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“Only a few months, but she seems kind of serious about him. I mean, he’s always hanging around now.”
“Gosh, that sucks.”Maybe I don’t want my parents to split. Then I’d have to deal with crap like that.
I stared out at the diamond, watching as a second baseman from the opposing team stole third, and Luca narrowly missed the out. He and Barry both seemed sweet for different reasons. Both could hold a conversation. But they were two totally different people. One of them could get any girl he wanted, while the other . . . Well, I had a feeling Barry wasn’t exactly beating the girls off with a stick. Which was a shame, and a testament to how shortsighted people could be, because the more I talked to him, the more I realized how great he was.
“So what are you gonna do?” I asked.
“What can I do? I want her to be happy. I just wish it wasn’t with a jerk.”
“Maybe if she knew some of the stuff he said to you and how it makes you feel, it might change her mind about him?”
“It might. But I don’t want to have to tell her about it. I want her to see it for herself, ya know? I hate to be the reason she winds up alone again, especially when I’m leaving soon. It feels selfish somehow, even if it’s not.”
“Not too many guys are as thoughtful as you.” I reached out and placed a hand over his, and my skin heated at the contact before it occurred to me with a pang of guilt that I was supposed to be here for Luca, yet I hadn’t watched more than a few minutes of the game.
“What’d I miss?” Mia plopped down beside me, slightly out of breath with a giant dish of nachos, and I wrenched my gaze away from Barry.
“Um, nothing,” I said, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear. Then I reached out, grabbed a chip, and popped it into my mouth in an effort to hide my smile.
Chapter 7
ELLA
Myheartwasstillpounding in my chest like a bass drum when Mia sat down beside me, but I was glad for her return because it reminded me where my focus needed to be—on her and Barry. After talking with him further, I was more convinced now than ever, he was perfect for her, exactly what she needed.
Focusing on the field, I craned my neck as Lakeview’s ump called a final out, and our boys jogged toward the dugout from the outfield. Sometime during my conversation with Barry, Lakeview managed to get three outs on our opponent, which meant we were up to bat. As the pitcher warmed up his arm, a guy I didn’t recognize hovered beside home plate while Luca exited the dugout and winked at me.
“Um, Mia, can you please switch me spots?” I said, making a show of craning my neck to see him better. So far, she and Barry hadn’t said so much as a word to each other.
“Why?” she said between chips.
“Because I can’t see the batter very well, and Luca’s up next. I want to see him swing.”
She looked at me like this was the dumbest request on the face of the planet, but then she rolled her eyes and sighed. “Fine.”
I cheered inwardly at this small victory as she took my spot beside Barry with a scowl.
Nudging her in the shoulder, I said, “Mia, I was just telling Barry how much you’ll miss me when I’m gone.”
Mia crunched on a chip. “I mean, I’m not gonna miss youthatmuch.”
I laughed like she was hilarious, even though I wanted to kill her. “You’re so funny,” I said, slapping her on the back with more force than necessary.
Coughing on her chip, she eyed me like I was crazy.
“Smart and funny,” I said to Barry, who simply nodded. “I was also just telling him how you’re like a female version of him, you're so smart.”
If looks could kill, I’d be dead because Mia gazed at me intently with serial killer eyes. Didn’t she see I was trying to help her here?
My gaze flicked to Barry to assess his reaction, but he seemed to be doing his best not to look this way, and I couldn’t read him.
“Ella! Hey, Ella!”
I turned toward the sound of voices calling my name, and my gaze caught on several Lakeview Prep players gathered around the dugout. One of them nodded toward Luca and I realized he was up to bat, but he’d turned my way again.
He crept closer to the chain-link fence, bat in hand, a grin showing off his straight white smile. “I’m gonna hit one for you.”
A swarm of butterflies rose inside my chest. “Oh, yeah? You gonna call it, too?” I teased.
