A New Journey (Second Chance #3) (17 page)

Over the next two weeks Karla avoided Conner. She didn’t sit with them at lunch, she wouldn’t make eye contact with him during class and she barely spoke to him during practice. The community rallied together and during the rummage sale and pot luck dinner they raised enough money for the Emmerson family to pay all of their past due medical expenses and Candice was finally moved out of intensive care and into a rehab facility. Her back was broken during the wreck, but her spine remained intact so she would walk again.

On the morning of the final competition before Christmas, Daniel picked Karla up at the apartment and she was all smiles. “We get to move back into the house next week. Just in time for Christmas.” She said as soon as she slid into the car. “I also go back to the doctor Monday and get this stupid brace off.”

“Congratulations.” Daniel said with a smile. After he pulled out of the parking lot he took a deep breath. He had something he needed to tell her and she wasn’t going to like it. “Karla, I need to tell you something, but I don’t want to cause you any more pain than you’ve already been through.”

“If it’s about Conner going on a date with Alissa, I already know.” She said before he could say anything. “Callie came by last night and told me.”

“Are you alright?”

“Not really, but it was to be expected and he’s free to go out with whomever he wants.”

“Maybe you should go out with someone else too. Maybe that’s what you need in order to move on.”

“I’m not interested in going out with anyone.” Karla said and looked out the window.

“I know, but there is someone interested in going out with you.”

“Really? Who?” Karla asked in shock. She had been pretty much keeping to herself over the past three weeks so this came as a surprise.

“Cameron Reese. He’s a senior and I have a few classes with him. He asked about you the other day because he noticed we’d been sitting together at lunch. He wanted to know if you were seeing anyone and I told him you and your boyfriend had just split up. He wanted your number, but I wouldn’t give it to him.”

“I’m really not ready to date anyone.”

“What could one date hurt? It may break you out of this funk you’ve been walking around in.”

Karla thought about what Daniel said for a few minutes and when they pulled up to the school where the competition was being held today she had come to a decision. “Give him my number Monday. If Conner is going to go out with someone else then so am I. Like you said, what could one date hurt?”

“That’s the spirit. Now, are you ready to go inside and kick some butt?” 

“I’m always ready to kick butt.” Karla said with a grin.

When they walked into the cafeteria the competition was being held in Karla’s eyes immediately sought out Conner. When she saw him sitting with Alissa she turned away and went to sit with Rylee and Callie, who were sitting alone at the back of the room.

“Hey.” Karla said as she stopped in front of them. “I need to talk to you two.”

“We need to talk to you too.” Callie said as she slid over so Karla could sit between them.

“I’m sorry for all the tension mine and Conner’s break-up is causing between us.” Karla said as she sat down.

“We’re sorry we haven’t been there for you. Even when you tried to tell us what was going on we defended Conner. Daniel told us what happened the day you broke up with Conner. He also told us what happened the day after Thanksgiving. We should have come to you, but we didn’t, and for that we are truly sorry.” Rylee said as tears formed in her eyes.

“Callie, you and Conner are twins and the bond between the two of you is unbreakable. Rylee, you have known Conner most of your life and he is like a brother to you. I totally understand that you would both be there for him. I am the one who broke up with him after all.”

“You are our sister in every way but blood and we turned our backs on you.” Callie said as she wrapped her arms around Karla. “Never again. We will do everything we can to be there for you both.”

“Please don’t choose me over Conner.” Karla said as she pulled out of Callie’s arms. “I love you two like sisters, and I love Conner more than words can say, but if you feel you have to choose then choose him.”

“We aren’t going to have to choose because you two will get back together. You’re meant to be together.” Rylee said with confidence.

“I don’t know. After the way he walked out on me I seriously doubt it plus he’s dating someone else now.” Karla said with sadness in her voice.

“He only agreed to go on a date with her because she wouldn’t leave him alone. I talked to him last night and he told me that he wouldn’t be going out with her again.”

“They look pretty cozy to me.” Karla said and nodded her head in Conner’s direction. He was sitting with his arm around Alissa and their heads were almost touching as they talked quietly.

“I don’t know what that’s about, but last night he told me he didn’t like her as anything other than a friend.”

“We’ll finish this later.” Rylee said as the commentator stepped up to the podium. “We’re up first today, Karla.”

“Let’s do this. I’m already ready to get out of here.” Karla said and walked to her team’s table.

