was more trusting.
“It is smart. But I miss him when he’s gone,” Melissa said, and Cassie pretended to throw up. “Oh, please, you’re one to talk.”
“I know; I know.” Cassie waved Melissa away as the announcer’s voice broke through the hum of the crowd and our conversation.
He ran through the lineup for the visiting team before music started blaring, and he introduced our players. The crowd went wild. I’d been to a few games before, but I swore that it was louder today than it had ever been.
As each name was announced, the high-pitched squealing and shouts from girls filled the air. But none compared to the sound of the screaming and cheers that could be heard when they announced Chance’s name in the lineup. The entire stadium erupted, and I added to it, cupping my hands around my mouth as I yelled for my man. I felt nothing but pride as I watched him strut out onto the field in his catcher’s gear with his helmet in his hand. He stood behind home plate, and looking at him from behind was a sight to behold. I couldn’t stop staring. He must have sensed it because he glanced behind himself and gave me a grin that made my entire body melt. At least, I hoped that smile was for me; otherwise, I was about to feel like the world’s biggest idiot.
“He never looks in the stands,” his mom said with a wicked grin. “He likes you,” she teased, and I felt giddy inside.
We stopped talking as the national anthem played, and the crowd sang along. And just like that, the game started, and the three teenage girls reappeared, carrying more food than I knew they could eat.
“Did you buy one of everything?” I asked Jacey as she sat down next to me.
“Pretty much.” She shrugged before shoving a cheese-covered chip into her mouth. “Want one?”
“Hell yes, I want one,” I said before taking the chip with the most cheese on it and eating it. “Thank you,” I tried to say, and she laughed.
Everyone seemed to be invested in the game while I was solely invested in Chance. He was the only one on the field I cared about, so my eyes stayed firmly glued to his body and actions. Every once in a while, I’d get lost in a fantasy, remembering what those hands could do to me and how they made me feel. I wanted to be the baseball every time he gripped it, his fingers rolling and moving it around like it was an extension of him. He commanded that ball the same way he commanded my body. Knowing what he looked like underneath all that gear was a blessing, and I was definitely blessed. I couldn’t wait to get him home later.
“Right, Danika?”
Shaking my head, I looked at Cassie, completely flustered and embarrassed. “I’m sorry, what?”
She laughed. “I said the girls should be fine, walking around campus right now, don’t you think?”
“Oh yeah. It’s still light out. I’d just make sure they came back here before it got dark.”
“That’s what I was thinking too,” she said before leaning over me and giving Jacey instructions and demands.
The three teenagers stood up and practically skipped away, and Melissa jumped down and took Jacey’s seat.
“Do you want to switch with me?” I asked, assuming that she’d want to be next to Cassie.
“No, you’re fine. I’ll have to move once Jacey gets back anyway. Heaven forbid she be far away from her brother,” Melissa said.
I looked at Cassie. “Is that true? I feel like she doesn’t want to be here.”
“She doesn’t,” Cassie said. “But when she is here, she has to be closest to him. I don’t know why. It’s just her thing. She’s always been that way.”
“That’s kinda sweet.”
“I heard that you and my nephew broke up. What happened?” Melissa asked, and I was a little taken aback.
“Melissa! Don’t listen to her, Danika. She’s nosy,” Cassie pretended to chastise her.
Melissa threw her hands up. “What? I can’t ask her what happened, but I can ask you? That doesn’t seem fair.” I opened my mouth to respond, but Melissa stopped me. “I already know anyway. Sorry. But I didn’t know you two had worked it out. Are you happy?”
I nodded. “Yes. Very. I think we’ll be okay,” I said as I blew out a small breath.
She threw her arm around me and pulled me close. “I think you will be too. I like you for him. And I don’t like anyone