Courting Carlyn

by Melissa Chambers

  “I’m starting to think it was all a dumb idea.”

  “Since when is college a dumb idea?”

  I brush the limb away again. “I’m not good at school. I don’t even know what I want to go to school for.”

  “You think half the other freshman know? I heard once that the average college student changes their major three times before they settle on something.”

  “It’s different for me.”

  “How?”

  I grab the stupid limb and snap off the end of the branch. “Because I don’t know how to be a student.” My cheeks fill with heat, and Fred just waits me out. “For the past four years, I’ve been on the road. School has been completely secondary. I don’t even deserve to have a diploma. I didn’t do half the work.” I huff a laugh. “More than half.” I break the branch into two pieces. “I guess I’m just so full of myself I thought I could pull this off. What a joke.”

  Fred inhales a deep breath and looks out at the lake, thoughtfully. “Must be tough trying to compare yourself to the only other Avery student you know.”

  I cringe at the idea of Carlyn. I can’t talk about her right now. I can’t think about what a joke this summer has been, what a fool she’s made of me. “I’m not trying to compare myself to her.”

  “It’s a damn good thing. Because there’s no comparison to her when it comes to all that science and math stuff.”

  I cut my eyes at him. “Thanks.”

  “No, it’s true. She’s a wiz at that stuff. A natural. Kind of how you are at tennis. Do you think she’ll ever be able to get a serve past you, or even win a game for that matter? Not without you letting her.”

  I’m ridiculously, infuriatingly irritated that he’s underestimating her. “She’s good. She just hasn’t had the right coaching.”

  “Oh, no doubt about that. It’s been amazing watching her transition over the summer. But there’s no question you’re mountains better.”

  “She could be better if she wanted.”

  “Say if she spent the next four years eating, breathing, and living nothing but tennis, kind of like you have.”

  “Well, yeah.”

  “And you could be the next Albert Einstein if you spent the next four years eating, breathing, and living quantum physics, right?”

  I shift a little in my chair. “Right.”

  “Is that what you want? To be the next Albert Einstein?”

  I huff a laugh. “I don’t even want to take math.”

  “Then what are you so worried about, Vaughn? Why did you pick Avery, initially?”

  “This is my home. This area.”

  “I think you picked it because you know you can manage it. They’re not Wake Forest or Virginia, and you know you could have had a tennis scholarship to either of those if you wanted. I think Avery ticks off all the boxes. They’re still DI, but what’s their ranking, twenty-five, thirty in the country? Not bad, but not vying for first anytime soon, either. Academically, they’re a decent showing, have a solid engineering program, but again, they’re not Vanderbilt or Princeton.”

  I cut my eyes at him. “I probably should have picked a state school, huh?”

  “Not necessarily. Listen, it’s not going to be easy, no matter where you go. I think as long as you strike a balance, you’ve got this. You’ve never stricken a balance before, have you?”

  I chuckle at the idea. “What’s balance?”

  “That alone is going to take some work. But I think you can do it.”

  “Jeffrey doesn’t think I can.”

  “You listen to me, Vaughn. Jeffrey cares about you, I have no doubt about that. I believe that he thinks he’s doing right by you, keeping you as grounded in tennis as much as possible. Driving you to Chicago to play that other boy. He wants you to go pro, and not only because it furthers his career and his wallet. He wants to see you go further than he ever could.”

  I study Fred. “When did you figure all this out?”

  He draws his lips into a thin line and adjusts his ball cap. “Carlyn told Nancy everything that happened. I was ready to drive to wherever he was and beat the hell out of him after I heard all of it…him putting pressure on that young girl to change your mind. We talked on the phone for about an hour, cleared up a lot of stuff. I think he goes about things in some of the boneheaded, stupidest ways I’ve ever seen, but I think he does it in part because he cares.”

  I cross my arms over my chest.

