Page 61 of The Double Play

I lean against the countertop and take a sip of my coffee. I can practically feel Hazel’s desire to say something hanging in the air. Instead of prompting her though, I give her space to talk.

“You said you made a decision,” she blurts and turns toward me. Her face is flushed. I’d assume it was from being near the heat of the stove if not for the adorably flustered expression she’s wearing.

“Did I?” I tease.

She gives me an exasperated look. I smile behind the rim of my coffee cup.

“Emmett, I’m spiraling over here.” She laughs, but I can tell her words aren’t too far off from the truth. “I know you said we’d work through it today and I don’t want to rush you, but I don’t know how to be, especially in front of other people.”

I set my mug down and hold out a hand. She takes it, letting me pull her to my chest. Immediately, she melts against me. I kiss the crown of her head. She lets out a sigh.

“This doesn’t solve things,” she says into my shirt.

I wrap my arms around her. “No, but it’s a nice way to be while we talk.” I rub a hand up and down her back. “Let’s start with the easiest people first. June loves you and has wanted me to have someone like you since she saw my friends start dating and getting married.”

“So we tell her we’re dating?” she asks.

“If you’d like, yes. And you can tell your sister the same if you feel ready to.”

Hazel tilts her head back to look up at me. “That means we’re dating, then.”

Her green eyes swim with questions. I realize I must not have made myself clear enough. In an effort to let her control the pace, I left her confused. I kiss the corner of her mouth.

“I’d like to be yours,” I say in a low voice. “And for you to be mine. If that means we’re dating, then that’s what we’ll tell everyone.”

I dip my chin and trace her cheekbone with the tip of my nose. She shivers in my arms.

“Is that what you want, Wildflower?”

She nods, then whispers, “Yes.”

“Good. Now, what else is bothering your beautiful mind?”

I trail my lips from her jaw to the spot below her ear. She draws in a shuddery breath.

“Not much of anything when you do that.”

My lips stretch into a satisfied grin. She smells extra sweet this morning.Edible. I kiss her, tasting her soft skin. Her fingers tangle in the fabric of my t-shirt.

The sound of little feet slapping against hardwood floors has Hazel tearing away from me. A bright red blush climbs her neck. She covers the spot below her ear as if I’ve left a mark.

“I washed my hands three and a half times!” June says as she skips into the kitchen. She also looks to have changed from her pajamas into a pink princess dress, complete with a tiara and a beaded necklace.

“Your hands must be very clean,” Hazel says, sounding off-kilter.

I smirk at her. She shoots me an admonishing look, but she’s smiling as she does.

“Can we watch TV with breakfast?” June asks as she reaches for a plate that Hazel already set on the counter. “I want to see if Uncle Miles won his game.”

I try to stay updated on all of my friends’ tournaments and games, but June might rival my dedication. She’s always asking when the next one is and if she can watch. She mostly just looks to see if they won, then gets bored with the rest, but I indulge her. The guys–and their wives–all love when she brings it up over the phone or in person.

“Sure, I’ll look up the tournament for you,” Hazel replies.

“Thank you,” June says sweetly as she piles a stack of pancakes on her plate.

Hazel helps her with the syrup and tells her to go to the living room and she’ll bring her milk in a minute. June walks out, and Hazel’s glancing up at me with trepidation once more.

“June asking about TV reminded me. What are you going to do about the media?”

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