Page 55 of Honey Pot

“I swear to god, Cael!” Van groaned and Zoey instantly lost it in a fit of laughter as the first chords to Like A Prayer blasted over the speakers.

“We should add this song to the rules,” Dean shouted over the sound of my voice as the first chorus rounded.

Strutting towards him I used my free hand to yank my shirt over my head and flicked it at him while I sang. He pushed it off his face and glared at me. I blew him a kiss and belted the next lyrics with both hands on the mic and my chin tilted to the sky.

“You sing it so much that I hear it in my nightmares!” He threw his empty juice cup at me as I sang in his face.

I jumped out of the way with a goofy grin on my face and wandered over to stand in front of Clementine in the grass, her eyes never leaving mine.

“When you call my name, it's like a little prayer,”I sang, and the blush crept to her full cheeks. With a smile I dropped to my knees before her. “I'm down on my knees.”

She shook her head at me and all the images of me on my knees for her flooded back, memories I never wanted to forget. Clementine mouthed the next line along with my obnoxiously loud voice with a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eyes.

There was something about this song that made me feel alive, like an adrenaline rush to the system. Maybe it was the act of singing it for them that did it because, as I spun around acting like a fool, I realized I didn’t actually listen to this song unless I was singing it…

I dropped back to my knees in the turf and sang the last chorus as loudly as I could until their claps roared and I took my bow.

“Thank you, thank you,” I said dramatically and winked at Clementine. Van rose to take his turn and I chucked the mic at him before settling back down against Clementine.

“Good luck following that up.” I kissed her cheek before she could stop me and rolled back onto the blanket beneath me.

“You guys are so dramatic,” she huffed, clearly nervous.

“Do you know what song you’re going to pick?”

She fidgeted with the blanket under her butt and thought about it quietly with a small hum that wasn’t much of an answer.

“It’s harder than expected to justpicka song to sing.” Clementine laughed. “Do I go nostalgic and do something I know?”

“Hah!” I barked. “Every song you know well enough to call nostalgic is a depressing country ballad, please don’t do that.” I put my hands up in mock surrender and fell back against the blanket, giving her the space to lean over my chest.

“Oh come on, they aren’t all depressing. They’re about love,” she argued, with a small pout that begged for a kiss.

My will power waned under the sight but, no matter how badly I needed reprieve, I wouldn’t break the intense eye contact we held.

“Love isdepressing,” I whispered to her and she pulled back, narrowing her eyes at me. We both knew I didn’t believe it but, in the moment, unable to show her how much I did love her, it sure felt that way.

“Mary,” Jensen sang into the mic as his song ended. “You’re up.”

She pushed off my chest and it took everything in me not to grab her and pull her back into my space. The world felt a little colder without her body pressed up against mine and I grumbled as I rolled to sit up, earning a small chuckle from Ella.

“She’s good,” Ella said quietly as Clementine whispered to Jensen and they scrolled through his phone looking for songs.

My face must have read as confused because Ella sighed.

“She pulls you out of your own head. It’s like there’s a string tied to both of you and one tug is enough to balance you out,” she explained. “I can see why she’s yourhappy,Misery.

MATTHEWS

Ihad been here almost three weeks longer than expected, but I was dragging my feet and taking my time. Tony had called repeatedly for updates, but I kept making excuses.“I’m on to something. Give me an extension.”He had agreed, but I knew I was pushing my luck.

I selfishly needed more time with Cael.

The connection between us had shifted that day in the batting cages. Cael’s apologies had gone from heated and physical to small gestures of attention that did more for my heart than I wanted to admit to anyone. Even Bobbi.

She had called for an update the day after, but I hadn’t been able to give her an honest answer. One simple hug, so tender, it was a sedative to all my hardened edges and dangerous thoughts. I hated his ability to be both people at once. Crazy, free, and funny, but quiet, careful, and purposeful with his intention all at the same time. I was just a mess. I just wasn’t sure if I could be what he needed.

I wasn’t stupid. The second Silas had mentioned the accident, the look on his face gave away more than if he had even told me the truth. I had gone through six more interviews. I didn’t need to do the second string members of the team, but I wanted more information and, in doing so, delayed my departure from Rhode Island. Not a single one of them gave me anything on Cael. I had to finish his interview and still needed to speak to Dean and his father, but I had a feeling they wouldn’t be helpful.

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