Atonement Read Online Free PDF Page A

school.” I was getting a little emotional thinking how our lives would change even more if we weren’t in the same town. I dropped my hands back down to my lap.
    He shook his head, now staring at the table.
    I let out a long sigh trying to ease the tension between us. “So when did you find out Tate? How long have you known they were coming to see you hit?” I asked.
    “Um, a little while.” He whispered. I looked at him like he knew he better elaborate. “Right before Christmas,” he said nervously and looking away.
    Now I was really upset. He had known for over three months, and I was just finding out.
    “You mean…” the light bulb went off. “Now I know why your dad was talking to me so much about our schedules, and how I might need to be careful how I kept you away from focusing on baseball. I blew his comments off, but he was making sure I didn’t screw this up for you. I can’t believe you kept this from me Tate.” I was hurt, truly hurt. “Ahhh! What else have you kept from me? I thought we were both wide open with each other.”
    Tate was quiet. Then he turned to me and grabbing my hands he said “Reese, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before now. I was worried how you would react. I don’t want to have secrets from you. I, um, I have to tell you how this came about. Please, don’t be upset with me. I’m not sure why in the end I kept it from you, except I knew you would have so many concerns. I was trying to keep us happy, together.” Oh, those eyes. Those gorgeous eyes were chasing mine all over this sudden chaos in front of us.
    “They saw your scrimmages last year, is that how?” I asked. I knew he had drawn a crowd even back then. “Or have they been watching you since high school?”
    “Well yeah, sort of, but not really until they were
asked
to come watch me hit.” He said.
    Looking sheepishly at me again, like I was going to hit him or something, he said “I don’t want to…not anymore, I don’t want to hide anything from you Reese…it was Samuel Ash who asked them to see me.”
    I know I had a very confused look on my face. I mouthed ‘Samuel Ash’ trying to think who in the heck that was, then it dawned on me. My eyes got big, staring at Tate, I said “Lauren’sdad…
YOUR EX,
Lauren’s dad. What in the hell Tate? Why would
he
ask them to watch you play?”
    “Because…because he has part-ownership in two professional baseball teams, and because…
    “Lauren asked him to…” I finished his sentence for him. Oh! Lauren was still not giving up on Tate. It was all coming back to me. The conversation I overheard at the pool last summer, and the gossip Chloe was giving me about Lauren still wanting Tate.
    I let out a long, deep breath. My heart was being squeezed too tight. There had been months of betrayal and crap happening behind my back. Is this what a heart attack felt like? I was completely stunned at first. Then my anger flared. My thoughts were running together.
    “I. Can’t. Believe. Her….Or. You!” I shoved his chest. “Now I am officially pissed Tate Justice. Even more of a reason for you to tell me. What were you thinking? Why didn’t you tell her NO? Surely another team would come along…do you not think anymore of me than that?”
    Tate cut me off , “I did tell her no, I mean…”
    “Wait, you’ve been talking with her. I was kidding Tate. I didn’t realize you’ve been actually
talking
with Lauren.” I wasn’t sure, but I think steam was coming out of my ears. I know if he looked close, he would see my heart breaking, bleeding for what I thought we had just ten minutes ago.
    “Calm down Reese, I..um…”
    “Save it Tate,” I was crying now, but I would be damned if I would let him see me. I got up quickly and walked out to my car. My vision was blurred from the hurt and anger I was feeling. Of course Tate followed.
    “Reese wait, let’s talk this out. You’re overreacting!” I whipped my head around to him.
    “Don’t you dare,