Cursive - By Phoebe Lane Page 0,6

of the things you asked me to store for you when you left. I really don't have any space for them at the new house, so I'm sending you a couple of boxes in the mail."

"That's fine. I'll just go through them and decide what to keep. I don't have space for storage right now."

"Well, if you didn't move around so much and would just come back home and do what you're supposed to do, then you wouldn't have that problem."

Wow, I really walked right into that one.

"Listen, Aislynn," Pam continued. "I realize you think you know what you're doing because of your degree and all that, but running away isn't the answer here."

Pam possessed a unique talent; she had always been capable of pushing all of her daughter’s buttons simultaneously without even having to put any effort into it. It was quite impressive to watch, actually. It was like a reflex for her—automatic and unforced.

"Mom, this conversation isn't going to end well, just like all the other times you've insisted on bringing this up. My decision to leave Texas was mine to make, and the only person who needs to understand why is me. And would you please not bring up my old job again?"

"I just miss you," Pam said, genuineness in her voice.

"Then just say that. I'd rather hear that."

"Uh oh. What's wrong with you?" Ellie asked, watching Aislynn walk into the apartment, furiously massaging her temples.

"I was just talking to my mom."

"Enough said. How was the gym?"

"It was fine. I'm glad I decided to call her on my way back from the gym, though. I might've been tempted to drown myself in the lap pool if I'd spoken to her on my way there."

"Same old Pam, I see. Are you going to have enough time to get ready for the game? We need to meet Evan in an hour."

"Yeah, I already showered at the gym. I just need to get dressed. Is Jace really coming with us?" Ellie nodded and smiled mischievously. "I know that face, Ellie. Please tell me you didn't make this into a date thing, 'cause my head already feels like it's about to explode and—"

"Relax. I never brought up the word 'date'. This is for Evan and me. You two attractive, intelligent, and very single people are just tagging along," she said defensively as Aislynn rolled her eyes and went to her room to change. "Such a wasted opportunity…" Ellie said under her breath.

"I heard that!"

"You realize you're going to be the only person wearing red in a sea of blue, right?" Ellie asked her as they approached the baseball park entrance, but Aislynn didn't even bother responding to her whining. "Come on, do you really need to wear your Rangers jersey?"

"Don't hate. A true Rangers fan is never ashamed to wear red, white, and blue. It's the American way," Aislynn said with a grin. "Besides, I'm not the only one who will stand out. Your new boyfriend and I match."

Ellie scanned the crowd of people waiting by the box office and found Evan wearing a Rangers jersey as well. Jace was with him, appropriately dressed in Padres colors.

God, he looks even more gorgeous today. How is that even possible?

"All right, I won't hate. But only because Evan looks really good in that shirt," Ellie conceded, as they approached the guys and exchanged their hellos. "Jace, what are we going to do with these two? They stand out in the crowd like bull's-eyes."

"How about a game of 'Where's Waldo?'" he suggested.

"Good one," Evan said sarcastically. "Andrus and Kinsler will get pumped up for victory when they see us proudly wearing their jerseys in enemy territory. This right here is a tactical move. You guys clearly don't get the game."

"Plus, we both look good in red," Aislynn added while winking at Ellie. "It highlights the undertones of color in our complexion."

"Yeah, what she said," Evan agreed.

"God, I'm going to need a beer," Ellie quipped.

The girls found their seats, which were right across from first base, while the guys took care of food and drinks. As Evan spent some time explaining details of the game to Ellie before the first pitch, Aislynn tried to concentrate on everything non-Jace. He was making it incredibly difficult for her.

If I could only have a little taste of that mouth, she thought as the tension started to build deep inside her. And there was plenty of tension, as in the sexual kind.

God, it's been way too long since I’ve—

Jace's