When Our Worlds Collide (Our Worlds #1)(106)
“That would be the one. The one and only Graham Black already snagged this little piece up,” Dan explains with an almost proud grin. He looks like he wants to either knock this guy out or applaud him for hitting on Graham Black’s girlfriend.
“Graham’s your boyfriend?” Jacob asks then continues without waiting for my answer. “Of course you’re his girlfriend. He couldn’t keep his eyes off of you leaning against that damn fence like everyone else in our dugout. I’ll have to relay the message that you’re off limits. It’s too bad really.” Jacob smiles then turns around heading towards a group of guys who are loitering close by. They all turn to look back at me.
“What the hell just happened?” I ask out loud to anyone who’s willing to clear up my confusion.
“It seems that you have a baseball team of admirers,” Violet says in a matter of fact way.
I’m not na?ve. I know that I’m not the ugliest girl in the bunch. I just don’t see anything special when I look in the mirror. Nothing about me stands out as fantastic. Ever since Graham had shown an interest in me, it seems that all the other boys have fallen in suit with him. It’s sort of annoying. How is it possible that I went this long without gaining any attention from guys? Now all of a sudden they are swarming?
I join Violet and Dan at a game of beer pong waiting for Graham to show up. People come and go while we play. No one else approaches me, but I can still feel eyes on me. If what Jacob is saying is true then a whole slew of baseball players are checking me out. He thankfully must have relayed the message back to them that I’m hands off. I doubt anyone will risk hitting on me knowing that Graham is my boyfriend.
I check my cell phone a few dozen times. No texts or missed calls. It’s already almost eleven and nothing from Graham. I’m worried, but know that he’s probably still with Coach. He deserves to take all the time in the world if it means that his future can be a little brighter.
I feel eyes on me again after I slide my cell phone in my back pocket. This time it’s different. Eeriness falls over me. I turn slowly to see who’s standing nearby, finding a pair of alarming blue eyes. They are saying something, but I don’t know what it is. I can’t read him quick enough.
Craig leans in towards where I’m standing not moving too far off of the wall. He knows if Violet even sees him in the same room as me that she will freak the hell out, but she’s too busy arguing “house rules” with Dan.
Craig’s calculating and manipulative. This isn’t a good combination.
“You’re so damn naive,” he whispers in my ear as he holds tight to my forearm.
I shift to get out of his grasp turning my attention back on Violet nudging her on the arm to gain her attention. She turns to see Craig turning away from where we were just standing.
“Stay away from her,” Violet whisper yells making sure no one hears her threat. Craig laughs hysterically before leaving us to finish our game.
“That guy gives me the creeps and to think that I once thought he was so damn gorgeous. You know I actually hooked up with him sophomore year. Worst mistake,” Violet utters under her breath taking the last shot in the game to finish it all up. As I watch the ping pong ball bounce into the last cup I’m thankful. I’m not in the mood to play anymore.
Where the hell is Graham when I need him?
Chapter Fifty
-Graham-
Kennedy is right. Luck isn’t something that I’d need. The discussion with the coach from Georgia couldn’t have gone any better if I had scripted it myself. He commended me on my pitching and my rhythm on the field along with my knowledge of the game. It feels nice to hear from someone other than my coach that I can make it far in the sport that I’ve loved all of my life. He explains that he can’t give me a formal commitment but it will be safe to assume that if I want Georgia then they want me once I graduated.
I let out a sigh of relief when Coach shuts the door behind him after exchanging pleasantries with a few handshakes and slaps across the back. He slumps down in his chair looking over his desk at me. I can tell he wants to say something. You can always tell by the stiffness in the room. You can cut whatever it is with a knife.
“What is it, Coach?” I break the silence that’s practically deafening.
“I don’t know how to breech this topic with you. Once I say it, I need you to be honest with me. I don’t want to hear any bullshit from you,” he explains. “The thing is that I shouldn’t be bringing this up to you and in my head I know that, but I’ve been your coach since freshman year. I can’t stand back and not say anything. You’re like a son to me.” He leans forward resting his elbows on the desk. He looks pained as he runs his hand down his face.
This wasn’t going to be good.
That’s coaches sign for “Get the hell out of dodge—you’re not going to like what I’m about to say”.
“What’s going on, Coach?” I lean back in the chair resting an ankle over my knee preparing myself for whatever he’s going to say.
“It’s about your Dad, Graham.” Coach waits to see what I will say. When I don’t respond leaving the silence between us he continues. “I heard him in the stands tonight. The way he speaks to you isn’t how a father speaks to his son, so I’m going to let you explain your relationship to me. I’d hate to assume something that’s not true.”