by Nia Arthurs
“Great.” Erin pulled her hands into her lap and wrung them like towels.
What did Peggy tell her before she left to meet Ryan tonight?
“Be confident. And smile.”
Erin bared her teeth.
Ryan visibly recoiled.
She closed her mouth. Licked her lips.
Yeah, this date was a disaster.
Erin couldn’t wait until they were finished with their meal and Ryan suggested they go home. She would have loved to walk on the pier and watch the stars, but she felt so awkward it’d just prolong the torture.
She glanced at Ryan’s face as he paid and escorted her out of the restaurant. It was hard to read his expression. A tiny smile curved his lips, but she couldn’t tell if it was because he was enjoying himself or because he was silently making fun of her.
He put his hand on the small of her back as he walked her to the car. Ryan opened her door and swept his hands forward, gesturing for her to step inside.
He’s such a gentleman.
When she was secure, he rounded the hood and climbed behind the steering wheel. The scent of his cologne filled the cab. It wasn’t quite the expensive fragrance of Cooper’s but…
Wait, why was she thinking of Cooper’s scent at a time like this?
Erin shook her head. “Ryan?”
“Yeah?” He glanced over, one hand on the wheel and the other resting on the window.
“Uh…” her eyes bounced back and forth. “I like your car.”
“Thanks.” Ryan focused on the road.
Erin grimaced. She was usually a master at conversation, but for some reason, she couldn’t present herself as the educated, composed woman she assumed she was in front of Ryan.
The miles flew by. Erin spent most of that time staring through the window, wishing she had more social grace than this. Ryan, too, seemed content with the silence and didn’t try to engage her in conversation.
It was a relief when he finally parked in front of her sister’s apartment. He leaned over the steering wheel to look at her building. “Nice place.”
Erin ran her eyes up the brick walls and the golden light hanging above the double doors. “Thanks.”
She sat in the dark, wondering if anything she could say would be able to salvage their date. Her mind whirred, but she came up blank. Trembling fingers hovered over the door lock.
“I had a nice time tonight, Erin,” Ryan said softly.
Her arm dropped like a rock. “What?”
He blinked. “Why do you sound so surprised?”
“It’s just…”
Peggy’s voice rushed in her ear. “Be confident.”
Erin squared her shoulders and amended. “I’m not surprised.”
Ryan grinned at her. “To be honest, I was nervous.”
“Nervous? Why?”
“Because I had a tiny crush on you in primary school, and I wanted to make a good impression.”
Excitement shot through her heart, making her pulse skitter out of control. “You’re kidding. So did I. I mean, I didn’t have a crush on myself. I like you. Liked you. Past tense. I mean, I like you now, but in a different way.”
Ryan put a finger on her lips. “Erin.”
She blinked. “Yes?”
“Breathe.”
Erin obediently sucked in a tank of air. Ryan’s finger fell away from her mouth. She felt a moment of disappointment. In her mind, he still owed her a kiss.
Ryan shifted in his seat and stared straight ahead. “I would never have guessed you were interested in me. There were so many guys in our class who were into you.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No.” Ryan smiled at her. “We were all too immature and scared to approach you.”
“I was scared too. To be honest, the reason I joined that Sleeping Beauty play was just so I could spend more time with you.”
Ryan rubbed his temple. “I really regret dropping out now.”
“Why did you?” Erin tilted her head.
“It’s a long story.”
“I look forward to hearing it sometime.”
His expression became thoughtful. “Sure.”
Sensing their night was over, Erin smiled. “I should go. My sister will be waiting.”
“Just a minute.” Ryan grabbed her arm.
Erin turned back and looked at him.
“Would you… go out with me again?”
She answered immediately. “Yes.”
Ryan’s relieved grin made her laugh. “Great.”
“Great.”
“Goodnight, Ryan.”
“Goodnight.”
Erin climbed out of the car and walked to the apartment building. She glanced over her shoulder, sneaking one last peek at Ryan. He wound his window down and waved.
She waved back.
Erin wasn’t exactly sure how she made it up the stairs and down the brightly lit hall. Her thoughts lingered on Ryan.
If only she’d known about his interest. Instead of dancing around him and joining that stupid play, she would have asked him out point blank. There was no doubt in her mind that they would have been happy together.
Oh well. Better late than never.
Erin walked up the stairs and read the room numbers until she recognized Peggy’s. Her hands shook as she took out her keys. Her body buzzed with happiness. After a few failed attempts, she finally slipped her key into the lock.
Before she could open the door, it sprang open, revealing Peggy in a white T-shirt and oversized pajama pants. A white bandana kept her blonde hair back and green gunk covered her face.
Erin laughed. “You look ridiculous.”
“You’re just jealous.” Peggy grabbed her arm and pulled her inside.
Erin danced into the small living room and flopped into the sofa. She stared at the ceiling with a blissful sigh. “Life is such a precious gift, Peggy. Every day is beautiful.”
“Did you get that off a Hallmark card?” Peggy snorted. “I’m guessing the date was good.”
“Yes. I mean… it was rocky at first. Kind of awkward.”
“Then what part of it was good?”
