Page 30 of How We Fooled

Eli takes it and swings a few times, making my eyes open wide. I knew he was big, and I knew he was strong, but seeing him swing a bat like that brings it to an entirely different level.

“Kids should be arriving at any minute, so we can do some front tosses. Then, we can set up the machine so they can really see you hit,” Matthew says.

“Yeah, that’s cool.”

Matthew starts moving a big net on wheels, placing it in front of him while Eli stretches and warms up some more.

With a bucket of balls next to the net, Matthew asks, “You ready?”

Some kids enter the facility as Eli nods that he’s ready. Matthew tosses a ball, and Eli swings violently, smacking it to the back of the net. The sound alone makes me jump, and I laugh, now seeing why Matthew has the net set up in front of him.

“Who’s that?” I hear a kid ask another kid as they walk in.

I watch them as they stare at Eli and Matthew in awe.

With every swing, Eli looks like a professional player up there, swinging away and making the balls soar through the air faster than the blink of an eye.

“You ready for the machine?”

Eli nods as he drops the bat and heads to pick up the balls while Matthew walks toward an area where all of his equipment is.

“Hey, Coach?” a kid asks. “Who’s that?”

Matthew stops what he’s doing to reply, “That is Eli Jones. One of the best players from the area. He’s a senior out of Leighton River. Plays on the national team out of Billings for the summer.”

The way their eyes light up makes me want to giggle at how cute they are, just staring at him.

“Come on. I’ll introduce you,” Matthew says, having them follow him.

Where they were staring at him before in awe, now, I’m staring at him with the biggest lovey-dovey eyes as he shakes hands with the kids and they talk baseball.

I feel like someone needs to pinch me because this all can’t be real. He can’t be real. We’ve only known each other for a very short time, but I am falling so hard. I need to stop myself before I get too hurt. If I’ve learned anything in life so far, it’s if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

I bite the inside of my lip in thought while I check him out some more.

Why does he have to be so gorgeous too?

I close my eyes and take a deep breath, ridding myself of any negative thoughts. I can’t always think that way.

Everyone says when you find the right person, you just know. Maybe he’s my person, and that’s why I feel this way.

Because I’ve never felt this way about a guy. Ever.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Liza

This summer has been the best I’ve ever had. Yes, I know I’m not living in a reality that will last forever since I’m not in school and I don’t have a job, but this will be the last true summer I have before I have to be a full-blown adult, and I am planning on enjoying every last second of it.

Eli wasn’t kidding when he said he traveled a lot for baseball, so every second he’s home, we’ve been together. It’s probably best that he’s gone because while he is, I’m able to look for a job and try to get my life settled here. When he’s home though, none of that exists, and I don’t have a care in the world but him.

With him still living with his parents and me with my aunt and uncle, every moment we’ve spent has been outside, which I’ve loved, but getting intimate hasn’t been too convenient.

We’ve messed around in his truck a little, but nothing’s gone further than that. Tonight, we’re going camping up at the lake, so I’m hoping this will be our time together.

“Do you have everything you need?” Aunt Heidi asks as she stands in my doorway.

“He told me to just bring clothes or anything that I’ll need. He’ll take care of the rest, so I think I’m good.”

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