Hope's Chance(79)

We were standing on the side of the road, and our affectionate embrace was obvious to anyone that had been passing by. Realizing that my father could come driving down the road at any moment I backed away from Chance. “Maybe we should talk about this somewhere else.” I suggested.

“Do you trust me Hope?”

“With my life.”

“Stop trying to make my decisions. You aren’t some summer fling, or some young love. Besides, I haven’t played ball in such a long time. I don’t know if I could even get back into it the way I was before.” He ran his hands through his hair. “Do you want a ride back to the house?”

“No! I am just going to pretend I was out for a run. I will meet you back there.” I watched as he climbed back on his bike. “Wear a helmet next time.”

“Sorry, I saw my future running away and I didn’t have time for safety.” He gave me a wink and took off toward the house.

I ended up walking the whole way back, giving me time to reflect on what had just happened. I guess I was an idiot to think Chance would just walk away from our relationship. The cards were all on the table now too. Chance was very clear about his intentions with where our relationship was going. He was right about one thing. I wanted the same thing.

There was a part of me that wished he would have just said yes. The separation would be something that we dealt with already; surely, we could do it again. Maybe he was right about not being in the same place he was when he played ball last. I didn’t want his decision to be based on just me. I hated that he would do that. I hated that I even made a big deal about it now that it was all said and done.

Perhaps he would have said no after thinking about it. It bothered me, but not as much as the look on his eyes when I lied to him. I couldn’t do that again.





Chapter 45


Chance

After much consideration, I decided to go spend a day at Virginia Tech to check out the campus and the baseball organization. Since mine and Hopes falling out, she had been more positive about me at least seeing it through. I wanted her to come with me and Mark had pushed the idea just as much in an optimistic way of thinking Hope would fall in love with the campus and want to come too.

Our day had been set and we took Hope’s car knowing that Mark wouldn’t allow her on my bike, besides it was starting to get entirely too cold to be riding a motorcycle around anyway.

We left early in the morning and by the time; we had made it to campus we had stopped three times. Once was to get gas in Hope’s car. The next was because Hope had drank a large coffee and couldn’t hold her bladder. The third was because she said she was starving to death. I didn’t mind though, because anytime with her was a good time, besides the fact that I loved to tease her.

When we walked into the campus, I noticed that it was a bit overwhelming for Hope. The community college was nothing compared in size to this and Hope seemed genuinely afraid. While the sports coordinator showed me around, she tagged along behind us, taking more of a sister approach as opposed to my girlfriend. It was easier that way for both of us; we never knew who knew her father.

After we had toured what appeared to be the entire sports facility, we took a break for lunch. Hope and I grabbed some sandwiches from the cafeteria and found a shaded spot in the grass. The sun was shining and for some reason the temperature today was over sixty degrees. I pulled Hope between my legs after we were done eating, and while the breeze blew her hair around her face, we watched as the students congregated all around us.

“So what do you think?” I asked.

She shrugged. “So far it seems pretty cool. It is bigger than I guess I imagined it to be. How about you? Are you ready to move out here?”

“The facility is nice and it seems like they have a good program going here, but you know I am nervous about starting back up again. It has really been a long time Hope. I don’t know if I will be ready enough to play this coming spring.” I admitted.

I kissed the top of her forehead. She pulled my arms across her chest tighter. “So how far do you think the dorms are away from each other?” She asked.

I wondered if Hope was actually considering going to school here. I had explained to her about the strict curfews that I would have to abide by if I was on the team. Between practice and classes, our time together would be limited. I knew it was hard for her to take, because it was also hard for me. I didn’t like the little time we had now, and it would be cut into half. Sure, we could be together more freely, but by then she would be eighteen and it really wouldn’t matter too much. We planned on telling Mark about our relationship once the wedding was over with.

“We need to go meet that guy about it now actually.” I lifted Hope up easily to a standing position and stood up behind her. Since the sports director was gone, I could hold her hand without her worrying who would see. When I grabbed it, she looked up at me and smiled.

The next hour or so was a bunch of walking around. The dorms were situated all around campus and honestly, there was no way to tell where you would be. Hope seemed uneasy as we toured each room. They were small, and although she was used to a small room at her mothers, she now had a huge room that she didn’t have to share with anyone else.

When the guy giving us the tour talked about roommates, I thought Hope was going to pass out. I squeezed her hand to let her know I hated it too.

When we were finally done walking around with the guide, he offered that we could walk anywhere we wanted to. Hope and I thanked him for his time and started walking around the different buildings. Of course, this college offered so much more than the community college, it was a good school.