  Fred holds up a hand. “Just hear me out. That man has spent his summer traveling back and forth just to work with the two of you. He helped you build this camp from scratch, and he’s been here every week, multiple days, faithfully. He didn’t have to do any of it. He could have washed his hands of you and moved on to the next big thing by now. Coach of his reputation has his pick. But it matters to him that you see him as a father of sorts.”

  I study Fred for a long moment. “Do you think I should go pro?”

  “I think you’ve got the talent. But if you think you’re burnt out now…”

  I nod, imagining for a moment getting back into that world, and a little bile runs up my throat. I’m not thrilled about the domestic travel I’ll have to do with Avery, but I can stomach that. And the idea of putting down the racquet completely doesn’t sound too good, either.

  “So,” he says, eyeing me. “You and Carlyn aren’t on speaking terms, huh?”

  My lips go into this instinctive wad at the idea of her. “I don’t want to talk about her.”

  “I get it. But I’m not sure the whole thing is as seedy as it sounds. You have to think about it, Vaughn. She’s desperate to play tennis at Avery, and she thought Jeffrey was her path to that. She didn’t know you when Jeffrey first approached her, not really, and he also told her all she had to do was try to talk you into going pro. He played dirty picking her for you. A solid girl, smart, knows what it’s like to lose a parent, just like you.”

  “My parents are alive.”

  He smiles at me and nods. “I know.”

  I scratch my head behind my ear. “How is she…about the walk-on tournament being canceled?”

  “Last I talked to Jeffrey, he was thinking about helping her get on at Avery anyway, but he still doesn’t think she has what it takes.”

  “She does,” I say, my heart rate accelerating.

  “He doesn’t want to risk his reputation. He likes Carlyn, but you know him. He doesn’t put a player out there until they’re ready, and he doesn’t think she is.”

  “It’s just b.s.,” I say, but a part of me understands. She’s come so far, but she could be further by now. “She just needs more time.”

  Fred narrows his gaze at me. “How much more time?”

  “I don’t know…a few months at least.”

  “Would a few weeks help?”

  I give Fred a look. “What are you talking about?”

  “I do think there’s a way to at least get the Avery coach to have a look at her.”

  “How’s that?”

  “Sign up for that mixed doubles tournament at Avery. It’ll be your first match there. I’d be willing to bet you’ll draw a crowd. Jeffrey may not be comfortable pulling strings, but you can do it. Ask if the coaches will come see you play. Give Carlyn a chance to shine on the court. The rest will be up to her.”

  Adrenaline rushes through me at the idea that I could give this opportunity to her, but as soon as it hits, it subsides. “We don’t have a good history with mixed doubles.”

  “Well, you’ve got a few weeks to work on it together. First step will be getting her back here.”

  “And letting Sydney go?”

  “If you’ve got any money left in the fund to pay her, I’d let her stay if she wanted to. She could keep the kids under control while you all practiced. Nancy and I will help more, too, these last two weeks. You kids can have those courts anytime you want them. Maybe have that Chicago kid and his girl come down again.”

  I wince at the idea, and then I realize that may be j
ust exactly what we need. “Thanks, Fred.”

  “Certainly.” He eyes me. “So did Jeffrey’s plan work? Did you get close to Carlyn these past couple of months?”

  I gauge him to see how much I can disclose. “We became friends, yeah.”

  He cocks his head to the side. “Do I look like an idiot? Wait, don’t answer that.”

  I smile, looking back down at the stick in my hand. “Yeah, we got close.” I look up at him quickly. “But not like that.”

  “I believe you.”

  I cut my eyes at him. “It’s not been easy, either.”

  “Son, love is never easy.”

  That word hovers above my head. I can’t remember the last time I told someone I loved them. I don’t say it with anyone in my family. I’ve never said it to a girl. But I want to say it to Carlyn. Even all week sitting around pissed at her, I’ve felt it.

  “Have you missed her this week?”

  I huff a long breath out, thinking about the understatement of that concept. “Yeah, I miss her.”

  “She’s something special, Vaughn. I don’t have to tell you that, though, do I?”

  I shake my head. “No, sir.”

