Page 34 of His Team

Then there’s the fact that I wouldn’t know how to introduce her. I sort of don’t want to be rejected either. If she tells me no because of our secret friendship, that’s going to sting.

“Sounds fun. That’s good for the team, right? Time to bond and get to know each other.”

“Yup, that’s what we’re aiming for. I think it’s going to be cool.”

I find a spot to park so I can walk her to her door. Once I’m in the space, I get out of the car and round it to open her door. She steps out and I can’t keep myself from allowing my gaze to roam over her.

She’s so gorgeous no matter what she wears, but tonight, this outfit she has on makes me want to hold her close and keep her in my arms. My mind goes back to holding her in the bowling alley. That thought keeps me from tugging her into my embrace.

Again, I think my actions might have been too much. Several times during the night, I had to keep myself from kissing her. Those lips of hers are so sexy and inviting.

I clear my throat and take a step back. She looks up into my eyes, searching with her own. I have no doubt she feels this connection between us, but something is holding her back.

I’m trying not to pry or push. I want to respect her boundaries. It’s my hope that, with time, she will tell me what’s holding her back and then I can work around it.

I want Amina and I’m not going to walk away easily. The peace I have when I’m with her is worth fighting for. It’s something I’ve never had.

“I’ll text later,” I say as we get to the front door of her apartment building.

“Thanks again for tonight. You make a great friend.”

“You know, someday you’re going to look back on how hard you tried to keep me in the friend zone, and you’re going to regret the time we lost pretending this isn’t already happening.”

I lean in and peck the tip of her nose. “You make a great friend too. I know you’re going to make an even better baseball wife.” I wink and turn to leave.

With a glance over my shoulder, I find her staring after me with a dazed expression. I had to learn patience as a young boy.Amina has no idea how long I’m capable of waiting for what I want.

CHAPTER 12

Burning Down

Kayleen

A month later …

“May I be excused?” I ask as I push my food around my plate.

“Of course,honey. I’m here if you need me,” Mama says.

I push my seat back and stand. I think I’m going to be sick. Quickly, I rush from the dining room before I hurl.

“This can’t be real, this can’t be real,” I repeat to myself with each step I take.

I’m trying not to hyperventilate as I stumble upstairs to my bedroom. It’s like my entire world is falling apart. I never thought this day would happen to me and I still don’t understand why it’s happening.

My life used to be picture-perfect. Things like this aren’t supposed to be happening. I’m so confused about how this is happening to me.

My parents are getting a divorce. They just told me over dinner. I had to get up and leave. There was no way I could sit there and choke down the rest of my food with a straight face and pretend like my entire world wasn’t falling apart.

“This isn’t happening. It can’t be real. What the heck is going on?” I mumble.

In a daze, I stumble blindly into my room and flop down on the side of my bed. My thoughts are all over the place. I can’t seem to get them to flow in a straight line.

Is this my fault? Would this be happening if I got into college and attended school like the rest of my friends? Why have my friends ditched me?

Did they see this coming, that I’m going to be a tragic case? Is it too late for me to do anything about this? Did Daddy cheat?

How didn’t I see this coming? What’s Mama going to do now? What’s going to happen to my family?

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