stuff, and Allensville Public High just hired a new coach—one with Division One coaching experience. It means I’m sleeping on the couch at Zack’s while my parents sell our place in New Mexico. Once they do, though, we’ll move into a rental together—and I’ll have a bed that doesn’t fold up during the day.
“I don’t really know June very well,” I mention as we pull up to the Mabee house. We only live two blocks from them, so the drive was easy.
“Yeah, but you know Lucas, so it’s all good,” Zack reassures.
He gets out of the car with an actual skip in his step, still cradling the six-pack of micro beers he stole from his dad.
I let myself enjoy the quiet of the car for one more breath. He’s right. I’ve gotten to know Lucas pretty well. And the D’Angelo twins. They’re all pretty decent athletes, and it’s nice to mess around and do things with a group of guys who aren’t all about baseball. I gel with Tory D’Angelo the most. He’s got plans to play basketball in college, so he gets my constant focus. I swear, as much as my cousin Zack says he wants to play college ball, he doesn’t seem to have the obsessive passion that I think it takes.
My cousin raps on the window, tired of waiting on me, so I get out and put on my best happy-to-be-here face.
It’s a strange collection of people inside. Someone who clearly is someone’s father opens the door for us, and he eyes the beer in Zack’s hand as we enter.
“Maybe we shouldn’t have brought beer,” I whisper to my cousin, but he ignores me, weaving through the house and into the garage, where an extra refrigerator is stuffed with drinks. He pulls a beer out and hands it to me, taking one for himself, too. I arch a brow, not sure this is allowed.
“It’s fine. June said as long as we don’t make it obvious around the adults, we’re good to go.” Zack pops the cap off and takes a swig, gesturing for me to do the same. I do, but only because I think drinking half of this beer might settle the knots in my chest. Maybe I’m not so great at social things.
We weave through the house to the back yard where I find more faces I recognize. My shoulders relax a little when I spot Lucas sitting near the fire pit with space next to him. I nod toward him, letting Zack know where he can find me, and head toward the flames. I’m beat to the open seat by two seconds when Lucas’s girlfriend, June, slips in. I’m about to bail when an absolute goddess steps into the space behind them.
I don’t know a lot of people in town or at school, but how I’ve missed this face, I have no idea. She’s tall, maybe only an inch or two shorter than my six-foot-three, and her long blonde hair looks like molten gold as she stands near the fire. I can’t tell if her eyes are gray or blue, but I need to get closer to settle the debate in my head. She’s supermodel hot, but playing it down in a pair of baggy jeans and an old baseball jersey worn over a hoodie to keep her warm. I bet her dressed-down look keeps her under the radar. Most of the fucking douchebags at this school only want to keep score and see who can date the hot girl first. Lucky for me, though, she’s shown up here tonight dressed for the part of exactly my type.
“Jeter fan, huh?” I say, stepping up next to her and tugging on her jersey sleeve.
A short laugh puffs from her naturally pink lips while she takes a small sip from her cup. I think she’s actually drinking soda, so I casually set my beer on the small patio table behind me.
“Yankee’s fan. Jeter’s all right,” she says, a wry smile on her mouth. I hold her stare for a full breath, partly to challenge her and also so I can get a good handle on the color of her eyes. Blue, and maybe a little green too.
I match her smirk with one of my own, letting it crawl up into my cheeks before glancing down at the small patch emblazoned on the right sleeve of the jersey. This thing came from a game.