Page 34 of Grand Slam

“What do you want done?”

I sit and think about it, knowing that sharing Emerson’s info without talking to her first could be a bad thing. These reporters have a way of digging into people. The next thing you know she’ll have people camping out on her front porch, and her and my sister will be followed.

“You want Emerson out there?”

“Not yet,” I say, knowing it’s for the best. “I need to talk to her first.”

“Then bringing more attention to it with a response might be worse than not responding at all.” I get what he is saying. When you’ve done this enough you learn to ignore shit. But this, I know what it’s doing to Em. If my sister knows, she does too.

I stand with my phone in hand and decide to shower. I’ve got to get this shit settled, I need to get the fog out of my head before the game. Otherwise the guys and coach will all be on my ass.

I owe them more than this version of myself. I don’t drink like this, I never do.

Once I’m in the bathroom I try Emerson again and get her voicemail. Knowing this may backfire I call my sister and brace myself for impact.

“She saw it,” she answers the phone without a hello. My stomach instantly feels like it drops to the floor at my feet. I already knew she probably did, but having my sister confirm it means I could no longer hope I got to her first. “I tried not to put on that something was up when she came in the kitchen earlier, but I guess I didn’t do it fast enough. She noticed, she looked at my computer when I was taking a shower.”

“Where is she?”

“I came out, she was standing in front of the computer, just staring. When I asked if she was okay, she only shook her head, grabbed her keys and walked out.”

I feel sick.

“When I called her earlier she said she needed some air.”

“That’s it?”

“Yes,” Liz replies with a deep breath, “that’s it.”

CHAPTER THIRTY

Emerson

“I’m not evensure what led me here,” I say as I look down at my hands twiddling in my lap. “I got in my car drove, and then I was in your driveway.”

“Here.” I look up as Granny June offers me a cup. “Drink,” she encourages and I notice she’s made me a cup of tea. I don’t know why but tears fill my eyes, making it blurry.

“Hey.” She sits down on the couch beside me, placing her hand on my forearm. “I know my grandson well, and I can guarantee you nothing took place with that hussy.” I can’t help but smile at her choice of words. “Kelton is a loyal man.”

“I know,” I confess. “I don’t think anything happened with her.” Lifting my gaze to meet hers I continue. “I think it’s more of he went out and someone recognized him, wanted a picture and then made it out to be more than it was.”

“Then what has you so upset?”

“It’s stupid.” I shrug, looking back at my tea.

“Nothing is stupid if it’s your true feelings,” she tells me and rubs her hand on my arm. “You ended up here for a reason, so talk to me.”

“His life is there, moving on without me and I know that is my fault. Because I could be there. He practically begged me to stay.”

“Why didn’t you?” she asks and I know she’s not being sarcastic or rude. I know she is asking because she truly wants to know. Granny June is sassy, she is stubborn and a little overbearing at times, but she is also kind and loving.

“If I drop everything and go there, leave it all behind, is that me folding to his dreams and putting my own aside. Will it change me, being there, living that life? It’s not a quiet peaceful life, it’s loud and busy, there is no time to enjoy it, because he is always on the go.”

“So is living without him the better option?”

I mull over her question. Allow it to roll around as I weigh it all out then I look back to her. I’ve done it for the last two years, and then I got to live differently for a week.” She nods, knowing everything without me having to tell her. She gets it, I may not have been the one to tell her what has taken place between Kelton and me in the past, but she knows. I swear she always knows everything.

“I’d take that week over and over, versus going back to the way it was before,” I confess, the tears finally falling. “I just don’t want to lose the person I am.”

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