Page 29 of Play the Field

Frozen in place, I couldn’t bring myself to turn toward my Benz. Instead, I watched them pull out of the parking lot and into the street. While watching the road, they waved goodbye and disappeared from view.

I wasn’t sure what was getting into me. Other than a lowkey obsession with seeing what they’d been up to. I’d never questioned whether or not our breakup was the right call. But spending time with them, like this, like we had when we first fell for each other…

I shook my head. I knew what I was here for. I needed to get back to my team, to my career.

And Cleo was a means to that end. I wouldn’t let them be anything more.

“Everyone out!” Daniel hollered as he parked the car.

The sliding of the minivan doors pulled me out of my trance. I hadn’t stopped thinking about Cleo since I left the field that day. And I was hoping this outing would help me take my mind off of them for a couple hours.

Lily and Jacob tumbled out onto the asphalt parking lot, Meredith hopping out after them from the passenger’s seat.

I stepped out into the bright afternoon sun and bustling noise of the New Winford Farmer’s Market. At the edge of the festivities, the parking lot was relatively quiet compared to the chaos that awaited us on Main Street.

Daniel gave my pack a bat as he locked the car with his key fob and walked ahead to hold his daughter’s hand. He’d been desperately trying to pull information out of me since Cleo and I practiced together. But I hadn’t relented.

After all, I wasn’t exactly sure what there was to tell. We had a decent time. I had a lot of work to do. And I was obviously still attracted to them despite how terrible our last few months together had been.

As I walked on Main Street, a flood of pedestrians and shoppers pushed against me as they made their way back to the parking lot. Once I broke through the bottleneck, the market opened up to the wider street where dozens of vendors stood under a rainbow of tent colors.

Lily and Jacob had already stopped in front of the goat cheese stand where the farmer had brought two of his calmest goats to entertain the kids.

It was wildly overwhelming and a welcome reminder that New Winford was still the quaint small town I remembered from being a kid. Even if the farmer’s market was more crowded now.

As I moved down the street, peeking into each stand, I tried to find something worth stopping for. But I wasn’t doing much cooking these days and I didn’t really have anywhere to put any trinkets that looked cool.

Eventually, I stopped in front of a bakery tent. The display case, conveniently on wheels, was full of fresh loaves of bread, pastries, and sweet treats. Eyeing the tightly wrapped brownies, I smiled at the woman manning the tent.

“How are you, sweetie?” She asked, a gentle smile returning mine.

I nodded. “Good, thanks. These look amazing.”

Waving me off, she shrugged. “Fresh-baked this morning. Let me know if you need help finding anything.”

“I’m going to have to come back for sure. This is all amazing.” I shook my head as I took one last look at each item before turning back to the street and marching along.

A cool breeze passed down the center of the street where the crowd parted slightly. Fall was starting to take hold, the leavessounding more crisp by the day. For a moment, I slowed my pace and lifted my face toward the sun.

Just be here.I took in a breath, trying to feel the warmth on my face. It wouldn't last forever. Soon it would be too cold to really take it in.

I shook my head.That’s a later problem.One more time.

Closing my eyes, I let the fresh air fill my lungs. The sound of giggling kids and market bartering filled my ears. But underneath all of that was the rustle of tree branches brushing together.

My cheeks warmed as the sun kissed them lightly and a hint of apple cider donuts hit my nose. Just as my shoulders began to drop, a familiar voice whispered into my ears. “How does that feel?”

A smile crept onto my face.

19

CLEO

“Like being right in this moment.”She smiled as she slowly let her eyes open, lowering them to mine.

I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen Cat Collins so relaxed, but even then a layer of tension rested on her heavy, broad shoulders.

“Hi, stranger.” I waved as I took a small step back. Looking her up and down, I couldn’t help but notice how the tight waffle-knit shirt hugged her muscular arms.

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