Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 39971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 200(@200wpm)___ 160(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 200(@200wpm)___ 160(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
This is supposed to be a happy time for me, to start school, enjoy my scholarship from the fruits of my labor in high school, and now I have a new phone to play with, too.
I'm still suspicious that my brother might know something about Steve and me, though. His entire visit still seemed a little too strange for my taste.
Maybe he's stepping up his overprotective habits?
Whatever it is, at least I got a new phone out of it.
He didn’t have to bring me a phone just to have a reason to see me, but perhaps he feels guilty for spying on me, or thought he needed an excuse.
In any event, I tell myself to think of good things and not worry. Stress can’t be good for my pregnancy. And I do have a phone to focus on!
Since he activated this one, my old one is dead. I take that one and stuff it in a drawer in my desk. Then I take out the new phone and turn it on. It’s so shiny and pretty. I can’t wait to show Janice the next time I see her.
I spend time setting it up and syncing my accounts. I like that it's a newer model and it runs fast. He must have gotten an updated data plan, too, because it looks like I have more than before.
After fooling around with the phone for a while I leave it to charge and get back to studying.
But I can’t wait to text Janice and let her know about my new phone and number.
My surprise visitor turned out to be mostly a good one, despite the odd circumstances.
But a big part of me still wishes it had been Steve somehow!
Chapter 8 – Steve
I check out of the hotel early in the morning, then I arrive back at the sports arena a little before practice starts. There was no reason to stay home since Bella wasn't there. Plus, I was worried that Derek might confront me about everything.
Since I can only call Bella now that she’s gone, I can do that from here. I'm already dressed in my uniform, waiting until everyone else leaves the locker room and heads out onto the field. Soon it’s empty and quiet.
I have her number saved to my speed dial, so I punch it into my phone. The first time it just rings, with no answer, no voicemail, or anything. I try a second time, but the same thing happens.
The third time I call, I hear a disconnected message.
What the fuck?
I hang up my phone and put it inside my locker.
That's so weird.
Why wouldn't she answer?
Why would it say her number has been disconnected?
Could she be upset at me about leaving, or about what we did?
Did she block me after seeing that I’d called a few times in a row?
My stomach sinks as I worry that she sees me as some desperate stalker now.
Fuck.
How could one woman get to my head so much after a lifetime of going through them like candy?
It’s true that she’s not just any woman— she’s Bella— but I’m still disappointed with myself for letting her have this much of an effect on me.
I walk out of the locker room and onto the field. I'm so distracted by my thoughts of Bella that I don't even realize that I'm late. Practice has already started.
"Well, nice of you to join us," my coach snaps angrily, and a couple of the other players laugh.
“Sorry, Coach. Just getting readjusted now that I’m back.”
I take my position, but it's no use. I get hit in the face with the ball and make so many other mistakes. When practice is over, it’s clear that this has been my worst one.
All Coach does is glare at me as I follow my teammates back to the locker room. I know he’s mad that he gave me time off to rest and get my head straight, only to have me return in an even worse mental condition. I can't wait to get out of here.
That same cheerleader who was hounding me before runs after me now.
"Hey, Steve! Glad you're back!" she says.
"Yeah, thanks," I mutter, not in the mood to talk.
"I saw you had a rough practice. Why don't we get together later? Maybe have something to eat, a little drink so we can unwind?" she suggests.
"Yeah, maybe," I mutter, distracted.
I just want her to leave me alone so I can go back to thinking about Bella. But then I tell myself that Bella has clearly moved on and I should try to do the same thing.
"Super! I'll meet you out front in a little while," she says, before running off.
It finally dawns on me that I just accepted a date with her. I'm not keeping that, even though I probably should. All I want is Bella. I shower and change into my sweats fast and sprint out of the locker room.