But in his career, he held back.
We’re both afraid of losing something.
Maybe they had more in common than she thought.
Chapter 16
Lauren considered this for a long moment. Something in common with Will Sinclair—she never would’ve guessed.
She knew the Will from before, and was just starting to understand present-day Will. And, she figured, the best way to reach him was to rear back and throw as hard as she could.
“I think you need to suck it up.”
He stared, looking a little dumbfounded. “Did you just say I need to ‘suck it up’？”
“How long do you plan to sit in your self-inflicted purgatory?”
He frowned.
“You were good. . .no, you were great, Will. I hardly know anything about baseball and I knew fifteen years ago that you were great.”
“Yeah, but—”
“You only get one shot, Sinclair.” She pursed her lips and shrugged. “Might as well take it.”
The look on Will’s face was equal parts shocked and impressed. He opened his mouth to say something, then stopped and turned away. He looked at Lauren again, as if deciding to be convinced.
Will leaned toward the steering wheel. “Maybe you’re right.”
“I am right. So it’s not what you thought it was going to be—that doesn’t mean it can’t still be something amazing.”
She’d always believed in pursuing what she wanted, but she only now realized not everyone felt that way. Some people had legitimate concerns holding them back. But she believed in second chances.
I believe in second chances.
Or did she only believe in second chances when they didn’t put her heart on the line?
I think he’s changed a lot. Give him a chance to prove it. Rosa’s words echoed in her mind.
He sat up straighter. “Okay.”
The word stole her attention. “Okay…what?”
When he smiled, the edges of his eyes crinkled at the corners. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m going to go for it.”
“Then my work here is done.” She smiled at him, but his face had gone serious.
“How do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Just chase down what you want.”
She tilted her head down, incredulous. “This from the person who can literally have any woman eating out of his hand after a hello and a smile.”
Will shook his head ever so slightly.
“But I don’t want any woman.”
Lauren heard her own nerves in her laugh, and she hoped Will didn’t notice the tremble in her voice. “What can I say? I’m impressive.”
“You think you’re joking, but it’s true.” He sat back in his seat. “I can’t believe I didn’t realize it before. You’re amazing.”
Stay cool, Lauren. He’s just being nice.
The silence hung there, tormenting her, but her mind was blank. She searched for something—anything—to say. “So, this all happened Christmas of your junior year?” she blurted, quickly regretting it.
That’s what you come up with? What in the world are you doing, Lauren?
He nodded. “Right before Christmas break.”
She looked away. “That explains a lot.”
Shut up, Lauren.
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
Her heart picked up pace, the way it often did when her mouth got ahead of her brain. She simultaneously wanted to ask him about That Night and never ask him about That Night.
Especially if he didn’t remember it.
Is it possible he really doesn’t remember?
Unlike Will, Lauren had decided a long time ago to stay away from alcohol for two reasons: 1. The calories, and 2. The taste. Not to mention the fact that Lauren Richmond did not like it when she wasn’t in control. Alcohol made people do foolish things. She didn’t want to be one of them.
However, her lack of experience in this area made it hard to know what to believe. She studied him for a moment, searching for anything that might indicate he wasn’t being honest. When she found nothing, she said, “You really don’t remember, do you?”
His shoulders dropped, only slightly, and he searched her eyes, seemingly desperate to understand what it was she wasn’t saying. “Remember what?”
The hint of a memory played at the corners of her mind, but Lauren couldn’t bring herself to relive the humiliation. She didn’t have the emotional strength. Once opened, the floodgates of that Christmas would drown her.
She needed to let it go. She had let it go. It’s not like it had affected her last decade. She’d moved on.