Page 72 of Fake Dates and Home Plates
He owes me no loyalty, but I think he’ll be truthful. He was kind enough to let me know my boyfriend was cheating on me. He’s always been kind to me.
“Did you know about the game?” I ask, but I already know the answer.
His head tilts back as he exhales a breath. “Yeah, I knew.”
I nod, confirming what I suspected. “Why did you tell me about Dakota?
Chase shrugs. “I was sick of it. No one deserves to be treated that way. Right after you left, I quit the fraternity. I was only in it because my dad wanted me to carry on as a legacy.”
I relax slightly. It makes me happy that he was able to get out. For a while, I’ve been worried I’d read him all wrong, that he was just as slimy as the rest of them.
It doesn’t change that he was part of it, though. I’m not sure what he was complicit in, but I’m certain his hands aren’t completely clean.
“If you want to start making things right, it’d help if you were willing to talk. Not right now; just if something were to come out, maybe you could help confirm the details.”
While I’m alluding to exposing the fraternity, I’m not trying to give away the plan.
Chase thinks it over before nodding, “I can do that, Harkin.”
Putting a hand on his shoulder, I squeeze. “I’ll see you around.”
As I’m walking away, he shouts my name, and I turn back to face him.
“You still with Barlowe?” Chase asks with his signature cocky smile.
I nod.
“Damn.”
I climb back into Lily’s car, ready for all the hell I’m about to let loose.
Chapter Thirty
Theo
The stands are packed for our match against Shoreline.
Because they are our biggest rival, students always show up big for a match against them. Tonight, though, there are no empty seats. A mix of blue and yellow clashes with a wave of purple and orange. Energy is vibrating through the air.
It’s the kind of game scouts travel in for, the one that gets broadcast beyond our little town bubble.
The initial pre-game ceremonies go off without a hitch, giving the impression it’s a normal baseball game.
Henley’s in the same seat I’ve reserved for the season, Sunny right beside her. Her cross country teammates are spread throughout the student section, ready for the signal.
Unfortunately for me, Dakota is the first at bat.
I crouch on my base, glove hovering but steady, my eyes locked on him. Right now, I need to focus. He’s a decent hitter, and I can’t play dirty. It’d ruin everything Henley has worked so hard for.
It’s taking everything for my teammates to hold back their desire to beat the shit out of him. I’m just hoping Bash can keep a clear head.
Lukas, crouched behind Dakota, sends him a signal. Bash shakes his head but nods to the second signal.
Strike.
We take a collective breath as Bash winds up again, exhaling when it sails through the air.
Dakota gets a hit off Bash’s curveball, running straight for me. He’s too late, though; his hit wasn’t strong, and it’s passed to me before he can touch the base.