  He claps me on the back and stands. “Well, you’ve still got time to head home today. She told Nancy earlier she was back at the center. Why don’t you see if you can catch her there. You could say hello to some of the kids we’ve had here this summer while you’re at it.” He heads off, and I stare at the lake.

  I could sit here pissed for the rest of the day, or I could haul my ass up and go get my girl back. There’s not even a question.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Carlyn

  Keisha jogs over to me, her expression serious, both hands up like she’s ready to calm me. “I checked the playlist Micah made and it’s not terrible. I made him add a couple of extra slow songs, and he said he would.” She scrunches up her little face. “Are you sure he’s going to show?”

  I nod. “Nancy thinks he’s coming straight here.” I look at my phone. “He should arrive any minute really.”

  Keisha and I both look at the door, and then she turns to me. “Do you think we have enough balloons?”

  I glance around the gym, which the kids and I have tried our best to turn into a prom site. But since I was not born with the craft gene, and funds are not flowing for this party, decorations are sketchy at best. We were able to repurpose some props from a few different plays they’ve put on here, so we’ve got some columns set up with mesh tooling draping down from them, some leafless black trees decorated with white strands of lights, and a few random staircases whose purpose I haven’t quite nailed down but are strategically placed nonetheless. We tried to make one of those balloon arches but failed miserably, so instead we just blew up tons of balloons, which are everywhere on the floor and hanging randomly from a few of the trees. “Are you kidding? It’s like a balloon fest in this gym.”

  My boss Tom walks in. “Anything else you need before I head out?”

  “No. Thank you again so much for letting us use the gym.”

  He looks around at the streamers and punch table. “As long as it’s all cleaned up before tomorrow.”

  “Of course,” Keisha and I say in unison, and then giggle together.

  “All right, then. Good luck, Carlyn.”

  “Thanks,” I say, the butterflies flapping away in my chest.

  Josh yells from the side door, “He just pulled up!”

  “Should we turn the lights out?” one of the kids asks.

  “No,” Keisha says. “It should be just like we’re having prom and he’s walking into it.” She turns to me. “Don’t you think?”

  “Totally,” I say. “I love your pink dress, by the way.”

  “It’s your pink dress,” she says.

  “I’m so glad I’m a pack rat. It’s totally yours now, by the way.”

  She smooths it down, smiling. “Thank you.”

  I smile back, and we wait. After a few excruciatingly long minutes, the door finally opens, and the kids all yell, “Surprise!” even though we’d agreed not to, but it’s totally fine because they absolutely love it.

  Vaughn stands there, stupefied, looking around the room, trying to make sense of what’s going on. Josh approaches him with my dad’s jacket and has him put it on. I’m such a cheater, using kids to do my dirty work. He can’t say no to them.

  Josh hands him the bow tie which was off a Halloween costume I had, and goes around his neck with a rubber band. He looks so handsome I could totally melt right here on the gym floor.

  He searches me out in the sea of kids, and finally locks gazes with me. I meet him halfway, and the kids part for us. I told them to just dance and act normal, but they’re all staring, of course.

  I clear my throat, looking around at all of them, and Micah hollers, “Dance, you fools!”

  He turns up the music, and the kids all start dancing, and it’s not long before they’ve lost interest in Vaughn and me.

  “Thanks for coming,” I say.

  He looks around. “I didn’t realize what I was coming to. You did all this?”

  “We did all this,” I gesture to the crazy kids we spent our summer with.

  “Why?”

  “You said you missed your prom, right?”

  He meets my gaze, his mouth quirking upward, just barely. “I can’t believe you did all this for that.”

  “Well, when someone screws up big-time, they need to apologize big-time. Don’t you think?”

  He frowns. And a kid bumps into us, dancing, then moves on.

