Anything but Minor - Kate Stewart Page 0,43
listened and laughed about the fact that I peed on him, she held her hand up when I got to the part about the shirts and what Andy had said.
“Wait, you said there were how many?”
“At least a dozen.”
“Were they green with white writing?”
“Yes.”
“Oh girl,” she said with wide eyes. “I think you may have jumped the gun.”
I lifted to straddle the float.
“Rafe coaches little league on his Saturdays at home. I just ordered those shirts. He’s passing them out next week.”
When I really thought about it, the t-shirt had been a little snug. “Oh...crud.”
Kristina smiled and winked. “Let him sweat it out a little. You’re the type of girl he needs to work for.”
“You think so?” I said as my heart leaped into a steady stride.
“Absolutely. I saw the way he looked at you, kissed you,” she looked away briefly and cleared her throat. “He’s into you.”
I groaned at her admission. “And I just screwed it up.”
“If he gives up that easily, he’s not worth keeping.”
A few minutes later, I looked over at Kristina, who sipped her wine. “Thank you for today.”
“Anytime, girl, that’s what friends are for.”
I couldn’t help the pride-filled smiled that crept over my lips.
Hours later and mildly sober, I sat on my patio looking at my messages. He’d only sent one more text.
Rafe: Just let me explain.
I thought of Kristina’s words and to ensure I never felt that way again, I would make him work for it.
Alice: Explain.
The bubble started immediately, and I couldn’t help my smile.
Rafe: First of all, you are crazy as shit for starting a fire in my house, but I’ll forgive you because I kind of like you jealous so I’m willing to overlook it. Second, I coach a little league team on Saturdays. I don’t pass out t-shirts to the women I have sex with. I want you, Alice. I asked you to be mine last night. What part of that don’t you get?
Alice: I’m sorry I overreacted.
Rafe: So we’re good?
Alice: Yes.
Rafe: I’m on my way to Savannah now. I planned on spending the morning making you come and feeding you like a queen, but you screwed that up.
My face burned with embarrassment.
Alice: Raincheck?
Rafe: Oh, I’m going to get my hands on that ass of yours, I promise.
Alice: Text me when you get there?
Rafe: I will, and you owe me another shirt.
Unknown: Son, we need to talk.
It was the fourth text in a week. I could only curse my mother as I dialed her.
“Hey, honey!”
“Mom, have you talked to Dad? Did you give him my number?”
Silence followed as I blew out a breath of frustration.
“You know he’s truly proud of you and you cutting him out of your life like that—”
“Was my decision,” I snapped. “He’s never been a father, and you know it. He divorced you years ago, he left you, and you’re still siding with him. Why?”
“He’s a good man, Rafe.”
“No, he’s a self-serving asshole that abandoned you and damn near ruined my career. You need to get that through your head, Mom.”
“Things used to be good, Rafe.”
And she was right. When my father posed as a supportive coach and mentor throughout high school, things were good, until he got greedy and accepted a bribe.
“And things are fine now. Stop filling him in on shit that is none of his business! If he wants to watch my career, he can do it from the sidelines.”
“It’s just that this is your year. I wanted him to know that.”
“Exactly, Mom, my year!” Frustration rolled off me. “I gotta go.”
“Rafe, hon—”
“I may have forgiven you for going along with it, but I haven’t forgotten. It’s either him or me.”
She spoke quickly. “It’s you, Rafe,” she sniffed. “I’m sorry.”
“Mom,” I said on a sigh. “I have to go.”
“Okay, honey. Good luck tonight.”
“I don’t have a game tonight.”
“Oh, well, good luck at your next one.” I ended the call. She was just as self-serving as he was. She never had an interest in showing up for a game, just the bragging rights, along with my father who’d been far too involved in every aspect of my budding career. He’d taken a one hundred-thousand-dollar bribe from the Racer’s scout to get me on their ball team, and damned near broke my pitching arm to make sure it happened. It wasn’t until one of my high school coaches brought it to my attention that he’d accepted some money that I realized the implications of what he’d done. Senior night after my last game, he’d come