Tags:
Romance,
Coming of Age,
Young Adult,
High School,
teen,
multicultural,
teen romance,
friends,
Basketball,
sexual abuse,
teen drinking
knew exactly what tension he had created between her and Cheryl
and was enjoying it. Karin chose to believe the latter.
“This is Marcus,” Reese said, as if they were
clueless.
“Glad you came,” Marcus told Karin, towering
over her. “If it weren’t for you, there might not be anything to
celebrate.”
“I doubt that,” she said quickly. “Chances
are any good lawyer would have achieved the same result.” Or maybe
not, she conceded, never underestimating her father’s skills at
brokering settlements for his clients.
“But only one lawyer did—your Dad,” he stated
as if reading her mind.
“This is Lesley,” Karin introduced her best
friend, not wanting the opportunity to slip by for them to possibly
bond.
“Hey, Lesley,” Marcus said. “You look
familiar. Aren’t you in my geometry class?”
Lesley beamed. “Yep, that’s me. I didn’t
think you noticed, since I sit three chairs behind you most
times.”
He smiled. “I noticed. Especially since you
seem to know what you’re doing better than anyone else in
there.”
Reese handed them cups of beer, then looked
at Karin. “You want to step outside for a bit?”
She glanced at Lesley, as if separating would
not be a smart idea for either of them. But she knew Lesley was not
one to back away from the chance for some one-on-one time with
Marcus.
“It’s okay,” Lesley assured her. “I’ll be
fine.”
Karin, realizing she relished the opportunity
to be alone at last with Reese, smiled at him and said, “Lead the
way.”
* * *
They sat in a gazebo in his backyard, amongst
maple trees and evergreens. No one else was back there and the
music coming from the house was somewhat muted, as was the
light.
“I like to come back here sometimes just to
get away from it all,” Reese told her. “There always seems to be
people around, whether here, in school, or elsewhere.”
“It must be really difficult being so
popular,” she said, only partly teasing him, having spent much of
her life in the shadow of her parents.
“Yeah, it’s not always what it’s cracked up
to be,” he muttered. “People always expect things from you. When
they don’t get them, they’re disappointed and you feel like you let
someone down. You know what I’m saying?”
“I think so.” Karin tried not to allow
herself to get too caught up in the celebrity basketball star so
much as the person. “Is that why things didn’t work out between you
and Cheryl...because she expected too much?”
Reese tasted his drink thoughtfully. “Maybe.
I guess we were together longer than we should have been. But it
seemed like that was the way it was supposed to be between us. Then
when things got out of hand at her friend’s house, we both took
opposite sides and there went the relationship.” He paused. “It was
probably for the best.”
“Does Cheryl feel the same way?” Karin had
her doubts, but was interested in his opinion.
He lifted a brow. “Yeah, I think so. Why do
you ask?”
Karin desperately wanted to tell him that his
ex-girlfriend had been on her case at every opportunity. But she
resisted, fearing it might come across the wrong way.
“No real reason,” she told him.
“All right.” He drank more beer. “You have
any brothers or sisters?”
“I wish. I’m an only child. Guess my parents
ran out of steam or something after me.”
Reese laughed. “Well, better after you than
before.”
Karin flushed. “True. How about you?” She
could imagine him being an only child, hogging up the entire
spotlight. Or perhaps he was right in the middle of a large
family.
“Just me and my little brother,” he said.
“The kid can be a real pain in the you know what sometimes, but
mostly he’s cool.”
“Bet he plays basketball,” she assumed.
“Yeah, he tries his best. He’s only six, so
he’s pint-sized and has to rely on his own little hoop to put the
ball in.” Reese eyed her. “You play any sports?”
“Nothing formally,” she
Tess Monaghan 05 - The Sugar House (v5)