Page 57 of Choke Up

CHAPTER 23

ELLIS

"A what?!"

"A double date. We can make it a triple date though, if you change your mind about coming with us." Elliot looks at me hopefully, waiting for me to do more than gape at him. He's desperate to know who it is I've been sneaking around with. His current bets are all on Sean, because he assumes correctly that I'd be into the big, athletic type. But since I won't tell him, he keeps teasing about setting me up with his friend from the baseball team. "I could invite Tripp," he taunts, waggling his eyebrows. I think he'd like to see me date his teammate, but I also think he enjoys how annoyed Gabe gets when he brings it up. He has no idea just how much Gabe hates Tripp or why, he just thinks it's funny.

I'm having a harder time than usual to find his teasing humorous, though, because I can relate. Jealousy, hot and thick, bubbles up my throat like bile.

"Don’t look at me like that. You’re the one that’s bailing on me on our birthday. We always do something together.”

"I already have plans," I remind him. "But you're welcome to come with us after your date," I add, not wanting to be a complete jerk.

Elliot wrinkles his nose. "Not really my scene. Clubs, I mean. Not because it's gay." I wave him off, because I already knew that and didn't expect him to want to go.

"Who is Gabe bringing?" I blurt.

"I don't know, actually. Some girl from his chem lab, I think? Might be on the gymnastics team? Maybe cheerleading? I can't remember. You know how he is." Oh, hell no.

Elliot keeps talking, completely oblivious to my shitty mood. He's excited for his girlfriend to visit. Their spring breaks didn't match up, but it ended up working out for the best, because he could go visit her, and now she can visit him. Blah blah blah. I don't give a damn. Ashleigh is nice and all, but I'm not invested in who my brother is dating. I am, however, very invested in who Gabe thinks he's dating.

Ellis: What's this I hear about a double date next weekend?

Gabe: Don't start. You know I don't have a choice.

Ellis: Who is she?

Gabe: Don't.

Ellis: …

Gabe: It's just a cover. What am I supposed to do?

Ellis: Tell him no. That you don't want to go.

Gabe: I tried that. He's excited, has this whole thing planned out. You know how he can be.

Elliot can be single-minded. He's my twin, I know exactly how he can be. But I also know that Gabe is a stubborn motherfucker when he wants to be, so why is he going along with this?

Gabe: I was worried he'd be suspicious.

Ellis: Well, it's going to be real suspicious when all your nice clothes are torn in half.

Gabe: Don't be like this.

Ellis: Don't be like what?

Ellis: Maybe I'll take him up on his offer to invite Tripp.

Gabe: You wouldn't.

He's right that I won't. I'm not going to risk leading Tripp on. He's a nice guy, he really is. But he's a bit clingy. We were texting for a while, just being friendly, but Gabe keeps catching him watching me at games. Which, I thought he was just being his possessive caveman self, but once I started paying more attention, I noticed too. Now Tripp smiles at me every time I catch him looking, and I keep having to remind Gabe how suspicious it would be if he, and I quote, ‘gouged out his eyeballs and shoved them up his ass,’ for no reason.

So no, I'm not about to invite Tripp on this date. But that doesn't mean I won't let Gabe stew.

Tripp accepts the batting helmet I hand him, taking his place on deck and warming up with a couple of practice swings. It absolutely doesn't escape my notice how he's attempting to show off, giving me a wink after he whips the bat through the air a few times. I want to roll my eyes, but Gabe is close by, taking his own violent practice swings while he waits for the other team's catcher to come back from the pitcher's mound. The bases are loaded, and there are two strikes on the board. The game is tied, and there’s only one inning left, so Gabe's at bat could either make or break the game. He’s one of our best batters, and they know it. It doesn’t occur to me to be worried over whether we’ll be several runs ahead by the end of his turn.

I'm not exactly flirting with Tripp, but anything other than ignoring him is considered attention in both his and Gabe's eyes. Gabe's been playing sloppy today, too concerned with watching every interaction between me and his teammate. Coach already had to pull him to the side and tell him to get his head out of his ass and in the game. When he marched up to the plate, the opposing team backed up, expecting him to unload whatever anger he's holding onto the first good pitch. The tension in his shoulders as he readies himself for what will probably be a busted ball sent far over the back wall is sexy as fuck. I should tease him more often.

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