Read Homerun (Pro-U Book 4) for Free Online Page A

against it and slid toward the ground. I realized a moment later that I was panting loudly. "March?"
    There was too much going on, too many things spinning around my life that were almost outside of my control. If I didn't stay in my sports, what kind of leader was I? What kind of man was I? Why couldn't I handle something so simple?
    If I flunked college, what would happen to me getting a job somewhere? I wouldn't get one. No one would marry me and I'd be alone forever.
    I pressed my hands to my chest as sweat dripped down my face. I was going to die if I couldn't get my heart to stop racing, my pulse to slow, my chest to stop aching.
    Closing my eyes, I pressed my head against the door and focused on my breathing. I let the image of Layla brush through the torrent of fear playing with my mind. Peace. She wanted peace in her life. No, she needed it.
    I breathed in deeply and let myself go, trying hard to just focus on her and nothing else. A few minutes later, I moved onto my knees and pulled myself up off the floor. I pressed my hands against the cool tile of the sink and leaned forward to stare at my flushed face.
    "What the fuck is wrong with you? Get it together. Now. They all expect you to have it together. Don't let them down. Don't do it. Without them you'll be alone. Forever alone."

Chapter 6
    Layla
     
     
    "I'm still not sure this is a good idea." I glanced over at Aubrey and gave her a look. We'd worked all morning to pack up my stuff from the dorm. Living with Jayce sounded like a dream come true, but dreams had a way of looking very different when forced into the mold of reality.
    "It's a great idea. I'm worried about my brother being alone while I'm gone. I'm a little worried about you too." She glanced over at me and gave me a warm smile. "You guys can take care of each other for me."
    "I think this is something that makes you feel better about leaving us. It has nothing to do with this move being good for me or him. I know you, you selfish turd." I tugged at my seatbelt and let out a long sigh. "I just don't want this to be a mistake. I'm looking for peace in my life, remember? Choking out some girl I find in the kitchen in her panties tomorrow morning because she slept with Jayce isn't my idea of peace."
    "What's going on with your mom?"
    "You suck at changing the topic. You know that?"
    "Yep. Lucas tells me all the time." She slowed down at a red light. "Seriously though, tell me about your mom and dad. Don't worry about Jayce bringing someone home. He's dated a small handful of girls his whole life. He's not like most of the guys around campus, Lay. He wants to find the right woman and settle down."
    "I've known him my whole life." I chuckled. "I’m well aware of every girl he's dated. I hated all three of them."
    She glanced over at me and smiled. "What if this living together thing turns into the greatest adventure of your life? What if it's the push you both need to stop dancing around the elephant in the room and actually get together? Both of you are interested. One of you just needs to take a step forward."
    I glanced out my window to watch the snow fall. Providence was beautiful that time of year, so peaceful and calm. There had to be some way to usher in that same feeling into the center of my life. I wasn't going to last much longer chugging along like everything was fine. It wasn't. A ticking time bomb had moved into the center of my parents’ world, and it was set to go off soon.
    "If you don't want to talk about your parents, we don't have to. You know that."
    "I honestly don't know what to say." I kept my face turned away from her. She'd know how much I was hurting if I let her see my eyes. I could hide it from strangers, but not from my best friend. She knew everything about me and had been stuck to my side for twenty years.
    "Have you thought about whether it's time to get your dad some help?"
    "I don't know, Aubrey. I just keep running into destruction no matter which turn I make in my