A Hope and a Chance(36)
Author: Jennifer Foor

Chance drove my car to the state park, the whole time talking about how he’d come to this place to clear his head. I didn’t want to spoil the fun by letting him know I’d visited it plenty of times, including the swinging rope at the quarry.

I hadn’t been back since a girl jumped and ended up drowning. It took divers two days to recover her body.

Once we pulled up in a parking spot, Chance and I got out of the vehicle and began grabbing our things.

I carried the cooler and bag, while he used the cigarette lighter plug in my car to operate the air pump. The dinghy quickly filled with air, tripling in size. I watched him affix the small motor to the back and drag it into the water’s edge. While he held it, I carried everything over and sat it within, before putting one foot inside. Just as I went to bring my other leg over the boat moved. I ended up in a split, soaking wet on the sand outside of it instead.

Chance was hunched over in hysterics as I stood up and gained enough composure to jump inside of the small watercraft. He hopped in with ease, still laughing at my clumsiness. Soaked, and annoyed, I decided to remove the shorts and tank top. I felt his eyes on me immediately, and knew for a fact that it had caused him to stop laughing. He licked his lips, making me giggle. “Ah, I see how you are.”

I tossed the wet clothes towards him as we pulled further away from the water’s edge. “How am I?”

“One track mind. That’s all I’m going to say.”

He shook his head and let out an air-filled chuckle. “You got me. I’m not even going to argue.”

He didn’t have to. It made me happy to be able to get his attention at the drop of a hat. Our day was about being together, so no matter what we were wearing, or not, I was going to have a good time.

It was amazing how in such little time I’d been able to feel alive again. For a while I’d been settling for what I figured I deserved. I wasn’t just punishing myself, I literally wondered if the world would be a better place without me in it.

Hope had changed that.

From the moment she walked through my door, and into my life, everything had changed. Instead of dwelling on what I’d never have again, I was looking forward to what I could.

There was only one problem with letting myself live again. I knew more than ever that I had to come clean about my past to her. I owed it to her to hear it from me. I couldn’t allow myself to feel this good with that lingering over my head. Hope was about to find out my deepest, darkest secret, and I knew that it could change all of what we were finding in each other.

Once we’d gotten out to a good spot, I turned off the little motor and stared over at Hope. With her wearing another bikini, it was difficult to look at anything else. She crossed her legs in the small area and smiled. “What?”

“You’re just so beautiful, that’s all.” She was. I’d dated my share of hot girls, but Hope made them all look plain. She didn’t have to cake makeup on her face either. She was a natural work of art. It made me think back to my time playing baseball. The girls would come out to the games decked out, obviously to hook up with the players. I’d always had a girlfriend, but it didn’t stop them from trying. They practically threw themselves on us time and time again. It was flattering at first, especially when I was so nervous to do well. The distraction helped even if only for a few minutes. After the first couple of college games I’d had enough. They were a nuisance.

I couldn’t see Hope acting that way. She wasn’t shy by any means, it was the opposite. She was able to carry herself in a way that was dignifying, instead of needy. I knew that when she kissed my lips it was because she wanted to be with me, the person who was inside, not the ballplayer that had an opportunity to get them out of the town they lived in.

Believe it or not, that kind of petty drama was a given when it came to being a sports player. It was one thing that I’d never miss. Perhaps it was the only thing. Considering that my chances of ever playing in the majors were far gone, Hope had given me that glimmer of optimism that I might be able to finally move on. The risks of being with her outweighed whatever was stopping me. I was going to do what was needed, and when she turned eighteen we’d find a way to tell her dad, or move out together on our own. We’d make it work.

“You got me out here on this lake. What’s next, Chance?”

She waited patiently for me to reply, bringing me back to reality. “We take these two rods and we catch us some dinner.”

“Eww, I’m not gutting fish later. I’m just going to put that out there right now.”

I snickered. “Damn, you spoiled all my fun.” I waited a second for her to catch on that I was teasing her. She let out a laugh and held her hand out for the rod. “Do you need help baiting? I caught these worms in the front yard.” I pulled two large worms out of the zipper pocket of my swimming trunks.

Her face curled up immediately. “Oh my God. Please don’t tell me that you had them in your pocket this whole time?”

“They were against my leg. It’s not a big deal. They’re just worms.” I ripped one in three parts and put the rest back in my pocket. “Here, allow me.” After baiting her hook she cast her line in the water. I copied her, casting mine a little further out. “Not bad for a girl,” I teased.

“If we weren’t in the middle of the lake I’d walk away from your snarky attitude today. What’s gotten into you?”

“I seem to think I’ve gotten into you, Hope. I mean, I am the one with the magic penis.” I knew I was testing her nerves, but I liked it when she got annoyed. Her face tightened and she’d do her best to keep poised. Besides, when we fought about little things it reminded me how precious she was becoming to me; it reminded me that I had someone in my life again.

“You’re hopeless.”

“You love me, shut up.” I realized what I’d said too late. Hope’s face turned beet red and she quickly looked away when our eyes met. I didn’t know whether to take it as an offense, or a compliment that she was in shock. I decided to do the first thing that came to mind, which was to change the subject. “After this we can go over to that rope you want to show me.”

The tense moment was over as she replied, “Yeah, definitely.”

We caught two fish that were on the small side; therefore we threw them both back. I could tell she was getting bored, so we pulled in the lines and took the boat back to the shore. Once we’d packed it back up in the car, we brought out a blanket and cooler, and found a quiet spot.