Page 8 of The Third Baseman

“Could you imagine...”

Another groan was followed by a loud screech.

“Bet he’s an animal in bed…”

“Yeah, and I’d let him…”

That comment elicited a cackle, and I couldn’t help but stare in the direction it came from. My jaw popped and my teeth ground together until they squeaked.

“Those tattoos...”

“We need to find out where he lives now he’s in the city.”

Beulah pulled me away from the spot I’d become frozen to, my jaw wide open in shock while my eyes bulged in horror at what I was hearing.

“Are you okay?”

I blinked, and then refocused on Jupiter.

Stars.

Even from this distance, I could make out dozens of stars running up and down his heavily muscled arms, all different sizes, before disappearing under the fabric. Stars in between – I squinted – were they planets? Words? Squiggles?

Why wouldn’t everyone shut up?! Why were those girls even here?

I wanted them all to leave so I could study him. I wanted to know where those tattoos went. How much of his body did they cover? What did they say?

And why?

Why had he covered himself?

A heavy throb punched me deep in my belly; too heavy for me to pretend it didn’t happen, especially as tiny flutters followed in its wake, undulating deep in my core. My cheeks flushed as hot as the desert.

“Marnie?”

I turned to Beulah who was staring at me in apprehension, confusion, and maybe a little concern.

“His tattoos?” I managed to ask on a breath.

“What about them?”

“He’s covered in them.”

She paused a beat before answering. “Yeah, it’s kind of his thing.”

I tore my eyes away before I strained them, and found myself frowning at Beulah instead. “What does that mean?”

She was about to reply when Lowe returned. “Ugh, let’s get our coffee or I’ll be here all day! Those girls are demanding.”

Those girlswere still screeching next to the image of Jupiter as we walked off, and I wanted to yell at them to leave him alone. It was so reminiscent of being back in high school when Jupiter walked around campus followed by a gaggle of squawking girls, that it had given me a piercing headache. Bile churned in my belly.

Nothing had changed.

“Come on, Marnie. Let’s go and talk about it before they combust under the glare you’re giving them.” She tugged on my arm like Beulah had, and I let her guide me away. “I’m sorry. I should have remembered the team images were along there before I suggested coffee.”

“No, it’s okay,” I shrugged, way more casually and calmly than I felt, because I wasn’t actually sure my insides hadn’t melted away. “It was going to happen at some point, right? I just didn’t realize…”

“Realize what?” Lowe asked when it was clear I wasn’t about to finish my sentence.

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