“When we talked it out in the car. He asked me for a second date.”
“Did he try to kiss you?”
“No!” Erin frowned at Peggy. “Some guys are gentlemen, you know.”
Peggy made a face. “Ryan doesn’t strike me as the type.”
“You don’t even know him.”
“I know enough.”
“If you’re such an authority on character, why are you with a guy like Vinnie?” Erin snapped.
Peggy’s expression darkened. “What’s wrong with Vinnie?”
“He tried to unzip my jacket today.”
“So what?” Peggy yelled. “You had something on under it, right?”
Erin’s jaw dropped. “Are you kidding me?”
Peggy sank into the sofa and patted her face with a hand. “Vinnie jokes around a lot.”
“It didn’t feel like he was joking.”
“When did that happen?” Peggy asked.
“We were outside near the bench where I met you.”
“Exactly.” Peggy nodded. “You were in public, in plain sight of everyone. Do you really think Vinnie would try something weird? He was just playing around.”
“If you say so…” Erin could argue further, but Peggy had a point. Besides, she was too hyped about her date with Ryan to worry about her sister’s creepy boyfriend.
Peggy closed her eyes and mumbled, “What are you going to do about Cooper?”
“Cooper?”
“You know he likes you, right?”
Erin barked out a laugh. “Did that gunk get into your brain?”
“I’m not kidding.”
“Cooper doesn’t like me and even if he did, I wouldn’t date him.”
“Why?”
Erin glared at her sister. “Why are you bringing up Cooper when I’m starting something with Ryan?”
�
�You need Ryan alive to date him, correct?”
“I guess.”
“And when Cooper hears that you and Ryan are dating,” Peggy’s eyes popped open, “he’s dead.”
Erin gulped. “You’re being ridiculous.”
“Am I?”
“You and your crazy imagination can stay out here. I’m going to bed.” Erin rose and headed for her bedroom, unbuttoning her shirt as she walked.
“You should give Mom a call first. She wanted to talk to you earlier, but I told her you were out.”
Erin spun, her eyes twice their usual size. “You didn’t tell her I was on a date, right?”
“You think I’m stupid? Of course not.”
She put a hand to her heart in relief. “I’ll call her back now.”
Peggy waved her away.
Erin darted into her room and dialed her parents’ number. She sat on the bed and pulled her shoes off as she waited for them to pick up. At last, she heard the click and her mother’s thin voice on the line.
“Mom!”
“Erin, baby, how was your first day?”
Erin grinned and crawled onto her bed, sitting with her back against the headboard. “It was great.”
She outlined everything that had happened, skipping over her more unpleasant encounters with Cooper and her date with Ryan.
Her mother listened intently. As she always did.
Erin could imagine Jessica Marshall clutching the telephone in her thin, slender fingers. Saw her blonde-streaked brown hair in a bun—her favorite hairstyle—and her blue eyes crinkled with affection.
The day she met her parents was the best day of her life. Erin had already been through four foster homes already and figured she’d be tossed from the Marshalls’ too.
She’d been amazed by how loving they were to her. The acceptance they showed healed her wounds. Made her hope again.
Her parents signed the adoption papers when she was thirteen, but Erin was an official member of the Marshall family long before then.
“That’s great, sweetie.”
Erin caught a note of melancholy in her mother’s voice and paused. “Ma, is everything okay?”
“Yes. Yes, it is.”
“Mom.” Erin sat straighter. “I know you’re lying.”
There was a long stretch of silence.
Erin squirmed. “Mom?”
“There’s… something I have to tell you, Erin.”
“What?” Her fingers tightened around her phone. Her nerves made it hard to breathe. Erin tried to calm herself. It wasn’t like Mom could say she didn’t love her anymore. They were a family. They had the papers to prove it.
“It’s…” Jessica sobbed.
Erin’s heart almost flew out of her chest. “What is it? Is Dad okay? Are you sick or something?”
“No. It’s your birth mother.”
Erin’s grip on her phone grew lax. It fell to her mattress. She couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe.
All she knew about the woman who’d given birth to her was that she was underage and poor. Unlike some of the other foster kids, Erin hadn’t been taken away from a terrible family situation.
She had never had a family to begin with.
Her first few years, she stayed at a temporary foster home and then bounced around until she finally met the Marshalls.
In all that time, she’d prayed for one of the strangers to love her enough to keep her around. Erin didn’t even care if she had to live in the dog house. As long as she had somewhere to belong.
That prayer felt like it went unanswered.
Until she met Jessica Marshall.
“Erin? Erin!” Her mother’s voice blared through the phone’s tinny speakers.
Erin swiped it up and put it to her ear. “I don’t want to speak to her.”
“It’s alright, baby. It’s your choice.”
“Why is she choosing to reach out now?”
“I don’t know, but she’s looking.” Jessica hesitated. “And she might find you.”
Erin let out a shuddering breath. Her life was just fine without her biological mother in it.
What would she do if that woman showed up?
9 Cooper
Cooper kept his head down as he walked the halls. The first official day of school had begun and he was already tired of it. He found interacting with others draining. Plus, he hadn’t seen Erin all day.
