Page 6 of Tangled Up In You
“Yeah, it’s me, Grandpa,” I said. And yeah, I’d started calling him that years ago. “Where’s Corbin?”
“He told me to tell you he’s at the lake,” he answered with a smile. “Have you eaten dinner? I’m cooking chicken-n-dumplings. Should be ready in about thirty minutes.”
“Sounds great!”
Back outside, I jogged to the woods and found the trail through the trees that led to the lake. The suspense was killing me. Anxiety bubbled inside my chest, and I ran faster, jumping over tree stumps and dodging thorn bushes. One snagged my leg, and I tore my pants free before continuing down the dirt path.
That unexplainable feeling I’d had at the diner returned.
And I suspected that whatever Corbin had to say…it was going to change everything.
Chapter 3
Corbin
At the lake, I bounced on my heels as I waited for Hunter. I still couldn’t believe the call I’d received hours earlier. It felt like a dream, and I had to pinch myself several times to make sure it wasn’t. My face hurt from smiling so much.
“Cor?” Hunter came through the trees and to where I stood on the grass. “What’s up?”
Unable to contain my excitement a moment longer, I leapt at him and threw my arms around his neck. He grunted as my body slammed into his.
“You’re not gonna believe who called me today,” I said, stepping back so I could see him better.
His brow scrunched. “Oprah?”
“Yes, Oprah.” I rolled my eyes. “Dude. It was a coach from USC! I guess one of the guys they recruited got into some trouble last week, and they dropped him. They didn’t want him reflecting badly on the team.”
University of Southern California. I was still in a state of shock.
Hunter’s stare was unwavering. “Okay…so what did they want with you? Recruiting ended in April.”
“That’s the thing,” I said, becoming even more excited as I talked. “They said this rarely happens, but they can’t have that guy play for them because of the criminal record thing. And since I showed so much interest in playing for them at camp last summer, they checked out my game film I’d sent in of my forty yard dash, and they asked if I’d already committed to another school. They’re impressed with me being ambidextrous too. I guess they didn’t realize that before. Hunter, they want me! A Division 1 college!”
Hunter’s reaction wasn’t what I expected. Instead of looking happy for me, he seemed… I didn’t know. Upset.
“Awesome,” he said. “What did you tell them?”
Huh? Did he hear what I’d said?
“You’re shitting me, right? I told them yes.” My excitement was waning.
“What about us?” Hunter asked. “We had plans to go to U of A. To room together and finally come out. You can still play football there.”
“USC has a fucking amazing football program, Hunt, and have sent a shit load of players to the pro level. And you know that’s my dream.” I stared at him, confused by how angry he was. “Why can’t you just be happy for me?”
“Because it means I’m losing you, you asshole!” He shoved my chest, but it wasn’t hard enough to move me much. Tears welled in his eyes. “Don’t you get that? Or are you too fucking dimwitted to understand? You going to California means we’ll be apart.”
I hadn’t thought that far ahead, but now that he’d pointed it out, the weight of the decision sunk in.
“Come with me then,” I suggested, grabbing his hand. “There’s still time to apply and get late admission. We can still do everything we planned. Just in a different place.”
“Do you know how difficult it is to get accepted there?” He yanked his hand from mine, and the action was like a slash to my chest. “And even if by some miracle theydidaccept me and I could afford it, what then? You seriously expect me to drop everything and just go with you, as if I didn’t have dreams of my own?”
My heart pounded so hard I thought it might burst through my ribcage.
“You’re an English Lit major. You can do that anywhere. It’s no big deal.” Right as the words slipped out of my mouth, I regretted them.
“Yeah, I forgot I’m not a hotshot, All-American athlete like you. My goals don’t matter.” Hunter stepped back. “California has always beenyourdream, Cor. Not mine.”
