Page 98 of Meet Me Under the Lights

Chad’s smug face turned to stone. “Did you say something, TJ?”

TJ stood straighter and for one wonderful moment, I thought I’d get to see Chad Dupont get his ass kicked, but sadly Ms. Gratton stepped in. “Oh, I do love baseball. America’s pastime, right boys?” She clicked her tongue. “What I don’t love are surprises. I’m a fan of tradition, you see.”

Now it was Eliza’s turn to squeeze my hand.

“I’m not sure I follow you,” I said.

“Fairfield has always had one team. One team for our small town to be proud of. One team that has always represented the best interests in Fairfield.” Ms. Gratton took a step closer to me. Her heavy perfume made my nose itch. “What will happen to our great town if new management takes over? What kinds of people may move here then, I wonder?”

“What kinds of people”? “I think my family would do a damn good job at the helm, ma’am.” Several people near us stopped talking. An older couple gasped.

What?

Did I speak too loudly?

Were you not supposed to curse at these things?

Eliza released my hand and leaned in closer to Ms. Gratton. “What he meant to say was—”

“Exactly what I said.” I downed the rest of my glass and slammed it on the empty cookie plate. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I forgot something in my truck.”

Screw this. And screw all these fancy-ass people with their fancy hats and fancy drinks.

I stepped around Ms. Gratton and stormed toward the gate that led to the front yard, but a strong hand grabbed my elbow.

“Enjoying yourself, Reed?” Mr. Crowley held a shorter glass with something that smelled a lot stronger than lemonade.

“Absolutely.” I stared past him toward my escape. Only ten feet away. So close to freedom. “I just wanted to grab something from my truck.”

Like one fucking moment of peace and quiet, for starters.

But Mr. Crowley put a heavy arm around my shoulder.

“Before you head that way, I’d love to introduce you to the governor.”

“I’m sorry, did you say the governor? She’s here?” Was the president swinging by too?

“She and the senator are by the band. Come with me.” He started steering me toward the small group near the musicians, and every part of me began to sweat. I didn’t come here to rub elbows with the fucking governor and a bunch of politicians. Come to think of it, why the hell did I come here?