Page 95 of Waiting for Her

She looks toward the picture frames. I wish I knew what she was thinking. “I’m sorry. This isn’t your fault. I’m just scared.”

“I know. I’m not going anywhere, though. We’ll deal with whatever’s about to come together.”

“Together,” she whispers.

“Don’t run on me this time.”

“Never again,” she promises.

Grady

“Kennedy,” I saywhen she picks up the phone.

“Hi Grady,” she says in a soft voice.

“You know why I’m calling you?”

“Umm, no? We talk all the time. What’s up?”

“Really? Okay, I’m just going to come out with it. You went toSports Illuminatedand told them Bri’s an ex-drug addict who I used to date.”

“I called them and told them the truth. They deserve to know who they hired to do a story on you. I only want what’s best for you,” she coos. “You don’t know her anymore, Grady. She’s not the same person she was when you knew her in high school.”

“And how do you know this?”

“I know the type. She’s only after your success. Can’t you see that? Why else would she come back around after all this time? She doesn’t love you like I do. I did what I had to do since you couldn’t see it for yourself.”

I take a pull off my beer and slam it down onto the counter, leaning over it, place the phone on my counter and place it on speaker. I’m too angry to even hold a phone in my hand right now. “Kennedy, why wouldn’t you come to me and tell me your concerns?”

“I was helping you. I saw how distracted her presence was making you, Grady. You don’t need her in your life right now. I’m not sure if you quite understand the significance of the job you’ve been given.”

I almost burst out laughing but miraculously hold it in. “You don’t think I understand the significance?” I ask her, incredulously.

“I don’t think you do. Grady, you’re the youngest –”

“You don’t think I don’t know that? I know what job I’ve been given. I understand the opportunity, the time, energy, and sacrifice it will take, and anything else you can throw at me you think I’m too dumb to figure out on my own. Trust me when I tell you I get it. I’ve always understood.”

“I don’t think you’re dumb, Grady. Quite the opposite.”

“For you to think you were helping me by going to the magazine doing an article on me, the largest sports magazine in the world, rather than coming to me… I don’t even know what to say. You betrayed me and our friendship, Kennedy.”

I hear her sniffle. “Iloveyou. Why don’t you see that?”

“That isn’t love, Kennedy. That’s manipulation and being told you’re not going to get your own way so you threw a fit.”

“She’s not right for you. You need someone on your arm who knows what being in the public eye means.”

“It sounds likeyou’rethe one who only wanted to be with me for the job I now have.” At my words, it hits me like a strong right hook to the face. “Holy shit. That’s it. For years you were okay with being just friends when you thought I was going to be a lowly intern or assistant to the assistant or whatever. But now I’m head coach, and admittedly have a little bit of press following me around, it would seem you suddenly want something more with me.”

“That’s not true!”

“It is, and you know it.”

“I lo…”

“If you tell me you love me one more time, so help me…”

Silence fills my ear as we both think over my words. “Explain it to me, then.” I tell her finally.

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