Page 98 of Pitcher Perfect

“Did I hear you sayyouarranged it by yourself?” Wendy crossed her arms over her chest. I hadn’t seen her approach. “Taking credit like you did for our senior project?”

Mabel rolled her eyes. “Are you ever going to let that go? It’s been almost fifty years!”

I shook my head as they wandered off, bickering.

“This town is something else.” Caleb wrapped his arm around my waist and grabbed my hip.

I listened as people approached Caleb to bestow heaps of praise on him. People asked if he was going to stay in town, said they couldn’t wait to try his food, wondered if he would like to join for a round of golf.Winning Portland Pairing felt great, but seeing the town embrace Caleb as one of their own?Nothing could top that. He absolutely beamed.

Within minutes, Mabel came from the direction of the employee area with a sheet cake that readCongratulations!Wendy followed behind with another one that said,Better Luck Next Year. Mabel shot her a death glare.

“What? Am I supposed to let perfectly good cake go to waste?”

Couldn’t argue with that logic.

At one point, I glanced over at Ethan and saw him flirting up a storm with an androgynous-presenting person. He was using his flirtiest smile. No matter how often Ethan got knocked off his horse, he got right back on it. I admired that about him. After finding someone I really liked, I could understand better why Ethan was always relentlessly pursuing the feeling.

During a break in conversation with the nonstop people coming up to talk—which was great, but I was anxious to get a part of me on Caleb’s dick—I escaped for a bathroom break. When I came back out, I found Caleb’s dad standing in the hallway.

“Rick! Great to see you here. How did you hear about the party? You’re more clued in than we are apparently.”

He laughed. “I’m staying at the B and B. My hostess filled me in at check-in when I mentioned why I’m in town.”

“That’s amazing. I’m so glad you’re here. I thought you were staying in Portland.”

“Just going there for brunch tomorrow. Have you done brunch in Portland?”

I bit back a laugh. “A few times. Some great places. Do you have one picked out?”

He lit up. “I do! And a backup if the line is too long at that one. I hope you’ll join us.”

“I’d love that. Thanks.”

Rick’s expression turned sour. “I hope the brunch place has good coffee. Not sure I’ll get much sleep tonight.”

“The doilies or the stuffed animals?”

“There are so many beady glass eyes. How the hell am I supposed to sleep? They have teddy bears, rabbits, even a stuffed hedgehog. No rhyme or reason to it.”

“Some say it’s a portal to hell.”

His mischievous smile reminded me so much of Caleb’s. “I wouldn’t be surprised.”

I clapped him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. We’ll stop by Dave’s coffee shop, where Caleb parks his truck, to get you some of the best caffeine in the state before we head to Portland.”

“That sounds perfect.”

Rick and I went back to the party, and I got caught in another conversation. My eyes found Caleb after a while, and the look he gave me said he was also ready to get out of there.

“Looks like yourboyfriendis ready tocelebrate.” Ty rested his forearm on my shoulder.

A grin spread over my face before I could stop it. The smiles came easier and easier since Caleb had come into my life.

“This is a good look for you.”

I frowned. “What is? Exhausted, peopled out, with sore feet?”

“Happy.”

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