Page 67 of Keep My Heart
He hugs me back, but then quickly lets me go. ‘Your turn.’
‘Any tips to share before I do this?’ I ask as I line up my ball.
‘Try to get it in the hole.’
I glance at him. ‘That’s what she said.’
He laughs. ‘Seriously?’
‘What? It was right there. I had to.’ I hit the ball, but with way too much force. It flies up in the air and hits Nick in the face.
‘Okay, maybe this was a bad idea,’ he says, rubbing his cheek where the ball hit.
I run up to him. ‘Oh my God, I’m so sorry. Let me see.’ I take his hand from his face and see the red mark the ball left behind. ‘We should go get some ice.’
‘Yeah, and maybe hit the emergency room.’
‘It’s that bad?’ I grab his arm. ‘Nick, I am so sorry. Let’s go!’
He smiles. ‘I’m joking. I’m fine.’ He picks up the ball and hands it to me. ‘Here. Try again.’
‘Are you really okay?’
‘Yes. It didn’t even hurt. When you grow up with three brothers and on a farm with dangerous equipment, getting hit with a golf ball is nothing.’
I put the ball in place and hit it so softly it barely moves.
‘Do it harder,’ Nick says.
‘That’s what—never mind.’
Nick laughs. ‘I didn’t know you had such a dirty mind.’
‘I don’t. I swear.’ I hit the ball again and this time it actually stays on the course and goes over the tiny hill. ‘It’s this music from high school. It’s making me act like a teenager again.’
‘These are some good songs,’ he says as another one starts to play.
‘Chris hated this one. He didn’t like any of the ones I liked. We had opposite tastes in music.’ I tap the ball into the hole. ‘I did it! And it only took four tries.’
‘I’m not keeping score. We’re just here to have fun.’ He moves to the next hole, which has a fish statue sticking out of some concrete painted blue to look like water.
‘You think Chris will come to the reunion?’ Nick asks as he hits his ball.
‘No. He’s going to San Diego next weekend. He has a meeting with some guy for another one of his business investments.’ Nick moves out of the way as I step up to the tee-off area. ‘Why do you ask?’
‘I just wondered.’
I hit the ball, but it only moves a few feet. ‘You still don’t think you’ll go?’
‘Probably not.’ He taps his ball in the hole. ‘How about you?’
‘I got a ticket, but I haven’t decided if I’ll go.’ I pass in front of him as I hit my next shot and get a whiff of his cologne. God, he smells good. Good thing I’m not drinking or I’d lose all control and kiss him.
‘If you decide to go, will you go with Diane?’
‘She’s going with Tom, but I’ll see her there. Why? Do you know someone who would go with me?’
I wish he’d say him, but he won’t.