  I lead him to the corner of the gym, and then turn back to him. “Jeffrey was really convinced that going pro was right for you, and he seemed so concerned. I thought if I were good enough to go pro, there wouldn’t even be a question that’s what I’d do. But it wasn’t my decision, and it wasn’t my place, and it wasn’t Jeffrey’s place. I see that so clearly now. I’m so sorry, Vaughn. It was wrong. Flat out.”

  He stares deep into my eyes, searching them for something. “Do you think I’m dumb?”

  I squeeze his arms. “God, no. Of course I don’t. You’re smart and witty and I respect you not only as a tennis player but as a person. You have to know that.” I swallow hard. “I would never have fallen in love with someone I thought was dumb.”

  He blinks, his tight expression loosening just a little. “Don’t say that.”

  I step toward him. “I love you, Vaughn.” He looks away, shaking his head, unable to meet my gaze. I take his hand in mine. “I love you, and I want to be with you.” I smile at him. “I’m taking your advice about Halford. I’m applying for admission, and Jeffrey’s going to try to get me on their team.”

  He narrows his gaze. “Carlyn, I talked to Jeffrey on the way here. He told me he offered to make a call to Avery for you.”

  My heart constricts. “That was kind. But I need to earn this on my own. I know I’d be using his connections with Halford, but I think I’m good enough to work my way up the ladder there and prove myself.”

  “You’re good enough for Avery.”

  I shake my head, frowning. “No, and that’s fine. I don’t need that anymore. I had in my head that I wanted to play there because my mom did, but that was just silly. That doesn’t bring me any closer to her.” I huff a laugh. “This is going to sound goofy and all weird, but I’ve felt closer to my mom than ever out there in the woods this summer. Swimming in the lake, watching the birds land on the tree limbs. It’s stupid, and I definitely wouldn’t say this to many people…to like any people but you, actually, but I feel her out there.” I meet his gaze. “I feel her in you.”

  He takes my hand, his expression worried. “I don’t think that’s weird at all. I’ve felt things this summer that I haven’t been able to understand, but I’m trying.” Finally, he lets go and pulls away, locking his gaze into mine. “I love you, too.” He huffs a laugh. “I haven’t said those words to anyone since I was little. But I do. I love you.”


  I melt into a gooey ball of emotions, tears streaming down my face, both of love for this guy I’ve spent the most intense summer of my life with, and with horrendous sadness for the fact that he hasn’t had an occasion to tell someone he loves them for so long.

  He looks at me, considering. “What if I could help you earn your own way into Avery without Jeffrey’s help?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “We could sign up for the mixed doubles tournament…as a team.”

  I laugh, because what else can I do here. “Vaughn, that’s cute, but are you forgetting what happens when I’m on the court with you?”

  “We’ll practice together and learn how to work as a team.”

  I smile. “Really?”

  “Really. We’ll go together to sign up, and I’ll introduce you to the girls’ coach.”

  “You know her?”

  “No.” He puffs out his chest, the goofy bow tie popping out, and deepens his voice. “But I’m the Great Vaughn Yarborough.” I punch him in the gut, and he chuckles. “I’m serious. I’ve got a little celebrity going on in this world. Let me use it. I’ll play up the fact that you were running the camp all summer with me and how good you are with the kids.”

  “Now we’re using the kids to get what we want?”

  He shrugs. “I’m not above it. All I’m going to do is use my sparkling personality to get her to watch our match.”

  “We’re definitely in trouble.”

  He lifts his eyebrows. “It will be up to you to do the rest.”

  I take it all in, what he’s offering me, the idea that it’s not over, that there’s still the smallest outside chance that I could possibly play for Avery. But it’s bittersweet.

  “Look, Carlyn, you’ve got all the tools you need to be a great player. You’ve got all the information in your head. You’ve just got to make yourself believe it.”

  I bite my lip, trusting him so much it scares me.

  “I told you I feed myself bullshit on the court.” He squeezes my hip. “You can do the same. Tell yourself you’re the Great Carlyn Sadowski.”

  I puff out my chest now. “I am pretty great, aren’t I?”

  He grins before I can get to it. “You’re the greatest thing I’ve ever known.”