The Good Intentions

Chapter 47 - Kaden

Kaden

Standing up to my father was exactly what I needed to do in order to turn my life around. I mean look at me. I have a great girl. I just won the fucking championship game. Life is great and I owe him nothing. Hell, I shouldn't even be thinking of him right now. But Kyle was sitting in the stands. The only one that came tonight.

I know my mom wanted to come but she had to work tonight. And Dad, well, I didn't not invite him. He knew when and where the game was tonight and he decided not to come. Or maybe Mom said something to him. Kyle didn't mention anything about it.

None of that matters though. Even if he was there, I wouldn't have noticed. The only person I looked for in the stands tonight was Bethany and she sat front and center.

After meeting in the locker room with Coach, we are able to continue our celebration. Bryce kept a bottle of Patron in his locker for after the game, knowing we would have a win tonight. He kept telling everyone how the night before he had a dream that we won. Maybe I should ask him for the winning lottery numbers.

Bryce passes the large jug around the room ordering everyone to take a shot before they leave and we move this party over to Shaker's for the night

Personally, I have other ways I'd like to celebrate tonight. But I have to show face and take a shot with the rest of them. Bethany and I will still be able to have our own celebration later.

***

Shaker's is the most packed I have ever seen in my entire life. People are even out partying in the street because there's a DJ set up in the parking lot. A round of cheers sound as a few guys and I step out of the car.

"National champions baby!" Bryce screams, holding his arms above his head and I laugh, leaning my arms on top of the car. "We couldn't have done it without you, man."

I shake my head with a grinning sigh.

"It's true. I mean, we almost lost you, man. If Coach kicked you off the team or kept you benched we wouldn't have ever made it this far."

"We all contributed to this win," I say with a smile, kind of enjoying his praise.

"Maybe. But you are the one Coach practically named captain for next season." He runs his fingers through his thick, sweat-coated hair. "Fuck man, I should have kept the plan of getting with Coach's daughter all to myself. Then maybe I'd be the star of the team."

I laugh again and shake my head because he couldn't be more wrong. Hell, I even forgot about that idea of his until now.

"What plan?"

All color drains from my face as my lungs close off and I can't suck in a single breath. Bryce wears the same expression but I'm not looking at him anymore as I turn to face Bethany. Pain in her big brown eyes, standing only a few feet away but it feels like a mile.

"No, Bethany," I breathe, barely able to hear my own words as I reach for her hand but she takes a step back.

Bryce mumbles something behind me but I can't hear it and I don't turn around to see if he's walked away. I just look at her. Only her. Bethany. Staring at me with shock. Pain. Disgust.

"Bethany," I say her name again, but it's a pathetic plea and I'm so mortified that I can't say anything else but her name. Her mouth moves as she stares at her toes but I can't hear a thing. Not until she looks up again, meets my eyes, and a single tear slips free from hers.

"You did all of this to move ahead in baseball. I was just some pathetic component in this little plan of yours." Her words are coming out so quickly. "How could you do this to me?"

"Bethany, I didn't—"

"You're a liar." Her voice is barely above a whisper. "You were just playing me this entire time." Her arms cross over her body.

"No, baby, I didn't. Please just let me explain."

"How am I supposed to believe anything you say to me?" Her voice sounds so weak, so hurt. And my heart is in my fucking stomach knowing that I'm the one that's causing this.

"Bethany, please," my words are frantic now. "I promise you I only had good intentions—"

"Good intentions?" she asks, eyes wide until her brows start to furrow, teeth clench and tears fall faster. She shakes her head, tears rolling from her cheeks down to her neck. "The good intentions you had don't mean anything to me now, Kaden." Her body trembles as she stands in front of me.

I reach out to her, my heart pounding in my ears as I hear it crack in my chest, knowing that whatever I say, whatever I do, it won't bring her back to me. As my fingers brush her arm, the sob she tried so hard to hold in rips through her. My vision blurs and through my tears, I lose her.