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She giggles, and that’s not helping how hot I am for her.
I do my best to calm myself down.Save it for later.
Leaning down slightly, I whisper in her ear, “By the way, you need to leave my jersey on after this for our date.”
Her radiant smile lights up my heart. “We’re going on a date?”
“A very special one. You’ll find out more later.”
Yes, there’s the swooning eyes. My favorite.
We stop flirting and start paying attention as the announcer gets to Joel. I try to ignore the stab of pain at knowing I won’t be playing with Joel next year. Thankfully, Miles isn’t playing, either—his choice—so I’m hoping that will make it easier on me.
The announcer goes to Trevor next, then Nick, before it’s my turn.
“At number three, your starting pitcher, who holds the state title for most shut-outs ever pitched, Aaron Cooper!” The crowd goes wild. Baseball is the most popular sport in our town, and people have supported me since that first no-hitter I pitched back in middle school. “Aaron will also be attending SUNY Finger Lakes in the fall.”
Hearing the words that I’ll be attending but not playing hits me hard, as does the entire crowd cheering for me. This is it. The end of my baseball career. I sniff back tears as I wave at the crowd. This isn’t how I wanted it to end, but I guess life doesn’t always go how we want. Rae squeezes my hand tightly. I glance down at her. She gives me a reassuring smile, and I instantly feel calmer. Ready to deal with anything. With one last wave, I turn my attention to Miles as the announcer reads off his incredible batting average and where he’s going next year.
I may not be playing baseball, but I am excited to go to college with my best friends.
After the ceremony is over, the six of us end up standing on the pitcher’s mound together.
“I know it didn’t all start with baseball, but it’s been such a big part of our lives, sometimes it feels that way,” Joel says.
I laugh at that. “Funny, I seem to remember the first thing you ever asked me was if I liked baseball.”
Joel laughs. “Of course. I had to make sure you were worthy of my friendship.”
Rae shoves his arm. “You’re such an ass. I was so mad at you that day. I thought maybe I’d trade you in for Aaron.”
Miles laughs heartily at that.
Mackenzie laughs too. “I remember you told him to be nice about a hundred times.”
“What made you decide not to get rid of me?” Joel asks, stifling a laugh.
“I decided you were too much like my brother not to keep you. And I knew that wasnevergonna be my relationship with him, so…”
She gives me a flirty smile, and I wink at her.
Rae looks at Sarah and Miles. “Then we found the two of you and the rest—”
“Is history.” Sarah smiles warmly and we all look around at each other.
Miles grins. “I know we don’t have anything to toast with, but here’s to us.” He puts his hand in the center of the circle we’re standing in like he used to before every little league game.
We all pile our hands on top of his saying, “Here’s to us.”
After another sappy moment, we break apart, and Miles, Joel, and I head inside to get changed.
Bittersweet,I think again, as I jog to the dugout to grab my stuff one final time.
I watch Rae laughing with Sarah and Mackie as she heads for the parking lot.
Nothing bitter there.Lots of sweet. And hot.
I can’t wait for our date tonight.
