When Our Worlds Collide (Our Worlds #1)(56)
“Kennedy Conrad.” Mark points back at where she is standing laughing at something Coach is saying to her. “Is there something going on there?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I answer as coolly as possible shaking my head in denial, trying not to be too obvious.
“Don’t let Craig see you. You know how he gets when he stakes his territory and he clearly thinks she’s his for the taking,” Mark pats me on the back then walked behind home plate. I thought about what Mark was implying before I start practicing. Craig barely knows Kennedy, but Mark is right about one thing. Craig thinks that Kennedy is his to have, but he is sadly mistaken. I may have messed up royally, but I’m not willing to back down even for my best friend.
“Mark?” I shout to get his attention before he gets too far away. He turns jogging back to me.
“What’s up, man?” he quirks an eyebrow at me. I’m not sure if I should bring her back up. I just need to talk to someone about her. It’s killing me.
“What do you think about her? Kennedy?” I ask slamming the baseball repeatedly into my mitt.
Mark lets out a strand of uncontrollable laughs. I want to beat the shit out of him when I see the way he’s looking at me. He knows…he has to.
“The fact that you are even asking pretty much means that you don’t want to hear what I have to say, but since you’re practically my brother I’ll be honest with you. The girl is smoking hot and ridiculously smart. Too smart to even fathom trying to snuggle up to any of us. She’s quiet and understated in the best kind of way. She’s the type of girl you marry, not fuck, so if that’s your intentions I suggest you run in the opposite direction of her because a girl like that…” Mark turns and points back to a clueless Kennedy. “A beautiful girl like that will love you and bury herself so deep in you that you won’t realize it until you are writing love letters and buying flowers like a little pussy.”
I looked at my best friend in shock. “That was poetic man, real deep,” I laugh shoving him away from the pitcher’s mound.
“I’m not the one asking about a girl like I’m in third grade. Do you want me to go ask her if she likes you too?” Mark jokes heading back to his spot behind home plate.
I watch the seconds on the scoreboard count down. After throwing out a few practice pitches, I am ready for the game to start. We’re playing one of our rivals. I always get more anxious and amped up when our bragging rights are on the line. I have a hatred for their first baseman. He and I met in 7th grade at a baseball summer camp. Not many people can tolerate him. He’s a damn good ball player, not as good as me of course. He’s given a free pass in life to be an asshole. Some may say the same about me.
As usual when I stand on the dirt mound all things plaguing my mind falls to the side just for a few short innings. I get to erase the memory of my own father beating the shit out of me just the night before even though I feel it running through my ribs with every pitch I throw over home plate. It’s easier to forget the pressure I feel to win this game. The one thing that doesn’t fall away is Kennedy. She seems to be the only thing that consumes my thoughts. I keep replaying Mark’s little impromptu speech. Everything he said was damn near the truth. It’s unlike me and it would be easier to be the guy I was before the accident. Before Kennedy came along and screwed me all up.
I catch a good look towards her as I prepare to send out the first pitch. She’s standing along the fence laughing with Violet. Her long brown hair falls around her face as she reaches down to grab the camera that is hanging around her neck. As if I’m connected to her somehow I can feel the lens on me as she watches through the small window. I smile just as I release the pitch knowing that she will capture the moment. Kennedy just won’t know that the smile is meant for her.
They ended up being a tougher team than we expected. They gave us a run for our money when in the sixth inning they almost gained a run on us. In the end we took control winning with eleven runs to their nine. As the team celebrates the win near the dugout, I keep my eyes on Kennedy as she walks closer towards where the team is gathered giving each other high fives and pats on the back. Violet’s on her side and I quickly notice Amanda hot on their heels.
Oh shit. I’m screwed.
Please keep your god damn mouth shut, Amanda.
Amanda runs up to the fence trying to gain my attention. “Graham, looks like our tradition works,” she boasts with the confidence only she is capable of. I used to find it endearing. Now I wish she would have moved back in the 5th grade. All of the guys on the team hoot and holler while Coach tells us to calm down. The only face I see is Kennedy’s as she approaches the team. She looks livid, but tries to hide it behind her camera. I can tell by the way her lips are pursed and the way her shoulders are tight that she heard everything Amanda had said. I don’t have any way to explain it to her. I’m such a dick.
There’s no excuse and no explanation that can make this moment less fucked up. Willing Kennedy to look in my direction is impossible. Even as she takes multiple photos of the team her eyes pass right over mine as if I’m not even there anymore, as if I don’t exist in her world. I just proved to her that she is wrong about me once again. I am exactly who I claimed to be. This Graham isn’t worthy of someone as kind hearted and forgiving as Kennedy. Of course, I don’t think forgiveness is something I’m going to get from her any time soon. I follow the rest of the team across the parking lot heading to the locker room with my shoulders slumped over in defeat.