Page 11 of Honeysuckle
“First base, third base, left field, and shortstop will all be blindfolded for the game's duration.”
Everyone had something to argue about the moment the words left my mouth, but Josh narrowed his eyes at me, silently questioning the order.
“You’ll have to rely on each other to catch, hit, and throw the ball,” I explained. “Communication is our sharpest tool on the field, and as of right now, some of you don’t understand that. So until you do, we play like this.”
“This is going to get someone hurt,” Jensen grumbled.
“Good thing we’ve got Doc.” I smiled at them. I walked to the benches, digging around in one of the equipment bags until I got my hands on some of the bandanas we kept inside to hand out to fans.
“You sure they aren’t going to blow up on each other?” Ella asked as I straightened out.
“I’m counting on it.” I winked at her and jogged back to the field, handing each team some blindfolds. “Ella, Arlo, and Nick will be umps. Their word is law. You start arguing you’re on laundry for the week.”
Cael’s eyes caught mine for a second before he covered the bright blue with a sigh. “Atta boy.” I clapped a hand to the back of his head and led him to the batter's box. “Shirts, you’re in the field first.”
“What, no coin toss?” Josh said with a forced grin, making me want to slap the expression off his smug face.
“You burned your one favor, Logan. Mound. Now.” I waved him off and stood back. Players were guiding their blindfolded teammates to their positions, and eventually, everyone was ready to go.
“Play ball,” Arlo barked out.
“Alright,” Josh sighed, rolling the ball in his hand. “Cody,” he said, “I’m going to count to three and throw the ball. Underhand, softball,” he described.
“Softball?” Cael adjusted his stance. “...alright.”
“Just swing,” Josh said.
Everyone could hear Cael trying to get the timing right on a softball pitch as Josh counted out loud and released the ball. Everyone fell silent and the sound of the bat cutting through the air with one smooth swoosh echoed through the treetops.
“Strike one.” Arlo’s voice was harsh compared to the silence.
“Go again,” Cael said, pinning his shoulders back, determined to hit his mark. Ella’s brows pinched together from behind second base, watching Cael carefully to ensure he didn’t hurt himself. “Logan, throw the ball.” Cael whistled into the air.
LOGAN
IcountedCaeldownagain,letting the ball leave my fingers in a soft, easy arch. Everyone was on edge, but for the moment it wasn’t because of me, and it was a small mercy. His count was better this time, and the bat made sloppy contact with the ball, sending it soaring toward the outfield.
Turning on my heel, I realized no one was talking, “The balls dropping left field!”
No one responded, and the ball was inches from cracking Van in the face.
“Mitchell!” I barked when no one opened their mouths to help. “Put your glove up!”
Thankfully, the tree listened—Van raised his glove just in time... for it to clip off and fall into the center fielder's hands.
“Throw to first!” Van snapped, unable to see what was happening.
“Baker!” I snapped, and he juggled the ball in his fingers before rifling it as hard as he could toward the first basemen. I didn’t know the kid, some second-string player who never saw the field unless Tucker was tired, but he wasn’t paying attention.
“Hey!” I called out.I didn’t know his name.Fuck.
Cael was moving too fast—collision was inevitable.
“First, put your fucking glove up!” I yelled, looking around for an ounce of help from the second baseman standing behind me, but he just shrugged.
I fucking hate these guys.
I opened my mouth to order another instruction, but it was too late. The message wasn’t relayed fast enough, and Cael took the ball to the shoulder with a heavy slap, knocking him back a step with a string of curse words.