“Karla, hi, I’m Cameron.” Karla looked over at the guy who sat beside her at the table. He had rich, dark chocolate colored skin, deep brown eyes and black hair that was so short he was almost bald.

“Hello, Cameron.” She responded with a small smile.

“Wow, you’re more beautiful up close.” Cameron said then shook his head. “Sorry, sometimes what I’m thinking comes out of my mouth before my brain can stop it.”

Karla chuckled at his comment and he flashed a blinding smile at her. “So, Cameron, Daniel tells me you have been asking him about me.”

“I have. At first I thought you and he were together, but when he told me y’all were just friends I knew I had to meet you.”

“Cameron, I have to be honest with you. My boyfriend of almost two years and I just broke up three weeks ago and I’m not looking for a relationship, but I’m always open to having more friends.”

“Daniel told me about that. I’m really sorry you’re going through that, but sometimes something has to end for something else to begin. Would you want to go on a date with me and see if we have something worth trying?”

“I think I can do that.” Karla said with a small smile. He was so shy that it was cute. He was also the total opposite of Conner. “When would you like to go?”

“Friday night?” He asked and when Karla nodded he smiled. “I’ll text you later and we can work out a time and place. How does that sound?”

“Sounds like a plan.” Karla said. When Cameron got up and walked away she sighed deeply. She wasn’t ready for this, but life goes on.

****

“Who is that talking to Karla?” Conner asked Callie when he looked up and saw Karla talking to another guy.

“If I’m right, that’s Cameron Reese. He’s a senior in the advanced program and he plays soccer.” Callie answered her brother’s question without looking at him. She could feel the jealously rolling off of him in waves.

“You mean the star of the soccer team?” Rylee asked.

“Yep, that’s him.” Travis answered.

“Why is he talking to Karla?” Conner all but growled out.

“If I had to guess he’s asking her on a date.” Callie said and looked at her brother. “You know the effect she has on the male population so it shouldn’t surprise you that she has guys going after her now that you two aren’t together any longer.”

“Well isn’t that just great.” Conner mumbled under his breath.

“Con, what did you expect?” Callie asked him.

“I expected her to come back to me.” He said with a slight hitch in his voice. “That’s all I want.”

“Conner Fredrick Newberry, open your big blue eyes and really look at the situation. You’re the one who went on a date with Alissa, you’re the one who was all chummy with her at the competition, you’re the one who told her to suck it up and you’re the one who walked away.”

“You don’t think I know that? You don’t think I realize this whole thing is my fault? Well I do. It was my own stupidity that pushed her away. It was my own stupid jealously and temper that caused her to build a wall between us. A wall that I have no idea how to tear down.”

“Con, calm down. You’re starting to draw attention to yourself.” Callie said and Conner took a deep breath and sat back down. “You aren’t going to accomplish anything if you keep letting your temper get in the way.”

“My temper is why I’m here in the first place.” Conner mumbled and Callie had to agree with him.

“Then control it and go talk to her.” Rylee said.

“I can’t.” Conner said and Callie looked at him like he’d lost his mind.

“Why is that?” Travis asked.

“Because it’s going to take more than words to get us past this.”

“I can’t argue with that.” Callie said. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to talk to Karla.”

Callie walked off with Rylee right on her heels and Conner watched them sit on either side of Karla.

“I miss her so bad.” Conner said to Travis as he watched Karla talk to his sister.

“I know you do. I can see it every time you look at her, but Callie has a valid point. Your temper isn’t going to help you get her back.”

“Yeah, I know. I lost my temper with her and walked away when I should have stayed and talked to her. I should have told her how I felt instead of blowing up and throwing her words back at her.”

“To borrow Callie’s words ‘I can’t argue with that.’” Travis said just as the lunch bell rang.

“This is the hardest class to get through.” Conner said as he dumped his uneaten food in the trash and walked out of the cafeteria with Travis. “Karla, Callie, Rylee and I are a group for this class and we all have to work on our final project together. With Karla not talking to me it makes life difficult.”

“Maybe you should use the project as an ice breaker. As a way to get her to talk to you. Who knows, maybe it’ll work.” Travis offered.

“I may try that. Thanks, man.” Conner said as he followed Callie into the classroom and took his usual seat beside Karla.

“Elliot, can you help me?” Karla asked her brother.

“Sure, sis. What do you need?”

“I need help with this box. This stupid brace is driving me nuts, but Dr. Carpenter said I had to wear it for another two weeks.”

