Unraveling (Second Chances) - By Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,42

back. Don’t run,” he pointed at me.

“I won’t,” I laughed.

“Good,” he said and made his way out of the gym, causing quite a few females to turn his way. I honestly couldn’t blame them.

Holden stood and pulled his shirt off. He grinned at Karlie and said, “Are you going to root for me, kiddo?”

“Not likely, Sharky,” she snorted.

“Aww, I’m hurt,” he put his hand over his heart and grinned cockily. “How will I ever win my fight without you on my side?”

“I’m sure you’ll manage,” she sneered.

“Lighten up, kiddo,” Holden said.

“Call me kiddo again and I’ll kick you in the balls,” she said, vehemently.

Holden rolled his eyes. “I doubt that.”

“Wanna make a bet?” She challenged.

“No,” he squeaked.

“I didn’t think so,” Karlie grinned. “I’m sure your posse will cheer you on, anyway. You don’t need me.”

“But I do,” Holden whispered under his breath.

“What?” Karlie gasped.

“Nothing,” he said, his jaw clenched. “I’ve got to go get ready.”

We watched him walk over to Dan and start warm ups.

“I will never understand him,” Karlie said. She looked over at Patsy to make sure she was occupied and then whispered to me, “He’s always sending me these mixed messages. I don’t know what to make of them. I’m so confused.”

I shrugged. “I don’t know what to tell you. I don’t exactly have a lot of experience in the guy department.”

“You don’t? But you’re so pretty,” she gaped at me.

I shrugged. “I’ve only ever had one boyfriend and that didn’t turn out too well.”

“Oh,” she said.

“Is this seat taken?” A guy asked, pointing to the empty seat next to me.

Oh crap.

“I- oh- um-”

“Yes, it is,” Jared, growled out, standing behind the guy. He was freshly showered, drops of water still clinging to his hair, and he’d changed into a pair of jeans that hugged his body and a plain white t-shirt. His tan skin looked even darker next to the white of his shirt.

“Oh, my bad,” the guy grinned at me and winked before moving off to another part of the bleachers.

“I swear,” Jared sat down, “I leave you alone for five minutes and the wolves descend.”

“Not wolves, men, Jared,” Karlie pointed out.

Jared chuckled. “Okay, squirt. The men descend. Happy, now?”

“Yes,” she laughed.

“Are you hurt?” I asked Jared, inspecting his face and arms for cuts or bruises.

“Nah, he only got a couple of hits in and they weren’t good ones. I’m perfectly fine. Promise,” he added when he saw my doubtful expression.

I still looked at him skeptically.

He chuckled. “If I was hurt, would you kiss it and make it better?” I blanched and he only laughed harder. “I was only kidding, kitten. Don’t look at me like that.”

I tried to school my expression into something resembling normalcy, but with that comment, it was kind of difficult.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that,” Jared looked at me apologetically.

“It’s okay,” I assured him. “It was just in jest. I know you didn’t mean it like that.”

“Sometimes, I forget that you’re so breakable,” his brown eyes darkened. “You’re like this fragile piece of glass that someone has placed in my hand and if I make one small stumble, you’re going to go crashing to the ground, shattered at my feet.”

“I don’t want to be breakable,” I whispered.

“I know you don’t,” Jared said. “But you are, and that’s okay.”

17

I ENTERED THE ADDRESS JARED HAD GIVEN ME, into my navigation system, and went to pick up Karlie.

I pulled up in front of a small cottage at the end of a cul-de-sac, in a nice neighborhood.

The house had a small front porch with a lone rocking chair. Its roof was grey with blue siding and an orange door.

It was charming and definitely not the bachelor pad, I had envisioned for Jared.

I parked on the street and hopped up the porch steps. I knocked on the door and heard Jared holler, “Just a second!”

The door opened and Jared grinned. “You’re here.”

“Yep,” I nodded, swaying slightly back and forth in nervousness.

“On my front porch,” he chuckled. “Is this a dream?” He smirked, rubbing at the dark stubble covering his cheeks and chin.

“I don’t think so,” I laughed.

“You’re right,” he said, motioning me inside. “If it was a dream, you’d be naked.”

I gasped.

“I’m kidding, Katy. Laugh, it won’t kill you,” he winked, walking into the kitchen. “I was just making a sandwich. Karlie should be down in a minute,” he pointed up stairs.

He plopped down at the small kitchen table and took a monster bite of his sandwich. Swallowing, he said, “Sit down, Katy. Make yourself