Billy pushed himself off the bench and tossed the ball into the ball bag ten feet away. “I gotta get my gym bag. If Logan comes, I’ll be in the locker room.”
Billy stuffed his shirt into his gym bag, followed by his shorts. But he wouldn’t look at his brother. “I’m going to stay at Newt’s house.”
Logan wondered what was going on. “I’d like you to come home with me, Billy.”
Billy slung his bag over his shoulder, then finally glanced at Logan. “Why?”
“Because I drove all the way here to pick you up and I would hate to think the trip was for nothing.” What was the big deal with this? Teenagers. Everything became a huge drama.
“I left a message on your cell phone,” Billy said.
“I didn’t get it.”
“Your problem. Not mine.”
Billy was about to turn away when Logan caught him by the shoulder. Billy glared at him but Logan didn’t let go.
“What is your problem?”
“Nothing.” Billy’s scowl deepened.
“What’s with the anger? Someone steal your lunch?”
“Where does your anger come from?”
“What are you talking about?” Logan lowered his hand, puzzled at his brother’s question.
“Your anger at this place. Millars Crossing.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“For years I’ve had to listen to you and Mom go on and on about how awful Millars Crossing is. What a rotten deal Dad got. Well, he did get a rotten deal. And maybe this ain’t the greatest place to live, but I like it here. My friends are here and I don’t care what happened in the past. I’m not as mad about it as you and Mom are. I like it here.”
Where did this tirade come from? “Of course you do. It’s home. But I think there are better places for you to live. Better opportunities elsewhere.”
“Meaning going to college.”
“Yes.”
“So what’s the big deal about that?” Billy continued. “You didn’t go to college. You’re doin’ okay.”
“I wanted to go. In fact, I’d worked and saved up for two years. Eight years ago I was applying to various colleges. But then, things happened. Dad got sick, and I didn’t get the chance you have sitting in front of you right now. If you get a scholarship and you go to college, your world will open up. You will have opportunities to get a job that doesn’t require you getting your back broken daily. One that doesn’t require you going begging to a bank so that you can keep operating.” Logan wished he could get this clear with his brother. Billy didn’t know what he was choosing.
Billy held Logan’s gaze and then he sighed. “Well, I want the chance to make my own decisions.”
“You’re too young to make your own decisions. You don’t know what I know about this town. It can suck you dry.”
“Miss Westerveld told me that there comes a point when I have to stand up for myself. When I have to know what I want. I think I came to that point.”
“Miss Westerveld? As in Sarah Westerveld?”
“Yeah. My coach. And I think she’s right.”
The same frustration that Billy had just spoken of reappeared in Logan. What right did Sarah think she had interfering in their lives? And since when did she know what was right for his younger brother?
“I guess I’ll just have to have a talk with Miss Westerveld then.”
Billy shook his head. “No. Don’t. I wasn’t supposed to tell you that she had talked to me. Don’t tell her I told you.”
“Why is this such a big secret?”
Billy squirmed. “She…well…she told me that you don’t like her much. And that…well…you’d be ticked if you found out that she’s been telling me what to do.”
Even though he was angry and frustrated with her interference, Billy’s comment that Sarah said Logan didn’t like her much stung.
Trouble was he struggled hard with his feelings for her. He knew he couldn’t indulge in them. Sarah was only here for a short while. She would be leaving again and he didn’t want to deal with that. Again.
“That doesn’t matter. She has no right to interfere.”
Billy just nodded, then walked away. “Anyway, I’m going to Newt’s. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
Sarah dropped down on the bench and massaged the back of her neck, gaining a new appreciation for everything her own coaches had to deal with. She remembered girls crying on the bench, and Mr. DeHaan sitting beside them patting them, awkwardly on the shoulder. Her college coach’s sigh of frustration and moments of empathy. Did all coaches deal with this kind of stuff?
She heard the squeak of the door and looked up, wondering what Billy had forgotten.
Her heart jumped as she saw Logan’s tall figure coming toward her across the empty gym. He wore a heavy canvas jacket today, still grimy from whatever he’d been working on. His work boots were undone, the tips of the laces ticking on the floor as he walked toward her, his hands in his pockets.
When she and Logan were dating, he had always been clean shaven. His clothes had always been neat and clean.
This Logan looked like he didn’t care what anyone thought of him. He hadn’t shaved and the whiskers shadowing his lean jaw gave him a vaguely menacing air. He reminded her of the Logan who used to intimidate her. He stopped in front of her, his hands on his hips. Saying nothing.
She looked away, gathering her belongings, giving him a heavy hint that she was just leaving. “What can I do for you?” she asked, trying to keep her voice nonchalant. Logan didn’t need to know about her chat with Billy.
Though she kept her eyes averted, it was as if every nerve was aware of him in her peripheral vision. Aware of what Billy had told her only moments before…Logan angry and hurting after she left…Logan never phoning Marilee.
Could she have gotten it all wrong?
But how? The contents of Marilee’s hastily scribbled note had been painfully clear. Or at least as clear as Marilee could make it: You may not want Logan. I’m seeing him tonight.
“How is Billy doing? Really?”
Sarah shrugged as she chose her words. “He’s applying himself. Trying. That’s all I want from him.”
“That’s all?” Logan shifted his weight, putting his booted feet directly in Sarah’s line of vision.
“Yeah. For now, I think it’s important that Billy at least recognize my authority.”
“And how is that going to get him a scholarship?”
The gruff tone of his voice pulled Sarah’s head up. She didn’t like it that she had to defend herself to him. Didn’t like the animosity that Billy’s journey was creating between them. But she wasn’t going to let him push her around.
“Every journey begins with a small step. Getting Billy to listen and respect me is the first step. It will actually enable him to learn more in the long run. Perfection and being all that he can be will just have to wait for a little later.”
Logan’s dark eyes held her gaze and Sarah forced herself not to look away. She wasn’t going to let him intimidate her because, if that happened, she was pretty sure she was going to let Billy’s secret spill.