A Hope and a Chance(80)
Author: Jennifer Foor

Before I could even find shorts she was already fully dressed, sitting on the edge of my bed. I threw on my clothes and kissed her one more time, trying not to get choked up over it.

When I headed out to the living room, I knew it had only been about ten minutes in total from the time they had come into the apartment. I threw on a t-shirt as I made my way into the room where Buffy and Mark sat waiting.

“Morning, you two. What’s up?” Even though I knew what was up. I tried not to look Mark in the eyes as I sat down next to my sister, reliving all of the ways his daughter had satisfied me only a short time ago.

Mark had both hands on the ends of the chair’s arms. To me, it appeared he was trying to control his temper. I could feel the beads of sweat already starting to form across my forehead, even though I had just gotten out of the shower. I didn’t care if he hauled off and hit me. I’d gone against his word time and time again. There was no way he would understand how I felt about her. This could only end badly.

47

I was prepared for anything. If he wanted to call me out about being with his daughter, I was going to tell him the truth. I was in love with her and probably had been since we started this affair. She made me want to live again and I couldn’t imagine spending one day without her. That had to count for something.

When his mouth opened, I hung my head high and waited.

“So, as you know the wedding is just a month away. Your sister and I drove a few towns over to shop for Christmas. I realize that this may be too forward of me to ask, but I wanted to know if Hope had talked to you about school? I know that you help her study all the time, and I think it has been a big influence on her. Did you know she hates school?” Mark asked.

So far, I wasn’t getting the crap beat out of me.

“Yeah, she mentioned it a few times. And to answer your question, no, she never really talks about it. Why? What’s up?”

Mark looked over at Buffy and then back to me. “Chance, I have some connections here in Virginia. I have made several calls on your behalf, and I personally went to college with the baseball recruiter over at Virginia Tech. I know I should have talked to you first, but I felt so bad for sending you away to South Carolina. I want you to know that I trust you and that I’m sorry.”

“I’m not sure I’m following you?”

“My friend, who is the recruiter, he knew of you, Chance. He watched you play in high school, but you’d already picked Penn State. Anyway, his short stop broke his leg last week and they say he won’t be able to play for at least a year. I told him how you lived with us and were planning on enrolling at the community college next semester. After explaining everything that happened, he pulled your transcripts and saw your college grade point average. They want you to play for them, Chance, at least for one year. What do you say about that? Would you like to go back to school at a university instead of a community college?”

I was stunned; this had nothing to do with Hope, but actually it had everything to do with her. “I’m kind of in shock right now. Do I need to give you an answer this minute? I’ve already enrolled at the community college,” I stated.

“He needs to know before they look into other options. They’ll need to know by week end.”

I was surprised, excited, and even overwhelmed. Who was this guy? How did he know all of these important people? My mother always said ‘Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth’ and I finally got it! “Wow, I want to say yes, but I think I need a couple days to think about it. I feel like I’m dreaming.” I scratched my head, looking to my sister for some kind of sign. “Why did you ask about Hope? What does she have to do with this?”

“We figured if Hope saw you going there, she would want to follow. She looks up to you, almost like you’re her brother,” Mark replied.

Holy shit! Her brother? He was so wrong…

“Okay. Just give me a little time to think about it. I’ll let you know what I decide by lunch time.” I watched as he and Buffy got up and began walking away. “Mark thanks for this. I really thought I’d never get an opportunity this big again.”

“We just want you to be happy, Chance. What happened in Pennsylvania was unfortunate, but it’s over. It’s time to move on with your life. You deserve more than living in a pool house forever,” Buffy said before they headed out.

I watched them enter into the main house, and then locked my door. I needed to start doing that.

“You can come out now, baby. They’re gone.”

My girlfriend came creeping out of the bedroom. Her face was expressionless.

I grabbed her into my arms and kissed her on the forehead. “That was close. I’ve got to lock that door when you spend the night.”

Hope sat down on the couch and I sat across from her on the chair. “What are you going to do, Chance?” She asked.

“It all depends.”

“On what?”

“On you, silly. I don’t want to do this without you. I promised that I wouldn’t leave you again,” I stated.

“I can’t ask you to do that, Chance. You have to make your decisions about what is best for you. I want you to be happy, and I know how much it hurt you when you had to stop playing ball. This is your second chance. You have to take it,” she explained.

“Hope, things are different now. My life has changed. I don’t want to do this without you.” I admitted. “Besides, I might have to live with roommates at a dorm for the first year. You’re the only roommate that I want, Hope. Don’t you get it? You are my future. I want to be with you for the rest of my life.” I knew that was a major confession, so I let it sink in before saying anything else.

Hope stood up and faced me. “Chance, I can’t talk about this right now. I’m so sorry. I have to get out of here.”

I grabbed her hand and tried to keep her from leaving. Tears ran down her face. I didn’t understand what was happening. I thought she would be excited. Why was she running away?

“Hope please wait. Tell me what’s going on. Is it because we’ll be living apart? Please talk to me,” I begged.

“Chance, I can’t do this. I can’t take away your future when I don’t know what I want for mine. I’m so sorry, but that also includes us. I love you, but I don’t know if I want this forever. I just don’t know. I’m so sorry. I have to leave.” She darted out the door, without another word.