“We’ll manage to get moved back into the house without you lifting a lot, sis.” Elliot said as he carried the box of Karla’s things down the stairs and to the moving truck.

“I hate this stupid thing.” Karla said to Leslie when she walked in the room.

“Callie and Rylee are on their way to help and I think Travis is coming with Rylee and Callie is bringing Kevin since he’s home from school.” Leslie told her. “We should be able to get everything loaded up today.”

“That’s great. I’m just glad school is out now and we can work on it during the daylight.”

“Don’t you have a date tonight?” Leslie asked with a curious expression.

“Cameron will be here at six. We are going to dinner and then a movie. I have the outfit I’m wearing hung up in the bathroom and it won’t take me long to get ready.”

“Are you excited about tonight?” Leslie asked even though she already knew the answer.

“It’ll be fun.” Karla answered avoiding Leslie’s question.

“What are you wearing?”

Karla walked into the bathroom she’d been sharing with Elliot since they’d moved in here and grabbed the outfit she’d picked out for tonight. When she walked back into her room she held it up for Leslie to see.

“Pretty.” Leslie said when she saw the green, knee-length sweater dress. “Wearing your knee boots with it?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Karla said with a grin. “Mom, what’s up with the twenty questions?”

“I was just thinking back about your first date with Conner and you were really excited and nervous that night. Today you’re giving off more of a ‘whatever’ vibe so I’m curious about the date and the boy.”

“His name is Cameron Reese and he is a senior. He just turned eighteen in November and he is really quiet and shy, except when he’s on the soccer field.”

“Oh, so he’s a jock?”

“Mom, he’s the star soccer player for the team and he will most likely lead them to state this year. That isn’t all though. He’s at the top of the senior class, behind Daniel, but still close to the top and he has been accepted to Vandy’s pre-med program.”

“Your Dad will like him.” Leslie said with a smile. “But the main question is, do you like him?”

“That’s the thing, Mom. I really do like him, as a friend. He’s great to talk to and fun to be around, but so are Travis and Daniel. Cam’s definitely friend material, but I doubt he’ll ever be boyfriend material.”

“Then why are you going on this date with him?”

“Because I promised him one date so we could see if spending time alone would change things. He has the same feelings I do though. After a few days of talking at lunch and texting we’ve determined we’ll most likely only ever be friends.”

“Having good friends is an essential part of life.” Leslie said and grinned when Callie and Rylee walked into the room. “Speaking of good friends, here are two of the best.”

Karla turned and grinned at her two best friends. “I’m so glad you two came to help.”

“We are always here to help.” Callie answered and nodded toward Karla’s arm. “Looks like you need all the help you can get.”

“Karla, please don’t be mad.” Rylee pleaded.

“Rylee, why would I get mad?” Karla asked in confusion.

“Because I came with them.” Conner said as he walked into the room and stood behind his sister.

Karla stood there for a minute and just looked at Conner. He was wearing well-worn jeans and his favorite green hoodie and he looked gorgeous. Karla swallowed past the lump that had formed in her throat before she spoke. “Why would I be mad? With me still in this thing we need all the help we can get.”

A collective sigh filled the room. “What can I do to help?” Conner asked Leslie.

“We’ve been boxing up stuff all week so everything is ready to just be carried down to the truck except the beds. Karla probably needs the most help because she can’t really do much with that brace on her arm.” Leslie answered him and he walked further into the room.

“Karla, what I can do to help you?” Conner asked and locked eyes with her.

Karla had to swallow hard again before she could answer. “Umm… I just need the boxes carried down. Dad and Bob will get the beds last so they can be taken off the truck first.”

“Okay.” Conner said and walked toward the stack of boxes in the corner. As he passed Karla he gently touched her arm and she shuddered softly.

“I’m going to see if Meghan needs any help with Mae. I can’t do much when it comes to moving, but I can watch Mae while everyone else does all the work.” Karla said and quickly left the room.

“I believe your presence here is getting to her.” Leslie said with a little wink in Conner’s direction.

“Yeah, but is it in a good way or a bad one?” Conner asked and looked at Leslie hopefully.

“That is yet to be determined.” Leslie said as she picked up a box and carried it out of the room.

“Yeah, that helps.” Conner grumbled and followed Leslie out of the room. When he stepped into the family room he was greeted by Karla’s soft laughter and tears formed in his eyes. “Someday you’ll laugh like that for me again.” He said softly before he shook his head and walked out the door and down the stairs.