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Chapter 16
Troy watched as Alison stepped up to bat. She very seriously adopted her stance and perfected her grip, then eyed the pitcher with the height of concentration. He couldn’t help but smile. It wasn’t going to help if her track record was any indication. That bat wasn’t getting anywhere near that ball.
Still, he had to admire the focus with which she still approached every attempt, even when it was clear it would prove futile. She didn’t give up easily.
And then, when she struck out, instead of getting frustrated, she just laughed and gave him a genial, sheepish shrug. He’d said the same thing to her after every attempt. “You’ll get ’em next time, Slugger.”
They both knew it was a lie, but she still had the good grace to smile at him like she thought it might be true.
The first pitch sailed over the plate and was already in the catcher’s mitt before Alison even swung. Then, on the next pitch, she overcorrected that error and swung before the ball had even made it halfway to her. With the third, her timing was better, but her swing was almost six inches above the ball’s trajectory.
Well, he reasoned with a grin, at least she’s not making the same mistake over and over. And at least she looks adorable while she’s doing it.
She jogged over to him and he slung his arm around her shoulders. “You’ll get ’em next time, Slugger,” he encouraged.
She turned her face up to him and gave him a bright smile. “That’s the plan!”
“Unfortunately, next time is going to have to be next game.”
“Oh, okay. How come?”
“That was the last inning. We’re packing it in. Game’s over.”
Her face fell. “Aww, man. I can’t believe I’m actually sad. I’m shocked by how much fun I had at an activity I suck so, so badly at.”
He laughed. “So, so badly. But don’t worry about it. Everybody does at first.”
“Honest?”
“Absolutely. I mean, for most people ‘at first’ means when they’re playing T-ball as pre-schoolers. But, yes, everybody sucks at first.”
She elbowed him playfully in the ribs. “Real funny, buddy. But, all joking aside, I doubt there’ll be a next time.”
His heart dropped into his stomach. Shit. Was she leaving?
He kept his voice neutral. “Why’s that?”
Wrinkling her forehead, she said, “I seriously doubt your friends are going to welcome me back with open arms. We just lost that game, and it was mostly my fault.”
Relief flooded him, more intensely than he would’ve thought possible. He didn’t stop to examine that too deeply. He just enjoyed it. He was almost giddy as he said, “That’s ridiculous. They loved you. Besides, I’m the captain. If they don’t like it, they can go kick rocks.”
She laughed. “Oh, God. Am I about to Yoko Ono this softball team right now?”
He took her by the shoulders, looking into her eyes, a serious expression on his face. “Alison, I’m about to say something to you and I want you to really hear me.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Wow. Okay.”
He shook his head. “No. I’m serious. This is serious. What I’m about to say is—”
“Serious?” she guessed.
“Precisely. And I need you to pay attention.”
She nodded.
“Okay, here goes. This isn’t easy for me to say, but…” He took a deep breath. “I actually think John and Yoko did some really interesting work together.”
She threw her head back and laughed. Damn, he loved it when he was able to surprise her like that. Not just make her laugh but fill her with utter unexpected joy. It was an accomplishment, and one he hoped to keep repeating for a long time to come.
