Out of My League - Sarah Sutton Page 0,34

organized an after-party down at the bay after the game. There’s going to be a volleyball tournament and everything. I’m pretty sure Walsh is even signed up.”

“Oh, right,” I found myself saying as a player stepped up to bat. “The after-party.”

The after-party no one told me about, down at the bay by the ocean. What, did that just elude Mr. Perfect’s brain, inviting his girlfriend to a party where there’d be people to show off to?

He wasn’t out on the field to witness my death glare. He was safely hidden by the dugout’s walls.

Taylor steadied himself for his pitch, taking time dragging his foot through the gravel, trying to intimidate the batter. He held his mitt up in front of him, stepping off to the side and leaning onto his back foot.

Even though sitting next to Jewel was weird, being at a baseball game was weirder. Scott begged me to go ever since the season started, but I’d avoided the games like the plague. I think it was always because he played the good-girlfriend card. “Good girlfriends support their boyfriends” or “Good girlfriends do what their boyfriends ask.” When that card was pulled out, I did everything in my power to perform the opposite.

I found Scott in the outfield, and though he stood a distance from us, I saw that his eyes were in our direction. No doubt wondering what Jewel and I were doing sitting so close to each other. Wondering what we were saying. Good, I thought to him, drawing in a breath. I’ll put on a show then.

I plastered the friendliest expression on my face that I could muster. “Are you going after this?” I asked her. “We should hang out together at the bay. Watch the volleyball tournament together.”

“I’d love that! I have a blanket in the back of my car we can sit on.”

As the teams switched sides, the Royals stepping up to bat while the other team went into the outfield, I found myself a little unsure. Did Walsh even want me at that party at the bay? If he wanted me there, he’d have invited me. Right? Or was I overthinking this?

But honestly, what did I care about what he thought? If he didn’t want me there, too bad. I wasn’t going to base my actions off of him.

Besides, a party at the bay would be the perfect place for more inspiration for my article.

* * *

The baseball game ended with the Royals winning by a longshot. Jewel offered to drive me to the bay herself, but I told her that I would just wait for Walsh to come off the field. “I’ll see you at the bay,” she said, backing away from where I sat on the bleachers. “I’m going to go find Scott.”

“See you there,” I said, pulling my cell phone out from my purse, shooting Edith a quick text.

Me: We won.

Edith: Dang. Zach was right—shouldn’t have bet against them. You see him anywhere?

Before I had a chance to lift my gaze, a certain noise sounded right in my ear. “Psst.”

Jumping a mile, I turned my head to find Walsh leaning against the edge of the second-row bleacher, baseball cap brim low over his eyes, fully decked out in his baseball attire. Even though I hated it, the air punched from my lungs at the sight of his purple jersey and pants and the way they seemed to morph to his frame so perfectly. As if it’d been tailored for him. And the way his golden hair tucked out from underneath his cap, strands catching by his eyes, just made me…

Focus. “Hey.” I grabbed nonchalance by the ankles and forced it to be my best friend. “You did great today. Really gave them a run for their money.”

Walsh snorted, shoving to sit beside me in the first row, leaning his elbows onto his knees. “Yeah, definitely.”

One of the benefits of Walsh not playing today meant he wasn’t sweaty—which meant he didn’t stink. I looked up at his profile since he was looking away from me, trying to discern any emotion. Dirt smudged one of his sharp, cheekbones and his jersey was untucked from his pants. The half-smile covering his face was luminous, but his eyes were tired.

“Why didn’t you play?” I asked. “Why didn’t you pitch?”

Walsh opened his mouth to speak, but someone beat him to the punch.

“Hey, you guys going to the bay?” Zach asked as he walked up to us with his bat bag slung over his shoulder, his