Crooked Rock Braves by Pamela Sanderson

Author:Pamela Sanderson [Sanderson, Pamela]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pamela Sanderson

10

Arnie swallowed. The whole conversation was dangerous. That’s what happened when you got too run down and pulled in too many directions.

He said, “Could I have it back, please?”

Linda retrieved the photo. Instead of handing it to him she studied it again.

Without meaning to, he said, “That’s my favorite picture.”

How many times had he looked at that picture and wondered what sort of opportunity he’d blown because he thought they were too young? How many times had he thought about tracking her down before he finally got himself on the board at Crooked Rock?

She made no move to hand it over.

He kept his tone light. “Oh, come on. You had to know I had a thing for you.”

Whatever he expected, it was not a brief look of surprise before Linda’s face clouded over with…outrage?

“I knew no such thing.”

“Everyone had a thing for you, Lulu, even the girls. You were so…sure of yourself. So determined. It was intimidating.”

Linda slowly shook her head and held out the photo. “You never gave a clue.”

He took it back, recalling the gathering. He’d been too late to help much but Linda had the poster-making under control. The next day, they’d taken their posters to the stadium. The memory of that disaster still hadn’t faded. Even after all this time, the feelings of fear and anger and humiliation were quickly reignited.

“Remember who suggested the mascot protest?” he said. “That was my idea and then it turned out to be a catastrophic event. Dangerous, even. People yelled at us and called us terrible names. They threw things at us. Doing that was my idea. That happened to you guys because of me, because I was arrogant and stupid and didn’t think it through. That day traumatized me for months. I even had these weird, like, anxiety attacks, where I couldn’t breathe. I can’t imagine what it was like for you. I thought I was the world’s worst person, especially to you, this person I looked up to.”

Linda cleared her throat. “How about now?”

“I’ve had years to reflect on it. I don’t think I’m the world’s worst person but—”

“Me,” Linda said, raising her voice. “How do you feel about me?”

The moment stretched out while he tried to come up with the right words. He knew her well enough that she would want to grind this out. He had to be precise, but the longer he tried to figure out what to say, the more tense the moment became. As long as he’d known her, she was the person he modeled himself after. She was so clearly certain about what she wanted to do in Indian Country. She found people and brought them together. She was genuine. What you saw was exactly what you got, and she was the most amazing woman he had ever known. Even when she was aggravating, she was adorable. There seemed no point in denying it.

He met her eyes. “To be honest, I don’t want to live without you.”

Linda’s entire body convulsed. With what? Shock? Discomfort? Rage? The words were out.

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