Got to go. I’ve got a test in history tomorrow and I’ve got to study. Will I see you tomorrow?”
“No. I have Choir UIL tomorrow. Liv is picking me up early tomorrow morning and it will be late by the time we get back”.
“Okay. I love you.”
“I love you too. Good luck tomorrow.”
-March 15th-
Liv, me, and both our moms get to the baseball fields early. The air is electric, and Robert’s name is on everyone’s lips as the kid with the golden arm. I am so excited for him, and so incredibly proud of him.
This is my first high school game, and it’s fun to watch everyone. We take our seats right behind home plate, and I can't wait to see Robert; he’s pitching first tonight. Liv is talking about something, and I seem to settle into a comfortable peace on the bleachers.
“Didn’t anyone tell you not to look so hot at a baseball game? You’ll distract the pitcher.” I look back, and Robert is crouched down low behind me, his lips brush against my skin sending goosebumps everywhere. His breath is hot on my neck, and he has a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
“Well, then the pitcher shouldn’t look so sexy in his uniform. I need to make sure everyone knows you belong to me.”
I’m wearing cut-off blue jean shorts, Robert’s practice jersey which I had to practically beg Coach for, and a pair of white converse tennis shoes.
“Princess, there is no doubt in my mind who I belong to. But just so you know, I came up with a little sign for us. Starting today, no matter where or when I’m playing, you’ll always know I’m thinking about you.”
My heart melts, and Liv gives us googly eyes.
“Can you two get any cuter? Just when I don’t think it’s physically possible, you do something like this.”
I laugh, and Robert shows me our signal. It isn’t much, a simple swipe of the nose with the pad of his thumb, first the right side, then the left. He shows me and I mimic him.
“You’re the only one that knows this. And if I ever see you do it, I’ll know you’re thinking about me too.” He kisses my forehead. “I’ve got to get back to the field house, but wait for me after the game, okay?”
With a giant grin I nod, “Absolutely. I love you. Good luck.”
Robert disappears, and I’m left with a happily in love Liv, who wraps her arms around me, like a predator suffocating its prey.
“Seriously, you two make all other couples look like crap.”
I laugh at her and bump her with my shoulder. “Come on. Let’s watch the game.”
-----
The game was amazing. Our first game of the season and we won 17-2. Robert pitched a no-hitter. Coach ended up pulling him in the seventh inning since we were so far ahead. He said he didn’t want him to strain his arm.
Liv and I are waiting in the stands for Robert and Trey to come out. Our mothers left after Robert got pulled, knowing we would get a ride home with the guys. Liv and I are deep in conversation, and we don’t hear them approaching.
“There’s my beautiful girl.”
“Oh. My. God! You were amazing tonight!” I stand up to give him a hug, but before I can, he wraps his arms around my thighs and lifts me into the air, looking up at me as he arches his neck backward, so I’m looking down at him.
“I think I might need you to wear this outfit every time we play. I think you were a total distraction to the other pitcher.”
“What my man wants, my man gets.”
He waggles his eyebrows “Oh, really?”
I smile back at him and capture his lips with mine, his tongue briefly brushes against mine while his thumb slides under my shorts, brushing in between my thighs before he sets me down and squeezes my butt hard.
“Well, right now I want a burger and cheese fries from the diner. I’m starving.”
Chapter Twenty-three
-March 23rd-
“Hey, Brice!”
I’m pulled from the athletic hallway at the sound of my name.
“I hope you don’t mind I still call you Brice? Come on in here, son.”
“Hey, Coach. What’s up? Have you heard anything?” I’m trying not to get worried but I haven’t heard anything yet. Other players are getting their offers and Presley won't pick a school until she knows where I’m going.
“Actually, I wanted to talk to you about it. Sit down.”
Taking a deep breath, I sit in the chair opposite Coach. This is gonna be bad. How is it possible I didn’t get accepted anywhere? I stupidly only applied to two schools; I was counting on baseball scholarships, and now I have nothing to fall back on.
Coach shuffles around a few papers on his desk and folds his hands looking intensely at me. “So, as you know, South Carolina has been here a couple of times looking at players and they like what they see in you. They are willing to give you a full-ride scholarship to play with them for the next two years and then, will extend the scholarship for an additional two years based on academics.”
I can breathe easier. “Hell, yes! Presley will be psyched. Thanks, Coach.” I move to get up, and he motions for me to stay seated.
“I’m not done. Ole Miss has seen your game tapes for the last three years, and they are also willing to give you a full scholarship for the next four years, contingent on academics.”
I can't believe what I’m hearing. Two schools, two offers. I know Presley has had her heart set on South Carolina, and I’m willing to give up Ole Miss for her.
“Before you go anywhere, there’s more.”
“More? Coach those were my two schools. I didn’t apply anywhere else. What else could there be?”
He takes a deep breath and settles in. The seriousness of what he’s about to tell me fills the air. “Son, this doesn’t happen every day, so I want you to think long and hard about this decision.”
He stops and I nod.
“The Texas Rangers are also interested in you. You would go to their minor league team in Arizona and play for them for a year, maybe longer, with the hopes of getting called up to the major league. You would have a salary and could be traded at any time to another team. Salaries aren’t much though, so you would need to find another job or go to school in your off time.”
“How much is it?” I ask hesitantly.
“$12,000 a year, give or take.”
Shit. There�
�s no way I could provide for myself and Presley, but the possibility of playing professional ball has always been a dream of mine. I knew the odds of ever getting this opportunity where slim, so I never even thought about it, but now it’s staring me in the face.
“Thank you, Coach. I’m definitely gonna need to talk everything over with my mom and see what Presley thinks as well.”
“I understand. I’ll be over in a couple of days to discuss everything again with both you and your mother. I will need to know your decision by the tenth to get the correct paperwork submitted and received for Commitment Day.
I nod as I stand from my chair, “Yes, sir. Thank you.”
Coach moves from behind his desk and pats my shoulder. “I’m proud of you, son.”
I walk out of Coach’s office, making my way to the choir wing to pick Presley up before going home. My mind is racing: professional ball. Wow. It isn’t until I realize I’ve passed the ranch driveway, when Presley pulls me back to the present.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
“I, um—I met with Coach today to go over my offers.”
“And?”
“And I’m still in shock. Full four-year ride to Ole Miss. A two-year ride to South Carolina with a possible two-year extension, and then…”
“Robert, that’s fantastic! But, why did you say and then; did you apply somewhere else?”
I shake my head no, “Pres, the Rangers want me to go to their minor team in Arizona and work my way up.”
She sits back in her seat, staring out the window. I can't tell if she’s mad or excited, and quite frankly, I’m not sure of my own emotions at the moment either. “You’ve never even mentioned doing something like this.”
“I didn’t think it was possible. The odds were so low, and honestly, who’s gonna pay attention to some senior from the middle of nowhere. Pres, I could potentially be playing major league ball in a couple of years.”
“What about school Robert? What happens if this doesn’t work out? What will you fall back on? I’m not trying to be a killjoy, and I’m incredibly happy and proud of you, I am, but the minors?”
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