Page 15

Landon

“Damn it, Brooks!” What’s with the arm today?” Trevor shoots me another dirty look after the fourth time I’ve lobbed the ball from home to him out at third. I’m not going to let up with the heat. Mason flashes me a knowing smirk and catches the ball from Trevor. He starts chuckling when he notices Trevor take his glove off to flex and shake out his hand. That’s right, fucker. You make my girl cry, you’re lucky I’m only throwing hard to you and not at your face. Now if that idea wouldn’t get me benched... I entertain the mental picture of his nose spurting blood across the field and smile.

“Pussy!” Mason blurts out at him, and Trevor flips him the middle finger. Several of the players laugh at the display. We finish up practice and I manage to get three more good throws in at him. Needless to say, by the end of practice, Trevor is pissed and ready to go home and rest that hand.

“So, genius, what’d you say or do to upset Kate so badly yesterday?” I practically growl at Trevor as we all walk into the locker room.

“The fuck?” Trevor asks incredulously.

“I came in yesterday after practice and she was upset in the kitchen. It would’ve been after her art class.”

“I have no fucking clue what you are talking about.” Trevor freezes midway through opening his locker door, his eyes blowing wide and remembering. “Uhhh...Art class yesterday afternoon?” He looks over at me, then proceeds to strip off his shirt. He knows exactly what pissed her off and just doesn’t want to out himself. Too bad, I’m not going anywhere without answers.

“Yes. Art,” I grit out. I don’t have the patience for this.

“Ahhh, shit, about that. She kind of saw Kristy and I going at it in the alcoves. That chick is something, man. Always ready for a good time,” he voices like it’s no big deal. That pisses me off. I snort at his apparent lack of gentlemanly behavior.

“Well, I think it’s more than safe to say your little game with her is over,” I smirk, knowing that it is most assuredly over, and grab my shower shit.

I run through the shower, catching out of the corner of my eye that Trevor is already done and waiting by his locker. Probably to get a last word in. Mason isn’t far, eyeing the situation but pretending to be doing something on his phone. He’s a good guy. Just sayin’. I’m toweling off my hair with a separate towel wrapped around my waist as I reenter the locker area warily.

“You sounded pretty sure that she’s done with me. What’d she say?” Trevor asks tensely.

“She actually didn’t say a damn thing about you.” My heart aches a little remembering her broken voice telling me that she just wanted someone to want her and her only. Fuck, I hate that I waited so long and contributed to those feelings. I won’t share with him that he made her cry though. He doesn’t deserve to know that she spilled a single tear for him. Part of me wonders if they were actually tears over him so much as tears of anger, loneliness and longing for more for her life. Since they didn’t get serious, thank fuck, it’s more than likely the latter of the two.

“Don’t worry, she’ll be okay. I’ll make sure of it.” Damn straight you will. I eye him after pulling my head and arms through my shirt, wondering what stupidity is about to spew from his mouth.

“Nah, man. I think I’ll ask her out for ice cream and try to patch things over.” I snort again in disbelief. He actually thinks I was trying to do something nice for him.

“No, that won’t be happening.” I shake my head, close my locker door, and look his way with an “I dare you to fuck with me” face. Mason stands up straight from his leaning position across the room, sensing the rising tension in my voice.

“Oh? Is that right? What makes you think you have a say in this?” Trevor challenges. I steel my spine and face him fully.

“The fact that you’ve proven you’re untrustworthy with her. I stood back and let her make her choice when I should’ve told her about Kristy. I gave you your chance. I won’t let you hurt her. But mostly, Trevor, I have a say because she is mine , and I’m done biding my time. I’ve watched her pick enough guys who don’t actually intend to treat her like a man should.”

Damn, that felt good. Really good. Mine. She is mine.

“Yours? What the hell does that mean?” he scoffs at me, baiting me. I won’t continue this; I said my piece.

“Exactly what I said. Mine.” Before he can bait me into any further argument, I grab my shit, hitching my chin toward the door at a very wary Mason. We walk out leaving behind an extremely pissed and confused Trevor with zero fucks given.

“So you threw your hat in the ring finally?” Mason playfully punches me in the shoulder, and I smile.

