Page 30 of Grand Slam

I wish there was something I could say, but I know right now, he doesn’t need me to say anything more than I’ll stay. The problem is I can’t. Transferring here, getting everything set up so I don’t fall behind, it will take time. I have to think of me in this too, and I can’t be a girl that throws away all my dreams and goals for a guy. Even if that guy is Kelton James.

“You said you’re in St. Louis the first part of May?”

“Yeah,” he replies, his fingers digging into my hips to keep me close.

“We have spring break around that time.” He leans back and so do I, so we can both fully see the other. “So why don’t I meet you there.”

“That’s a few weeks away.” I nod, almost laughing at the defeated look in his eyes. He’s acting like I just said I’d be able tosee him again this time next year. I won’t lie, knowing he wants me this close always does things to my insides. I’m flying high, loving his love.

“Okay,” he finally says after it all sinks in I’m guessing. “I’ll make sure I have two tickets reserved for the both of you for the games. I’ll be busy, we’re only there four days and most of that time will be spent with the team.”

“I’ll have Liz there and whenever you can get away we’ll spend every second together.”

This isn’t as simple as I am forcing myself to believe, I know this. But I can’t let my head go to the same place it did before. A young girl that gave everything to a guy and when he left I felt like he took everything inside of me with him. Only he didn’t know my heart was still with him.

When he lifts his hand and cups the side of my face, I lean into his touch. “I never should have left without taking you with me in the first place.”

“And I would have gone too,” I confess knowing at that point I’d given anything for him to ask me to come to Tennessee with him. I would have followed him anywhere, but I can honestly say I’m glad he didn’t. I’ve grown into myself, I’ve learned that I don’t need a man, or anyone for that matter. Though I love having Liz by my side I know I could make it on my own too.

“We’ve changed,” I tell him and his brows furrow. “It’s not a bad thing Kelton, all I’m saying is we’ve grown. We’ve matured and I think that you leaving and staying was the best thing.”

“So, us doing what we did.” His eyes widen to emphasis just what he’s referring to made me laugh. “Then leaving was for thebest?” He doesn’t seem convinced, and that isn’t the part I was referring to.

“I’d preferred you stay in touch, maybe a phone call or text here and there. I won’t tell you that it didn’t hurt, because it really hurt.”

His features soften as he leans in and kisses me, holding my lips to his for a few seconds longer.

“I will never not regret that.”

“I kept up,” I say, the corner of my mouth tipping up in a smile. “I sorta stalked you in a non-creepy kind of way.”

“I’d get info from Liz, she’d always send me pictures of the two of you. I’d hear you in the background when we’d talk on the phone and it may have only been small pieces but they were pieces that always gave me something to smile about. I knew you were doing good, I knew you were with my sister.”

“So you were stalking me too?”

He chuckles, lifting his hand to hold his fingers slightly apart. “Little bit, but not in a creepy way,” he repeats my words.

“Are you two done yet?” Both Kelton and I shift looking behind me to see Alizabeth, hands on her hips and a scowl on her face. “I’d really like the chance to knock some sense into my brother.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Kelton

“I meantto tell you that you should prepare yourself, because your sister is really pissed off at you,” Emerson whispers, but not low enough that Liz can’t hear her too.

“It’s not the first time,” I tell Em, but continue looking at my sister. “I’m sure it won’t be the last.”

If it was possible, there would be flames shooting out of her eyes and ears, she was not happy with me.

“I’m gonna go over there and talk to Jerry,” Emerson says and when she tries to step away I pull her back to me.

“Jerry is fine by himself,” I tell her. After the shit her and Liz pulled in my car and at my place, carrying on about Jerry and everything they thought, I’d prefer she just hang out here with me.

“Stop it.” Em pushes at my chest. “Jerry is cute,” my stomach tenses, “but he is and never will be Kelton James. No matter howhard he tries, he can’t put a dent in what I feel for you.” Now a rush of something else coarses through me and I’m considering tossing her over my shoulder and carrying her off for a little alone time.

“You aren’t making it any easier for me to send you off gracefully.” She is fucking killing me slowly. She laughs, rises up to get closer and presses a soft kiss to my lips. “It’s time to make up with your sister, big guy.” The second she steps away I feel the loss.

I really need to pull it together.

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