Page 27 of The Perfect Game

Anger surged. “She’s a good girl, Dad. She just needs someone to take the time for her. Her parents hardly come to support her in anything.”Like you, Dad, I wanted to say.

After that, the ride was silent except for Daniel’s karaoke. The more I thought about the conversation, I wanted to hit something, which was unlike me. My dad was just like Serena’s parents, only coming when it was convenient for him and not caring about my feelings.

I kept my mouth shut the rest of the drive, watching out the window to calm the irritation bubbling up because of him. I was going on a date with Serena Gates in two days, and he wasn’t going to interfere with that.

Sixteen

Serena

It had taken a while to get to sleep the night after the baseball game. I was more excited than ever for our date Monday, and I kept coming up with scenarios of what we’d do.

The more I thought about it, I’d never actually been asked out by anyone. Not on a real date, anyway. James had asked me to come chill at his house, hoping for a makeout session probably. That’s where I’d gone wrong. I’d picked the guys who would rather not talk. Now, I’d never been more relieved that kissing had been the only thing I’d done.

Ben’s text Monday afternoon said to dress comfortably, so I picked out a pair of Bermuda shorts and a tank top with sparkly beads. It was one of my mother’s creations, and I hoped to make it out of the house before she saw me wearing it. Otherwise, she’d hound me for the next two weeks when I walked around in exercise shorts and t-shirts.

I grabbed a jacket and headed downstairs, my heartbeat pumping in my throat.

The doorbell rang, and for once, I was glad my parents weren’t around for introductions, even though they’d met Ben the night he’d brought me home from therapy.

I opened the door and grinned. He was dressed in jeans and a button-up plaid shirt. It was the first time I’d ever seen him without a ballcap on and with his hair done. I was tempted to reach up and kiss him.

At the baseball game, we’d been so close when I hugged him, and I thought he was going to kiss me. I’d felt a little hurt when he didn’t, but then seeing all the people around us, I didn’t want to have an audience for a first kiss with him.

“You clean up well,” I said, stepping through the door and turning to lock the deadbolt.

When I turned around, Ben was smiling. “You look amazing.”

I did a little curtsy and laughed. “Okay, Benny, where are we off to?” Using the nickname his brother called him caused him to pause, and I worried I’d said something wrong. But then the corners of his mouth turned up, and the air rushed back to my lungs.

I walked next to him for a few strides until we came to the several stairs to the driveway. Without warning, he grabbed my hand, his focus on something straight ahead, like it had taken all the courage he possessed to do it. He steadied me going down the stairs. John had let me out of the large boot at the last appointment, and I had relished that first drive in my little car.

“We’re going on a picnic.” He stole a glance at me and then focused back on the stairs.

“A picnic?” Surprised, I looked at him for more details. I must have been expecting something more than that.

His face fell a bit, and I tried to force some more enthusiasm. “That sounds like fun.”

He opened the door to a newer car than his truck. “Did you get a new car?”

Shaking his head, he chuckled. “I wish. My mom let me borrow hers.”

“I like it. Kind of sporty but still functional.” A lot more realistic than driving around in a Lamborghini like my dad.

“Yeah, she’s never been a minivan-driving soccer mom, so this has been her ride for the last eight years or so.”

“Before Daniel, huh?”

Ben turned to me, his eyes studying me before he shifted into drive. “How’d you know that?”

“I just guessed. Daniel is seven, right?”

He nodded and turned to reverse out of my driveway. “My dad bought my mom this car after the last IVF treatment failed. Six weeks later, she was pregnant with Daniel. I think she’s afraid to trade it in because of all it meant to her during that time.”

“I’ve been on the side of receiving a car to cheer me up, and while I want to say it didn’t help, it definitely did. And now that I can drive again, I have my freedom back.” Freedom from what, I wasn’t really sure. It wasn’t like my parents kept a tight grip on my day-to-day life.

Ben drove through several of the major streets, and we weren’t going in the direction of any parks.

“Are you sure we’re going on a picnic? Didn’t you just pass Pecan Park?” I pointed behind me, hoping he’d give me a little hint of where we were heading.

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