Page 4 of Infatuated
“I got in!”
She shoves an envelope in my face, and I pull the letter out. The letterhead reads The University of California, Los Angeles. The words blur together on the page as I read her acceptance letter.She was supposed to go to the University of Wyoming with me.We were going to get our degrees together, move into an apartment sophomore year, and get married.
What the fuck happened to our plans?
I stand and shove the letter back in her hands. “I thought we were going to school together?” I ask, my voice coming out louder than it should. “We had plans. When did you apply to UCLA?” I demand.
Her mouth pops open, then she snaps it shut, crosses her arms, and looks angry as she answers. “It was a last-minute decision. I wanted to see if I could get in, and I thought you’d be happy about it.” She tosses her arms up. “Jesus, Tristan, I didn’t think the world would come to an end if I tried something new.”
She stomps down the stairs toward her truck. She pulls the door open and spins to glare at me. “We’re checking out the campus this week. Take the week and figure out how to congratulate your girlfriend the right way.”
“No. We’re talking about this now.” I storm over to her truck, take the keys out of the ignition, and toss them in the field.
“What the fuck, Tristan?” she yells and pounds her tiny fists into my solid chest. Then she takes off toward the field to get her keys. “You’re insane, you know that?” she yells over her shoulder. “I thought you’d be happy for me. You were the first person I wanted to tell. I was so excited, and you shit all over it.”
I follow her and lower my voice. I know people can hear us. “I’m not shitting on it. I’m trying to understand. We had a plan, you and I. We were going to move in together next year, graduate together, get a house, have a family—”
Her sparkly keychain catches the sunlight, and she snatches them up from the ground. “Why would I want to have a family with someone who can’t even be happy for me? Screw you. I’m done.”
She’s done? All because I wasn’t happy she messed with the plans we had?
“Done with what?”
“Us.” She motions back and forth between us. “I can’t do this anymore. All we do is whatyouwant. I want it to be about me.”
There it is. Her. What she doesn’t realize is I’ve given up so much for her. I almost missed the game where the scouts came to watch me play because she just had to go to a movie with some friends. Or that time I flunked my algebra test because she was sick and made me bring her soup during lunch. She tells me to jump, I say how high. Every. Fucking. Time.
Everything is clear now. It’s like a lightbulb finally turning on. I can’t live to please her anymore. I need to live my life for me. I have a chance to be a great ball player and get my degree. No one will tie me down. No one can make me change my plans for the future.
“Have fun in L.A., Kasey. Don’t bother calling me.”
I look up and see Mom standing in the doorway, hiding a smirk behind her mug of coffee. I grab my bags from the porch and toss everything in the back of my pickup to get to the field in time for practice. I watch her in the rear-view mirror as I drive away—shock and anger cloud her features.
I feel lighter than I’ve felt in the past two years. Maybe I should have tossed the extra baggage a long time ago.
Chapter 3
Lana
Ipush open the window blind as we make our initial descent into Laramie, Wyoming. We had to switch from our nice, first class seats in Cheyenne to a puddle jumper that has been bumping and shaking so hard I’m surprised we didn’t lose a wing on take-off.
Seriously, where the hell am I going that first-class accommodations aren’t an option?
I glance at Mom and Dad. They’re reviewing the brochure they picked up in the airport for the ranch, and Mom is pointing to activities she wants to do. She smiles and leans her head on Dad’s shoulder before turning to me.
“Lana, look.” She leans over the aisle and points to a pond. “You said you wanted to go to the lake. There’s also horseback riding, and every Thursday night, they host a dance. They even offer square dance lessons. Maybe there will be a cute boy to teach you how.” She raises her eyebrows and smiles, acting more like a friend than my mom.
I can’t stay mad at her forever, and I smirk. “Okay, Mom.”
She hands the brochure to me, and I hold it but lean my head back and close my eyes. Only a few more minutes, and I’ll be able to get off this flying tin can. My stomach is starting to hate the bumps, so I focus on taking deep breaths through my nose and out through my mouth. I dig a barf bag out of the backseat pocket, just in case. I can’t be too careful.
* * *
Twenty minutes, and the longest bumpy dirt road ever, we arrive. I haven’t had service on my phone since we landed in Laramie, and I’m dying to text Bethany to find out how the party is going. It’s eleven here, so it’s one in the afternoon back home. The party must be in full swing.Is Joe thinking about me?Is he already hooking up with someone else?
I can’t think like that. Positive thoughts only. He’s bummed I’m not there and pining for me. I smile inwardly thinking about him.
I slide out of the SUV and slam the door behind me as I hold my phone to the sky in Lion King fashion, praying for a signal.Just one bar. I need something—anything!