Page 22 of Small Town Frenzy
“Walk it off?” Fake sympathy shapes her expression, but a grin wins out. “I get it.”
I level a glare at her. “Funny.”
“I thought so.”
She’s always good for some laughs, but her jokes are on point today. Or maybe it’s me being sloppy with my slips when it comes to him. He’s thrown me off-kilter, messed with my focus, and it shows.
Returning my gaze to the field, I dart my eyes from one place to the next with no luck finding him. I could be disappointed, but as air returns to my lungs, I’m grateful for the reprieve. He may not play pro ball anymore, but he’s every bit of a professional at getting a reaction out of me. Good or bad.
Savvy nudges me with her elbow and then whispers, “He’s in the dugout.”
Not ready to admit that I’m starting to see the man a little differently since he ironed a few things out between us. Namely, I’m not the enemy, stalker, or fan he made me out to be in the beginning. Since my righteous indignation has started to subside, I realize I might have been a bit hard on him. Maybe,just maybe, he’s not as bad as I first thought he was.
It’s too soon to decide.
There’s always a chance he’ll open his mouth again . . .
CHAPTER 9
Cricket
Seven innings in. . .
My enthusiasm has wanedas the other team scores again. “What the hell?” I grumble. Standing up, I cup my mouth and shout, “Come on, Armadillos.” My shouting may not change the trajectory of the game, but it feels good to release some of my pent-up frustration.
Maybe I should be yelling at the man on third base since he hasn’t hit that much-needed homer he promised me, and it would be really nice about now. Or he could catch a ball and take a few players out for me instead.If only one would fly his way.
“The money raised still gets divided between the two schools,” Savvy says like watching these pro and former pro ballplayers doesn’t mean as much.
“We worked hard bringing these players together. Is it wrong to want our team to win?”
“No. Just making sure you knew.”
She knows I know. I glance at her. Her cheeks are pinker as the heat kicks in during the hottest hours of the day. A hat shields her eyes from the sun as she stares at the field in the distance, but it’s her bouncing knee that makes me wonder why she’s acting out of character, even for her. “Everything alright, Sav?”
Peeking at me briefly, she stops bouncing her knee. “Blake is going to be in a pissy mood if they lose.” She leans forward on a heavy breath, resting her arms on her legs as if that will keep the nerves abated. Looking over at me again, she says, “That means no going to that new pizza place in Peachtree Pass.” Her tone has changed, resolve taking over, and a string of disappointment runs through her words. It's in direct opposition to her usually chipper tone.
Wrapping my arm around her back, I lean in. “Talk to me.”
“It’s just that . . .” She exhales, shaking her head. “It’s hard to date a pro athlete. I know you have in the past.”
“Years ago and it wasn’t serious, so my situation is different. You’re engaged to Blake.”
“He’s playing out of Austin right now, but it’s looking like he might be called up for the majors.”
“Ah.” I sit up, grabbing my bottle of water to pick at the label. “You might leave.” Not a question but I know she hears it in my voice.
“I don’t know what I’ll do. It’s not a conversation he wants to have at this time.”
I don’t like that, which is not something I should admit to her. It would make her feel defensive, and that’s the last thing I want my cousin to be with me. “What are your thoughts?”
That prompts half a grin out of her. “Is it wrong to want to know which city first?”
I laugh. Lightly, but it is funny. “I’d feel the same.”
She nods with a smile growing on her face. “I knew you’d understand.”
“I’m always here for you and forever team Savvy.”
