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Scott wraps his arm around me and walks me to the fire they have going.
I turn to look over my shoulder at Matthew, who’s shaking his head as he shuts his door.
All of our friends have had sex, but we haven’t. The fact that we’ve been together the longest isn’t lost on anyone either. Matthew doesn’t pressure me when we’re alone, but I hate that he gets shit from his friends about it.
I walk up to the circle and see it’s just the guys so far. “Where’s everyone else?” I ask, looking around.
Tony shrugs. “Just us tonight.” Then, he points at me. “Well, and you, but you don’t count.”
Matthew wraps his arms around me from the back. “She always counts.”
Tony rolls his eyes. “You know what I mean.”
I’ve always been more of a tomboy, and these guys are just as much my friends as they are Matthew’s. Yes, I have Ellie and Leah, who are my best girlfriends, but I’ve been in this group since we were all in fifth grade and I wanted to play kickball while the other girls wanted to walk around and gossip.
It wasn’t until sophomore year that Matthew and I realized there was more to us than just friends. When he leaned in and kissed me right here, out in the field, completely out of the blue, I knew the way I’d been feeling about him was real and I was done for. Of course, I had a crush on him, but I never thought he’d cross that line of friendship.
I run my hand over his and lean my head back against his chest, thinking about how I’m so glad he had the guts to do so.
A cool breeze washes over us, and he holds me tighter. A few snowflakes have fallen since we’ve been out here, and I know we’re going to get our first big snow of the season sometime soon.
Eric shakes visibly. “I’m so not ready for this winter. It’s too fucking cold here.”
Josh hits his arm. “You’ve lived here your entire life; I’d think you’d be used to it by now.”
He shakes his head as he takes a drink of the beer that I’m sure his dad gave him. “Exactly. I’m over it. Can’t wait to get to Florida to play. It will be a whole new world of girls in bikinis all year long.”
He and Scott clink beer bottles. “I hear you there.”
The two of them signed with Florida State to play baseball and are counting down the days until they leave Mason Creek.
“I’ll be just fine, staying in Montana, knowing I have you to keep me warm,” Matthew whispers in my ear.
I hug him tighter but don’t respond.
He’s committed to play baseball at University of Montana, which isn’t too far from here, and has said over and over again that nothing is going to change between us just because he’ll be at college and I’ll be staying here.
He’s asked me to come with him, but there’s no way my mom can afford college, and my dad is off living his new life, that he barely gives my mom enough money now as it is. I just haven’t had the heart to tell Matthew that yet.
“I’m glad we have the break now that it’s about to snow,” Tony says. “My arm needs all the rest I can get.”
Tony is our main pitcher and has been having elbow pain the last few months. Fall ball ended last week, so Matthew’s schedule is about to free up exponentially—for a few months at least.
Ever since these guys were ten years old, baseball has been their lives. I’ve enjoyed watching from the stands, but it’s nice when they get a break, especially toward the end of the season when it gets way too cold to sit in those stands.
Matthew leans down and whispers in my ear, “Let’s get out of here. We can have a better time by ourselves than we will hanging out with these guys.”
I lean against him and nod.
He grabs my hand and pulls me away. “Well, boys, it’s been fun, but we’re going to go have our own fun. By. Ourselves,” he clarifies, making sure someone doesn’t jump in his truck, wanting to tag along.
“Why? It’s not like anything’s going to happen,” Tony yells out.
I turn around and glare at him, and he yells back, “Love you though, Hannah.”
As Matthew opens the door for me, I see him flipping Tony off, and I laugh as I hop in and shut the door behind me.
Once Matthew jumps in and cranks the engine, he backs out of where he was and drives just a few miles down the road to a spot by the river, and he parks the truck, leaving the radio on.
