Rounding Third - Michelle Lynn Page 0,10
shorter than me. He has dark skin and hair with brown eyes, fearful at the moment.
“Get her out of here, Ty,” the purple-haired girl says with confidence, like she didn’t just find her boyfriend cheating on her.
“Listen, Jen—”
I recognize the name. He is Tyler Saucedo, our shortstop.
He steps closer, and I catch a glimpse of Purple Hair breezing by me.
“Would you like me to hit her again?”
Tyler puts his hands in the air to calm the girl down. “Go in the room.”
Ella and I share a look of shock when the girl actually listens. Once she’s in the room, she tosses Jen’s shirt out the door and it lands on her face.
Scurrying, Jen puts it on, and after she’s covered, Ella steps away from her.
“Listen, we broke up last week. I’m not sure why she’s here. I’m going to talk to her, and then I’ll text you,” Tyler says to Jen.
She looks up at him with soft eyes until he moves to touch her.
“Go to hell, Ty.” She turns to the stairs and runs down them with Ella on her heels.
Tyler watches her until she disappears around the corner. He’s sulking back to his room when he catches sight of me. “Hey, man.” He quickly stops, and he must register who I am. “Third base?” He tilts his head up in the air in question.
“Yeah. Shortstop?”
“Yeah. You know Ella, right?” A glint of something flashes in his eyes.
“Yeah. From back in high school.”
“That’s what Brax told me. Anyway, can you walk them home?” There’s an honest concern for Jen’s well-being in his sunken demeanor.
“Yeah.” I move toward the staircase.
“Hey.” He walks over to me and holds his hand out. “Welcome to the team.”
I smile and shake his hand. “Thanks.”
We separate quickly, me going down the stairs and him walking to his room.
The girls are already at the corner before I catch up to them. Jen’s got a bottle of vodka swinging back and forth in her right hand while Ella’s arm is wrapped tightly around her shoulders.
“He’s a baseball player—player being the key word,” Ella says.
I bust out with a laugh. She whips around, a long strand of brown hair sticking to her glossed lips. My guess is, she just put some on because I would have had a hard time controlling myself if her lips looked that good before. Not that her lips could look unkissable.
“Why are you here?” she asks, her eyes throwing daggers faster than I can ward them off.
I guess, when one guy is a dick, we all are.
“Tyler asked me to walk you home,” I half-lie. I was going to anyway, but this way, I don’t appear too needy.
“What does he care?” Jen asks with tear-stained cheeks.
Upon meeting her, I assumed she was a diamond chaser, but I was wrong. She must honestly like Tyler, or the alcohol has turned her into a scorned drama queen. Alcohol has the same effect on me, that’s why I never allowed myself to consume too much after freshman year.
“I can’t answer that. I met the guy five minutes ago, but he asked, and I’m happy to oblige.” I come alongside Ella and take a swig of the vodka to show that I’m one of them.
“Of course you are. You want in Ella’s pants,” Jen remarks. But then she links her arm with mine, leaning close enough that I can smell Tyler’s cologne. “So, mystery man, what’s your story?”
“Um…”
Loaded question.
“He’s known Brax and me since high school,” Ella intercepts.
“I got that.” Jen invades my personal space again. “You can tell me later when she’s not around.”
Ella circles to the other side of Jen as the walk continues because Jen’s starting to weave. At one point, I’m holding all her weight.
We reach their apartment, which is only five blocks away from The Ballpark. It’s off Main Street where all the bars and restaurants are located, whereas the baseball house is on Athlete Row—two streets of rented houses, each one filled with Ridgemont athletes. Talk about testosterone overload.
“You got her?” Ella asks.
Jen’s whole weight rests in my arms. Reaching under her legs, I pick her up, bride-style, to make it easier on the both of us.
Ella opens up the door and flicks on the lights.
I enter a part of Ella’s new life and follow her into what I assume is Jen’s room. Clothes are scattered on the bed, but Ella lifts the comforter, resulting in the pile of clothes falling to the floor.
“I’ll be right out. I’m going to undress her