The Pass (Smart Jocks #5) - Rebecca Jenshak Page 0,46
“Get ready. I’ll tell you when.”
Letting out a deep breath, another ball flies by while I prepare.
“This one’s yours, babe. You got this.”
I nod. His words light up something inside of me that my own pep talk didn’t. The ball appears along with the sound the machine makes as it releases each pitch.
“Now,” Tanner says.
It feels too early. I want to hold back, but my body is more cooperative than my brain. I swing, connecting with the ball and sending it sailing straight down the middle. A zap of pride and joy shoots through me just like when I make a perfect serve in volleyball. There’s no other feeling like it.
I turn to him while practically bouncing with excitement. “I hit it!”
“I saw.”
“Like really hit it.”
His blue eyes are twinkling with laughter, but he holds it in. I go to hug him and forget about all the accessories. My helmet bangs against his and I nearly get him in the groin with the end of the bat.
“Oops, sorry.” I step back but I’m still giddy. “That is amazing. I want to do it again.”
We move from the machine to an area where Tanner can pitch to me. He stands behind a safety screen per the rules, but it’s almost laughable because I don’t stand a chance of hitting anything he sends my way. And actually I don’t mind. Not much.
He looks too good to complain. He’s carefree and happy.
“All right. This one is for you.”
“What were the last twenty?”
He holds the ball up. “Me showing off for my date.”
He throws a couple much slower pitches until I get a few good hits. Back outside of the cages, we return our bats and helmets.
“Now what?” I ask.
“Your pick.”
We wander past the cages. The different games are set up in a semicircle that arcs around the parking lot.
“I feel like I should get credit since they do have mini golf here,” I point out as we pass the course with bright colored obstacles and fun water hazards.
“I avoided anything where we had to play against one another for a reason. Tell me, when you’ve gone on dates with guys what did they say when they saw sweet, beautiful Sydney turn into the gold-medal monster?”
“I may have played it down. It wasn’t easy.”
Chuckling, he squeezes my hand. “You don’t have to hide anything from me.”
My heart rate speeds up and my stomach flips. “What about you? Do you let girls win on dates?”
He doesn’t answer right away and looks a little guilty.
“You totally have!” I smack his arm playfully. “I did not think you were the type. You’ve never let me win anything.”
“You’re different. I’ve never dated anyone like you.”
“I don’t know how to respond to that. I can’t tell if that’s a compliment or if I should be worried.”
“Definitely a compliment.”
We make a complete circle before deciding on bumper boats and get in the line to wait our turn.
“Did you talk to your sister?” I lean back against the metal railing.
“Yeah, I called her while you were getting ready.” Nothing about his body language suggests she said anything about our awkward encounter.
“Everything good?”
“She just wanted to talk about the Fourth. She and her friend Corinne are coming down and it sounds like a few of her teammates might too. We’re going to have quite a houseful.”
“I never really asked, but is it cool that I’m here crashing your summer plans?”
“I invited you, remember?” One brow quirks up.
“I know, but doesn’t your family take issue with some freeloader they’ve never met staying at their fabulous lake house all summer?”
“No.” He steps forward as the line moves. “Tara never comes without Corinne or one of her other friends. The lake is much more fun when you can enjoy it with other people.”
“I’m nervous about meeting her,” I admit.
“Don’t be. Aside from being a giant pain in my ass, she’s cool. You two will get along.”
He’s right. I don’t know why I’m letting one weird phone call freak me out. I’m excited to finally meet his sister, and if she’s even half as amazing as Tanner, I know I’ll like her just fine.
18
Tanner
“Got you two a present.” Jonah tosses a heart-shaped raft into the pool. It has two hearts and they’re connected in the middle. He’s got a smug look on his face and his eyes crinkle up at the corners with humor.
“Jokes on you. This thing is baller,” I say as I heft myself up onto the bigger heart.