The Billionaire's Secret Love Child(77)

They were about to do just that. Kara and Henry walked down the familiar street; from Kara’s house to the house down the street that Henry normally lived.

Henry walked just a little bit slower, and Kara did her best to keep him on track. He continued to plead the entire way, and it drove her crazy having to constantly reassure him, but it was for the best.

Once they arrived, they were greeted at the door by George.

“Hey, you two,” he said, ushering them towards the living room where nearly the entire hockey team had congregated.

Kara joined a couple of the player’s girlfriends in the back and said her usual greetings. She found herself spending more time with them as of late. They weren’t the smartest people, but they were still good people.

Henry stood at the front of the assembly. He looked nervous like he would have preferred to be anywhere but there.

“Hey guys,” he started.

“Just get out with it,” George shouted from the crowd.

“Alright, alright. I’m getting to it.” Henry said. “You know how I’ve been a bit standoffish and rarely go out to the night clubs, or usually eat at home. Well, there’s a reason for all of that.”

Henry looked into Kara’s eyes for strength.

“I’m not a rich kid like all of you. I’m not cut from the same cloth. I know a lot of you only like to consort with your own kind, and I’m not that. I’m just a normal everyday poor kid who wanted to be liked.

“So, I lied to you all, and I hope you can forgive me.”

The group was quiet for a minute; more or less none of them really had an immediate response to his sudden bout of honesty.

“Is that all,” asked George, the loudest of them all.

“Well, yeah.”

The guys all started laughing, and Henry felt ashamed. He started to walk away from the front of the group.

“Here I thought you were going to tell us something serious like you were quitting the team.”

Henry paused.

“What?”

George hopped out and grabbed Henry.

“I think I speak for everyone here when I tell you that none of us care where you were born, or where you come from. You’re one of us.”

Henry tried his hardest to suppress the tears that were welling up behind his eyes, but he couldn’t. The rest of the team shot up from the various chairs and couches to give him a giant hug.

Henry made eye contact again with Kara from the middle of the crowd. She stood in the back laughing at the sudden outpouring of emotion.

The large crowd partied the night away, drinking and chatting. The team threw on their skates again and started another impromptu game of hockey in the backyard.

This time, though, Kara was there to cheer him on. He felt revved up, now free from the burden of his own lies and ready to make his way towards a more exciting future.

Kara stood in the back with her new friends.

“Ugh, you are too lucky, Kara. That Henry is probably the best catch of the entire school.”

Kara thought about it, and she really did feel lucky. She felt lucky because of the person she was dating, and felt excited to have made so many new friends.

She had finally been coaxed out of her shell, by the last person she expected. And, in turn, Kara pulled Henry out of his.

*****

THE END





Not With the Coach – A College Football Romance


I tried, in earnest, to look a little relaxed. I inhaled deeply and slowly breathed out, hoping that my nerves would go with it. It didn’t seem to help in the slightest.

Jennie didn’t seem fazed; she was a natural at appearing- well- natural. I always felt, at least, some measure of envy towards her when we spent time together.

The most attractive men I’d ever seen paraded by us, giving large smiles at Jennie and avoiding my gaze as much as possible, it seemed. I was used to it by now. Yet, I still held a shred of hope that someone 'd notice me.

“Yeah! Go Brad!” Jennie shouted while waving at the stand where the players congregated.

I applauded and did my best to look the part as a fan of the team. The pep rally was full of fans, and the cheering onlookers were having the desired effect on the team.

It hadn’t been my first rally that year, and for some reason, I felt my nervous at every one. I couldn’t tell what was causing it in the slightest. I wasn’t speaking in public, or expecting to be approached by a player, however, nice that would have been. I wondered if maybe they were jitters of excitement, and I was just hoping our team would crush the opposition.

“We have to watch them practice tomorrow, Sandy,” Jennie said, as I clapped with the crowd.

I nodded and smiled at her.

I was always her tag along, as a handbag that fit her outfit perfectly. I didn’t mind, though, I just enjoyed being wanted.

The crowd began to disperse a while later, and Jennie bade me stay so she wouldn’t be alone while she waited for Brad.

“Hey, girl,” I heard Brad say from behind.

We both spun and after taking her first look at him, ran to him and jumped up to straddle his waist. I might as not have existed; they paid me no mind and began to wander off. I checked the time on my phone; it was too late for any of the buses, and with no money for a cab, I figured that walking would be best.

I palmed the can of mace I kept in my purse; an old habit and probably a good one to have. The street was still littered with people going in every direction.