Page 71 of Rival Summer

She turned to me with an expression that held a flicker of disbelief. "What, really?" Her eyes searched mine for confirmation.

"Yeah, it's all good," I said with a confident nod that I hoped would dissolve any lingering worries. Relief washed over her face.

"Can I get a round of shots?" Parker asked the bartender, as he motioned to our group.

"You're the catcher, right?" A girl leaning against the edge of the bar asked Parker.

"Depends who's asking, sweetheart," he replied, tossing back a flirtatious tone with a lopsided grin.

She stepped closer, as she said, "I'm asking." Her gaze dropped momentarily in a way that left little to the imagination, then snapped back up to his.

Bailey stood on the other side of Parker, eyebrow cocked. "Tell us," he said, with a grin, "why are you looking for the catcher?"

"Well," she purred. “A few of my friends and I couldn't help but admire how cute the catcher's butt looked in those baseball pants." She tossed a nod over her shoulder, where a table of girls behind her waved and giggled.

One of the freshly poured shots was snatched up by the girl's hand. But before it reached her lips, Willow intercepted the glass with a swift motion.

"Sorry, honey," Willow quipped, her eyes sparking with possessive fire. The shot glass hovered at her lips for a second before she threw it back. "He might look good in a pair of baseball pants, but he's too good for some jersey chasers."

The girl's mouth twisted into a sneer before she folded her arms and marched back to her group of friends. Willow huffed angrily and took off, leaving the rest of us in a heavy silence.

TWENTY-THREE

chandler

"Are you okay?"I asked Willow, watching closely as she stood on the back patio, chugging her drink.

She gave a short nod then sighed. "Yeah, Chandler, I'm sorry. I know it's your brother and it's weird, but it’s annoying when he gives girls like that attention. He can do so much better."

My eyes narrowed slightly at her words. I was trying to figure out why she was so upset. "He deserves better, as in someone like you?" I asked, gently.

She hesitated before speaking. "I don't know... maybe. I guess… maybe I do still have feelings for him," she confessed, covering her face.

"Okay," I grimaced playfully, trying to lighten the mood. "Not gonna lie, it's kind of gross how you could see him in that way, but I get it." I paused, considering her situation with a more serious demeanor. "I think you should tell him, though."

Her eyes widened slightly. "You think so?"

"Yeah," I affirmed with a nod. "Trust me, he's not the sharpest crayon in the box—I’m sure he has no idea."

A small laugh escaped her, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "I'll think about it," she promised, and I could tell she meant it.

"Good." I grinned. "The look on her face when you took that shot was pretty funny, though."

"Wasn't it?" Willow chuckled, shaking her head. "She looked like she was going to murder me."

The laughter and excitement from our group was starting to get out of control. I watched as Parker made his way out onto the back patio to join us, choosing the seat right next to Willow.

"Word on the street is that I have some fans admiring my... assets in uniform," Parker teased.

"Please," Willow scoffed. “I heard it was actually the umpire they were admiring.”

Parker chuckled, then turned to her with a tilted head and a half-smirk. "Just admit you check me out. You notice the goods every time I bend over. Don’t you?"

Willow rolled her eyes but couldn’t hold back a smile as she said, “I will admit nothing.”

"We both know the truth, Sunshine," Parker replied with a small smile. He scooted just a bit closer to her, their shoulders nearly touching.

"Don't let it go to your head," she teased.

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