“I am glad he’s on our team,” cried Lorna, jumping up and down.
John and Chloe exchanged a conspiratorial look, an admission that neither of them cared about winning the game.
“I miss creativity being such an integral part of my life,” she told him. “With my job, I just don’t really lead a creative life right now.”
“It’s not all about your job,” he said, his expression thoughtful. “I know musicians who might as well be working on a factory line, then I know this forensic accountant who’s one of the most creative people out there. Creativity is just allowing your curiosity to bloom.”
“Okay, well, I miss being around people who say things like that,” she said, and he looked at the grass, embarrassed by the compliment. “It was you, wasn’t it? You were my Imp,” she said, feeling certain now.
He blushed, rubbed his stubble again. “Sorry, it was a childish game,” he muttered, his eyes flitting back to the rounders.
“It meant a great deal to me,” she said softly. “I had no idea you knew me so well back then.”
“I knew you liked mysteries,” he said, his gaze shifting across to her.
“Why did you never tell me?”
“Because it was awkward, with Sean. Because we stopped hanging out,” he said plainly, his expression closing off, “and then my dad died, and everything else felt trivial.”
“It never felt trivial to me,” she said, shifting her body toward him, her voice low, but now he wouldn’t meet her gaze. She lingered there for a moment, waiting, but his eyes stayed fixed on the game. A small knot of disappointment tightened in her chest, and she turned away too, biting the inside of her cheek.
All this time, she’d been so certain it was Sean. It made sense, on a surface level: they’d been talking about the imp rightbefore she lost her ring; he’d made reference to it often enough, in that arch tone he used. He’dwantedher to think it was him. And honestly, she hadn’t believed anyoneelsewould care enough to go to all that trouble. But now she saw it made more sense that it was John. Thoughtful, quiet John, who remembered things she didn’t realize she’d said. Who showed up, not with grand gestures, but with small, thoughtful ones: waiting to walk with her to rehearsals after dark, bringing her soup when she lost her voice, lending her books he knew she would like. But she’d never suspected, because the Imp’s notes had felt like love letters, and back then, John had never given any clue that he thought of her that way. Just imagining him laying that treasure hunt for her made her heart flutter, her watch pulsing pink on her wrist. But then the doubt returned. She’d read too much into it. It had just been a game—something trivial to him.
“Chloe—” John said, taking a step toward her, reaching for her arm, but she lifted them in the air, cheering for Rob, who was up to bat again. Another perfectthwack. The ball arced high and long, disappearing into the far trees. People clapped and whooped. Colin blew a wolf whistle. That was the third time. No—fourth. She watched Rob jog around the bases, relaxed, effortless. She tried to brush it off, but the feeling only grew. Rob hadn’t missed once. Not a single fumble. No misstep. Not even a mistimed swing.
Elaine clapped her hands. “Rob, you should be a professional!”
Oh God, what if he did that with every single ball? As soon as she’d had the thought, she watched it happen. Most of his team had been caught out or stumped out by now, so he wassoon up to bat again, then again. Each time Rob socked the ball. He failed to realize that this level of skill and accuracy wasn’t realistic.
“Way to outgun us,” said Sean, watching Rob run in bemusement.
“What is going on?” said John, watching Rob run around the bases. “Who hits like that, every time?”
Chloe didn’t answer. She was too busy trying to catch Rob’s attention. But still, Rob hadn’t once glanced her way—not even to share a smile or check in. He was fully absorbed, caught up in the game, each new round of cheers seeming to inflate him further. The deep fielders were flagging now, visibly wilting in the late afternoon sun, while Rob—now the only batsman left in—just kept swinging. Chloe scanned the park, as if someone else might step in. But of course, no one was going to.
“Rob, why don’t you let someone else have a turn?” she called out, but he didn’t take the hint.
“I am not out,” he said, as though Chloe weren’t aware of the rules. Then he reset his stance, ready to go again. She looked back at John, but he couldn’t help her.
“What is happening?” he asked, narrowing his eyes at her. “Why are you sweating?”
“I’m not sweating. Am I sweating?” she asked, reaching up to feel her brow.
“Like an Olympic coach whose athlete just got pulled aside for a random drug test,” John said, eyebrows lowering even farther.
Chloe looked back at Rob, all eager beaver, back on the batting square, bat ready to swing, eyes sparkling with anticipation. She felt the panic grow in her chest. If people discovered whatRob was, they would freak out. Worse, they’d think she was insane. She would be in trouble with Perfect Partners too. She vaguely recalled a clause in the contract about “minimizing repeat social interaction with non–device users.” She guessed that bringing Rob to this reunion wasn’tstrictlyadhering to those guidelines.
Now Rob was running again, heading toward second, on course to get his fifteenth rounder. Thinking quickly, she stuck her foot out just as he ran past. It worked—he tripped, flying several feet, before landing on the ground with athump, arms outstretched in front of him. She rushed over to him. “Oh no, I’m so sorry, honey,” she said loudly, then leaned down and hissed, “Stop being so good.”
“Sorry,” he said, blinking up at her. Then he twisted his neck from side to side, snapping out of whatever hyperfocused state he’d been locked in. Standing up, he brushed himself down, put on a smile. But when they both looked around, everyone was staring at them, open-mouthed.
“She tripped him,” Elaine cried, horrified. “I saw her trip him!”
“It was an accident,” Chloe said weakly.
“Chloe, we all saw you trip him,” Sean said, his whole face scrunched in disapproval.
“It’s fine, I’m fine,” Rob assured them, holding up his hands to show everyone how fine he was.