They were in different departments, but the Balen U campus wasn’t that small. Either it was a coincidence they hadn’t met yet or she was intentionally avoiding him.
“Cooper!”
He glanced up and found Dennis charging toward him. Cooper’s grip on his backpack tightened. He debated turning around and pretending he hadn’t heard Dennis’s call. By the time he decided to walk away, it was too late.
I should have run when I had the chance.
Dennis’s chest heaved as he skidded to a stop in front of the lecture hall. “How was your weekend?”
“Fine.”
Dennis nodded. “Did you enjoy the game on Friday?”
He shrugged.
Undeterred, Dennis continued. “You were awesome out there.”
“Thanks,” he said grudgingly.
“Did you know that Balen has a national volleyball team?”
“I heard.”
“I talked to the guys and we’re all in agreement. We want you to join the team.”
“No thanks.” Cooper spun.
Dennis slid in front of him. “Wait, you didn’t even let me finish.”
“You didn’t have to. I’m not interested.”
“But you’re so good.”
“That’s your opinion.”
“That’s a fact. We know a star athlete when we see one. Give me another excuse.”
“I’m busy.”
He tried to sidestep Dennis, but he blocked him again. “We’ll work around your schedule.”
Cooper glared at the shorter man. He thought Dennis was cool, which was why his temper hadn’t blown up yet. “I said I’m not interested.”
“Then at least tell me why.”
“I don’t play anymore.”
“I need more information than that.” Dennis followed him as Cooper walked through the hallways. “You’re good and you’re competitive. I saw your face during the game. You wanted that win more than anything.”
“I don’t play well with others.”
“We’ll work around that too.”
Cooper stopped. “You really can’t take a hint, can you?”
“Just… come to a practice. That’s all we ask. Our best players graduated last year. Apart from Ryan, we don’t have that many prospects. We need you.”
Cooper narrowed his eyes. “I don’t like that either.”
“What?”
“People relying on me.” Cooper turned and took a step forward when he saw Erin coming his way. His entire body reacted to her. His throat dried up. He couldn’t tear his gaze away.
She bounced with each step. Her brilliant smile lit up the hallway. She wore a blue shirt tucked into black jeans. Her hair was bound in a ponytail, allowing Cooper to rake his gaze over her gorgeous face.
A hand inched toward his chest where his heart felt tight and uncomfortable.
At that moment, Erin saw him. Their eyes locked. Held. Lingered. She looked away first, dragging her gaze to the ground.
Cooper stood in place until she drew nearer. Erin stopped in front of him and glared when he didn’t move out of her way.
Her friends shot him flirtatious smiles. They were both short. One had light brown skin and long brown hair. The other was Hispanic with thick, wavy hair and large eyes.
He couldn’t care less about any of them.
“Erin.” Her name slipped off his tongue. He didn’t have anything to say to her. He just… wanted to hear her voice.
She tilted her head, brown eyes burning with irritation. “What?”
“What’d you do with the jacket?”
Her nostrils flared. “Let me guess. You want it back?”
“No, I—”
She dug into her bag and produced his hoodie. “I figured you’d try something like this. Here. Are we even?”
Cooper stepped back when she offered the jacket to him. It fell on the floor.
Her friends laughed.
Erin’s cheeks turned red beneath her brown skin. “What the hell is your problem, Cooper?”
Footsteps thudded down the hall and a hand reached out to scoop up the jacket. Cooper’s eyes narrowed when Ryan straightened and handed Erin the hoodie. “I think you dropped this.”
Her expression softened immediately. “Where did you come from?”
“The gym. I left my wallet there after practice this weekend.” He glanced around, his brown eyes flicking from Dennis to Cooper. “Hey, guys.”
“Sup.” Dennis slapped Ryan on the back. “Did we work you too hard yesterday?”
“I’m good.” Ryan chuckled.
“Are you on the volleyball team?” Erin’s friend giggled.
“Yeah.” Ryan shot him a challenging look. “What about you, Lawson?”
“I was just talking to him about that. He hasn’t made up his mind yet,” Dennis said quickly.
“Our first game is in a couple weeks. You should make a decision soon.”
“Will the game be here in Cayo or in Belize City?” Erin asked.
“Belize City.” Ryan eyed her. “Why? You thinking of coming?”
“To support,” Erin said casually. Too casually.
Cooper’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.
“The guys would love that.”
“The guys?” Dennis nudged Ryan in the side. “Don’t be coy.”
Erin gave Ryan a shy smile.
Cooper felt the familiar embers of his rage sparking. His fist clenched. He spun and walked away from the group.
“Wait!” Dennis yelled. “Promise me you’ll think about the team?”
His tennis shoes skidded to a stop. Cooper glanced over his shoulder. His eyes met Erin’s again. She looked at him curiously, as if he was a creature beneath a microscope. One she couldn’t quite figure out.
He stared at her as he gave Dennis his answer, “I’ll do it.”
“What?”
“I’ll join the team.”
He saw a flicker of unease cross Ryan’s face.
“Yes!” Dennis celebrated by grabbing one of Erin’s friends and swinging her around. “You the man, Lawson!”