“Yeah I guess you could say that. She kinda tipped my hand in the matter. It felt like a “make your move or forever hold your peace” kind of moment. I wasn’t bluffing with Trevor. She’s officially mine.” I beam like I won the lottery. It feels like it. Buzzing from a text has me pulling my phone out of my pocket.

Kate: Meet me at home ;)

Me: Omw now

“I gotta go, man. I’ll catch you later.” I turn on my heel and walk backwards, waving at him, my smile growing as wide as a damn Cheshire cat.

“Oh shit! I know that look! I guess I won’t be expecting you at the bar tonight.” He grins back, happy to see me so happy. Like I said, a good friend.

Fresh air rolls through my open window as I cruise down the main road in town on my way back to the apartment and Kate. I wonder what she will think of the playlist. Did she listen to it while at work? I chew my lip as I reflect on my song choices for the list. I did go for blatant transparency.

I know her taste in music, so I picked older songs, songs from high school, and songs from soundtracks from her favorite shows. I looked for ones that would tell her exactly how she makes me feel and what being around her does to me. Ultimately, I ended it with Yours by Russell Dickerson because I am and hopefully always will be hers.

I think back to the conversation I had with her dad before he passed. She knows nothing about it. He told me that he always saw me as his son, and he could tell how much I loved his girl which made him the happiest man alive. He said he felt better knowing he was leaving her behind with me. He told me to hang in there and not give up because when the time was right, she would ultimately see how much I cared and choose me too.

He said you don’t often see two people fall into such a deep friendship with someone of the opposite sex that don’t end up together in the end. Mrs. Morgan shared the sentiment when she walked into the room with his pain meds in the middle of the conversation. She had rubbed her hand in the sweetest way between my shoulder blades and kissed my hair before she left the room to allow us to properly continue our conversation in private, knowing deep down it’d be one of our last.

Tears prick my eyes at the hindsight of those moments. Those two have spent a good chunk of the last six years being parents to me when mine couldn’t or wouldn’t. I know mine do the best they believe they can, and I love them, but Kate’s stepped up and filled the gaps when it was apparent mine weren’t going to. I rub the center of my chest, trying to ease the ache of losing Kate’s dad. No matter the amount of extra time we were blessed with to get to say goodbye, when the time came, it hit us all like a truck.

I shake myself from the grief. It fucking sucks when it pops up out of the blue like that, but that’s how it seems to work. One little thought can prompt it and tear you from one reality to the other reality you wished you could desperately change.

Reflecting back on the playlist I made for Kate, I’m hoping that some of the songs weren’t too much and didn’t overwhelm her. There were a few racier ones, but I felt that she needed to hear it all. I just feel so much for her, and I’m freaking thrilled it’s finally out in the open. I wanted her to see that these feelings are deep and not just rooted in infatuation and lust. Don’t get me wrong, her body more than does it for me, but I fell in love with the heart of the girl I met six years ago, not just her smile.

Leaning forward on the steering wheel, I tap out the beat and enjoy myself. It really is a pretty day. I can tell fall is on the way, and I will welcome it with open arms. Man, last night was something. I threw caution to the wind and gave her my all.

I really wish I’d woken up earlier and enjoyed her soft warm body again before classes. She just felt way too good wrapped in my arms, and I hadn’t slept that good in quite a while. Kate’s post- shower tease was unexpected and has had me hard on and off all day long. If she hadn’t mentioned a possible pop quiz, I seriously was thinking about taking her for a spin against the bathroom wall.

I can’t wait to get my hands back in her hair and on her body. I want to kiss and explore every last inch of her skin. I want it all. Last night lit a fire that I feel will only grow and is unquenchable.

I pull in and notice Kate’s already home. I yank the key quickly out of the ignition and jog up to the door. I get in and drop my crap, not even caring where it will land. Now, where is she? I walk toward my room, but I notice her door is open. She is lying on her stomach on the bed angled, one of her feet up in the air and the other lying down near her pillows and tapping. She’s wearing her wireless earbuds with one cheek resting in her palm, her eyes are closed, and she looks fucking adorable. I smirk, immediately knowing that foot is tapping to the beat of one of the songs on my list. I walk quietly up to her bedside.