On The Rebound (Steinbeck U #1) - L.A. Cotton Page 0,81
enough that I’ve seen it all by now.” She got up again when two kids started fighting over the ball. “Patience and a whole lot of persistence.” Maureen smiled knowingly at me before taking off toward the fray.
Just then a commotion over by the doors caught my eye. Some of the kids began clapping and cheering and I wondered what all the fuss was about until I saw the telltale red, white, and black jerseys appear.
Jerseys worn by none other than my brother… and Zach.
“Calli?” Callum blurted out as they reached me. Neither one of them looked happy to be here, but my brother looked positively pissed.
“Uh... hey,” I croaked, hardly able to believe my eyes.
What the hell were they doing here?
“Ah, Mr. James and Mr. Messiah,” Freya joined us. “I see you made it. Coach Baxter reassured me you would be here, but I’ve got to say, I was a little skeptical. You’re both late.”
“I’m sorry,” he finally looked at Freya, “but I can’t do this.” Callum spun around and disappeared back inside the center, leaving me with a giant hole in my stomach.
“Okay, what did I miss?” Freya glanced to me and then Zach, who was still staring at me as if he couldn’t believe I was here.
“I’m so sorry,” I rushed out, trying to smother my hurt. “I didn’t know...”
“Calli?” Her eyes filled with concern, but it was nothing compared to the violent storm raging inside me.
“Callum is my brother. Things are... complicated.”
“I see. Well, why don’t you help Zach get settled and I’ll go find your brother.”
My breath caught. “Sure,” I forced out the word. “I can do that.”
Oh God.
Why?
Why did the universe seem intent in forcing us together?
I’d walked away... and now he was here. No matter where I went or what I did, there was no escaping him.
Freya left, taking the air with her. Zach still hadn’t taken his eyes off me. His head was lowered as he cupped the back of his neck, looking up at me through those thick long lashes of his.
Dammit, why did he have to be so gorgeous?
Beautiful but deadly.
To my heart, at least.
“So this is a surprise,” he broke the awkward silence between us.
“I didn’t know... if I had—”
“You would have run the other way?”
“Something like that,” I mumbled.
“So what are you doing here?” He motioned to the bench.
“See that girl,” I pointed at Jasmine as we sat down, “she’s my new little sister.” His brows furrowed, and I chuckled. “I’m her buddy. Mentor. Wiser, older confidante. Although, I’m not feeling any of those things right now. It’s our first session and she already hates me.”
“Nah, not possible.” Zach leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he watched the kids play. “She’s just lost.”
“Yeah...”
Silence settled over us again. This was bad, very bad. I’d jumped into the volunteering gig with both feet to keep myself distracted, not to end up with another headache. Zach let out a weary sigh, and there was something so defeated about it, emotion slammed into me.
He must have felt it because he said, “Calli?”
I forced a smile. “So what brings you here?”
“Coach Baxter signed us up. Consider it punishment.”
“Punish—for the fight.”
He nodded. “I guess he thought it would help us bond.”
“I can’t believe he left.” Except, I could. That had been Callum’s MO my entire life. Pain lanced my chest.
“Who are you?” Jasmine loomed over us. I hadn’t even noticed her approach, too confused by Zach’s presence.
“Me? I’m Zach.” He frowned up at the timid girl. “Who are you?”
“Jasmine.”
“Calli was just telling me you two are going to be hanging out.”
“Whatever.” She shrugged around the words, her eyes darting anywhere but at me. “How do you know her?”
She talked about me like I wasn’t sitting right there.
“Me and Calli?” He gave me a sideways glance and smirked. “We go way back, don’t we, sweet pea?”
Was he... flirting with me?
Why the hell was he flirting with me?
“Sweet pea? What kind of nickname is that?” Jasmine snickered.
“Zach,” I grumbled, although it was a damn sight better than Cantaloupe.
“So you’re like what, a basketball player?”
“You know about basketball?” he asked her.
“A little.” She blushed. “I like watching it on ESPN sometimes.”
“Yeah? You ever play?”
“Oh no. I’m not good at stuff like that.”
“Stuff like what?” Zach stood up. “Bouncing a ball? Come on, let’s go shoot some hoops.”
Her skittish gaze finally landed on mine and I gave her a reassuring smile.