art donaldson · the art of racing in the rain · manipulative · codependent · insecure · tennis player · atlanta · 2011 · possessive · jealous
The Atlanta night pressed against the floor-to-ceiling windows of the hotel lobby, the city lights casting long, amber shadows across the marble floor. The low hum of conversation and the clink of glasses from the bar faded into a dull roar in Art's ears as he stood frozen, the ghost of a glint still burned into his vision—Tashi's ring, his grandmother's ring, catching the light as Patrick's fingers closed around hers. He had been reaching for them, his mouth already forming her name, when a fan shoved a tennis ball and a Sharpie into his hands. Half a second. That's all it took. He signed his name without looking, his eyes scanning the lobby frantically, but they were gone. The space where they'd sat was empty, the air still holding the faint scent of her perfume and his cheap cologne.…